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June 27, 2022 Category: Human Resources (9 minutes read)

Should You Do An Education Verification On New Hires?

What is verification of education?

Employers run background checks to check the education records of applicants and spot any misrepresentations.

Employers can have background checks done by consumer reporting agents (CRAs). In addition, they can check that applicants have obtained high school diplomas and vocational certificates.

Background checks on education show dates of attendance, majors, and degrees of candidates at high schools and universities in the U.S.A.

It is essential to verify education as applicants may embellish their qualifications to obtain jobs that they aren't qualified for.


What can employers do to verify a candidate's education? 

Education verification should not be part of the background screening process for job applicants.

You must ensure that you have qualified applicants.

It is vital to hire the right people for your business.

To identify qualified applicants for your job, you can check the education levels of candidates.

Screen applicants before you hire them.

If you call the number listed on your resume, a diploma mill will falsify applicants' claims.

You can also determine the applicant's factual and educational background; This makes it easy to identify fake degrees and institutions purchased from diploma mills.

Verify that the applicant holds all certificates, degrees and licenses required.

Some industries require that employees have certain degrees, certificates and licenses to perform their jobs.

This is essential to ensure that employees are competent and have the knowledge and skills to do their job.

You could be held responsible if you hire the wrong person.

It is essential to correct any misinformation about schools attended and degrees conferred.

Sometimes applicants misrepresent their education and attendance at schools that they didn't attend.

Some applicants claim they went to prestigious schools even though they weren't trying to impress anyone. Others claim they received degrees they did not receive.

Employers seek trustworthy and qualified candidates.

Potential applicants can easily spot false statements about education and degrees. This will enable you to hire only honest workers.

* Get fast and accurate results to speed up your hiring process.

It can take several weeks for an applicant to verify their educational claims. To confirm the applicant's academic history, call the school not mentioned in the resume.

Privacy and data security laws apply to your company.

Applicants must keep sensitive information private and secure.

How can you spot fake degrees on a resume?

Fake diplomas from diploma mills can be difficult to identify.

Red flags are to be avoided. These red flags could indicate that the degrees might not be authentic.

Degrees List Out of Order

These popular methods of education are

  • GED/High School Diploma
  • Bachelor's Degree or Associate's Degree
  • Doctoral or Master's degrees

Candidates who claim to have an advanced degree but not a bachelor's or a bachelor's without any high-school diplomas, GEDs or diplomas could indicate that they are faking credentials.

Graduation too quickly

An applicant may claim a degree, but it can be denied if they have only a short time to complete it.

A bachelor's degree is usually completed in three years. The PhD takes four years.

Don't believe applicants who claim they have received a quicker or multiple degrees in the same year.

Degree from a Geographically Distant College

While there are many accredited online degree-seeking programs, you must verify that the applicant claimed to have obtained a degree at a foreign institution.

Verify that the institution is accredited. For example, a diploma mill could obtain the credential.

Similar Named Schools

Verify that the candidates are from the same university. You might find similar names for legitimate, accredited institutions to those of well-known universities.

Columbia College in Missouri is often confused with Columbia University, New York. However, it is not as well-respected but is regionally accredited.

It is worth looking into applicants who claim to have earned a degree from another institution.

 

What does an Education Background Check show?

Background checks ensure that applicants are truthful about their educational history.

Background checks on education can be used to verify claims made by candidates in applications or resumes and to spot misrepresentations before making a hiring decision.

Verify the schools attended and the dates they attended other schools.

A background check can determine the major and honours a candidate has received.

Verifications of education showing GPA are available.

Most consumer reporting agencies don't include GPA information in education background checks.

Request official transcripts from candidates if you're interested in job postings requiring your GPA information.

 

Education Verifications and FCRA

Employers are restricted from accessing CRAs by federal law. Fair Credit Reporting Act

This law limits the reporting power of CRAs to report information about certain convictions or judgments. However, it does not restrict the reporting of information about educational history.

The FCRA prohibits CRAs from reporting judgments or liens older than seven years. However, CRAs are allowed to register jobs with salaries exceeding $75,000

Educational history is exempt from the time limit. Therefore, background checks can be conducted on applicants' education for as long as they live.


How do employers verify education?


Access the National Student Clearinghouse

Employers can use the National Student Clearinghouse to verify applicants' educational records. Employers can use this service to verify the educational history of applicants. It will also confirm an applicant's current enrollment and degree conferred.

However, the National Student Clearinghouse does have its limitations.

It is not always easy to get an account that allows you to verify the educational history of your applicants. Auditing can be time-consuming.

Sometimes applicants forget the universities they attended. As a result, the clearinghouse might be confused if there are some similar university names.

