1. What is equivalency?
Equivalency is the procedure of assessing the diploma, transcript, and other related documents acquired by the applicant from an elementary school, middle school or high school in the USA, in order to determine the equivalent grade level in the Turkish education system.
2. Where to apply for equivalency certificate?
To obtain an equivalency certificate, application should be made to the education attaché office responsible for the state in which document-issuer school is located. Los Angeles Education Attaché Office is responsible for the states of Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Montana (MT), Nevada (NV), Oregon (OR), Utah (UT), Washington (WA), Wyoming (WY). Click here to view the offices responsible for other states.
Additionally, application can be made to the provincial national education directorates located in every province in Türkiye.
This application requires applicant to visit offices in-person. Prior to visiting the education attaché offices or provincial directorates in Türkiye, all required application documents must be uploaded to the website at https://edenklik.meb.gov.tr/?culture=en-GB, and an appointment should be scheduled through the same page. The applicant must personally visit the appointment center on the date and time of the scheduled appointment with the original copies of all uploaded documents.
Our office does not have the authority to issue equivalence certificates for graduation diplomas at the associate's, bachelor's, and doctoral levels. Higher education graduates need to directly apply to the Council of Higher Education located in Ankara, Türkiye, to obtain a diploma equivalence certificate. Detailed information in this regard can be found at the following link: https://denklik.yok.gov.tr/en
3. Is it necessary to personally apply for equivalency certificate?
To obtain an equivalency certificate, applicant must visit an equivalency center in person as per the relevant regulation. All required documents must be uploaded to the website at https://edenklik.meb.gov.tr/?culture=en-GB and an appointment must be scheduled before visiting the center. If it's not possible to apply in person, application with a notarized power of attorney are also accepted. Applicants who choose the Los Angeles Education Attaché as the equivalency center must confirm their appointment by emailing "losangeles@meb.gov.tr". Our office does not process application made via email or regular mail. For any questions about equivalency procedures, our office can be reached at losangeles@meb.gov.tr.
4. How long does it take to obtain the equivalency certificate?
If all required documents are presented in full, equivalency certificate application can be processed on the same day. However, in some cases, it may take longer if we need to contact other institutions. So, please be prepared for possible delays when you visit our office. Once your request is approved, we will issue an equivalency certificate and send it to you via email. Please note that we do not send physical copies of the certificate as it will be electronically signed and accepted by all relevant authorities in Türkiye.
5. Required documents for an equivalency certificate application
5.1. Application form
Everyone who applies for equivalency certificate must fill out and sign the form that can be accessed through the link below and come to our office by attaching the required documents to the form.
All documents related to education such as diploma, transcript, degree certificate, leaving certificate, and other similar documents that will be attached to the application form must be the original copy with an authorized signature/approval.
Click here to access the application form.
5.2. Proofs of identity
Everyone who applies for equivalency must have valid passport, visa and government issued ID card with them and attach a photocopy of it to the application form.
In some cases, proof of USA residency for the duration of the study may also be required. This evidence may be I-94 travel records, passport entry and exit records, and other appropriate means.
5.3. For elementary and middle school equivalency application:
It is needed to show one of these documents: All report cards of the last year, an official letter from school confirming applicant has left school, or a signed and sealed diploma.
5.4. For high school equivalency application:
For equivalency to the 9th grade of high school; the signed and stamped original of the middle school diploma or a document indicating completion of middle school is required.
For equivalency to the 10th, 11th or 12th grades of high school; the signed and stamped original of the report card, transcript, or leaving certificate from previous years is required.
5.5. For those who have completed all or part of their education through distance learning and will enroll in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in Türkiye:
An apostille-approved transcript of the last three years of their education is required.
5.6. For those who have already graduated:
An original, signed diploma with an apostille certification and an original, signed and stamped transcript are required.
If the graduation was completed through distance learning, in addition to the apostille-approved diploma, the original, apostille-approved transcripts for the last three years are also required.
