Navigating U.S. Professional Licensure: A Guide to Translation Requirements

For foreign-trained professionals, securing a license to practice in the United States is a significant milestone. However, the path to licensure is often a complex journey paved with specific documentation requirements. One of the most critical and non-negotiable steps is the translation of your academic and professional credentials. Each licensing board and credentialing agency has its own unique set of rules, and a small mistake can lead to costly delays.
At D&T Translations, we specialize in navigating this intricate landscape. To help you on your journey, we've created this comprehensive guide detailing the translation requirements for major U.S. professional boards and associations.


Healthcare and Allied Health Professions

The healthcare sector has some of the most rigorous credentialing pathways, each with precise translation mandates.


Medicine: ECFMG and ABIM

• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG): The ECFMG is the primary body for certifying international medical graduates (IMGs). If your medical diploma, transcript, or other documents are not in English, you must provide a translation that meets their strict criteria.  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: The translation must be a complete, word-for-word replica of the original document. Summaries are not accepted.  
    
    
    
  • Who Can Translate: Translations must be prepared by a government official, a medical school official, or a professional translation service.  
    
    
    
  • Format: The translation must be on official letterhead, include a certification statement of accuracy, and bear the signature and title of the translator or official.  
    
    
    
• American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM): While the ABIM sets certification standards, the initial document verification for IMGs is handled by the ECFMG. For state licensure, boards like the Medical Board of California have their own rules.
  • What's Required: State medical boards require original, official, and literal word-for-word certified translations of all non-English academic documents.  
    
    
    
  • Submission: The certified translation must be mailed directly from the translator or medical school to the board.  
    
    
    

Pharmacy: FPGEC (NABP)

• Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC): As part of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the FPGEC certifies the educational equivalency of foreign-trained pharmacists.  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: Any document not in English, including all seals and stamps, must be accompanied by an official, word-for-word English translation.  
    
    
    
  • Who Can Translate: The translation must be prepared and certified by an official translator.  
    
    
    

Nursing: NCSBN and CGFNS

• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The NCSBN administers the NCLEX exam, but licensure requirements are set by individual state boards of nursing. These boards often rely on credentialing agencies.  
  
  
  
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International): CGFNS is the leading credentialing organization for foreign-educated nurses.  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: Academic records and transcripts must be in English.  
    
    
    
  • Who Can Translate: CGFNS prefers that the translation be done by the educational institution itself. However, if the school cannot provide one, CGFNS offers its own translation service for a fee, or you can use an external professional service. For documents like license validation forms, you may have the form translated into the native language for the licensing body to complete, but they must return both the native language and English forms directly to CGFNS.  
    
    
    

Dentistry: ADEA CAAPID

• American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (ADEA CAAPID): This is the centralized application service for foreign-trained dentists seeking to enter advanced standing programs in the U.S..  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: ADEA CAAPID does not accept foreign transcripts directly. Instead, applicants must submit a course-by-course evaluation from either World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). The translation requirements are therefore those set by WES or ECE.  
    
    
    
  • Example: Some dental schools, like the University of Colorado, specify that if a dental degree is not in English, it must be submitted with a notarized translation from an official translator.  
    
    
    

Veterinary Medicine: AVMA (ECFVG) and AAVSB (PAVE)

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) – Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG): The ECFVG program is a primary pathway for foreign veterinarians to become licensed in the U.S..  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: Diplomas and transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.  
    
    
    
  • Format: The translation must be on the translation company's official letterhead and include a signed statement affirming the translation's accuracy and the translator's qualifications.  
    
    
    
• American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) – Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE): PAVE is an alternative certification program for foreign veterinary graduates.  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: Any required document not in English must include an English translation prepared and certified by an approved professional translation service. The original language documents must be submitted along with the certified translations.  
    
    
    

Physical Therapy: FSBT and FCCPT

• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBT): The FSBPT administers the national licensure exam (NPTE). For foreign graduates, it directs applicants to a specialized credentialing agency.  
  
  
  
• Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT): The FCCPT evaluates the credentials of foreign-educated physical therapists. It has one of the most specific translation protocols.  
  
  
  
  • Process: If your documents are not in English, you must arrange for a translation by a professional translator. Crucially, the document should not be translated before it is sent to the FCCPT.  
    
