Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute

What Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute does

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI) is a California-incorporated, privately held credential evaluation firm founded in 1994 by Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert. The company evaluates academic credentials obtained outside the United States and recommends U.S. educational equivalence for use by colleges and universities, state professional licensing boards, employers, and immigration authorities. Its core output is a fee-for-service report delivered as either a Basic (Document-by-Document) or Comprehensive (Course-by-Course with Grades & GPA) evaluation, with per-report pricing ranging from $115 to $310+ and optional rush processing ($200–$250). ACEI also runs geographic-specific evaluation lines for the U.K./Europe, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Southeast Asia, and Scotland, and is the exclusive international credential evaluator for the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) across 63 jurisdictions.

The technology backbone is the proprietary International Database of Educational Systems (IDES), a curated repository of educational structures, institutional status, and grading systems covering 190+ countries and 1,500+ grading scales. ACEI layers digital products on this data: INFOEXPRESS (per-query rapid credential lookup at $15), the AI-powered GPA Calculator (freemium through $549/month tiers with OCR ingestion), and the recently launched Country Hub™ with the Global Credential Integrity Index™ (GCII™) at $949/year. Document intake is digital via 15+ electronic credential platforms (Parchment, MyCreds.ca, Qualification Check, NAD-India, etc.) and the Liberty Hill, Texas processing center. Distribution is hybrid: a self-serve consumer portal plus dedicated B2B channels for institutional clients and licensing boards. The company is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and operates with a stated 1–10 employee team, with all evaluations reviewed by senior evaluators holding 10+ years of experience.

Name

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute

Legal name

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc.

Website

https://acei-global.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (ACEI) is a privately held, California-incorporated firm founded in 1994 that evaluates foreign academic credentials for U.S. educational equivalence, serving individuals, colleges and universities, and state professional licensing boards across 190+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Credential Evaluation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Credentialing, Academic Credit, Assessment & Transcript Services (EDAIAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Psychometric Standards, Test Development & Validation Authorities (EDADAFAG), Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations (EDADACAJ)

Keywords

• Credential evaluation services
• International academic evaluation
• Foreign credential assessment
• GPA conversion tools
• Educational equivalency reports

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Credential Evaluation Reports: Fee-for-service evaluation reports charged per credential level and report type. Basic Reports range from $115-$165; Comprehensive Reports from $175-$310+. Additional fees for rush processing, duplicate reports, and delivery.
2. GPA Calculator Subscription: Tiered subscription plans for the GPA Calculator tool: Free View (one-time use), Quick View ($9.99/report), Pro View ($199/month or $249/month), and Pro View+ ($499/month or $549/month).
3. Country Hub Subscription: Annual subscription for Country Hub access at $949/year providing credential intelligence for 190+ countries with various access tiers.
4. College Advising Services: Initial consultation at $200 for 45-minute Zoom meeting, with comprehensive advising packages at $2,250 per category for student's top 5 colleges.
5. Translation Services (Referral): Partner referral commission from Language Clarity Translations for document translation services required for credential evaluations.
6. Training Services: Virtual Intensive Training (VIT)© program providing credential evaluation training to individuals at schools and institutions, both domestic and international.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (ACEI) evaluates international educational credentials and recommends U.S. educational equivalence through Document-by-Document (Basic) and Course-by-Course with Grades & GPA (Comprehensive) reports. The company also offers geographic-specific evaluation services for U.K./Europe, Gulf Region, and Southeast Asia, supported by digital tools including the GPA Calculator, Country Hub with Global Credential Integrity Index (GCII), and INFOEXPRESS on-demand queries.

Product overview

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (ACEI) offers a comprehensive portfolio of credential evaluation services organized around its core evaluation platform, which evaluates international academic credentials and recommends U.S. educational equivalence. The portfolio spans geographic-specific evaluation services (U.S., U.K./Europe, Gulf Region, Southeast Asia), digital tools (GPA Calculator© and Country Hub™ with Global Credential Integrity Index), institutional support services (INFOEXPRESS®, Program Curriculum Review, Virtual Intensive Training), and supplementary services (Translation, College Advisory, Experiential Learning Evaluation, E-Learning Webinars). The core evaluation service produces Document-by-Document (Basic) and Course-by-Course with Grades & GPA (Comprehensive) reports, with Rush Service options available. Integration with third-party document verification platforms (Qualification Check, Parchment, MyCreds.ca, etc.) and translation services enables streamlined digital document submission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INFOEXPRESS: On-demand credential evaluation service providing targeted answers to specific topics within one business day or less for university admissions teams.
• The Welcome Project
• GPA Calculator
• Country Hub
• Global Credential Integrity Index (GCII)

