Logo: A Matter of Fact Employment Background Checks
You Are Here > > Home > > Background Check Products > > Education Verification

Education Verifications


What are Education Verifications?

Education Verifications check the certification, training, or educational claims of an applicant. Universities, colleges, vocational schools, etc., are contacted to verify dates of attendance and graduation, degrees or certifications obtained, majors studied, GPA, and honors received.

Are Degree Verifications the Same as Education Verifications?

Education Verifications are commonly referred to as Degree Verifications. Because more than degrees are being verified, A Matter of Fact refers to this service as Education Verification.

What are the Sources for Education Verifications?

The educational institution that issued the degree or certificate is contacted for the Education Verification. Some educational institutions use third-party verification services. Most degrees or certificates are verified by the institution’s Admissions and Records Office.

What are the Benefits of Education Verifications?

An Education Verification search confirms that the education, training, or certification claims of an applicant are true. Education and training are often key to an employee's on-the-job success. Because of the large number of applicants who make false educational claims, this search is a valuable honesty check, and it helps protect an employer against negligent hiring claims.

What are the Weaknesses of Education Verifications?

The Education Verification process can be incomplete and slow. Some schools have policies prohibiting anyone other than the former student from accessing records. Name variations, incorrect or missing student numbers, etc., can occasionally cause educational records to be overlooked. GPA and honors information is not commonly provided by schools. Sometimes weeks or even months pass before degrees that have been earned are posted to a student’s records. It is also not uncommon for schools to close for extended periods of time (during the holidays or between terms), forcing the verification process to wait.

How Long Do Education Verifications Take?

Most Education Verification results are returned within one or two business days, but circumstances sometimes cause verifications to take weeks, or, in extreme cases, even months. Schools may need to search paper files to locate records. Some schools require that Education Verification requests be mailed. Finally, it is not uncommon for schools to close for extended periods of time during the holidays or between terms, forcing the verification process to wait. Patience is important in doing Education Verifications because of these extenuating circumstances. In the event that an educational institution has been contacted either by mail, fax or telephone, and the results are slow in returning, the search will be marked complete in our online tracking system with the note, "WILL UPDATE WHEN INFORMATION ARRIVES." In these cases we will continue to contact the source for information, but we won't delay reporting the rest of the background check for this search.

Can I See a Sample Education Verification?

Yes, click Sample Education Verification.

What is Our Recommendation for Education Verifications?

Because of the large number of applicants who make false educational claims (see Background Check Statistics), we strongly recommend an Education Verification when a degree or certification is required or desired for a given position. This search is a valuable honesty check, and it helps in protecting an employer against negligent hiring claims.

Are Education Verifications Available Internationally?

Yes, International Education Verifications are available. For more information, click International Education Verifications.

Need Help Deciding Which Searches to Choose?



Ready to Go?
Use our Start-Up Kit for a
step-by-step approach to
getting started
Account Setup is Free