Education Verification Services
Source-direct education verification through registrars and the National Student Clearinghouse — with CHEA accreditation confirmation built into every report. Trusted since 1979.
Education verification is one of the most consistently misrepresented areas in pre-employment screening — degrees claimed that were never earned, schools listed that turn out to be diploma mills, dates of attendance that don’t match registrar records. DDS performs education verification the right way: by going directly to the source through the registrar’s office or the National Student Clearinghouse, and by confirming that the institution itself is accredited through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Direct Registrar Contact
National Student Clearinghouse
CHEA Accreditation Confirmed
High School, GED, and International
What Is Education Verification?
Education verification is the process of confirming that a candidate’s claimed educational credentials — degree, major, dates of attendance, institution — match what the educational institution’s official records show. For employers, education verification matters because resume misrepresentation in this area is more common than in almost any other category. Studies of pre-employment screening consistently show that 30 to 40 percent of resumes contain at least one material misrepresentation, and inflated or fabricated educational credentials are among the most frequent.
A proper education verification answers three questions:
1. Did the candidate actually attend this institution?
2. Did they earn the degree they claim, in the major they claim, on the dates they claim?
3. Is the institution itself a legitimate, accredited educational entity?
DDS education verification covers all three. The first two come from the source registrar or the National Student Clearinghouse. The third comes from cross-referencing against the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
How DDS Performs Education Verification
DDS uses two source channels for education verification, depending on which is authoritative for the specific institution:
Direct registrar contact. A trained DDS researcher contacts the registrar’s office of the educational institution directly. This is the original source of every academic record and the most authoritative verification channel for institutions that haven’t outsourced their record-keeping.
National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). A large number of U.S. colleges and universities — but not all — have partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse, a not-for-profit organization that holds and disseminates student records on behalf of participating institutions. For NSC-participating institutions, NSC is the authorized record source and DDS uses it accordingly.
When NSC doesn’t cover an institution. Many smaller colleges, trade schools, foreign institutions, and high schools are not NSC participants. For these, DDS supplements with direct registrar contact — the source-direct methodology DDS has used since long before the NSC existed.
The choice between NSC and direct registrar isn’t a shortcut decision. It’s a source-authority decision: whichever channel the institution has designated as authoritative is the channel DDS uses.
CHEA Accreditation and Diploma Mill Protection
A degree is only meaningful if the institution that issued it is a legitimate, accredited educational entity. Diploma mills — operations that sell credentials without the academic rigor that the credentials imply — have proliferated online, and a credential from one of these “schools” provides no real assurance that the candidate has the knowledge or skill the degree suggests.
Every DDS education verification includes confirmation that the institution is accredited through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is the primary national organization recognizing legitimate accrediting bodies in the United States. An institution accredited through a CHEA-recognized accreditor is a real, vetted educational entity.
DDS reports also list any specific accreditation that applies to the candidate’s major course of study where relevant — for example, ABET accreditation for engineering programs, AACSB for business schools, ABA for law schools, LCME for medical schools, and similar programmatic accreditations. This matters for roles where a specific accreditation is a prerequisite for the work.
Education verification through DDS is not just a confirmation that the candidate attended somewhere. It’s a confirmation that they attended a legitimate accredited institution and earned a credential that means what they claim it means.
International Education Verification
Education verification of foreign credentials is a meaningful operational challenge for most screening providers. Most international colleges and universities allow verification requests, but the majority do not have automated records systems compatible with electronic verification platforms designed for U.S. institutions. International verification often requires written requests, in-person requests at the institution, or correspondence with the institution’s registrar in the local language.
DDS conducts international education verification through two channels, depending on the country and institution:
– In-house verification by trained DDS researchers, when the institution responds to written verification requests through standard correspondence
– In-country agents, when local language requirements, in-person record access, or institutional protocols make on-the-ground presence more effective
Foreign credential verification respects the same source-direct standard as domestic verification — the report identifies which institution was contacted, the method, and what was confirmed. Where additional identification documentation is required by the foreign institution (transcripts, certified translations, identity verification), the employer uploads the necessary documents during the request process and DDS forwards them as part of the verification request.
International regulations vary widely and change frequently. DDS explains the current access policy and verification approach for each country before beginning.
Need to verify a candidate's education properly?
A 20-minute consultation walks you through the education verification process — including how DDS handles direct registrar contact, National Student Clearinghouse queries, CHEA accreditation confirmation, and international credential verification. No obligation, no charge.
High School, GED, and Trade School Verification
Education verification doesn’t stop at college degrees. DDS verifies the full range of educational credentials a candidate may claim:
High School Diplomas. High school diploma verification is often more operationally challenging than college verification — many high schools don’t have automated records systems, and verification requires direct registrar contact, often via mail or fax. DDS handles high school verifications as part of standard education verification programs, including the source-direct methodology and supporting documentation handling.
General Educational Development (GED) Certificates. For candidates who completed a GED rather than a traditional high school diploma, DDS verifies the GED through the appropriate state department of education or testing administrator.
Trade School and Vocational Certifications. Cosmetology, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, IT certifications, culinary, automotive, and other trade school credentials are verified through the issuing institution or, where applicable, the relevant industry certification body. Each trade has its own credentialing ecosystem; DDS knows which authority is the right source for each type of credential.
Professional Continuing Education. For credentials that require ongoing continuing-education hours (CPA, attorney CLE, healthcare licensure CME), DDS can verify completion through the issuing institution or the relevant board.