DIY Education Verification

Although you can verify the credentials of candidates yourself, it may take some time. These steps will allow you to confirm the credentials of candidates:

Please contact claimed educational institution.

You can request a certificate from a registrar at the claimed educational institution. Then, with permission from the applicant, you can request a certified transcription.

Some diploma mills offer verification services at an extra cost to customers.

* Learn more about the institution. HTML4_

Go online to learn more about the school. Check that an accredited accreditation agency has approved the institution.

Universities and colleges must pass rigorous evaluations to be awarded accreditation. This is for them to show that they offer high-quality education programs.

Diploma mills pretend to be accredited by fake agencies. Instead, look for American institutions.

Find out if an agency is legally registered on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation site.

Ask for a copy of your degree and evidence that the candidate has accredited you.

Talk to your job candidate about accreditation.

Candidates should request that transcripts be sent directly from school to their business. These transcripts will be compared to the list of accredited agencies and any claims.

  1. Partnering With a 3rd Party Background check Provider

This will confirm the legitimacy of the applicant and their educational history.

The following steps will assist you in doing it:

  • Tell the applicant that background checks will be conducted before applying to work.
  • Ask for the applicant's consent to background checks.
  • Enter the name of the applicant who graduated from
  • Locate the name and address of the educational institution.
  • Determine the dates.
  • Find out more about the degree program that interests you.

 

 

What is the average time it takes to verify education?

Depending on the method used, it will take time to pass an education verification test.

It may be challenging to get to every school that the applicant claims to have attended. It is possible to obtain incomplete information from applicants who do not list institutions.

Background checks can be done on potential clients in two to four days. Because we have access to education databases and use cutting-edge technology, we can provide results quicker than other providers.

 

For how long have background checks been in effect for education?

What Legalities are There About Education Verification

Employers should ensure that background check CRAs are compliant with all state and federal laws. Employers should be familiar with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations and FCRA requirements.

Federal Trade Commission enforces FCRA. Employers must inform applicants that background checks could harm their hiring decision.

The EEOC enforces federal discrimination laws. However, you may have to comply with local regulations based on where you are working.

It is crucial to comply with all laws applicable to your business, regardless of local or state. Falsely declaring qualifications can also be a risk to your business.

What's an Educational Background Check?

Many candidates may be attracted to job openings that offer lucrative opportunities. However, some applicants may not be qualified for the job.

Employers can benefit from consumer reporting agencies' background checks and education verifications (CRAs). They find out if the applicant has earned their high school diplomas, vocational certifications, or undergraduate/graduate degrees.

If a candidate falsifies qualifications for employment, you will be notified. This will allow you to eliminate resume fraud and hire qualified candidates.

Remember the following important points:

  1. According to the FCRA guidelines, education verification is exempt from restrictions. This allows consumer reporting agencies to verify the education claims of applicants for the duration of a person's life.
  2. It all depends on the way that your educational background was verified.

This process can be made more accessible with the assistance of consumer reporting agencies.

The high-quality technology allows faster background checks and more enjoyable user experiences.

What is the best way to check your background before you re-employ?

Candidates must hold a degree to be eligible for entry-level jobs.

After completing the education verification process, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

  • Hiring the best candidates is an easy way to get a great job
  • Less expensive hiring
  • Character assessment
  • Candidates can be evaluated by analyzing their marks in the relevant subjects

To avoid expensive situations, employers must verify the education of all employees. Background checks are done to identify trustworthy and qualified talent.

What is an Education Background Check?

Background checks can be used to verify the education claims of applicants.

Best Practices From a Legal Perspective.

While conducting background checks, employers can be caught in the middle.

Employers can rely on CRAs to make the best hiring decisions. This law lists all requirements employers should be aware of.

Some notable FCRA points include:

  • Employers must inform potential employees that they will be conducting background checks.
  • Consent: Background checks can only be performed by CRAs if the applicant consents.
  • An employer must share the background check with applicants after an FCRA-compliantCRA completes it. Employers should inform applicants about their rights under FCRA.
  • Follow adverse actions procedure. Notify FCRA if discrepancies are found in background checks or if you don't hire the candidate.

Employers should be familiar with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations and

  • Anti-discrimination laws: EEOC enforces anti-discrimination laws.
  • All applicants are respected: Conduct background checks regardless of race, origin or gender.
  • It is your responsibility to follow all directions in your locality. 


Sources: 

https://iprospectcheck.com/education-verification/

https://us.springverify.com/blog/education-verification-for-employment#:~:text=They%20find%20out%20if%20the,on%20hiring%20the%20right%20talent.