Rapid Translate Team
If you want to study, immigrate, or work in another country, you must have the right documents. And, usually, one of these documents is your degree certificate. Now, if it’s in another language, you have to translate it to ensure it is usable internationally. If this is your first time, you may be wondering how to translate a degree certificate correctly.
This guide covers everything you need to know to make this a smooth process. It covers when to translate your documents, how to do it, and common mistakes to avoid. We also explain how much it costs. Continue reading to learn how to translate my high school diploma to English.

Table of Contents
What Is Degree Translation?
Degree translation involves translating your academic credentials, like college degrees, diplomas, and academic transcripts, from one language to another. However, this isn’t like just every other translation.
It’s a part of the academic translation and involves translating the entire degree certificate, including the terminology and your grades. The aim is to create a legally valid document that foreign language speakers can understand.

Why Should You Translate Your Degree Certificate?
You should translate your degree certificate because:
- It provides clarity for your grades: Grades differ depending on the country. Some regions use numbers while others use the alphabet. Even if two countries use letters or numbers to denote your academic performance, they can have different meanings. For example, France uses a scale between 0 and 20, while the U.S. uses letter grades or grade-point average (GPA). Degree certificate translation makes sure the grades are accurate, regardless of the country’s grading system.
- It recognizes your academic qualifications: Without professional degree translations, authorities may misunderstand the courses and subjects you completed. For example, you specialized in botany, but the university’s staff translated it to biology.
- It shows you meet the organization’s requirements: If you don’t transcribe the degree certificate, it becomes hard for the authorities to understand if you meet their requirements. This can increase the time it takes for officials to accept your documents. In some cases, they may even reject your application.

When Is Degree Translation Required?
Degree translation is necessary when your academic documents are in a language that the foreign country doesn’t recognize. For example, in the U.S., the official language is English. If you’re from Spain and your degree certificate is in Spanish, it won’t be valid in the U.S.
But when do you need to translate your degree certificates? It’s usually in the following cases.
For Visa Applications
Immigration authorities are strict when processing visa applications. Even the smallest mistakes will cause significant delays in getting your visa, i.e., if you’re lucky. Most of the time, authorities reject your visa application, and you must apply again.
For University Admissions
Universities need to know your grades, what you studied, and the degree you completed in your home country. They use this information to see if you meet their eligibility requirements and assign you to the right course. Translating your degree certificate makes it easy for universities to understand your qualifications.
For Professional Licensing
Professional licensing organizations require you to submit your degree certificates in order to practice your profession in another country.
For example, if you studied medicine in Australia, you can’t practice medicine in the US. First, you must apply for an Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate. You also have to finish the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) to be eligible.
For Job Applications Abroad
Any job you apply for will ask you to submit your degree certificates as part of the hiring process. Translating these documents makes it straightforward to meet the company’s requirements.
For Government Document Submissions
If you need to submit your documents for government-related purposes, your files must be in the correct language. For instance, when applying for an employment-related visa, immigration authorities will ask for your degree certificate.
How To Translate a Diploma [Step-by-Step Guide]
Okay, you know why and when you have to translate your documents. The next step is learning how to translate a high school diploma from another country. Here are step-by-step instructions explaining what you need to do.
Step 1: Select a Certified Translation Provider
The first step is finding a certified translation provider, i.e., a professional translation agency. They have the expertise to handle such tasks and make sure the translated documents are accurate and legally valid.
Here are some tips to help you pick the best translation provider to work on your documents:
- The translation agency specializes in certified degree certificate translation. You can see if they do from the services they offer on their website.
- The firm has multiple positive reviews, especially regarding translation accuracy and speed. This lets you know the agency delivers on its promises.
- The translation agency is part of a professional licensing organization or works with certified academic translators. For example, in the US, the agency or the translator should be a member of the American Translators Association (ATA).
Step 2: Gather Your Academic Documents
After finding a certified translation provider, you must collect all your academic documents. Confirm you have all the files before sending them to the translation agency. Always double-check with the institution about the academic documents you need so you know what to translate.
Step 3: Submit the Documents for Translation
Send the academic documents for translation to the professional translation agency. Make sure the scanned versions of your files are clear. This way, the agency won’t ask for another copy of your documents and will start working on your files.

Step 4: Receive Your Official Translation
The professional translation agency will send the translated version to you. Check for translation errors before accepting the files. Since it’s a certified diploma translation, you’ll receive a certificate of translation informing you that the translation is accurate.
At Rapid Translate, we’ll send a draft so you can review the translated document. If everything looks good, we’ll send the final version with a certificate of translation. We can also deliver up to three translated pages of your academic documents within 24 hours. It won’t take more than 48 hours if it’s less than six pages.

