Understanding WES Document to Document vs Course to Course Evaluation Types

Edvantage Editorial Team
January 16, 2026

Lets understand about WES Evaluation and major difference between Document to Document Evaluation Report and Course to Course Evaluation Report , by the end of this article you will be able to know which types will be more suitable for your Education Credential Assessment. Check out our step by guide to apply WES Evaluation

Document to Document Evaluation Type(DxD)

This types simply provides credential evaluation for each course you request for , such as secondary education, degree or diploma ,Mainly provides the name of equivalent course in-terms of US or Canadian Education standards. Which ever course your select for evaluation and arrange Academic Transcript Submission form you Institution which is approved by WES( Check our list of WES Approved Universities/Institution from India ).

Generally DxD is required for Immigration ,Employment Purposes or For Further Admission in Canada or US.

Course to Course Evaluation Types(CxC)

This types of evaluation indicates US or Canadian each of the course you have completed,a detailed analysis of all courses till highest qualification , for Example if you are requesting for Masters Evaluation you need to supply Transcript for 12th , Graduation & Masters. Additionally the CxC converts your semester credits and grades to calculates a GPA on a 4.0 scale .

Generally CxC is required by some of the Higher Education Programms of Certain Institutions or Licensing Body.

It it strictly advised if you planning on submitting credential evaluation reports you confirm form the authority or you admission related departments for what kind of evaluation report they are expecting .

Dive deep into WES Document-by-Document vs Course-by-Course Evaluation: Which One Do You Need?

If you are planning to study, work, immigrate, or obtain professional licensing in Canada or the United States, chances are you will need a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES).

One of the most common questions applicants ask is:

Should I choose a WES Document-by-Document Evaluation or a WES Course-by-Course Evaluation?

Selecting the wrong evaluation type can lead to delays, additional fees, rejected applications, and unnecessary document resubmissions.

This guide explains the differences between WES Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course evaluations, who needs each type, costs, benefits, limitations, and how to determine the correct option for your specific goals.

Understanding WES Evaluations

World Education Services (WES) is one of North America’s most recognized credential evaluation organizations.

WES evaluates academic qualifications earned outside Canada and the United States and determines their equivalent educational value in North America.

Thousands of graduates from institutions such as:

University of Mumbai
Savitribai Phule Pune University
University of Delhi
Anna University
JNTU Hyderabad
VTU
Bangalore University
Osmania University
IGNOU
Gujarat Technological University

use WES evaluations annually for:

Immigration
University admissions
Employment
Professional licensing
Certification programs

WES offers two primary evaluation formats:

Document-by-Document Evaluation
Course-by-Course Evaluation

Although they may sound similar, they serve very different purposes.

What Is a WES Document-by-Document Evaluation?

A Document-by-Document Evaluation provides an overall assessment of your educational credentials.

Instead of analyzing every individual course or subject, WES reviews your completed qualifications and determines their overall equivalency in the United States or Canada.

For example:

Foreign Qualification	WES Equivalency
Bachelor of Engineering	Canadian Bachelor’s Degree
Master of Commerce	Canadian Master’s Degree
Bachelor of Science	U.S. Bachelor’s Degree

The report focuses on:

Institution recognition
Degree authenticity
Level of education
Canadian or U.S. equivalency

It does not provide individual course analysis.

Information Included in a Document-by-Document Evaluation

A typical report contains:

Institution Information

Name of institution
Country of study
Recognition status

Credential Information

Degree title
Program duration
Graduation date

Educational Equivalency

Examples:

Canadian Bachelor’s Degree (4 years)
Canadian Master’s Degree
U.S. Bachelor’s Degree

Overall Academic Standing

A summary assessment of completed studies.

Who Needs a Document-by-Document Evaluation?

This evaluation is typically suitable for:

Immigration Applicants

Canada PR applicants applying through:

Express Entry
Provincial Nominee Programs
Federal Skilled Worker Program

usually require only a Document-by-Document ECA.

The immigration system is interested in:

Highest educational qualification
Canadian equivalency

rather than individual course details.

Employment Verification

Many employers simply want confirmation that:

Your degree is legitimate
Your university is recognized
Your qualification meets job requirements

A Document-by-Document report is often sufficient.

General Credential Recognition

Applicants seeking:

Educational recognition
Academic verification
Professional profile enhancement

may only require a summary evaluation.

Advantages of Document-by-Document Evaluation

Lower Cost

Usually less expensive than Course-by-Course evaluations.

Faster Processing

Fewer details require analysis.

Suitable for Immigration

Accepted by IRCC for Educational Credential Assessments.

Simpler Documentation

Typically requires fewer supporting materials.

