Afghan Degree Evaluation: A Guide for Pashto-Speaking Students

If you studied in Afghanistan and need your education recognized in the United States, an Afghan degree evaluation states the U.S. equivalent of what you earned. For many Pashto-speaking students, from Kabul and Kandahar to Nangarhar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the academic work is done; the hard part is paperwork in Pashto or Dari, dates in the Solar Hijri calendar and universities that are difficult to contact. This guide covers every level, from the Grade 12 certificate to bachelor's, master's and medical degrees, and is written for students, workers and families who have resettled, as well as the attorneys and caseworkers who help them. A standard MotaWord evaluation costs $65 and is delivered in 72 hours; same-day delivery costs $115 when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday.

Why Pashto-Speaking Students Need an Academic Evaluation

U.S. institutions need to know what your education is worth in their own system. The most common reasons for an evaluation are:

• USCIS and immigration: employment-based petitions such as the H-1B and EB-2 need proof of a U.S. degree equivalent, and evaluations are also used in adjustment of status and other filings where education matters.
• Employment: U.S. employers use the report to confirm that your Afghan degree meets a job's education requirement.
• University admissions and credit transfer: colleges check your Grade 12 certificate or degree, and transfer credit is decided from a course-by-course report.
• Professional licensing: boards for nursing, engineering, teaching and accounting usually require a course-by-course evaluation.
• Military enlistment: recruiters may ask for an evaluation of your Grade 12 certificate.

Find out how an evaluation for U.S. college admissions presents your Afghan credentials. The same report format also works for many job applications.

The Education System in Afghanistan at a Glance

School in Afghanistan runs for twelve years: primary school (Grades 1 to 6), lower secondary (Grades 7 to 9) and upper secondary (Grades 10 to 12). Graduates of Grade 12 receive a graduation certificate from the Ministry of Education and, for public universities, sit the national entrance examination known as the Kankor. Post-secondary institutes, including teacher training colleges and technical institutes, award two-year diplomas often called Grade 14 diplomas.

Higher education is overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), which recognizes public and private universities and attests their degrees. Kabul University is the oldest university in the country. Other public universities include Kabul Polytechnic University, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Nangarhar University, Kandahar University, Herat University and Balkh University, alongside a large number of private institutions.

Grading and Calendars on Afghan Records

University transcripts usually show grades on a 0 to 100 scale for each subject, and many list credits per semester. Dates are written in the Solar Hijri calendar, which must be converted to the Gregorian calendar for U.S. use. Records are issued in Pashto, Dari or both, and some universities also issue English versions.

Studying After the Changes in Afghanistan

Since the December 2022 ban on women attending university, many Afghan women cannot finish their degrees or collect final documents in person. Many men and women have also left the country with only part of their records. Evaluators work with what can be documented: provisional certificates, partial transcripts and attested copies can all be evaluated, and the report states what the documents show.

How Afghan Credentials Are Evaluated in the U.S.

Evaluators look at the entry requirement and the length of each program, and they confirm that the institution was recognized in Afghanistan. The evaluation report decides the final equivalency.

Grade 12 and Grade 14 Certificates

The Grade 12 graduation certificate is usually evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. Grade 14 diplomas from teacher training colleges and technical institutes are usually evaluated as secondary education plus up to two years of post-secondary study, depending on the program and its entry requirement.

Bachelor's Degrees

Most bachelor's degrees in Afghanistan last four years after Grade 12 and require the Kankor or an equivalent entry process. A four-year bachelor's degree from a recognized university is usually evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Degrees that took longer, such as engineering or pharmacy programs, are still evaluated on what the program required, not on how long you took.

Master's Degrees and Doctorates

Master's programs in Afghanistan usually take two years after a bachelor's degree. A master's that requires a four-year bachelor's for entry is usually evaluated as a U.S. master's degree. Doctoral programs inside Afghanistan have been limited, and many Afghan academics earned doctorates abroad; those are evaluated under the system of the country that awarded them.

Medical and Professional Degrees

Medical degrees from Afghan medical faculties take several years longer than a bachelor's degree and are usually evaluated as a first professional degree in medicine. Physicians still follow the separate ECFMG and licensing route. Law, engineering and education degrees are evaluated by their program length and field, and a licensing board may ask for a course-by-course report with credits and a GPA.

Many Pashto-speaking students hold academic documents from both Afghanistan and Pakistan. See how Pakistani degrees compare to U.S. standards. If you studied in both countries, send the records from each, and the evaluation will cover them together.

General vs Course-by-Course Evaluation

Choosing the wrong report type is a common cause of delays. Use this table as a starting point, then confirm with the institution that asked for the evaluation.

A general evaluation states the U.S. equivalent of each credential, such as "equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in civil engineering". A course-by-course evaluation lists every subject with U.S. semester credits and grades and converts your 0 to 100 marks into a U.S. GPA on a 4.0 scale. Check the recipient's requirements before you order, since some schools and licensing boards name the evaluation providers or report formats they accept.

