I had wanted to apply to doctoral study and although I had a detailed foreign credential evaluation done a few years prior, I was told that for the particular school for which I wished to apply, that I would need to choose one of three evaluators. IERF was suggested by the institution. They stated that I would only need a general report.
I submitted my application for the general report with all the documentation requested. IERF's written application stated not to send high school diplomas, etc, since I had completed post-secondary study and had both Bachelor's and Master's degrees conferred. As requested, I mailed my undergraduate transcripts along with my graduate transcripts (completed in the USA) and copies of my state licenses.
I received two e-mails from IERF suggesting I get a more expensive, detailed report, even though I specifically checked the General Report and sent payment for such a report.
The report that I had obtained from a state and nationally approved credential evaluator with over 26 years experience personally who also happens to teach foreign credential evaluation at the university level was extremely detailed as this evaluator had required copies of academic calendars stating course contact hours, etc.
The IERF report, on the other hand, did not even come close to the number of credit hours in my previously obtained report. The "evaluator" assigned to my case has been conducting such evaluations for less than two years and as per his/her profile on the company's website has NO formal educational background in credential evaluation.
When I filed an appeal, I provided IERF with a link to my institution's website which stated the number of contact/credit hours. I also explained and provided links to information about the change in provincial educational systems since the time my degree was conferred.
The appeal letter that I received stated that IERF's Review Committee upheld their initial decision based solely on the undergraduate transcripts. They did not bother to research the changes in the educational system, nor did they bother to look at the link provided which might have caused them to re-calculate the correct number of hours. They also stated that they did not consider my graduate transcripts or US licenses as they were obtained in this country. Why their application for review specifically stated to include transcripts of graduate work beyond undergraduate study is still an enigma to me!
They further state that while other foreign credential evaluators may arrive at different decisions, that they have no standard other than their own. Further, they provided NO explanation as to how they arrived at their calculation of hours.
My only regret is that I did not have a chance to read the reports of others on this website about IERF prior to submitting my application and documentation.
Their claim of over 40 years experience is questionable to say the least. They have COMPLETELY INADEQUATE knowledge of both foreign educational systems and evaluation of foreign credentials.
IERF may wish to follow the "R" in their acronym and do a little more research!!!
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