welcomehomre: Revalidate

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Revalidate

To revalidate your doctoral degree from the Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez (UNESR) for the United States, you must complete an Academic Credential Evaluation.

Because your degree is an academic, research-based doctorate (Doctorado en Ciencias del Desarrollo Estratégico) and not a clinical medical degree, you do not need to take any medical board exams. The evaluation process officially converts your Venezuelan degree into its U.S. equivalent, which is a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Strategic Development.

Step 1: Legalize Your UNESR Documents

U.S. evaluation agencies will only accept documents that are officially verified by the Venezuelan government:

GTU Certification: Register your Título de Doctor and Notas Certificadas (transcripts) online through the Gestión de Trámites Universitarios (GTU) under the Ministry of Higher Education.
Apostille: Schedule an appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MPPRE) to get the international Apostille attached to your GTU-certified documents.
English Translation: Have your diploma, transcripts, and your doctoral thesis abstract translated into English by a certified public translator (intérprete público). [1]

Step 2: Choose a Trusted Evaluation Agency

The U.S. government does not evaluate degrees directly. You must use a private agency that belongs to NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services). The most highly recognized agencies for Venezuelan degrees are: [2, 3]

World Education Services (WES): The most popular agency, widely accepted by corporate employers, immigration lawyers, and universities.
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): Excellent for advanced research degrees and Ph.D. curriculum analysis.
International Education Evaluations (IEE): Known for fast processing times and simple document submission workflows. [4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Step 3: Select the Correct Evaluation Type

The cost of an official evaluation ranges between $150 and $300 USD. You must choose the report type that fits your specific goal: [9, 10, 11]

Document-by-Document Evaluation: Choose this if you are applying for corporate jobs. It simply states that your UNESR degree is equivalent to a U.S. Ph.D.
Course-by-Course Evaluation: Choose this if you want to teach at a U.S. university or do post-doctoral research. It details all your classes and converts your Venezuelan grades into a U.S. Grade Point Average (GPA). [12, 13, 14, 15]
USCIS / Immigration Evaluation: Choose this if you are applying for a Green Card (such as the EB-2 NIW - National Interest Waiver) based on your advanced academic expertise. [16, 17, 18]

Can You Do It For Free?

While an official, legally certified report requires a fee, you can use WES's Free Degree Equivalency Tool on their website to instantly see an unofficial confirmation of your U.S. Ph.D. equivalent.

Additionally, if you are already living in the U.S. under a humanitarian status (like asylum, refugee status, or parole), non-profit organizations like Upwardly Global or ECE® Aid can provide grants to fully cover the cost of your official evaluation.

To help you choose the exact agency and report type, could you tell me:

What is your primary goal for this revalidation? (e.g., finding a remote corporate job, teaching at a U.S. university, or applying for an immigration visa?)
Are you currently residing in Venezuela, or are you already inside the United States?