Certified Pashto Translation vs Academic Evaluation

A certified translation tells a U.S. institution what your document says: a complete English version of your diploma or transcript with a signed certificate of accuracy. An academic evaluation explains what that education is worth in the U.S. system. Most files need both, because an evaluator cannot assess a document they cannot read, and an admissions officer cannot judge academic value from a translation alone.

Certified translation can be added to your evaluation order at the quote stage, where the system detects non-English documents. Certified translations cost $24.50 per page, with delivery in as little as 12 hours and free digital notarization. See our certified Pashto translation services. If your records are in Dari, the same applies. See our certified Dari translation services.

Names, Dates and University Names

Small differences cause the most trouble. If a transcript spells a name "Mohammad" and the passport says "Mohamad", the file can be flagged for an identity mismatch. Our translators keep names consistent with your passport, convert Solar Hijri dates to the Gregorian calendar and use the commonly accepted English name of your university. USCIS requires a full English translation of every foreign-language document, with a certificate of accuracy; summaries are not accepted. Learn what USCIS expects from a Pashto to English translation.

Documents You Need for an Afghan Degree Evaluation

• Transcripts or mark sheets for every semester or year of study
• Your bachelor's or master's diploma, or a provisional certificate if the final diploma was never issued
• MoHE attestation or university attestation, if you have it
• Your Grade 12 graduation certificate, if you need a secondary school evaluation or admissions report
• A passport or Tazkira copy if your name is written differently across documents

You do not need to send originals. Clear scans or well-lit photos are accepted as long as every stamp, signature and page number is visible. See how we translate diplomas for academic evaluations. If you only have part of your records, upload what you have and explain the gap; our team will tell you what the evaluation can state.

Common Reasons Evaluations Get Delayed

• Cropped scans that cut off page numbers, stamps or signatures
• Missing semesters or a diploma without the matching transcript
• Solar Hijri dates left unconverted in an informal translation
• A general evaluation ordered when a course-by-course report was required
• Translations made by friends or family instead of a certified translation

A Note for Attorneys and Caseworkers

Evaluations follow the USCIS Policy Manual standard: the report must be credible, logical and well documented. No evaluator controls the officer's decision, so complete documents, consistent names and certified translations are the best protection against a Request for Evidence. When records are incomplete because a university is closed or unreachable, say so in the cover letter and submit the provisional certificate, partial transcripts or attested copies you have.

How MotaWord Evaluates Your Afghan Credentials

1. Upload: upload scans or photos of your documents and choose general or course-by-course evaluation. You get an instant quote with the price and delivery time.
2. Document check: our evaluation team reviews your file and contacts you if a page, semester or certificate is missing.
3. Evaluation: your credentials are compared to the U.S. system, with program length, entry requirements and recognition documented in the report.
4. Download: the report is delivered to your MotaWord client dashboard, where you can download it and your invoice.

A standard evaluation costs $65 with delivery in 72 hours, or $115 for same-day delivery when ordered before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A course-by-course evaluation costs $120, or $200 same day. Live chat is available 24/7 for support, whatever your time zone. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified, so your records are handled on a secure platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a course-by-course evaluation cost?

At MotaWord, a course-by-course evaluation costs $120 with standard delivery, or $200 for same-day delivery when ordered before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A general (standard) evaluation costs $65, or $115 same day.

Which evaluation do I need for a professional license?

Licensing boards for nursing, engineering, teaching and accounting usually ask for a course-by-course evaluation with credits and a GPA. Check your state board's instructions before you order, since some boards also name the providers they accept.

How long does an Afghan degree evaluation take?

A standard MotaWord evaluation is delivered in 72 hours once your documents are complete. Same-day delivery is available for orders placed before 3 PM ET on a weekday.

Do I need to send my original Pashto diploma?

No. Clear scans are preferred, and a well-lit, high-resolution photo is usually acceptable as long as all text, stamps and signatures are visible and nothing is cropped.

Is a translation alone enough for university admission?

Usually not. A translation only renders the text into English. Most universities also ask for an evaluation report that explains the academic value and GPA equivalency of your studies.

Can my degree be evaluated if my university in Afghanistan is closed?

Often, yes. Evaluators work from the documents you can provide, such as your diploma, transcripts, provisional certificate or attested copies. The report states what the documents show, and missing records may limit what it can confirm.

Will USCIS accept my Pashto transcripts?

USCIS requires a full English translation of every foreign-language document, with a signed certificate of accuracy. Submit the original-language record together with the certified translation.

Get Your Afghan Degree Evaluated

Your education is yours to keep, wherever you study or work next. MotaWord's academic evaluation services can evaluate your Afghan diploma, degree and transcripts for USCIS, employment and admissions. Upload your documents for an instant quote, and talk to our team on live chat 24/7 if you have a question.

Mark Rogers - Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord

Written and reviewed by Mark Rogers, Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord, drawing on the team's experience with Afghan and Pashto-language academic records and credential evaluations. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified and a corporate member of the ATA and ITI, providing academic evaluations and certified translations in 120+ languages. Every evaluation report explains the U.S. equivalency of your credentials in a clear, documented format. See our academic evaluation for U.S. employment →