Products and services

• Credential Evaluation Service (U.S. Use) ACEI's primary evaluation service that evaluates educational credentials from around the world and recommends U.S. educational equivalence. Provides Document-by-Document (Basic) and Course-by-Course with Grades & GPA (Comprehensive) evaluation reports.
• Evaluation Service for U.K. & Europe Credential evaluations accepted for admission, employment, and licensing in the U.K. and Europe with average turnaround of 5-7 business days and Rush Service available.
• Evaluation Service for Gulf Region Credential evaluations trusted for use in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE for admission, employment, and licensing purposes.
• Evaluation Service for Southeast Asia Credential evaluations for Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam for admission, employment, and licensing purposes.
• GPA Calculator Digital tool providing fast, clear GPA and credit conversion snapshots at a glance, supporting international GPA conversion for applicants, institutions, and decision-makers worldwide. Features AI-powered OCR input, multiple grading systems, and downloadable reports.
• Country Hub with Global Credential Integrity Index (GCII) Deep-dive credential intelligence platform providing grading systems, equivalencies, and integrity indicators for 190+ countries. Part of the Global Credential Integrity Index (GCII) offering verified authorities, education structures, benchmark credentials, documentation standards, and risk indicators.
• INFOEXPRESS On-demand credential evaluation consultation service providing targeted answers to specific topics within one business day or less. Offers queries on accreditation status, credential equivalence, and grading scales for admissions teams.
• Program Curriculum Review Customized solutions for institutions to overcome enrollment challenges, establish articulation agreements, and evaluate international curricula. Determines accreditation, reviews curriculum and syllabus, and recommends credit conversion.
• Virtual Intensive Training (VIT) Concentrated instruction from basic to advanced information covering international evaluation methods, country-specific guidelines, and fraud detection techniques for credential evaluators at higher education institutions.
• Experiential Learning Evaluation Experience-based learning evaluation for aviation field training, assisting individuals in evaluating non-traditional overseas learning acquired through experience for academic credit at participating U.S. institutions.
• College Advisory Services Personalized guidance for students to achieve higher education goals. Includes 45-minute initial consultation, college/university selection assistance, application review, essay feedback, and scholarship guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,927+ institutions and certification boards recognize ACEI evaluation reports
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAVSB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, representing veterinary medicine regulatory boards in 63 jurisdictions including all U.S. states, DC, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and ten Canadian provinces. ACEI is AAVSB's exclusive provider of international credential evaluation services for veterinary licensing applicants.
• Language Clarity TranslationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLanguage Clarity Translations provides high-quality translations of academic and related documents in all major languages. They work directly with ACEI to ensure translations are accepted without further validation. ACEI refers clients requiring document translation to Language Clarity Translations.
• Bell-Wylie ConsultingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBell-Wylie Consulting, based in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, provides consultancy services to organizations and credential evaluation services to institutions and individuals. They partner with ACEI for Scotland-specific credential evaluations.
• The Center for Global Advancement of Community Colleges (CGACC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGACC is dedicated to increasing global knowledge and understanding about U.S. community colleges, bridging cultures through awareness, advancing institutional internationalization efforts, and serving as a resource to expand global educational opportunities.
• International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEASA is a non-profit organization established to help universities and universities of technology in South Africa respond to international educational trends. ACEI collaborates with IEASA on joint webinars and credential evaluation resources.
• iTEP InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartneriTEP International is ACEI's partner in The Welcome Project©, offering displaced persons and refugees assistance with credential evaluation for U.S. educational equivalence and English language proficiency assessment at significantly reduced fees.
• Qualification ChecksupportingTechnology or IntegrationQualification Check is a verification service that verifies educational records at 40,000+ education institutions in over 190 countries. ACEI accepts verification from Qualification Check as an alternative to document submission.
• Groningen Declaration NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEI is a proud signatory of the Groningen Declaration Network, which seeks common ground in best serving the academic and professional mobility needs of citizens worldwide by bringing together key stakeholders in the Digital Student Data Ecosystem.
• Video ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVideo Project produces documentary films to educate, inspire, and foster a more just and sustainable society. Founded in 1983, they are recognized as one of the leading documentary film distributors to educational institutions in the U.S.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• World Education Services (WES): WES is the largest U.S.-based credential evaluation service, competing head-to-head with ACEI on international credential evaluations for U.S. admissions, employment, and immigration. Operates in the same product category and serves overlapping institutional customers.
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): ECE is another major AICE-endorsed credential evaluation service providing Basic and Comprehensive reports for international students and professionals. Direct competitor in the same space with similar service tiers and pricing.
• Scholaro: Online credential evaluation service offering GPA calculator and evaluation reports. Competes with ACEI on the digital-first evaluation experience and on AI/OCR-driven international GPA conversion.
• SpanTran: SpanTran provides credential evaluation and translation services primarily for immigration, education, and professional licensing. Direct competitor in the same U.S. credential evaluation niche as ACEI.
• International Education Evaluations (IEE): IEE is an AICE-member credential evaluation service providing foreign credential evaluations for U.S. higher education institutions and licensing boards. Overlapping customer base and similar evaluation report types.
• Josef Silny & Associates: Established credential evaluation service with a long operating history in the U.S., serving universities and professional licensing boards. Directly comparable in service offerings and customer profiles.

Broad incumbents

• AACRAO: The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers operates the EDGE database, an essential reference for credential evaluators. Broader organization in the same ecosystem that sets standards ACEI must align to.
• National Student Clearinghouse: U.S. academic document verification and exchange platform integrated with ACEI. While primarily U.S.-focused, the platform's expansion into verified credentials could overlap with ACEI's evaluation verification workflow over time.

Emerging players

• Parchment: Digital credential exchange platform integrated with ACEI for electronic document delivery. As native digital credentials gain adoption, Parchment could partly substitute for third-party evaluation — making it both a channel partner and a competitive risk.

Others

• Qualifications Check (Qualification Check): International credential verification service covering 40,000+ institutions in 190+ countries. Operates as a referral partner to ACEI, with potential to disintermediate on the verification layer of the evaluation process.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academic-credentials-evaluation-institute-inc-acei
• Xx.com/aceiglobal

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute