Terms of Use

Section 1: Introduction

Terms of Use

These Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to as the "Terms and Conditions") govern your use of the credential evaluation services provided by the International Credential Verification Center ("ICVC," "we," "us," or "our"), as further described herein (collectively, the "Services").

By using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by and accept these Terms and Conditions. ICVC reserves the right to use your information in a manner consistent with these Terms and Conditions. Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. If you do not agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, do not access or use the Services. These Terms and Conditions constitute a legally binding agreement between you and ICVC.

ICVC may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Following any changes, ICVC will post the revised Terms and Conditions. Your continued use of the Services after such changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the amended Terms and Conditions. You should visit this page frequently to stay informed of any changes to these Terms and Conditions.

Acceptance of Terms

Section 2: ICVC Website

2.1 Account Registration

To access the Services, you may be required to provide certain registration information or other materials. Your use of the Services is conditioned upon all information you provide through the Services being true, accurate, current, and complete, and you shall update such information as needed to keep it current and accurate. ICVC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse use of the Services to any person for any reason, in accordance with applicable law.

You also acknowledge that your account is personal to you and agree not to allow any other person to access the Services or any part thereof through your username, password, or other security information. You undertake to be fully responsible for all activities that occur under your account, username, and password. You agree to notify ICVC immediately of any security breach regarding your account. ICVC shall not be liable for any loss arising from the unauthorized use of your password or user profile.

You are responsible for your password and for all activities and operations conducted thereunder. We recommend that you use a strong password for your account.

2.2 Security

As a condition of use, you agree not to use any of the Services for any destructive, illegal, or prohibited purpose, or in any other manner that adversely affects ICVC. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

Section 3. Basic Services

3.1 User Materials

a. As part of your use of the Services (through the corresponding authorized features of the Services), you may upload, post, distribute, transmit, or send various content or materials to us, including but not limited to documents, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other content (collectively, "User Materials"), which we may, at our sole discretion, provide through the Services.

b. You hereby grant to ICVC an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, worldwide right and license to use, copy, modify, disclose, publicly display, publicly perform, distribute, evaluate, translate, create derivative works from, and store User Materials (regardless of the medium, technology, or form in which such materials are used) in connection with the Services or in connection with the Services, and you waive all moral rights that you may have with respect thereto. For example, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing in any way, ICVC may use User Materials for the purpose of verifying academic credentials, issuing advisory opinions, completing your application, and verifying the legality of other User Materials.

c. You warrant that: (1) you have full rights to your User Content, or you have the right to grant us the above rights; and (2) your User Content does not infringe the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or other legal rights of any third party.

d. We may refuse to accept or transmit User Content for any reason. We may also remove User Content from the Services for any reason.

3.2 User Responsibilities

By submitting User Materials to us, you:

a. Full Responsibility. Acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for the form, content, and accuracy of such User Materials;

b. No Violations. Represent and warrant that: (i) ICVC's receipt and lawful use of such User Materials does not and will not violate any agreement, any law, or infringe upon the rights of any third party (including, without limitation, any third party's intellectual property rights); (ii) such User Materials are true and accurate in all respects;

c. Consent to Document Retention. You expressly consent to ICVC retaining User Materials for such period as is reasonably necessary for its legitimate purposes, including but not limited to: providing, maintaining, supporting, and improving the Services to you or on your behalf, providing and delivering new services to you, and maintaining records that document the evaluations and verifications we have performed on your behalf. To withdraw your consent, please visit the Delete My ICVC Account page.

d. Free Use. You agree that ICVC shall have the right to use such User Materials in any manner, in whole or in part, without restriction, and without notice, identification, or compensation to you or any other person;

e. License Grant. You grant to ICVC the license set forth in Section 3.1(b), and ICVC shall have no obligation to any person with respect thereto.

3.3 ICVC Procedures and Policies

You acknowledge and agree that, in the course of ICVC providing the Services, the following ICVC rights, procedures, and policies apply:

a. Complete Documentation: To provide the relevant Services, ICVC requires the submission of complete, true, and accurate documentation, including all supporting documents related to official foreign academic credentials. Document requirements vary by country. All received documents become the property of ICVC and will not be returned to the applicant.

b. Document Verification: ICVC reserves the right to verify all User Materials with the issuing institutions at any time. ICVC will make reasonable efforts to verify the authenticity of User Materials based on the information available to it and its reasonable judgment. ICVC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to evaluate documents from particular institutions.

c. Document Processing: ICVC will make reasonable efforts to process User Materials within the applicable timeframes published by ICVC, after receipt of a complete application (including all required documents, information, and full payment) and upon completion of internal review and processing. Processing times may vary due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to the volume of applications received by ICVC, the complexity of the application, and other relevant factors; ICVC makes no guarantees regarding processing times.

d. Requests for Additional Materials After Initial Application Review: If submitted User Materials are incomplete, or if additional information is required to prepare an accurate evaluation report, ICVC will issue a notice requesting additional materials. ICVC reserves the right to require official documents to be sent directly to us by the issuing institution, and/or to verify relevant documents with the issuing institution at any time. An evaluation report will only be issued after all required materials have been received and are satisfactory to ICVC. ICVC reserves the right to refuse to issue an evaluation report for any reason, in its sole discretion.

e. Falsified or Altered Documents: If, in ICVC's sole and absolute judgment, any submitted document is factually inaccurate, or has been altered, forged, or tampered with, ICVC has the right to cancel the application without notice to the applicant. Once an application is cancelled, the relevant documents (including originals) will become the property of ICVC, and no evaluation report will be issued. All recipients listed on the application form and other relevant authorities will be notified. Application fees paid in connection with such forged or altered documents and applications will not be refunded. If, as part of its quality control or other review processes, ICVC determines that any documents related to a previously issued evaluation report are factually erroneous, or have been altered, forged, or tampered with, that evaluation report will be revoked. All recipients of the revoked evaluation report and other relevant authorities will be notified.

f. Documents from Non-Recognized Institutions: If ICVC determines that any document submitted for evaluation was issued by a non-recognized institution, ICVC will issue a report stating that the document and the institution are not legitimate. No other evaluation report will be issued for that application. All recipients listed on the application form and other relevant authorities will be notified.

g. Translation Instructions: ICVC does not provide translation services. Your application materials must be translated into English before being submitted to us. Please confirm whether the school or university you attended in your home country can arrange for document translation. Translations issued by government agencies or consulates in your home country are also acceptable. If none of the above options are available, please contact a professional translation agency.

h. Evaluation Acceptance: Most applicants are referred to ICVC by academic institutions, government agencies, licensing boards, or employers. If this is not the case, applicants are advised to consult with the institution, licensing board, or relevant authority to which the report will be submitted to confirm that reports issued by ICVC will be recognized and accepted. Refunds will not be issued if the recipient does not accept the evaluation.

i. Advisory Opinions: Evaluation reports provided by ICVC are advisory in nature and are not binding on any institution or agency. Only the receiving institution may determine whether an applicant meets its requirements for admission or transfer of credits.

j. Re-evaluation of Educational Credential Equivalency: Evaluations are based on information and resources currently available to professional evaluators in North America. ICVC reserves the right to re-evaluate educational credential equivalency if additional information becomes available.

k. Course-by-Course Report Changed to Document-by-Document Report: If ICVC determines that a course-by-course evaluation report cannot be issued, it will issue a document-by-document report instead.

l. Electronic Delivery: Many institutions and boards receive ICVC reports electronically, and in some cases this may be the only delivery method. In such cases, delivery fees will still apply.

m. Application Cancellation: A processing fee will be charged for cancellations. Completed evaluations cannot be cancelled and are non-refundable.

o. Deactivation of Applications: All applications that remain incomplete 180 days after the date of payment for the original application will be deemed "inactive" by ICVC in its sole discretion. Once an application is deemed inactive, no refunds or credits will be provided. User Materials will be retained for future service delivery to you. To delete your User Materials, please visit the Delete My ICVC Account page.

p. Reactivation of Applications: To reactivate or reopen and continue processing an application that has been deemed inactive, a reactivation fee must be paid. A reactivated application must be completed within 180 days from the date the reactivation fee is paid, or it will again be deemed inactive. Reactivated applications remain subject to all Terms and Conditions.

q. Original Documents: ICVC does not recommend submitting original academic documents. Any originals received by ICVC will not be returned and will be destroyed at ICVC's discretion.

