When a U.S. university, professional licensing board, or immigration authority needs to understand not just what degree you hold — but exactly what you studied, how you performed, and how each subject compares to U.S. coursework — a course-by-course evaluation is the document they require.

Unlike a standard document-by-document academic evaluation → that provides an overall degree equivalency determination, a course-by-course evaluation goes deeper. It breaks down every course on your foreign transcripts, converts each subject into U.S. semester credit hours, translates your grades into the U.S. 4.0 GPA scale, and produces a comprehensive, subject-level report that gives receiving institutions exactly the academic detail they need to assess your qualifications.

At AAE Evaluations, we prepare USCIS-accepted and university-recognized course-by-course evaluations following the AACRAO EDGE methodology — delivering detailed, accurate, and professionally formatted transcript analyses for university admissions, professional licensing, immigration petitions, and employment credentialing.

Subject-Level Course Analysis    U.S. Credit Hour Conversion    GPA Conversion to 4.0 Scale    AACRAO EDGE Methodology    Universities, Licensing Boards & USCIS Accepted

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What Is a Course-by-Course Evaluation?

A course-by-course evaluation is a detailed foreign credential assessment that analyzes your academic transcripts at the individual subject level — going beyond the overall degree equivalency to provide a complete, course-by-course breakdown of your foreign education in U.S. academic terms.

For every course on your foreign transcripts, a course-by-course evaluation provides:

• The course name and subject area in English
• The U.S. semester credit hour equivalent of the course
• The grade received, converted to the U.S. letter grade system
• The contribution of the course to your overall U.S.-equivalent GPA

The result is a comprehensive academic profile — one that a U.S. university admissions officer, graduate program committee, licensing board examiner, or USCIS adjudicator can read and evaluate using the same framework they apply to domestic U.S. transcripts.

A course-by-course credential evaluation is different from a document-by-document evaluation in both scope and depth. The document-by-document evaluation answers the question: “What U.S. degree is this foreign credential equivalent to?” The course-by-course evaluation answers a far more detailed set of questions: “What did this person study? How did they perform in each subject? How many credit hours of coursework in this specific field do they have? And what is their GPA in U.S. terms?”

Course-by-Course vs. Document-by-Document Evaluation — Which Do You Need?

Understanding the difference between these two evaluation types helps you submit the right document to the right institution and avoid costly delays.

Feature	Course-by-Course Evaluation	Document-by-Document Evaluation
Level of Detail	Subject-by-subject analysis of every course	Overall degree equivalency determination only
Output	Course list, credit hours, grades, GPA conversion	Degree level, field of study, U.S. equivalent
GPA Conversion	Yes — full 4.0 scale GPA calculation	No
Credit Hour Conversion	Yes — semester credit hours per course	No
Best For	University admissions, credit transfer, licensing boards	H-1B visa, PERM, I-140, employment verification
Typical Requirement	Graduate school, nursing boards, teacher certification, accounting boards	USCIS immigration petitions, employer verification
Processing Complexity	Higher — requires full transcript analysis	Standard — degree-level determination

If you are applying for an H-1B visa, EB-2 or EB-3 green card, or most standard employment verification purposes, a document-by-document academic evaluation → at $55 is the appropriate and most efficient choice. If you are applying to a U.S. graduate program, seeking a professional license, or need to demonstrate credit transfer equivalency, a course-by-course evaluation is what the receiving institution requires.

When Is a Course-by-Course Evaluation Required?

University and College Admissions

U.S. universities — particularly graduate programs — require a course-by-course evaluation when reviewing applications from internationally educated candidates. The detailed subject breakdown allows admissions committees to:

• Assess whether the applicant’s specific coursework aligns with the prerequisites for the program they are applying to
• Determine how many of the applicant’s credits may transfer for advanced standing or course waiver purposes
• Evaluate academic performance using a standardized U.S. GPA that can be compared across applicants from different educational systems

Most U.S. graduate schools require applicants to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-member or recognized agency. AAE Evaluations uses the AACRAO EDGE methodology, which is widely recognized and accepted across U.S. academic institutions.

Professional Licensing Boards

Many U.S. state licensing boards for regulated professions require a course-by-course evaluation to verify that the applicant’s foreign education meets the specific subject-area requirements for licensure. This is particularly common for:

Nursing Licensing (NCLEX / State BON) State Boards of Nursing require applicants educated abroad to submit a course-by-course evaluation demonstrating that their nursing education included the required number of credit hours in specific subject areas — theory, clinical practice, pharmacology, and related disciplines — that meet U.S. nursing education standards.