Limitations of Document-by-Document Evaluation

This evaluation does not include:

Individual subjects
Course credits
Grade calculations
GPA conversions

Therefore, it may not satisfy university admission requirements.

What Is a WES Course-by-Course Evaluation?

A Course-by-Course Evaluation is a much more detailed assessment.

Instead of evaluating only the degree, WES analyzes every academic course completed throughout your program.

This evaluation includes:

Individual courses
Credit hours
Grades
GPA conversion
Academic performance analysis

It is commonly required for academic admissions and professional licensing.

Information Included in a Course-by-Course Evaluation

A Course-by-Course report typically contains:

Institution Recognition

Verification of institution legitimacy.

Credential Equivalency

Canadian or U.S. degree equivalent.

Individual Course Analysis

Each subject is evaluated separately.

Examples:

Mathematics
Physics
Engineering Mechanics
Financial Accounting
Economics

Credit Conversion

Foreign credits are converted into North American credit systems.

Grade Conversion

Marks are translated into:

U.S. GPA
Canadian grading scales

where applicable.

Cumulative GPA

Many universities specifically request this information.

Who Needs a Course-by-Course Evaluation?

University Admissions

This is the most common reason applicants request a Course-by-Course Evaluation.

Universities need to determine:

Transfer credits
Prerequisite completion
GPA eligibility
Academic standing

Examples include:

Bachelor’s completion programs
Master’s admissions
MBA admissions
Graduate certificates
PhD applications

Transfer Students

Students moving between institutions often require:

Credit recognition
Course equivalency analysis

Only a Course-by-Course Evaluation can provide this level of detail.

Professional Licensing

Many licensing boards require course-level assessments.

Examples include:

Engineering

Professional Engineers
Licensing authorities

Healthcare

Nursing boards
Medical credential authorities

Teaching

Teacher certification agencies

Accounting

CPA boards
Professional accounting organizations

Advantages of Course-by-Course Evaluation

Detailed Academic Analysis

Provides comprehensive educational information.

GPA Conversion

Critical for admissions decisions.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

Supports academic credit transfers.

Professional Licensing Acceptance

Often required by regulatory authorities.

Limitations of Course-by-Course Evaluation

Higher Cost

More extensive review means higher fees.

Longer Processing

Additional analysis increases evaluation time.

Document-by-Document vs Course-by-Course: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Document-by-Document	Course-by-Course
Degree Equivalency	Yes	Yes
GPA Calculation	No	Yes
Course Analysis	No	Yes
Credit Conversion	No	Yes
Immigration Use	Yes	Usually Not Required
University Admission	Sometimes	Usually Required
Transfer Credits	No	Yes
Licensing Boards	Rarely	Often Required
Cost	Lower	Higher
Processing Time	Faster	Longer

Which Evaluation Is Required for Canada PR?

For Express Entry and most immigration programs:

Document-by-Document Evaluation Is Usually Sufficient

IRCC primarily wants to know:

Educational level
Canadian equivalency

Applicants generally do not need:

GPA calculations
Subject breakdowns
Credit conversions

As a result, most Canada PR applicants select the standard ECA evaluation format.

Which Evaluation Is Required for U.S. University Admissions?

For universities in the United States:

Course-by-Course Evaluation Is Often Required

Admissions committees frequently review:

GPA
Subject performance
Credit hours
Academic rigor

A Document-by-Document report may not meet admission requirements.

Always check the institution’s policy before applying.

Which Evaluation Is Better?

Neither evaluation is universally better.

The correct choice depends entirely on your goal.

Choose Document-by-Document If:

You are applying for Canada PR.
You need educational verification.
You require degree equivalency only.
You want lower costs and faster processing.

Choose Course-by-Course If:

You are applying to universities.
You need GPA conversion.
You want transfer credits.
You require professional licensing.

Common Mistakes Applicants Make

Choosing the Cheaper Evaluation Without Checking Requirements

Many applicants order a Document-by-Document report only to discover their university requires Course-by-Course analysis.

Assuming Immigration Requires Course Analysis

For Canada PR, detailed course analysis is usually unnecessary.

Ignoring Licensing Board Requirements

Many professional organizations specify the exact evaluation type needed.

Always confirm before applying.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between WES Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course Evaluation depends entirely on your purpose.

For immigration applicants pursuing Canada PR through Express Entry, a Document-by-Document Educational Credential Assessment is usually sufficient and cost-effective.

For university admissions, transfer credit evaluation, professional licensing, and GPA conversion, a Course-by-Course Evaluation is generally the preferred option because it provides a detailed analysis of every academic subject and credit earned.

Before submitting an application, carefully review the requirements of the immigration authority, university, employer, or licensing board. Selecting the correct WES evaluation from the beginning can save time, money, and weeks of processing delays while ensuring your credentials are assessed accurately for your intended goal.