Education Verification for Employment: Confirm Every Degree
Education verification for employment confirms a candidate’s degree directly with the school.
Moreover, it catches inflated credentials and diploma mill degrees before you hire.
We verify universities, colleges, technical schools, and vocational programs.
What an Education Background Check Verifies
We contact the school registrar or its authorized clearinghouse for every order.
As a result, your report reflects the school’s own records.
Institution and Campus
First, we confirm the school and campus the candidate attended.
Degree or Diploma Earned
We then confirm the exact degree, diploma, or certificate awarded.
Major or Field of Study
Additionally, the report states the candidate’s major on record.
Dates of Attendance
The report also lists the enrollment start and end dates.
Graduation Date
Furthermore, we confirm whether and when the candidate graduated.
Name on School Records
Records often sit under a former name, so give us every name used.
Why Should an Employer Verify Education?
Education verification is an important component of employment screening.
Most candidates describe their schooling honestly.
However, a small share of applicants exaggerate or invent credentials.
For example, some claim a graduate degree after attending a school only briefly.
In a 2014 CareerBuilder survey, 58% of hiring managers had caught a lie on a résumé.
Furthermore, 33% of those managers found an embellished academic degree.
Consequently, a degree check protects roles that demand specific training.
It also supports your defense against negligent hiring claims.
Therefore, education verification for employment belongs in every hiring process.
Verify education when a role requires
- A professional license or certification.
- Financial, legal, or fiduciary responsibility.
- Clinical, engineering, or technical expertise.
- Leadership of people, budgets, or safety.
Additionally, pair it with employment verification to confirm work history.
Beware of a Diploma Mill Degree
A diploma mill is an unaccredited school that sells degrees for a fee.
It requires little or no coursework from the buyer.
Moreover, these schools often cite accreditors that no authority recognizes.
Indeed, the U.S. Department of Education warns that any institution can claim accreditation.
Therefore, check the school against official sources before you rely on a degree.
- Search the Department of Education accreditation database (DAPIP).
- Search the Council for Higher Education Accreditation directory.
- Review the FTC guide to college degree scams.
Finally, order a verification, because our researchers contact the school directly.
Common diploma mill warning signs
- The school awards degrees for life experience alone.
- It charges a flat fee for each degree.
- It promises a diploma within days or weeks.
- Its name closely copies a well-known university.
- Its accreditor does not appear in federal databases.
FERPA, the FCRA, and Education Verification
Two federal laws shape how schools release records and how employers use them.
34 CFR 99.3 and 99.37
FERPA Directory Information
Schools may release degrees, majors, and attendance dates as directory information.
However, a student can opt out of that release.
34 CFR 99.30
Written Consent for Other Records
Transcripts and GPA are not directory information.
Therefore, schools release them only with the student’s signed consent.
15 U.S.C. § 1681b(b)
FCRA Disclosure and Authorization
An education check from a screening company is a consumer report.
Consequently, you need a standalone disclosure and written authorization first.
The FCRA sets no seven-year limit on verified education history.
Thus, we can verify a degree that a candidate earned decades ago.
How to Order Education Verification for Employment
This search is for employment screening purposes only.
Open an Account
First, open a business account online.
You can also add optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) security for every user.
Enter the School Details
Next, enter the school, campus, degree, and attendance dates.
Additionally, list every name the candidate used while enrolled.
Upload the Authorization
Then upload the candidate’s signed background check authorization.
We require it when you place the order.
Receive Your Report
Finally, we contact the registrar or clearinghouse and report the results.
Price: $20 + Third-Party Fee
Most colleges and universities outsource registrar records to national clearinghouses.
Consequently, the clearinghouse adds its own charge to the search.
That charge typically ranges from $3 to $24.
Turnaround: Hours to 5+ Business Days
Many verifications return within a couple of hours.
However, some registrars need five business days or more.
Additionally, holidays and term breaks can slow a response.
Sample Education Verification Report
The sample below uses a fictitious candidate to show the report layout.
Education Verification Report
Researcher note
Records found under maiden name, not user-provided married name.
Sample only. The candidate and results shown are fictitious.
Education Verification for Employment: Questions and Answers
What is education verification for employment?
Education verification for employment confirms a candidate’s academic claims with the school.
Specifically, we verify the institution, degree, major, attendance dates, and graduation date.
As a result, you hire on confirmed credentials instead of résumé claims.
How long does education verification take?
Turnaround ranges from a couple of hours to five business days or more.
However, timing depends on the school’s registrar or its clearinghouse.
Additionally, holidays and term breaks can slow a response.
How much does an education background check cost?
Each verification costs $20 plus any third-party fee.
Most schools outsource registrar records to national clearinghouses.
Consequently, the clearinghouse adds its own charge, which typically ranges from $3 to $24.
Does education verification show GPA or transcripts?
A standard verification confirms the degree, major, and dates.
However, schools treat GPA and transcripts as protected records under FERPA.
Therefore, the school releases them only with the candidate’s signed authorization.
How do I spot a diploma mill degree?
First, check the school in the U.S. Department of Education’s accreditation database.
Next, watch for degrees sold for a flat fee or for life experience alone.
Finally, order a verification, because we contact the school directly.
Verify Your Next Hire’s Degree Today
Open your account now, and order education verification for employment in minutes.
Questions? Call (800) 661-0278 or email support@usabackground.com.
BCS Background Screening LLC provides this page for general information only, and it is not legal advice. Therefore, consult qualified counsel about your FERPA and Fair Credit Reporting Act duties.