When Claimed Credentials Don't Match Reality
The most common discrepancies DDS surfaces during education verification fall into a few patterns:
– Degree never earned. Candidate attended but didn’t graduate, or attended a different program than claimed.
– Wrong major or concentration. Candidate earned a degree, but in a different major than what’s on the resume.
– Dates don’t match. Attendance dates differ meaningfully from claimed dates.
– Institution doesn’t exist or isn’t accredited. The “university” in question is a diploma mill or unaccredited operation.
– Honors or distinctions claimed but not awarded. Magna cum laude, dean’s list, or other distinctions claimed without basis.
When discrepancies surface, DDS reports the official record from the source. The report shows what the candidate claimed and what the registrar or NSC confirmed. The hiring decision and any adverse-action process that follows is the employer’s — handled within FCRA framework.
DDS reports also confirm the institution’s accreditation status through CHEA, which addresses the “is this even a real school” question that’s increasingly relevant as online diploma mills proliferate.
Why Employers Choose DDS for Education Verification
1. Source-direct, not database-only. Every DDS education verification goes directly to the source — registrar or NSC, whichever is authoritative for the institution. We don’t rely on aggregated third-party databases that may be out of date.
2. CHEA accreditation built in. Every report confirms the institution is accredited through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Diploma mill protection isn’t an add-on — it’s standard.
3. Accreditation of major listed. Where the candidate’s major has specific programmatic accreditation (ABET, AACSB, ABA, LCME, etc.), DDS reports it.
4. NSC + direct registrar. Both verification channels available, used based on which is authoritative for each institution.
5. High school, GED, trade school, and international. Full coverage across every educational credential category, not just four-year colleges.
6. International education verification in 100+ countries — including in-country agents where local presence matters.
7. The “no excuses” protocol. When a source is unresponsive, DDS investigates further rather than closing out the case after three attempts. Clients get real answers about education verification status — never a generic “unable to verify.”
8. Operating since 1979. DDS performed education verification long before NSC existed and long before online diploma mills were a concern. The protocols we use today were refined across decades of edge cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DDS perform education verification?
DDS performs education verification through one of two source-direct channels: direct contact with the educational institution’s registrar’s office, or query through the National Student Clearinghouse for institutions that have designated NSC as their authorized record holder. The choice between channels is based on which is authoritative for the specific institution.
Does DDS use the National Student Clearinghouse?
Yes. For colleges and universities that participate in the National Student Clearinghouse, NSC is the authorized record source and DDS uses it. For institutions that don’t participate in NSC — many smaller colleges, trade schools, high schools, and foreign institutions — DDS supplements with direct registrar contact.
Does DDS verify high school diplomas?
A standard DDS employment verification typically confirms dates of employment, position held, reason for separation, and eligibility for rehire where the employer discloses it. DOT-regulated employment verifications also include substance-of-abuse questions required under 49 CFR Part 40. The depth of data confirmed depends on the past employer’s internal verification policy.
Why Employers Choose DDS for Employment Verification
Does DDS verify GED certificates?
Yes. General Educational Development (GED) certificates are verified through the appropriate state department of education or the relevant testing administrator that issued the credential.Yes. International employment verification is conducted either through direct contact by DDS’s in-house team or through an authorized DDS agent in the country where the employer operates. The large majority of international employment verifications are conducted via direct contact with the employer. DDS explains the current access policy for each country before beginning.
Can DDS verify trade school and vocational credentials?
Yes. Cosmetology, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, IT certifications, culinary, automotive, and other trade school credentials are all verified through the issuing institution or the relevant industry certification body.When a candidate claims self-employment, DDS requests supporting documentation including 1099 forms received from companies that paid the contractor during the self-employment period, and tax returns for the corresponding years. The candidate provides this documentation to support the claim, and DDS reviews it for consistency with the claimed dates and scope of self-employment.
How does DDS verify international education credentials?
DDS conducts international education verification through in-house verification (when the institution responds to written verification requests) or through in-country agents (when local presence is required). Most international institutions allow verification requests but do not have automated electronic verification systems — most international verifications require written or in-person requests through the appropriate channels.
Does DDS check for diploma mills?
Yes. Every DDS education verification includes confirmation that the institution is accredited through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the primary national organization recognizing legitimate U.S. accrediting bodies. An institution accredited through a CHEA-recognized accreditor is a real, vetted educational entity. Reports also list any programmatic accreditation that applies to the candidate’s major course of study where relevant.
Why Employers Choose DDS for Employment Verification
What happens when a claimed degree doesn't match registrar records?
DDS reports the official record as the source confirmed it. The report shows what the candidate claimed and what the registrar or NSC confirmed — the hiring decision and any FCRA adverse-action process that follows is the employer’s, handled within standard FCRA framework. DDS provides pre-adverse and adverse action letter templates with every applicable report.
How long does education verification take?
Education verification turnaround depends primarily on how quickly the source responds. Across all DDS services, 85% of orders complete within 24 hours. Verifications dependent on slow-responding institutions or international sources may take longer, and the persistence protocol ensures cases aren’t closed prematurely.
Does DDS handle continuing education or professional certifications?
Yes. For credentials that require ongoing continuing-education hours (CPA, attorney CLE, healthcare CME), DDS can verify completion through the issuing institution or the relevant board. Programmatic accreditations relevant to professional roles (ABA for law, LCME for medicine, ABET for engineering, AACSB for business) are also confirmed.
Ready to Verify Properly?
A free consultation walks you through the education verification process — from registrar contact to CHEA accreditation confirmation to international credential handling. No obligation, no charge.