What is your refund policy?
As a general rule, FCSA will refund client fees only under the following circumstances.
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Timely client request. FCSA will refund the client’s full fee, minus a $25 processing charge, if the client requests cancellation by email prior to the completion of the evaluation. Individual optional services may be cancelled as well, and the respective amounts would be fully refunded
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Rush service unavailable. FCSA guarantees the prompt completion and dispatch of evaluations whose clients have paid for a rush service. In cases when, for any reason, FCSA is unable to meet the promised deadline, the client’s rush fee will be refunded in its entirety
Any refund request on the part of the client that falls outside of these parameters will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It must be emphasized that cases which fall under any of the following descriptions are not considered grounds for a refund, nor for any other form of restitution:
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Disagreement between the client and FCSA regarding the results of an evaluation
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The subsequent refusal of any educational institution, prospective employer, etc., to accept an evaluation performed by FCSA
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The failure of the client to meet an application deadline due to delays in evaluation processing and/or return
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The submission of fraudulent documentation for evaluation
Reimbursees who have paid via credit card will have the amount of refund credited to the same account. Those who have submitted payment by check or money order will be refunded by means of a company check, which may take two to three weeks processing time prior to mailing.
What is your policy for requesting changes to an existing evaluation?
Revisions can be requested for two years from the evaluation’s completion.
FCSA maintains a file of each evaluation performed for a period of two years from the date of completion. Clients who wish to request changes to their existing evaluations may do so during this time period at a reduced rate. to request a revision:
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Complete a Request Revision form
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Pay the $65 Revision Fee (unless an optional, additional service is selected)
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Indicate whether the revised evaluation should be a General Statement of Equivalency or a Detailed Evaluation of Coursework
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Indicate the FCSA ID number (or include a copy of the existing evaluation report)
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Describe what changes are being requested
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Provide the additional documentation (with translations, if necessary) upon which the revision should be based.
Unless the client selects a rush service, a revision follows the same turnaround schedule as a standard evaluation request (approximately two weeks).
What is your policy for correction of an existing evaluation?
Integrity is at the very core of our business, and FCSA places a high value on professional ethics. We strive for accuracy in every evaluation we perform, employing years of experience, thorough research, and a commitment not just to staying current with, but participating fully in the development of new and emerging equivalency standards.
Please note that evaluations can only be reviewed and/or revised within two years of the date of original evaluation.
Clients who believe their completed evaluations contain one or more errors, should provide FCSA a detailed description of each problem in writing. Inquiries may be sent via e-mail and should include the FCSA ID number that appears on the report.
Upon receipt by FCSA, complaints will be forwarded to an evaluator. Once the evaluator has had an opportunity to examine the report in question and to conduct any further necessary research, they will make the determination as to whether any changes should be made. In those cases when revisions are deemed appropriate, FCSA will, at no additional cost to the client, provide updated official copies of the report.
If, upon due consideration, the evaluator elects not to make any changes to the report, they will send a written explanation to the client. Clients who choose to appeal an evaluator’s decision may request a review of their case. As before, the question(s) should be submitted to FCSA in writing, along with any further information that the client feels may support his or her case. Cases under appeal are brought before the FCSA review committee, and all decisions of this committee are regarded as final. As before, if sufficient cause is found to justify making changes to the existing evaluation, FCSA will provide updated official copies to the client at no additional cost. In cases when the committee agrees with the results of the report, the client will be informed of this decision and will receive a written explanation. Decisions of the FCSA review committee are regarded as final.
Evaluations are performed based upon the documentary evidence presented to FCSA along with the application and fee. While FCSA makes a good faith effort to notify clients when further documentation is needed, it should be emphasized that this is a step we take out of professional courtesy. It is in fact the responsibility of each client to ensure that his or her submission is supported by as complete a set of documentary evidence as possible. Academic credentials provided to FCSA after the evaluation has already been completed may not be used to support correction requests. In order for such materials to be included as part of the evaluation, the client must apply for a revision.
What is your policy on guaranteeing credential acceptance?
While FCSA’s evaluations are widely acknowledged throughout the United States, we cannot guarantee that any specific organization will accept our reports. We strongly suggest that clients with questions about whether a given educational agency, licensing board, employer, etc., take the precautionary step of contacting that organization to verify whether it will accept an FCSA evaluation.
No government agency in the United States (at either the federal or state level) that regulates the practice of comparative educational analysis, and there is likewise no set of universally recognized standards for the conversion of academic credentials from the context of one country’s educational system to that of the U.S. That is not to say that there are no agreed-upon standards at all. Numerous consortia of international education experts and academic administration professionals exist for the very purpose of establishing equivalency standards that are accurate, up-to-date, and fair. FCSA plays an active role in this process, and embraces the standards established by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).
In light of this it should be understood that an academic credentials evaluation is, essentially, an advisory opinion, and has no standing as an “official”, “certified”, or otherwise legally enforceable document. Organizations to which an evaluation has been submitted – public or private, educational or commercial – are entitled to decide for themselves whether or not to abide by the opinions expressed therein, or to request that applicants have evaluations performed by one or more specific agencies.
Customer Support
Our customer support team is always happy to answer your questions. Before contacting support, please check out our FAQs for answers to the most frequently asked questions, including:
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Where are FCSA evaluations recognized?
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How many different types of evaluations are there?
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How do I know which one I need?
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After I’ve applied, when will I receive the report?
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How can I check the status of my application?