AcademicsConvalidation
Convalidation (or otherwise referred to as Apostille) is the process whereby exchange students may translate the grades and credit, which they have received during their exchange at the host high school, for credit from their home high schools abroad. Students seeking convalidation are generally required to submit official, signed, and sealed school transcripts to certain identified agencies in order to receive a seal of validation, certifying the grades as authentic. These grades can then be provided to the student’s home country high school for transfer credit.
Requirements
Not all exchange students are required to receive convalidation, however, students from certain countries are more likely to go through this process. Exchange students from Brazil, Italy, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Ecuador are typically required to convalidate for their American grades. Some students may also seek enrollment in certain classes, which are transferable to the home country high school, or they may be able to receive credit for participating in sports at their host high school.
Convalidation is the student’s responsibility and the student should not expect or require the host family or their Local Coordinator to complete this process for the student. Since many students are not fully able to complete the convalidation process prior to leaving the U.S., and these processes usually cannot be completed by the student from the home country, many students do sometimes need assistance from their host family or Local Coordinator. If they are unable to provide help, please contact the CIEE Support Team for help.
Convalidation Downloads
Brazilian Student Convalidation Instructions
Italian Student Convalidation Instructions
South Korean Student Apostille Instructions
Japanese Student Apostille Instructions
Mexico Student Convalidation Instructions
Spain Student Convalidation Instructions
Ecuadorian Student Convalidation Instructions
Venezuelan Student Covalidation Instructions
Convalidation Process
We recommend that students take the following steps for their convalidated grades:
- Contact the host high school and request the official copy of your final transcripts to be sent to the host family. Provide the guidance counselor, registrar or administrator with a stamped envelope for these grades to be mailed.
- Prepare the envelope for your official transcript to be sent to the appropriate agency. See the detailed instructions below regarding the convalidation process by country. The envelope should be pre-addressed and stamped so that the official transcript can be easily sent inside it to the proper agency. Also include the proper payment by purchasing a money order in advance at your local post office and filling it out with the appropriate information. Include as well a pre-stamped envelope for your convalidated grades to be sent back to your host family.
- Prepare a prepaid envelope for your convalidated grades to be sent from your host parents to you in your home country. You may want to send them through a system that provides tracking, such as FedEx. Remember to bring the tracking number home, so that you can monitor the delivery process once your family sends these grades in the mail.