Teacher Certification (State DOE) State Departments of Education require foreign-educated teachers to submit a course-by-course evaluation so that certification officers can assess whether the applicant’s education program included the specific pedagogical, subject-area, and clinical teaching hours required for the teaching certification being sought.

Accounting and CPA Licensing (State Boards of Accountancy) Most U.S. state boards of accountancy require candidates with foreign accounting degrees to submit a course-by-course evaluation establishing that their education included the required credit hours in accounting, auditing, business law, taxation, and related subjects as specified by the board’s licensure requirements.

Engineering Licensing (State PE Boards) State professional engineering licensing boards may require a course-by-course evaluation of a foreign engineering degree to confirm that the applicant’s academic training covered the subject areas and credit hours required for eligibility to sit for the Professional Engineer (PE) examination.

Other Licensed Professions Physical therapy, pharmacy, architecture, social work, and other licensed professions with specific academic prerequisite requirements may also require course-by-course evaluations from foreign-educated applicants.

Immigration Petitions Requiring Detailed Academic Documentation

While most USCIS immigration petitions accept a standard document-by-document evaluation →, certain immigration scenarios require the additional detail that a course-by-course evaluation provides:

• H-1B petitions where the specialty occupation requires a very specific field of study and USCIS needs to verify the exact subject-area composition of the beneficiary’s degree — not just its overall equivalency level
• EB-2 and EB-3 petitions where the PERM labor certification requires verification of specific coursework in a specialized discipline and a document-by-document evaluation does not provide sufficient subject-area detail
• TN visa applications where U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the employer requires detailed transcript analysis to confirm that the applicant’s degree is in the specific field required for the applicable USMCA profession
• RFE responses where USCIS specifically requests more detailed academic documentation than was submitted in the original petition

For immigration petitions, a course-by-course evaluation is often submitted alongside our H-1B Expert Opinion Letter → or EB-2 NIW Expert Opinion Letter → to provide a complete, multi-layered credential record.

Employment Credentialing in Specialized Fields

Employers in highly specialized industries — pharmaceutical research, advanced engineering, financial services, healthcare, and academic institutions — may require a course-by-course evaluation of a candidate’s foreign degree to verify that their academic training meets the specific technical requirements of the role, particularly when hiring for positions that require a degree in a very specific scientific, technical, or professional discipline.

What a Course-by-Course Evaluation Report Includes

A course-by-course evaluation from AAE Evaluations is a comprehensive academic analysis report that provides:

Complete Course Listing

Every course recorded on your foreign transcripts is listed individually — with the original course name, subject area classification, and a clear English description of the course content where necessary for the receiving institution’s understanding.

U.S. Semester Credit Hour Conversion

Each course’s credit weight is converted from the foreign academic unit system — whether semester credits, annual credits, ECTS units, contact hours, or another system — into the U.S. semester credit hour equivalent. This allows U.S. universities and licensing boards to assess credit transfer eligibility and course load comparability.

Grade Conversion to U.S. Letter Grade and 4.0 GPA Scale

Each course grade is converted from the foreign grading system into the U.S. letter grade equivalent (A, B, C, D, F) and the corresponding 4.0 GPA scale value. The report includes both semester-by-semester GPA and an overall cumulative GPA in U.S. terms.

Overall Degree Equivalency Statement

In addition to the course-level detail, the report includes a clear overall degree equivalency determination — what U.S. degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, etc.) and field of study the foreign credential is equivalent to, following AACRAO EDGE methodology.

Institution Verification and Accreditation Status

The report confirms the name and recognition status of the foreign awarding institution in its home country — establishing the academic legitimacy of the credential within its national educational context.

Evaluator Credentials and Professional Signature

The report is signed by a qualified credential evaluator whose professional credentials establish the authority of the assessment. The evaluator’s qualifications are documented within the report.

Why the AACRAO EDGE Methodology Matters for Course-by-Course Evaluations

AAE Evaluations applies the AACRAO EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education) methodology across all credential evaluations — including our course-by-course evaluations. AACRAO is the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and its EDGE database is the most comprehensive and widely recognized reference for foreign educational system analysis in the United States.

For course-by-course evaluations specifically, the AACRAO EDGE methodology provides:

• Credit conversion standards — authoritative frameworks for converting foreign academic units (ECTS credits, contact hours, annual credit loads, professional units) into U.S. semester credit hour equivalents
• Grading system conversion — recognized tables for converting foreign grading scales (percentage-based, letter-based, distinction-based, and others) into the U.S. 4.0 GPA framework
• Institutional recognition data — comprehensive information on the recognition status of foreign institutions within their national educational systems, supporting the accreditation verification component of the report

The AACRAO EDGE methodology is recognized by U.S. graduate programs, state licensing boards, and USCIS — ensuring that your course-by-course evaluation from AAE Evaluations carries the credibility and acceptance that receiving institutions require.

Documents Required

To complete your course-by-course evaluation, submit the following as clear PDF copies:

1. Official academic transcripts / mark sheets — from every institution attended, listing all courses completed, grades received, and the academic period for each course. Transcripts should be as detailed as available — showing individual subject-level data rather than just final results
2. Degree certificate or diploma — confirming the degree conferred, the date of conferral, and the field of study
3. Certified English translations — required for all documents not originally issued in English. AAE Evaluations can assist with certified translation services if needed
4. Syllabus or course descriptions (if requested) — some licensing boards and graduate programs require detailed course descriptions or syllabi for specific subjects to confirm content equivalency. We will advise you if this applies to your case

Submit all documents as clear PDF copies to Contact@aaeevaluations.com. Original documents are not required for our standard evaluation process — PDFs are accepted.

Our Course-by-Course Evaluation Process

1. Document Submission — Submit your transcripts, degree certificate, and certified translations to Contact@aaeevaluations.com.
2. Institution Verification — We confirm the recognition and accreditation status of your foreign institution in its home country using AACRAO EDGE and recognized international reference sources.
3. Course-Level Analysis — Every course on your transcripts is reviewed individually — classified by subject area, assigned a U.S. semester credit hour equivalent, and assigned a U.S. grade equivalent based on your recorded performance.
4. GPA Calculation — Your semester-by-semester and cumulative GPA is calculated on the U.S. 4.0 scale using established grade conversion standards for your country’s grading system.
5. Overall Degree Equivalency — An overall U.S. degree equivalency determination is made for the credential as a whole, following AACRAO EDGE methodology.
6. Report Preparation & Quality Review — The complete course-by-course evaluation report is drafted, reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and signed by the qualified evaluator.
7. Delivery — The final report is delivered as a professionally formatted, signed PDF ready for submission to the university, licensing board, or other receiving institution.

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Why Choose AAE Evaluations?

• AACRAO EDGE Methodology — All course-by-course evaluations follow the gold-standard reference database for foreign credential evaluation in the United States — the same methodology recognized by universities, licensing boards, and USCIS
• Subject-Level Precision — Every course is analyzed individually with U.S. credit hour conversion and grade conversion — not approximated or grouped
• GPA Conversion to U.S. 4.0 Scale — Accurate, system-specific GPA conversion from your country’s grading framework into the U.S. 4.0 scale that receiving institutions require
• University and Licensing Board Recognized — Our evaluations are prepared for acceptance by U.S. graduate programs, state nursing boards, teacher certification offices, accounting boards, engineering licensing boards, and other regulated licensing bodies
• All Foreign Educational Systems Covered — We evaluate transcripts from institutions across Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and beyond
• Full Credential Documentation Support — Pair your course-by-course evaluation with our academic evaluations, work experience evaluations, and expert opinion letters for a complete immigration or professional credential package

Related Services

• Academic & Education Evaluation (Document-by-Document) — Overall degree equivalency evaluation for H-1B, EB-2, EB-3, and immigration petitions — $55, 2 business days
• Work Experience Evaluation — Combined education and work experience equivalency applying the 3-for-1 USCIS rule — $115, 2 business days
• Position Evaluations — Role-by-role equivalency assessments for employment and immigration purposes
• H-1B Expert Opinion Letters — Specialty occupation and degree equivalency expert letters for H-1B petitions
• EB-2 NIW Expert Opinion Letters — National Interest Waiver letters for EB-2 petitions
• EB-1 Expert Opinion Letters — Extraordinary ability and outstanding researcher letters for EB-1 petitions
• EB-2 NIW Recommendation Letters — Support letters for National Interest Waiver petitions
• L-1A and L-1B Expert Opinion Letters — Managerial and specialized knowledge letters for L-1 petitions
• Expert Opinion Letter Hub — Overview of all expert opinion and recommendation letter services at AAE Evaluations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a course-by-course evaluation?

A course-by-course evaluation is a detailed foreign credential assessment that analyzes your academic transcripts at the individual subject level — listing every course completed, converting each course into U.S. semester credit hours, converting your grades into U.S. letter grades and a 4.0 GPA, and producing a comprehensive subject-level academic profile that U.S. universities, licensing boards, and other receiving institutions can evaluate using U.S. academic standards.

What is the difference between a course-by-course evaluation and a document-by-document evaluation?

