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This is not an official IQAS assessment. The recommendations in this guide are for your information only. These credential comparisons represent common educational patterns within each country. They don’t take into account the recognition status of the institution through which a credential was obtained, the authenticity of the documentation, or the particular pattern of education followed by an individual.
Country overview
Official country name: United States of America
Location: North America
Capital: Washington D.C.
Area: 9.8 million square km
Population: 309 million (2010 census)
Race: The major racial groups are Caucasian (72%), African-American (13%), and Asian (5%) (2010 census).
Religion: Christianity is the predominant religion, with Protestants and Roman Catholics accounting for 51% and 24% of the adult population respectively.
Languages: English is the predominant language for government, business, society and education and the official language in over half of the states.
Founding Date: The official date for the birth of the United States of America is July 4, 1776.
Administration: The US is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and Washington D.C., the national capital, as well as several territories under US jurisdiction.
School education
School education spans 12 grades. Students spend from 5 to 8 years in elementary education, followed by 4 to 7 years of secondary education. They have to meet credit and exit examination requirements prescribed by the state education authorities in order to graduate and receive the High School Diploma.
Higher education overview
Higher education institutions in the US award certificates, diplomas and degrees from the associate to doctoral levels.
Associate degrees such as Associate of Arts and Associate of Science are 2-year programs following a high school diploma.
Bachelor’s degree, also called a baccalaureate degree, involves 4 years of fulltime study after high school. The term post-baccalaureate credential is sometimes used to describe programs completed after a bachelor’s degree.
First professional degrees in fields such as law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy involve at least 3 years of fulltime study, with entry based on a bachelor’s degree or undergraduate study in required subjects. Though they use the term “doctor” in the title, such as Juris Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and Doctor of Pharmacy, they are not advanced doctoral degrees but entry-level qualifications for obtaining licensure in certain professions.
Master’s degrees such as Master of Arts and Master of Science involve 1 to 2 years of fulltime study following a bachelor’s degree.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and other research doctorates involve 4 or more years of fulltime study following a master’s degree in a related field or 5 or more years following a bachelor’s degree.
Technical education
Vocational and technical education, called career and technical education (CTE) in the US, prepares students for entry-level jobs in occupations requiring less than a bachelor’s degree. Typical CTE programs include certificates, diplomas and associate degrees, with entry based on the high school diploma.
Associate degrees such as Associate of Applied Arts and Associate of Applied Science involve 2 years of fulltime study and allow graduates to enter certain professions such as engineering technology, dental hygiene, and nursing.
Institutions
The US has over 4,000 degree-granting institutions awarding 3 million degrees of various levels each year. Accreditation status largely determines whether credits and credentials completed at one institution are accepted by other institutions, licensing bodies, and government agencies. Accreditation may apply to an institution (institutional accreditation) or a specific program of study (programmatic accreditation).
Regional accreditation is the most widely accepted type of institutional accreditation in the US. It is carried out by 6 organizations that cover different geographic regions:
- •Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges: Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools: The Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: Commission on Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
Both the US Department of Education (USDE) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) conduct periodic reviews and publish updated lists of accrediting agencies they recognize. In addition to the regional accreditors, many national faith-related accreditors, career-related accreditors, and programmatic accreditors are recognized by either USDE or CHEA or both.
Credentials comparison
| Credential | Entrance requirements | Length of study | IQAS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| High School Diploma | Completion of Grade 8 | 4 years | Generally compares to the completion of a High School Diploma. |
| Associate Degree | High School Diploma | 2 years | Generally compares to the completion of a post-secondary Diploma. |
| Bachelor’s Degree | High School Diploma | 4-5 years | Generally compares to the completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree. |
| Bachelor’s Degree in Education | High School Diploma | 4 years | Generally compares to the completion of a four-year Bachelor of Education degree. |
| Juris Doctor | Bachelor’s degree | 3 years | Generally compares to the completion of a first professional university degree in law. |
| Doctor of Medicine | At least three years of pre-professional undergraduate study | 4 years | Generally compares to the completion of a first professional university degree in medicine. |
| Doctor of Dental Surgery / Doctor of Dental Medicine | At least three years of pre-professional undergraduate study | 4 years | Generally compares to the completion of a first professional university degree in dentistry. |
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | At least two years of pre-professional undergraduate study | 4 years | Generally compares to the completion of a first professional university degree in veterinary medicine. |
| Master’s Degree | Bachelor’s degree | 1-2 years | Generally compares to the completion of a Master’s degree. |
| Doctor of Philosophy | Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree | At least 4 years following a Master’s degree or 5 years following a Bachelor’s degree | Generally compares to the completion of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. |
Full credential templates
These templates give detailed information on educational credentials awarded for programs of study completed in the United States of the America.
The templates include:
- official name of credential
- alternative names
- standardized English translation (if applicable)
- time period the credential was offered
- issuing body, admission requirements into the program
- descriptive program information
- recommendations on how the credential compares to educational standards in Alberta
United States of America - credential templates
Additional resources
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
National Center for Educational Statistics
US Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs