The Importance of Certificate Equivalency in Turkey – Certificate equivalency in Turkey is one of the matters that preoccupy expatriates coming to work or study there. Through certificate equivalency, an expatriate can work based on their equivalent university degree or continue their postgraduate studies. So, what does certificate equivalency in Turkey mean? What is the importance of certificate equivalency in Turkey? And how are these certificates equivalenced? All that and more will be explained in the following sections of this article.
What Does Certificate Equivalency in Turkey Mean?
Certificate equivalency in Turkey is the procedure that allows holders of non-Turkish certificates to authenticate their credentials and render their certificate comparable in benefits to a Turkish certificate, thereby enabling the holder to work in Turkey or enroll in Turkish universities to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
The process of certificate equivalency in Turkey requires a number of documents and evidences that must be submitted either to the Turkish Embassy in the applicant’s home country or to the Turkish Higher Education Institution in Ankara. This equivalency plays a crucial role in the life of the foreign student or the expatriate seeking employment on Turkish soil, as the equivalent certificate enables its holder to prove the authenticity of their credential after the Turkish Higher Education Institution communicates with the issuing university to verify the certificate’s validity. Based on this verification, a decision is issued allowing the certificate’s equivalency, provided that the applicant passes a comprehensive exam in their field of specialization. This exam, held twice a year, determines whether the applicant is eligible for the equivalent certificate.
The Importance of Certificate Equivalency in Turkey
Certificate equivalency in Turkey is of great significance, whether it concerns secondary school certificates or university and postgraduate certificates. For secondary school certificates, many Turkish public universities now require the equivalency of foreign secondary certificates as a condition for completing undergraduate studies in their respective fields. As for university degree holders, certificate equivalency enables them to complete their postgraduate studies in Turkish universities and to apply for jobs within Turkey in their field of specialization. Moreover, certificate equivalency in Turkey grants the holder many benefits and privileges, as if they possessed a Turkish certificate.
Benefits of Certificate Equivalency in Turkey
Holders of equivalent certificates in Turkey receive many benefits and privileges that holders of non-equivalent foreign certificates do not, as the equivalent certificate is considered tantamount to a Turkish certificate. Here are some of the benefits of certificate equivalency in Turkey:
- It enables the holder to work officially and with a valid license within Turkey in the field for which the certificate was obtained.
- It allows the holder to work in the public or private sector, especially in the field of education.
- Employment opportunities increase, as most Turkish companies require equivalent certificates.
- An equivalent secondary school certificate enables its holder to enroll in Turkish universities and pursue their academic studies at the best Turkish universities.
- It opens the door for university degree holders to register in postgraduate programs (master’s and doctoral) at Turkish universities.
- It allows the holder to start their own project or establish an investment or small company in their field, in accordance with Turkish regulations and laws.
- It enables the holder to register with specialized ministries and unions and benefit from their services.
Documents Required for Certificate Equivalency in Turkey
Like other procedures, certificate equivalency in Turkey requires numerous documents and proofs that must be submitted by the holder of the foreign certificate to have it equivalenced. Below are the documents required for certificate equivalency in Turkey:
- A certified copy of the passport or Turkish residence permit, regardless of the type of permit.
- The graduation certificate or secondary school certificate to be equivalenced, along with a translated copy notarized by a public notary.
- The original certified graduation certificate, along with a translated copy notarized by a public notary.
- The original transcript, along with a translated copy notarized by a public notary.
- A description of the subjects or courses studied at the university, if requested.
- A consent or approval form (downloaded from the Higher Education website and filled out manually) signed by the concerned party.
- A printed registration form (downloaded from the website after filling in the required information, then printed).
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Who Is Eligible for Certificate Equivalency in Turkey?
Holders of secondary school certificates are entitled to apply for the equivalency of their certificate, as are holders of university degrees obtained from programs lasting four years or more. The Turkish Council of Higher Education provides the possibility of equivalency for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. However, holders of certificates from technical institutes, where the duration of study is two years or less, are not eligible for equivalency.
Which Countries Require Certificate Equivalency in Turkey?
Certificate equivalency in Turkey requires the Turkish Council of Higher Education to communicate with the university that issued the certificate and verify its authenticity, after which the certificate holder must undergo an exam to assess their competence in the relevant field. This procedure applies to most countries, including Arab countries, with some exceptions – specifically, Germany and the United States of America are exempt from certificate equivalency.
How to Obtain Certificate Equivalency in Turkey
The website of the Turkish Ministry of Higher Education has recently enabled online applications for the equivalency of university certificates issued from countries outside Turkey, including Syrian universities. An applicant for certificate equivalency can access the dedicated equivalency page on the Ministry’s website via the following link "here":
- You can access this link via the e-government application “edevlet”, which will take you to the Ministry of Higher Education’s page. Then, navigate to the page containing the equivalency form. The applicant must possess the personal code associated with the e-government program, which is provided by the (PTT).
- Once the registration form appears, fill in your personal information, such as your full name, national identification number, the type of certificate you wish to equivalence, and the field in which the certificate was obtained, as well as the place and date of issuance. You must also upload certain documents electronically, such as the notarized graduation certificate with its translation, a translated and notarized transcript, a copy of your passport or residence permit, and the consent form.
- After completing the online registration to obtain the equivalent certificate, the Council of Higher Education will schedule an appointment for you to submit all the documents in person at its headquarters in Ankara within a maximum period of 15 days from the date the online application was submitted.
- Subsequently, the Council of Higher Education will contact the issuing university to verify the authenticity of the certificate and will conduct an exam for the applicant in their field of specialization. Based on the exam results, a decision will be made regarding the applicant’s eligibility for the equivalent certificate.
This brings us to the end of our article on The Importance of Certificate Equivalency in Turkey. We have provided sufficient and comprehensive information about certificate equivalency in Turkey, explained its importance, detailed how to obtain certificate equivalency, listed the required documents, and identified which countries require certificate equivalency. In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of expediting the certificate equivalency process in Turkey to take full advantage of the numerous benefits and privileges awarded to the certificate holder after equivalency.