Academic Document Apostille Service

Apostille Services for Academic Documents

Academic credentials are your passport to international opportunities. Whether you are studying abroad, pursuing professional licensing in another country, or verifying your qualifications for a foreign employer, you will likely need your academic documents apostilled.

We process apostilles for all types of educational records issued or notarized in Washington State. Our team understands the specific requirements for academic documents and can guide you through the process so you avoid delays and rejections.

Types of Academic Documents We Apostille

We handle apostilles for a broad range of educational and professional credentials:

• College and university diplomas. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Washington State institutions. The diploma must be an original or a notarized copy, depending on the receiving country’s requirements.
• Official transcripts. University and college transcripts showing courses completed, grades, and credit hours. These must be issued directly by the institution in a sealed envelope, or notarized copies may be accepted.
• High school diplomas and GED certificates. Required for some international university admissions and employment verification processes.
• High school transcripts. Particularly important for students applying to undergraduate programs abroad.
• Professional certifications. CPA licenses, nursing credentials, teaching certificates, engineering licenses, and other professional certifications issued or notarized in Washington.
• Teaching credentials. Washington State teaching certificates and endorsements for educators seeking positions at international schools.
• Continuing education certificates. Professional development records, workshop completions, and specialized training certifications.
• Letters of recommendation and enrollment verification. When these are notarized by a Washington State notary, they can be apostilled.

Common Reasons for Academic Apostilles

Our clients seek academic document apostilles for several important purposes:

• Studying abroad. International universities require apostilled academic records as part of the admissions process. This applies to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Many European universities participating in the Bologna Process specifically require apostilled credentials for foreign applicants.
• Professional licensing abroad. If you hold a professional license in Washington — such as nursing, engineering, accounting, or law — and want to practice in a foreign country, that country’s licensing board will almost certainly require apostilled proof of your credentials.
• Employment verification. Foreign employers, particularly in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, frequently require apostilled educational documents before extending employment offers or granting work permits.
• Credential evaluation. Foreign credential evaluation services (such as WES, ECE, and country-specific agencies) may require apostilled documents as part of their assessment process.
• Teaching positions at international schools. The international school job market requires teachers to provide apostilled diplomas, teaching certificates, and transcripts as part of the hiring process.
• Military and government positions abroad. Personnel deployed to or stationed in foreign countries may need apostilled academic records for various administrative and professional purposes.

How the Process Works for Academic Documents

Academic documents have some unique considerations compared to other document types:

1. Document assessment. We review your academic documents to determine if they can be apostilled directly or if they need to be notarized first. Documents issued by the state (like teaching certifications) can often be apostilled directly. Documents from private institutions typically need to be notarized copies.
2. Notarization (if needed). If your document requires notarization before apostille, we can coordinate this step. A Washington State notary public certifies the copy, and then the apostille authenticates the notary’s signature.
3. Submission to WA Secretary of State. We submit the prepared document to the Secretary of State in Olympia for apostille processing.
4. Quality verification. We review the completed apostille to ensure everything is accurate and properly attached.
5. Secure delivery. Academic documents are irreplaceable, so we use tracked shipping with insurance for all returns. We recommend keeping the original and sending a notarized copy when possible.

Important note on originals: We strongly recommend sending notarized copies rather than original diplomas whenever the receiving institution accepts them. Original diplomas are difficult and expensive to replace if lost in transit. We can advise you on what the receiving institution requires.

State-Issued vs. Institution-Issued Documents

Understanding the distinction is important for processing:

• State-issued documents (teaching certificates, professional licenses from state boards) bear the signature of a Washington State official. These can be apostilled directly by the WA Secretary of State without notarization.
• Institution-issued documents (university diplomas, college transcripts) are issued by private or public educational institutions, not the state. These must first be notarized by a Washington State notary public, and then the notary’s signature is apostilled.

We determine which category your documents fall into during our initial review and handle all necessary steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apostille a diploma from a university outside of Washington?

Only if the diploma is notarized by a Washington State notary. The apostille authenticates the notary’s signature, not the diploma itself. If you are currently in Washington, a local notary can certify a copy of your diploma, and then we can apostille it. If the diploma was issued by an institution in another state, it may be more straightforward to have it apostilled in that state.

My university transcript is in a sealed envelope. Should I open it?

It depends on the situation. For apostille purposes, we do need to review the transcript. However, some receiving institutions require the transcript to remain in a sealed envelope. In these cases, we recommend ordering two certified copies — one for apostille processing and one sealed for the receiving institution. Contact us before opening a sealed transcript so we can advise on the best approach.

How long does an apostilled academic document remain valid?

The apostille itself does not expire. However, some foreign institutions and credential evaluation agencies may require that the underlying document or its notarization be recent. Universities abroad commonly require transcripts to be issued within 6-12 months. We recommend confirming the specific validity requirements with the receiving institution.

Can you apostille online degrees and certificates?

Yes, as long as the institution is properly accredited. Online degrees from accredited institutions are treated the same as traditional degrees for apostille purposes. The diploma or transcript must be notarized by a Washington State notary, and then we process the apostille through the WA Secretary of State.