How long does WES evaluation take for Nigerian qualifications?

WES processing takes 20-35 business days after receiving all documents. Total timeline from start to report: typically 2-4 months due to university transcript delays.

What if my Nigerian university is not recognised by WES?

WES evaluates qualifications from NUC-accredited institutions. If your programme was not accredited, contact WES directly to discuss your situation.

Nigerian Credential Recognition Abroad 2026

Q: Is Nigerian HND equivalent to a bachelor’s degree abroad?

Not always. WES typically assesses a Nigerian HND as a three-year diploma rather than a bachelor’s degree, which can affect immigration points.

Q: Are Nigerian professional qualifications recognised abroad?

Nigerian professional body membership demonstrates professional standing but does not directly transfer. You must register with the equivalent body in your destination country.

Q: Can I use credential evaluation for multiple countries?

Some evaluations are country-specific. A WES Canada ECA is not automatically accepted by US institutions. You may need separate evaluations for different countries.

Understanding how your Nigerian qualifications are assessed and recognised abroad is critical to planning your emigration. Whether you hold a degree, diploma, or professional certification, most destination countries require formal credential evaluation before you can work, study, or register professionally. This guide covers the major credential assessment bodies, the process, and country-specific requirements.

Credential evaluation is separate from English language testing. You will also need to pass IELTS or an equivalent test. See our IELTS Guide for details.

Major Credential Assessment Bodies

Organisation	Country	Used For	Cost (Approx.)
WES (World Education Services)	Canada & USA	Immigration (Express Entry), university admissions, professional licensing	CAD 220 - 300 / USD 160 - 245
ENIC-NARIC (UK ENIC)	United Kingdom	Visa applications, university admissions, employer verification	£49.50+ per qualification
NACES Members	United States	University admissions, state licensing boards, employment	USD 100 - 250
VETASSESS	Australia	Skilled migration (general occupations), visa applications	AUD 600 - 1,100
Engineers Australia (EA)	Australia	Engineering skills assessment for migration	AUD 800 - 1,200
ANMAC	Australia	Nursing and midwifery skills assessment	AUD 500 - 900

Nigerian University Recognition Status

Nigerian universities accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) are generally recognised internationally. Key points:

NUC-accredited programmes are accepted by WES, ENIC-NARIC, and other credential assessment bodies
Federal and state universities typically have stronger international recognition than newer private institutions
Degrees from unaccredited programmes may not be recognised — verify your programme’s NUC accreditation status before applying
WES evaluation: Nigerian bachelor’s degrees (4-5 years) are typically assessed as equivalent to a Canadian/US bachelor’s degree. Some 3-year programmes may be assessed lower
UK ENIC evaluation: Nigerian degrees are typically benchmarked against the UK qualifications framework. A Nigerian bachelor’s (honours) is usually recognised as comparable to a UK bachelor’s (honours)

Common Issue: Nigerian Higher National Diploma (HND) from polytechnics may not be assessed as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree by WES or ENIC-NARIC. This can affect immigration points calculations. Consider a top-up degree if emigration is your goal.

WES Evaluation Process for Nigerians

WES is the most commonly used credential assessment service for Nigerians applying to Canada (Express Entry) and the USA.

Create a WES Account & Select Evaluation Type

Choose between Document-by-Document evaluation (for immigration) or Course-by-Course evaluation (for university admissions). For Canadian Express Entry, the Document-by-Document ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) is required.

Request Documents from Your Institution

Ask your Nigerian university to send official sealed transcripts directly to WES. Also request your degree certificate to be verified. WES now accepts electronic transcript delivery from some Nigerian universities.

Send Supporting Documents

You must also send photocopies of your degree certificate, WAEC/NECO results (if requested), and NYSC certificate to WES.

Wait for Assessment

WES processing takes 20-35 business days after receiving all documents. Nigerian evaluations may take longer due to institutional verification. Track your status online.

Receive Your Report

WES sends the evaluation report to you and directly to IRCC (for Express Entry), universities, or employers as you designate.

Professional Registration Bodies by Country

Beyond academic credential assessment, regulated professions require registration with the destination country’s professional body.

