A guide to the Indian education system — from primary school through university — and how your Indian credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.
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Apply Now →India follows a structured 10+2 school education system regulated at both central and state levels. The two principal national boards are the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), alongside 30+ state boards that operate their own curricula and examinations. English is the primary medium of instruction at most CBSE and CISCE-affiliated schools, while state boards typically teach in the regional language.
India's education system is widely recognized internationally. Indian degrees and diplomas are regularly evaluated for US university admissions, employment-based visa petitions (H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, L-1), and professional licensing, making credential evaluation an essential step for Indian nationals immigrating to or studying in the United States.
Covers foundational literacy and numeracy. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, this stage is part of a broader Foundational and Preparatory phase spanning Grades 1–5. No national board examination at this stage.
Students study languages, mathematics, science, social science, and vocational subjects. Some state boards conduct a Grade 8 board examination; CBSE does not. This stage is sometimes called the Preparatory or Middle stage under NEP 2020.
At the end of Grade 10, students sit for a public board examination — the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or equivalent. CBSE administers the All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE); CISCE administers the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). State boards conduct their own Grade 10 examinations. This certificate is a key academic milestone and is required for entry into higher secondary education.
Students choose a stream: Science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology), Commerce (Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics), or Arts/Humanities (History, Geography, Political Science, etc.). At the end of Grade 12, students sit for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination. CBSE administers the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE); CISCE administers the Indian School Certificate (ISC). State boards conduct their own Grade 12 examinations. The Grade 12 result is the primary basis for undergraduate university admission in India and abroad.
Bachelor's degrees typically take 3 years (arts, science, commerce) or 4 years (engineering, architecture, pharmacy). Under NEP 2020, 4-year multidisciplinary Bachelor's programs are being introduced. Master's degrees are generally 2 years. PhD programs follow after a Master's degree and typically take 3–5 years. India's university system is affiliating in structure — most colleges are affiliated with a parent university that administers examinations and awards degrees.
India has two central boards and over 30 state boards of secondary education. The most widely recognized are:
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination is taken at the end of Grade 10 and marks completion of lower secondary education. The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination is taken at the end of Grade 12 and is the primary qualification for undergraduate university admission. Under CBSE, these are called AISSE (Grade 10) and AISSCE (Grade 12). Under CISCE, they are called ICSE (Grade 10) and ISC (Grade 12). State boards issue equivalent certificates under their own names.
The following equivalencies apply when evaluating Indian credentials against US standards:
If you hold an Indian degree or diploma and plan to study, work, or immigrate to the United States, a formal credential evaluation is required to establish the US equivalency of your education.
Employment-based visa categories including H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, O-1, and L-1 require a credential evaluation to verify that your Indian education meets US standards. A document evaluation provides the equivalency statement USCIS adjudicators need. For H-1B petitions where a 3-year degree is combined with work experience to establish a Bachelor's equivalent, a detailed course-by-course evaluation is strongly recommended.
US universities and graduate programs require a credential evaluation to assess your Indian academic background. A course-by-course evaluation converts your subjects into US credit hours and calculates a GPA on the 4.0 scale — required by most graduate programs.
US employers — particularly in engineering, healthcare, IT, and finance — may require a credential evaluation to verify that your Indian degree meets the position's educational requirements.
Documents issued in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, or any other regional language must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers translation services that can be combined with your evaluation order.