The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about UTRGV

UTRGV requirements in detail

What each evaluation agency asks for the translation

WES asks for an exact, word-for-word translation by a professional translator, such as a certified translation agency, and does not accept translations by applicants (WES).

FCSA, based in Austin, asks for a certified English translation and accepts translations from most professional agencies in the US or abroad; for documents in Spanish it also accepts non-certified translations, even by the applicant, and it does not translate itself (FCSA).

IEE accepts a certified translator's work but not translations by the client, a notary public or an uncertified translator, and sells its own at $60 per page (IEE).

The Evaluation Company says an outside translator must be certified by the American Translators Association, or you can order its own translation after your evaluation application is complete (TEC). If you choose TEC, see the ATA section below.

High school records go to an agency too

Many universities evaluate foreign secondary records themselves.

UTRGV does not: international and domestic undergraduate applicants who attended a foreign high school or college must submit a foreign credential evaluation from one of the four agencies (Catalog 2025-2026: international undergraduate admission).

If you are still enrolled abroad, you request an evaluation of the work completed so far and a final one at the end of the term; for high school, a final evaluation after graduation.

For transfer credit, UTRGV encourages you to send course descriptions and a copy of your foreign transcript along with the evaluation before you enroll, each with a certified English translation if it is not in English (Catalog 2025-2026: international undergraduate admission). That translation goes to UTRGV, not to the agency.

Where UTRGV's graduate pages differ

For graduate applicants, the admissions page lists the steps as an evaluation from WES, FCSA, SpanTran or IEE and then a certified English translation of your educational records.

The 2025-2026 graduate catalog says a notarized English translation must be included in the evaluation, and that applicants who miss the deadlines for evaluated transcripts and translations cannot register for future semesters.

We have not resolved the difference for you. Notarization can be added to an eVerbary certified translation at checkout for $34.90 per order; if you are unsure, ask the Graduate College before you order.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Secondary school transcripts and diplomas, for the agency evaluation
• University transcripts and degree certificates, for the course-by-course evaluation
• Course descriptions, which UTRGV encourages for transfer credit
• Partial transcripts if you are still enrolled abroad, for the first of two evaluations

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.

Uploading the translation to UTRGV

• The translation goes to the evaluation agency with your records (WES, for example, takes uploads in your WES account: WES: translation requirements); the agency sends its evaluation directly to UTRGV (Undergraduate international admissions).

• Course descriptions and the transcript copy for transfer credit, with their certified translations, go to UTRGV before you start enrolling (Catalog 2025-2026: international undergraduate admission).

If you need a translator certified by ATA

Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:

To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for UTRGV, which program it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).

We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.

For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and upload it with the copy of the original wherever the institution asks for it.

Frequently asked questions