Profession	Nigeria	UK	Canada	Australia
Doctors	MDCN	GMC	MCC / Provincial Colleges	AHPRA / Medical Board
Nurses	NMCN	NMC	NNAS + Provincial	AHPRA / NMBA
Engineers	COREN	Engineering Council	Provincial P.Eng	Engineers Australia
Teachers	TRCN	TRA (QTS)	Provincial Colleges	State registration
Pharmacists	PCN	GPhC	PEBC + Provincial	Pharmacy Board
Accountants	ICAN / ANAN	ACCA / ICAEW	CPA Canada	CPA Australia
Lawyers	NBA	SRA (requalification)	NCA + Provincial Law Society	State Legal Admission

NYSC Certificate Importance

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge or exemption certificate plays an important role in emigration from Nigeria:

Professional Registration: Full registration with Nigerian professional bodies (MDCN, COREN, NMCN, TRCN, etc.) typically requires NYSC completion. International bodies often need your full Nigerian registration
WES Evaluation: WES may request the NYSC certificate as part of Nigerian credential verification
Employment Verification: Some international employers check NYSC status when verifying Nigerian employment history
Exemption Certificates: If you are over 30 or have other exemption grounds, obtain your exemption certificate from NYSC

Tip: If your NYSC certificate is lost, apply for a replacement at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters in Abuja. Allow 4-8 weeks for processing.

Academic Transcript Authentication

Getting your transcripts authenticated and sent to credential assessment bodies is often the most time-consuming part of the process for Nigerians.

Tips for Nigerian University Transcripts

Start early: Nigerian universities can take 4-12 weeks to process transcript requests
Visit in person: If possible, visit the registrar’s office in person to expedite the process
WES direct sending: Ask the university to send transcripts directly to WES in a sealed envelope. WES rejects transcripts that have been opened
Electronic transcripts: Some Nigerian universities now offer electronic transcript services (e.g., through institutions like the NUC portal or third-party providers)
Multiple copies: Request several sealed copies of your transcript — you may need them for different assessment bodies
Verification letter: Request a verification letter from the registrar confirming the authenticity of your degree

Country-by-Country Guide

United Kingdom

Use UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) for academic qualification comparison
Professional registration through relevant bodies (GMC, NMC, Engineering Council, TRA)
Some UK employers accept Nigerian qualifications directly without formal ENIC assessment

Canada

WES ECA is the most commonly used for Express Entry
Other designated organisations: IQAS, CES, ICAS, MCC (doctors)
Provincial nominees may have specific assessment requirements
WES ECA is valid for 5 years for immigration purposes

Australia

Skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority for your occupation
VETASSESS for general occupations; Engineers Australia, ANMAC, AACA for specific professions
Points-tested skilled migration requires formal skills assessment

United States

NACES member organisations (WES, ECE, IERF, SpanTran, etc.)
ECFMG for medical graduates
State-specific licensing boards for regulated professions
University admissions offices may conduct their own evaluations

Germany

anabin database lists recognised Nigerian institutions
uni-assist evaluates applications for German universities
Professional recognition through regional recognition offices (Anerkennungsstellen)

Frequently Asked Questions

WES processing takes 20-35 business days after receiving all documents. However, the biggest delay for Nigerians is usually getting transcripts sent from the university, which can take 4-12 weeks. Total timeline from start to receiving your WES report: typically 2-4 months.

Not always. WES typically assesses a Nigerian HND as a “three-year diploma” rather than a bachelor’s degree. This can significantly affect your Express Entry CRS score. If you hold an HND, consider completing a top-up degree (B.Tech) to improve your credential assessment outcome.

Nigerian professional body membership demonstrates your professional standing but does not directly transfer. You must register with the equivalent body in your destination country. However, having Nigerian registration is usually a prerequisite for starting the international registration process. For example, NMC (UK) requires your NMCN registration, and GMC requires your MDCN registration.

Some evaluations are country-specific. A WES Canada ECA is valid for Canadian immigration but not automatically accepted by US institutions (you would need a separate WES US evaluation). UK ENIC assessments are UK-specific. You may need to apply to different assessment bodies for different countries.

WES evaluates qualifications from NUC-accredited institutions. If your institution or programme was not accredited at the time of your study, WES may not be able to evaluate your credential. In this case, contact WES directly to discuss your situation. You may need to provide additional documentation or explore alternative assessment bodies.

Quick Facts

Canada: WES ECA required
UK: UK ENIC assessment
Australia: VETASSESS / profession-specific
WES Cost: CAD 220 - 300
Processing: 2-4 months total