    
    
  • Submission: The professional translator must send the translated copies directly to the FCCPT. The applicant is not permitted to handle the final translations.  
    
    
    
  • Format: The submission from the translator must include the original language copy and a notarized statement attesting to the translator's certification.  
    
    
    

Technical, Design, Business, and Legal Professions

These fields are governed by national councils and state-level boards, each with a clear process for foreign applicants.


Architecture: NCARB

• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): NCARB facilitates licensure for architects and manages the certification process for foreign professionals through its International Architect Path.  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: All official forms and transcripts must be submitted in English.  
    
    
    
  • Process: If your university or credentialing authority cannot provide documents in English, they must forward the original documents to a translation service. The translation service is then responsible for sending three items directly to NCARB: the original document, the English translation, and a completed Translator Statement of Confirmation form.  
    
    
    

Engineering and Surveying: NCEES

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): NCEES provides services for licensure, including a Credentials Evaluations service for candidates with degrees from outside the U.S..  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: All documents supporting an application that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. For the NCEES Credentials Evaluation, official documents must be provided in English. If they cannot be, a literal English translation from a certified translation company is required.  
    
    
    

Accounting: NASBA / NIES

• National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) – International Evaluation Services (NIES): NIES is the primary service used by foreign-educated candidates seeking to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the U.S..  
  
  
  
  • Who Can Translate: NIES requires certified English translations from a member of the American Translators Association (ATA), the applicant's university, or the ministry of education of the issuing country.  
    
    
    
  • Format: Translations must be verbatim, typed, in the same format as the original, and include the translator's signature, date, and full contact information.  
    
    
    
  • Note: NIES also offers its own in-house translation services, which provides a benchmark for service and pricing.  
    
    
    

Law: NCBE and State Bar Associations

• National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE): The NCBE develops the bar exam but does not set eligibility or translation rules. This authority rests with individual state bar associations.  
  
  
  
  • State-Specific Rules: Requirements vary significantly by state. For example, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners requires all documents to be "written in or translated into English". The New York State Board of Law Examiners also has specific rules requiring English translations for foreign academic credentials. Applicants must check the rules for the specific state in which they wish to practice.  
    
    
    

Education and Social Sciences

Licensure in these fields is managed at the state level, but the process consistently relies on a standard set of approved credential evaluation agencies.


K-12 Teaching: State Departments of Education

• There is no national board for teacher certification; this is handled by each state's Department of Education.  
  
  
  
  • The Process: States universally require foreign-trained teachers to obtain a course-by-course credential evaluation from an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).  
    
    
    
  • Translation Requirement: The translation rules you must follow are those of the specific NACES or AICE member agency you choose for your evaluation.

Psychology: ASPPB

• Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB): The ASPPB serves state licensing boards and administers the national EPPP exam.  
  
  
  
  • The Process: Like teaching, licensure is granted at the state level. The ASPPB directs internationally trained applicants to use a member of NACES to "translate your education and degree into a format that U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions can compare with their specific requirements".  
    
    
    
  • Translation Requirement: Your translation must meet the standards of the NACES-approved credentialing agency you select.

Social Work: CSWE / ISWDRES

• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) – International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES): To become licensed in the U.S., a foreign social work degree must be recognized as equivalent by the CSWE's ISWDRES.  
  
  
  
  • What's Required: If your course descriptions or other academic documents are not in English, you will need to provide professional translations.  
    
    
    
  • Who Can Translate: Applicants are not permitted to translate their own documents, even if fluent in English. A professional translation service is required to ensure accuracy and acceptance.  
    
    
    

Your Partner in Professional Licensure

As this guide shows, the translation requirements for U.S. professional licensure are detailed, specific, and vary widely. A rejected translation can set your career goals back by weeks or even months.
At D&T Translations, we are more than just a translation service; we are experts in compliance. We understand the unique requirements of each board and agency, from the direct-submission protocol of the FCCPT to the ATA-member preference of NASBA. We provide certified, word-for-word translations that are guaranteed to meet the standards of your target institution.
Don't let a documentation error stand in the way of your professional future. Contact D&T Translations today for a free quote and ensure your application is perfect the first time.

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