How do British qualifications translate?

[thejoz 0]

I'm job-hunting at the moment (in the US, obviously!) and I'm wondering if anyone has any definitive answers as to how GCSEs and A-Levels "translate" over here. I've heard people say "well, it's more or less the equivalent of a High School Diploma/GED", but no-one seems to be able to be more specific than that.

It's not really a huge deal, it's just that I'd hate for potential employers to look at my resume, see that my qualifications are foreign and think "that's too much effort/research to work out, NEXT". If I can put as a footnote, "this is approx. the equivalent of X in the US", or something, I feel that might help me a little. It shows initiative, at the very least.

[Kirsten UK 2]

I have been advised to use a professional 'translation of foreign transcript' company. I'm not sure if that is the correct term but there are many such companies in the USA that literally 'translate' our qualifications and produce a document with the American equivalne t qualifications. Obviously it costs quite a bit! You will need to be able to fax all of your certificates, transcripts and possibly the curriculum/details of hours studied etc to them.

I only found this out as I am a registered professional and will need to be registered with the American equivalent to work out there also. Good luck!

[Laura+Tom 2]

I asked this a while ago and was told these translation companies don't translate GCSE's or A'levels only degrees.

Tom told me they would just show I passed the equivalent of high school. I still don't really know how to show this on a resume.

[thejoz 0]

Well alrighty. I mean, I'm not looking to translate a degree or anything like that, it's just my GCSEs and A-Levels. I mean, from what I've read, GCSEs are more or less the equivalent of a High School Diploma, and A-Levels count for a certain amount of college credit when applying for a degree in the US, but they don't translate exactly.

The kind of work I'm looking for is just whatever, for the time being. I'm not a certified professional anything, and when I do get a degree, plan to do so in the US anyway. I just wondered if there was anything more detailed I could put on a resume. If not, no big deal - I can explain my qualifications at an interview.

[Kirsten UK 2]

Try googling it, I found something a while back about school qualifications and stuff, it may gove you a better idea of the US equivalent.

[thejoz 0]

Aha! For anyone interested, looky here:

http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-education-uk-glossary.htm

Translates UK qualifications and terms used into American equivalents.

[Kirsten UK 2]

I've read that 5 GCSE's are the equivalent to a High School Diploma. Also, and I don't know how accurate this is...many moons ago when I was doing my A Levels, my tutor was on an international board for the subject, and he said that one A level is the equivalent to a US degree.....whether he meant associates i'm not sure...but that would be my guess.

[NickyMcMillan 0]

To be honest.. I've found my a-levels to be pretty much worthless out here. Kinda wishing I went ahead and gone to Uni, when I had the chance. But then again. I spent 8 great years with a company back in the UK, straight out of school, progressed with the company and was earning decent money, without the need to get into debt for Uni.

Anyhow I'm back at school now. Good luck!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

I am increasingly grateful to have a U.S college degree (especially after watching tonight's BBC Ten O'Clock news, where the 7.6% rate of unemployment is one of the headline stories )

[Laura+Tom 2]

I'm hoping my degree will get me somewhere.

[Pooky 3,784]

It's not so much of a problem with "O" and "A" Levels. High School education here does not get you up to "A" Level standard.

Professional translation is what you need if, like me, you have a professional qualification. I went the non-Uni route to gain my qualification, so I didn't get the BSc after my name. But the qualification itself is equivalent to a Masters Degree here (Uni degree, plus three years structured experience plus peer review) and I had quite some difficulty getting it assessed here.

[Laura+Tom 2]

So is it worth getting a 'bog standard' BSc (Hons) translated?

[Kirsten UK 2]

So is it worth getting a 'bog standard' BSc (Hons) translated?

Haha !! Your bog standard British degree is worth alot translated, its more like an American Masters, like the previous poster said. However, I am about to lay down $300 (including postage) to get my qualifications 'translated'. I've got no choice though as I work in an industry that is regulated.

Edited February 7, 2009 by Kirsten UK

[Laura+Tom 2]

So is it worth getting a 'bog standard' BSc (Hons) translated?

Haha !! Your bog standard British degree is worth alot translated, its more like an American Masters, like the previous poster said. However, I am about to lay down $300 (including postage) to get mine qualifications 'translated'. I've got no choice though as I work in an industry that is regulated.

Even if they know it's a BSc? Don't they not have BSc's in the US?

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Even if they know it's a BSc? Don't they not have BSc's in the US?

They do, but they just abbreviate it to 'BS' (no small 'c')