A document-by-document evaluation → provides an overall degree equivalency determination — what U.S. degree level your foreign credential is equivalent to and in which field. This is the standard type required for most USCIS immigration petitions. A course-by-course evaluation goes much deeper — it analyzes every individual course on your transcripts, converts credit hours and grades to U.S. equivalents, and calculates a U.S. GPA. It is required by universities, licensing boards, and any institution that needs to understand the specific subject content and academic performance of your foreign education.

Who requires a course-by-course evaluation?

Course-by-course evaluations are most commonly required by U.S. graduate programs for admissions, state licensing boards for nursing, teaching, accounting, engineering, and other regulated professions, U.S. universities processing credit transfer requests, and certain immigration scenarios where detailed academic subject documentation is needed beyond what a standard document-by-document evaluation provides.

Does a course-by-course evaluation include a GPA?

Yes. Every course-by-course evaluation from AAE Evaluations includes a full GPA calculation — converting your foreign grades into the U.S. 4.0 scale using established conversion standards for your country’s grading system. Both semester-by-semester GPA and overall cumulative GPA are included in the report.

Does a course-by-course evaluation help with credit transfer to a U.S. university?

Yes. A course-by-course evaluation is the primary document U.S. universities use to assess credit transfer eligibility. By providing a subject-level breakdown with U.S. credit hour equivalents for each course, the evaluation enables the receiving institution’s registrar or academic department to determine which of your foreign courses are comparable to specific U.S. courses and therefore eligible for transfer credit or advanced standing.

What documents do I need for a course-by-course evaluation?

You need to submit clear PDF copies of your official academic transcripts or mark sheets from every institution attended — showing individual course-level data — along with your degree certificate or diploma. Certified English translations are required for all documents not originally issued in English. In some cases, course descriptions or syllabi may be requested for specific subjects. Send all materials to Contact@aaeevaluations.com.

Do my transcripts need to be official sealed copies?

For AAE Evaluations’ standard course-by-course evaluation process, clear PDF copies of your transcripts are accepted — original sealed documents are not required. However, some receiving institutions — particularly certain universities and licensing boards — may have their own requirements about how the evaluation is submitted or whether additional official documentation must accompany it. Always verify the specific requirements of your receiving institution before submitting.

How long does a course-by-course evaluation take?

Turnaround time for a course-by-course evaluation varies based on the volume and complexity of your transcripts. Contact us at Contact@aaeevaluations.com or (+1) 813-816-3969 for current standard and rush turnaround times. View our pricing → for fee information.

What if my grades are on a percentage scale or a different grading system?

Our evaluators convert grades from all major foreign grading systems — including percentage-based systems (e.g., Indian universities grading on a 100-point scale), distinction-based systems (e.g., UK first/2:1/2:2/third), and other international frameworks — into the U.S. 4.0 GPA equivalent using established conversion standards for each country’s grading system.

What if my institution uses a credit system other than semester credit hours?

Foreign academic institutions use a variety of credit systems — ECTS credits in European countries, annual credit loads, contact hours, professional units, and others. Our course-by-course evaluation converts every course’s credit weight from the foreign system into the U.S. semester credit hour equivalent using AACRAO EDGE methodology and recognized credit conversion standards.

Can a course-by-course evaluation be used for nursing licensing?

Yes — a course-by-course evaluation is typically required by state Boards of Nursing (BON) for foreign-educated nurses applying for NCLEX eligibility. The evaluation verifies that your nursing education included the required subject areas and credit hours — theory, clinical practice, pharmacology, and related disciplines — that meet U.S. nursing education standards. Requirements vary by state board, so always confirm the specific requirements of the board you are applying to.

Is a course-by-course evaluation required for the CPA exam?

Most U.S. state boards of accountancy require foreign-educated candidates to submit a course-by-course evaluation demonstrating that their education included the required credit hours in accounting, auditing, business law, taxation, and related subjects. Requirements vary significantly by state, so verify the specific requirements of your state’s board of accountancy before applying.

Can I use one course-by-course evaluation for multiple institutions?

Yes — you can request additional certified copies of your course-by-course evaluation to be sent to multiple universities, licensing boards, or other recipients. Discuss your specific distribution needs with our team when you apply.

Get the Detailed Transcript Analysis Your Institution Requires. Apply Today.

A professionally prepared course-by-course evaluation from AAE Evaluations gives U.S. universities, licensing boards, and employers the complete, subject-level academic analysis they need to evaluate your foreign credentials with confidence — following the AACRAO EDGE methodology that U.S. institutions recognize and trust.

Whether you are applying to graduate school, seeking a professional license, establishing credit transfer eligibility, or supporting an immigration petition that requires detailed academic documentation, our team is ready to deliver an accurate, comprehensive report.

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