United States professional licenses are not generally recognized in Mexico (e.g., engineer, architect, lawyer). To practice a regulated profession, one must either (1) become accredited in Mexico by registering their degree and professional credentials or (2) work with a Mexican counterpart who can co-sign or validate the work. For example, a U.S. architect may draw up plans for a building, but those plans must receive a “Cédula Profesional” (Stamp of Approval) from a licensed Mexican architect. Professionals seeking recognition of their degrees can apply through the Sistema de Equivalencia y Revalidación de Estudios (SERE), the online platform managed by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP).
Applicants must create a user account, fill out a formal request, upload required documentation (e.g., academic transcripts, birth certificate, course syllabi, institutional technical opinion), and pay the processing fee via the SEP’s online payment system. Once reviewed, SEP issues an official equivalency or revalidation resolution. There are two main pathways:
- Equivalencia Total: grants full recognition, allowing the applicant to obtain a Mexican title if institutional requirements are met
- Equivalencia Parcial: allows continuation of studies within a Mexican institution, accepting previously completed coursework as valid credits
A detailed step-by-step guide is available on the SEP SERE portal: https://sere.sep.gob.mx