3.5 Additional Services

ICVC may, from time to time, offer other services (hereinafter referred to as "Additional Services") which are subject to additional terms and conditions. The following terms and conditions are attached to and incorporated into these Terms and Conditions by reference:

• Schedule 1: Special Terms for Educational Credential Assessments (IRCC)

In the event of a conflict between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the terms and conditions applicable to Additional Services, the terms and conditions applicable to the Additional Services shall prevail to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.

Section 4: Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, whether or not advised of the possibility of such damages, and whether or not any limited remedy fails of its essential purpose, ICVC and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, licensors, agents, or contractors shall in no event be liable to you or any third party for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions, the Services, or any User Content, including but not limited to: (1) any special, indirect, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages; (2) any loss of profits, loss of business opportunities, loss of data, or damage to goodwill; (3) the unavailability or inaccessibility of the Services and/or any other ICVC products and/or services; (4) the cost of procurement of substitute goods and services resulting from any goods, data, information, content, and/or any other ICVC products and/or services purchased or obtained through the Services; (5) failure to achieve any specific evaluation or verification result, or other benefit or related outcome; (6) any events, materials, activities, circumstances, delays, or failures beyond ICVC's control; (7) any third-party products (or other materials), services, or activities.

This limitation applies to all causes of action, including but not limited to breach of contract, breach of warranty, intellectual property infringement, negligence, strict liability, misrepresentation, and any other tort. You hereby release ICVC from all obligations, liabilities, and claims beyond the limitations set forth in this Agreement. The foregoing limitation of liability is a fundamental element of the agreement between you and ICVC. Without such limitations, you would not be able to obtain the Services and/or any other ICVC products and/or services.

Certain jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of specific types of damages. If these laws apply to you, some or all of the above disclaimers, exclusions, or limitations may not apply, and you may have additional rights. To the extent applicable law does not allow us to limit our liability, our liability will be limited to the minimum extent permitted by such law.

Section 5: Disclaimer

You expressly understand and agree that:

a. Your use of the Services, and any deliverables, certifications, or other materials, is at your sole risk. The Services, any activities, and any materials provided by ICVC are provided by ICVC on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without any warranties or conditions of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties and conditions of merchantability, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement, whether such warranties and conditions arise from law, regulation, trade usage, or industry practice. Any oral or written advice or information obtained by you from ICVC or through the Services or any activities shall not constitute any warranty not expressly set forth in these Terms and Conditions.

b. ICVC makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, that: (i) the Services, any activities, or any materials will meet your requirements; (ii) the Services, any activities, or any materials will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; (iii) the results obtained from your use of the Services, any activities, or any materials will be accurate, reliable, or fit for any particular purpose; or (iv) the quality of any information or other materials obtained by you through the Services, any activities, or any materials will meet your expectations.

c. Any content or other materials downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of the Services or participation in any activities is done at your own discretion and risk, and you will be solely responsible for any damage to your system, devices, or data, including loss of data, resulting from such download or access.

d. ICVC does not provide any legal, professional, or other advice, and users should not rely on any Services, activities, or ICVC materials in making any personal, professional, or other decisions. The Services, activities, and ICVC materials are not a substitute for your own independent investigation, evaluation, analysis, and understanding of any relevant facts, factors, or circumstances. For the avoidance of doubt, ICVC does not guarantee the truthfulness, accuracy, or completeness of any information provided by any applicant, or any qualifications, background, or other information related thereto.

e. The Services, information, data, functions, and all content, services, and products provided in connection with or through the Services (whether or not sponsored by a third party) are provided to you on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Neither the clearinghouse nor its affiliates, nor their third-party providers, licensors, distributors, or suppliers (collectively, "Suppliers"), make any representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the content or operation of this website or the Services. You expressly agree that your use of the Services is entirely at your own risk. Neither the clearinghouse nor its Suppliers make any representations, warranties, or guarantees, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the content of the website or the Services (whether or not sponsored), and expressly disclaim any warranties of non-infringement, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, or the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages. In those states, liability is limited to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6: Privacy Policy Notice

You acknowledge that by accepting these Terms and Conditions, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Section 7: Indemnification

You shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ICVC and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, consultants, representatives, and agents from and against any and all obligations, taxes, levies, fines, fees, losses, damages, claims, suits, actions, demands, and liabilities (whether asserted or not, collectively, "Claims") arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Services (or any use made of the Services through your account); (b) your breach of these Terms and Conditions; (c) any User Materials related to you or your account; or (d) any Trailblazer activity related to you or your account; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification obligation shall not apply to Claims that would not have occurred but for WES's gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Such indemnification includes, but is not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, and other professional expenses.

