Why Can’t You Translate Your Own Academic Credential Documents?

When applying for study abroad, immigration, employment, or professional qualification recognition, academic credential authentication is an essential step. Many institutions, such as the Chinese Ministry of Education’s CSCSE, WES in the US, ECA in Canada, NAATI in Australia, and NARIC in the UK, require applicants to submit translated academic documents.

However, some applicants may wonder: "Can I translate my own degree certificate? Can I submit my own translation?"

The answer is: No! Most credential evaluation agencies, immigration offices, employers, and universities do not accept self-translated academic documents. Instead, they require translations done by an officially recognized translation company or a certified translator.

In this article, we will explain why self-translating academic credential documents is not allowed and why professional translation is necessary.

I. Why Can’t You Translate Your Own Academic Credential Documents?

1. Self-translations Lack Official Recognition and Will Be Rejected

Academic credential translations must be done by a professional translation company or a certified translator, otherwise, most certification agencies and government departments will reject them.

For example:

• CSCSE (Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange) requires academic translations to be provided by an officially recognized translation agency with a certified company stamp.
• WES (World Education Services) in the US only accepts translations from WES-approved translation agencies or sworn translators—self-translations are invalid.
• ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) in Canada requires translations from a certified translation agency plus notarization, rejecting applicant-provided translations.
• NAATI in Australia mandates that translations for immigration and credential evaluation be done by a NAATI-certified translator, otherwise, they are deemed invalid.

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