Common Degree Translation Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
Knowing how to translate high school diploma and what mistakes to watch for can be helpful. Always look for the following errors before accepting the document from the professional translation firm.
Formatting Issues
Ideally, the format of the translated document must remain the same as the original files. Officials don’t like changes in text, watermarks, signatures, and logos because this can indicate the translated document is inauthentic.
If possible, let the translation agency know you want the same format. Reviewing the translated document when you receive it from the translation firm is also a good rule of thumb.
Incorrect Subject or Degree Title Translations
Subject and degree title translations may be incorrect if the target language doesn’t have an equivalent translation. This can cause unnecessary confusion and affect your chances of enrolling in your favorite college or landing your dream job.
As highlighted earlier, always see if the agency has academic document translators before sending your files to them.
Grading System Misinterpretations
No two grading systems are the same. Just a simple translation of the grades, GPA, or percentages can be inaccurate. Always work with certified translation agencies that understand the nuances of grading systems in different countries.
Using Non-certified Translations
Non-certified translations are cheaper but won’t help you save money. Non-certified translations, especially from non-professionals, can have loads of errors. And what if you don’t get a certificate of translation? The organization won’t accept your documents, and you’ll need to get the files translated again.

How Much Does It Cost To Translate a High School Diploma?
It’s always good practice to account for translation costs so you know how much you need to interpret your documents. After all, it’s pretty expensive to move to another country. Here’s a breakdown of the cost to translate your degree certificates.
What Affects the Cost of Degree Translation?
The following factors affect the cost of translation:
- Certified translations: Certified translations cost more than standard translations. You need this type of translation to use the translated documents for business, legal, governmental, or official purposes. When you choose certified translations, in most cases, only certified translators will translate your document.
- Notarized translations: If you want to notarize the translations, you must pay an additional fee. Notarized translations are necessary for certain countries, so always check the translation requirements before approaching a professional agency.
- Mode of delivery: How you receive the translated document also affects the cost. Every agency will send it for free via email. However, you must pay shipping fees if you want it delivered to your doorstep.
- Delivery speed: When do you want the translated degree certificate? If it’s within a day or two, choosing an expedited service is best so you receive the file quickly. Firms will charge extra for this service.
- Number of pages: Translation agencies will always charge based on how many pages you need translated.
Average Pricing per Page or Word
We mentioned in this guide on how to translate a transcript that the number of pages affects the translation cost. However, agencies don’t literally count the number of pages. Instead, they follow the industry standard, i.e., 250 words is one page. This is to make sure the pricing is fair.
Think about it. Your document has 10 pages, but each page only has 25 words. Would you be okay paying for 10 pages or one page, because there are only 250 words altogether?
The average pricing per page will vary depending on the translation agency. At Rapid Translate, we believe in keeping our prices affordable so anyone can use our services. For this reason, we charge $26.99 per page.

What Is a Certified Degree Certificate Translation?
A certified degree certificate translation comes with a certificate of translation, informing the reader about the translation’s accuracy. This is necessary if you want to use your documents legally because this is a requirement in most countries.
Are you looking for a reliable translation agency that can quickly translate your degree certificate? Or, are you wondering how to translate a diploma from Spanish to English? Rapid Translate has a global team of certified translators who can translate over 60 languages. Thanks to our extensive quality assurance (QA) process, we make sure your translations are 100% error-free.
Contact Rapid Translate today to translate your degree certificate so you can legally use it!
FAQs
Go through this section to learn more about how to translate transcripts.
Can my friends or family translate my degree certificate?
It’s best not to ask your friends or family to translate your degree certificate. Even if they’re a native speaker, they may make mistakes, which can affect you academically and professionally. Moreover, they may not know what to include in the certificate of translation.
Do I need a certified, notarized, or sworn translation of my degree certificate?
The type of translation you need for your degree certificate depends on the country. Always ask the authorities or check the institution’s website to find out what type of translation is necessary.
Can I get my degree certificate translated in less than 24 hours?
Absolutely! Choose our Rapid Priority Service and we’ll translate your degree certificate as soon as possible. If it has fewer than three pages, we can send it within 12 hours.
Where can I translate my high school diploma near me?
The best solution is to look for a professional translation agency near you. However, if you can’t find one, the next option is to use an online service like Rapid Translate. We have professional and certified translators with years of experience translating academic documents.
