International Students: Foreign Transcript Evaluation
If you have attended a college or university outside the U.S., you may have your coursework considered for prerequisite credit. To have your courses evaluated, you must apply for a transcript evaluation from an approved foreign transcript evaluation agency. Any fees will be the responsibility of the student.
If you have attended a college or university in a U.S. territory that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education, you do not need to have a transcript evaluation. You must provide proof of approval and the transcript must show all course information listed here:
- U.S. course equivalence for each course
- U.S. semester hour equivalent for each course
- U.S. grade equivalence for each course
- Calculated grade point average (if available)
Acceptable member agencies are listed at NACES-National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
International Admissions Policies, Procedures, and Requirements
A transcript evaluation neither guarantees program acceptance nor eligibility for licensure/certification exams upon completion of the program.
The applicant will be advised regarding additional prerequisite coursework needed, if any, for admission to the desired program.
The grade point average on the transcript evaluation must be 2.0 (a grade of “C”) or better in each course in order to be considered for admission. International applicants must take all the pre-entrance exams given to all applicants and meet all other admissions criteria.
TOEFL Testing Requirements
If you speak English as a second language, you will be required to demonstrate your ability to speak and comprehend English by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Individuals who need to take the TOEFL examination include:
- All applicants who are non-native speakers of English.
- Individuals from countries in which English is one of the official languages, but not necessarily the first language of the majority of the population or the language of instruction at all levels of schooling. Such countries may include, but are not limited to, the British Commonwealth countries and U.S. territories and possessions.
The TOEFL examination is waived if you have met BOTH of the following criteria:
1) Have graduated from a U.S. high school or successfully completed two years of full-time study at a college or university in the U.S. with the equivalent of 24 semester hours of college work applicable to a bachelor’s degree
and
2) Have lived in the U.S. for at least 24 months.
Note: The Admissions Office reserves the right to review applicants with extenuating circumstances on an individual basis.
Taking the TOEFL
1) Visit TOEFL to review the rules, regulations, testing sites, and resources or call Educational Testing Services at 609-771-7100 or 877-863-3546.
2) Additional information may be obtained through the College at 757-388-2900.
3) The institutional code for Sentara College of Health Sciences is 5504.
4) Submit the official copy of your TOEFL score report to the College prior to starting your program.
5) You must meet all other admission requirements of the College.
Test Score Minimum Requirements
- Internet-based Test Score of 79
- Computer-based Test Score of 213
- Paper-based Test Score of 550