Section 8: Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Agreement ("Arbitration Agreement")

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you and ICVC both agree to waive the right to bring any claim in court or before a jury, and to waive the right to participate in any class action or representative proceeding. If you proceed to court, other rights that you may have, such as the right to discovery, may not be available or may be limited in arbitration.

8.1 Scope of the Arbitration Agreement

Given that legal disputes are not only costly but also time-consuming, you and ICVC agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any legal dispute arising out of or related to your use of the Services, ICVC's provision of the Services, or any communication between you and ICVC shall be resolved through binding individual arbitration; provided, however, that you may opt out of this Arbitration Agreement through the procedures set forth below. Accordingly, you understand and agree accordingly. However, either you or ICVC may bring any individual action in small claims court, subject to applicable jurisdictional and amount limitations, provided that such action is brought and maintained on an individual basis. The term "Dispute" means any dispute, action, claim, or other controversy between you and ICVC, whether based on contract, warranty, tort, statute, regulation, ordinance, or any other legal or equitable ground. "Dispute" shall be given the broadest interpretation permitted by law.

8.2 Waiver of Class Action and Representative Action Rights

All arbitrations shall be conducted on an individual basis. The arbitrator shall have the authority to resolve disputes with remedies that would otherwise be available in court, including public injunctive relief. You and ICVC also agree that each party may only bring claims against the other in arbitration in their individual capacity; in such case, unless you are a consumer residing in Quebec, you and ICVC hereby waive the right to a jury trial and waive the right to assert or participate in any class action or class arbitration, any private attorney general action or private attorney general arbitration, and any joint or consolidated action, joint or consolidated arbitration of any kind. If a court determines that applicable law prohibits enforcement of any limitation set forth in this paragraph with respect to a particular cause of action, then that cause of action (and only that cause of action) shall remain in court and shall be severed from the arbitration proceedings.

9.1 Third-Party Content

The Services, applicant activities, and ICVC-related materials may contain links to third-party websites, services, or other activities that are not owned or controlled by ICVC; such links may direct you to content that is offensive, inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise problematic. Links to such third-party websites are provided for your convenience only, and ICVC does not endorse, approve, or control any content accessed through such links; you acknowledge and agree that ICVC assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind for content and other materials hosted or provided by websites other than the official ICVC website.

9.2 General Provisions

These Terms and Conditions (including our Privacy Policy and any other terms or documents incorporated herein) constitute the complete and final agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. If any part of these Terms and Conditions is held to be invalid or unenforceable, that part shall be construed in accordance with applicable law (and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, in a manner consistent with its original intent), and the remainder shall continue in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision or of the right to enforce such provision. ICVC's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions, or to respond to a breach by you or another party, shall not in any way constitute a waiver by ICVC of its right to enforce any provision or condition of these Terms and Conditions or to respond to similar breaches. The parties do not intend to create any agency or partnership relationship through the execution or performance of these Terms and Conditions. Headings used in these Terms and Conditions are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect. These Terms and Conditions shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties' legal representatives, successors, assigns, and heirs. WES has the right to assign these Terms and Conditions, in whole or in part, at any time without your consent. You may not assign these Terms and Conditions or delegate any of your obligations hereunder.

9.5 Changes to the Services

ICVC may terminate any Service at any time for any reason without prior notice. We may also change the content, operation, or any other features and functions of the Services at any time for any reason without prior notice. We may also terminate or restrict your access to the Services at any time for any reason without prior notice.

Section 10: Payment

For certain services, ICVC engages third-party payment service providers to process payments. Our third-party payment service providers support payment by various credit cards; please refer to the corresponding payment page for details. Any credit card information entered on any of the clearinghouse's websites will not be retained by ICVC, but will be transmitted directly to the secure third-party payment processor contracted by ICVC to process payments. With respect to external websites that you access for payment processing purposes and that are accessible through the clearinghouse's websites or linked to ICVC's website, these entities may have their own terms and conditions, privacy policies, and data collection, use, and disclosure practices. You acknowledge and agree that ICVC assumes no direct or indirect responsibility for the availability of such external websites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible for any content, advertising, products, services, or other materials on or available through such websites or resources.

Section 10: Contact Us