Credential Evaluation

Students with schooling that has been completed outside of the United States and Canada are required to submit a credential evaluation report. Below is information that explains what supporting materials we need from you.

What is credential evaluation?

Credential evaluation is a process that provides Boston Conservatory at Berklee with an official report that lists the courses taken, marks received, and honors earned by the applicant in their US equivalents. For example, the report will tell us if an applicant has the equivalent of a US high school diploma, bachelor's degree, or other academic honor(s), and will list the marks received in the standard 4.0 US grading system.

Why do I need credential evaluation?

Boston Conservatory at Berklee requires that applicants who have attended schools outside of the US and Canada use a credential evaluation agency to submit a report of their academic equivalency. Documents must be submitted to Boston Conservatory at Berklee directly from a credential evaluation agency. The supporting materials are used in conjunction with the audition and application to determine whether an applicant is ready for admission to Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Any applicant who is enrolled or has graduated from an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma school with an IB Diploma is exempt from submitting documents through a credential evaluator.

Note: Academic documents sent directly by the applicant will not be accepted to complete the application, nor can they be returned to the sender.

Can I just send a translation instead?

No. Credential evaluation and translation are not the same. Part of the credential evaluation process involves checking that the applicant attended the institutions and earned the honors that they have listed. We do not accept international transcripts directly from the applicant, and will not accept a translation to complete an application.

What if my school has US accreditation?

If your school has US accreditation, you do not need to submit a credential evaluation for that institution. We will accept transcripts directly from schools that are accredited by the following:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

How can I get a credential evaluation report?

Berklee works closely with SpanTran and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and we recommend their services. Visit their websites for specific information about submission requirements, service timelines, fees, and more.

The credential evaluation process can take several weeks to complete, and we strongly urge you to begin the process as early as possible. Your application will not be complete until we have received credential evaluation reports for all of your academic credentials.

How do I submit my documents to SpanTran?

Please go to SpanTran’s website and complete the application for a credential evaluation.
Follow the website prompts to request your evaluation. You will be able to select which Berklee campus(es) you would like to receive your evaluation, indicate whether your documents need to be translated, decide how your credentials will be verified, and order additional copies of your evaluation.
Upload the appropriate documents to the application.
Pay the fee and submit.

What type of report should I request?

Berklee requires a course-by-course evaluation and grade point average (GPA) for all academic institutions you have attended. SpanTran will provide this service automatically, however keep the following in mind if you are using a different credential evaluation company.

If you are currently attending secondary school (high school):

You will need a course-by-course report for all grades/marks received to date.

If you have completed only secondary school (high school):

You will need a course-by-course report of your secondary school academic record.

If you have completed secondary school and less than one year of university, college, or conservatory:

You will need a course-by-course report of your university, college, or conservatory, and a course-by-course report of your final secondary school academic record.

If you have completed secondary school and more than one year of university, college, or conservatory:

You will need a course-by-course report of your university, college, or conservatory and a general report of your final secondary school academic record.

If you have completed secondary school and coursework at more than one university, college, or conservatory:

You will need a course-by-course report for each university, college, or conservatory attended and a general report of your final secondary school academic record.

Important: All course-by-course reports must include a grade point average/grade equivalencies (GPA). Please make sure this is included in your report.

What if I want to use another company?

Although we highly recommend SpanTran and ECE, we do accept credential evaluation reports from any of the following companies:

WES
IERF
Check here for other options.

You must submit a credential evaluation report of all your courses/marks received so far. If you are admitted, you will be required to submit proof of graduation from secondary school/high school before attending Berklee.

What if there are no grades/marks available for a school I attended?

If for some reason there are no grades/marks available from a school you have attended, then we need an official letter from the school or your Ministry of Education indicating that there are no grades available.

What is the deadline to submit my supporting materials/credential evaluation?

Early action applicants must submit materials by December 1.
Regular action applicants must submit materials by January 15.

Can I audition and interview before sending the supporting materials?

Yes. The audition and interview are a separate part of your application. You should always audition or interview if you are able to. You should audition and interview even if you have not submitted your supporting materials or are going to submit your materials late.

If you have additional questions about credential evaluation, please email admissions@berklee.edu.