Employment & Background Verification Services
Human-conducted, source-verified, and persistent. We don't close cases with excuses — we deliver answers. Trusted by employers since 1979.
Every verification report from DDS comes from the same place: a trained researcher who contacted the source, persisted through to a real answer, and documented exactly how the verification was conducted. When other providers close out unresponsive cases after three failed attempts, we investigate further — because if a client is paying for information, they deserve to know exactly why an answer could or couldn’t be reached.
Source-Direct Verifications
Human-Conducted, Not Automated
Operating Since 1979
100+ Countries Covered
"No Excuses" Persistence Protocol
A verification is only as good as the source it came from. Employment dates verified through a name-only check are not the same as employment dates confirmed by an authorized HR contact at the original employer. A degree confirmed by a registrar’s office is not the same as a degree “verified” by checking against a database that may be three years out of date. DDS verifications go to the original source — every time — and we document the methodology in the final report.
What Are Background Verifications?
Background verifications are source-confirmed validations of the credentials, history, and identity information a candidate or vendor has provided. Where a criminal background check answers “is there public record information about this person?”, a verification answers “is what they told us actually true?”
For employers, verifications matter because most resume fraud and credential misrepresentation isn’t caught by criminal record searches — it’s caught by directly confirming the claims a candidate made. Studies consistently find that 30–40% of resumes contain at least one material misrepresentation: incorrect dates of employment, inflated titles, degrees never earned, licenses that have expired, references who don’t exist.
A useful verification program answers, at minimum:
1. Is this person who they say they are? (Identity verification — SSN trace, cross-referenced identity data.)
2. Did they work where they say they worked? (Employment verification with past employers.)
3. Do they hold the credentials they claim? (Education and license verification.)
4. What do former colleagues say about working with them? (Reference checks.)
DDS handles all of the above — and we verify by contacting the source directly, not by querying a database.
Verification Services We Offer
DDS performs the full range of background verifications for employers, vendor-screening programs, and due-diligence engagements. Most clients combine verifications into a customized package, finalized after a free consultation.
Employment Verification
Source-direct verification of past employment dates, position, and eligibility.
Education Verification
Direct registrar contact and source-verified degree confirmation.
Professional License Verification
Real-time license status from official state and federal boards.
I-9 & E-Verify Services
Employer portal for I-9 and E-Verify submissions at hire.
Social Security Number Trace
SSN validation, address history, and identity cross-reference.
Reference Checks
Human-conducted reference interviews with former colleagues.
Workers' Compensation Verification
Workers' comp claim history verification where state law permits.
Passport & ID Verification
Document-based identity and travel document verification.
Business Entity Verification
Corporate registration, status, and vendor due-diligence verification.
How DDS Verifications Work
Every DDS verification follows the same source-direct workflow:
Step 1 — Order and Authorization
The employer submits the verification request through the secure ClearStar platform. The candidate’s authorization and consent are on file per FCRA requirements before the verification begins.
Step 2 — Source Identification
DDS identifies the correct source for each verification — the past employer’s HR or verification department, the registrar’s office of the educational institution, the relevant state licensing board, or where applicable, an authorized third-party records holder.
Step 3 — Direct Source Contact
A trained DDS researcher contacts the source directly. For employment verifications, this is the employer’s verification contact. For education, the registrar’s office or authorized third-party. For licenses, the official licensing board.
Step 4 — Persistence Protocol (where applicable)
If a source is unresponsive, DDS does not close out the case after three failed contact attempts the way most providers do. We investigate further — cross-referencing corporate status, state licensing records, and other data sources to determine why the source is unreachable. If the entity is no longer in business, we say so. If contact information has changed, we find the current contact. The client gets a real answer, not a generic “unable to verify.”
Step 5 — Documentation and Delivery
Each verification is documented with the date contacted, the source contacted, the method, and the confirmed information. Completed reports are delivered through the secure ClearStar platform with a full audit trail.
Employment Verification
DDS verifies employment by contacting the past employer’s authorized verification contact directly. Standard data confirmed includes dates of employment, position held, and (where the employer discloses) reason for leaving and eligibility for rehire.
When The Work Number applies. Some employers — particularly large enterprises — have outsourced their employment record-keeping to Equifax’s The Work Number. In these cases, The Work Number is the authorized source for employment records, and DDS uses it as such. We don’t use The Work Number as a shortcut for direct verification; we use it only when the employer has designated it as the system of record.
International employment verification. DDS conducts international employment verifications in over 100 countries. Available record types and verification methods vary by country.
Self-employment and contractor verification. When a candidate claims self-employment or contractor work, DDS verifies through alternative means — business entity records, tax documentation provided by the candidate, or client references — and the methodology is documented in the report.
Education and Credential Verification
All education verifications conducted by DDS go directly to the source — either the educational institution’s registrar’s office or, where applicable, an authorized third-party records holder designated by the institution.
DDS does not rely on database-only verifications for education. Database services can be useful as a pointer, but the final verification confirming degree, dates of attendance, major, and graduation status comes from the institution itself.
Foreign credentials. International education verification follows the same source-direct methodology. Where additional identification documentation is required by the foreign institution, the employer uploads the necessary documents during the request process and DDS forwards them as part of the verification request.
Professional certifications and trade credentials. Beyond traditional degrees, DDS verifies professional certifications, trade school diplomas, and continuing education credentials through the issuing institution.
Professional License Verification
Professional license verification confirms that a candidate’s claimed professional credentials are currently active, in good standing, and free of reported disciplinary action.
DDS verifies licenses against the official state or federal licensing board records — not aggregated third-party databases. Coverage includes:
– Healthcare licenses (RN, LPN, MD, PA, NP, pharmacist, EMT, and others)
– Legal credentials (state bar admission)
– Financial credentials (FINRA registrations, CPA, insurance licenses)
– Engineering and trade licenses (PE, contractor licenses)
– Real estate, cosmetology, and other state-regulated credentials
For ongoing license monitoring, DDS performs verification on the schedule set by the client — typically annual re-verifications for healthcare and other roles where continued licensure is a condition of employment.
Build a Verification Program That Actually Verifies
Every DDS engagement begins with a free consultation. We’ll review which verifications matter for the roles you’re hiring, recommend a verification menu, and walk you through how each one is conducted. No obligation, no charge.
Identity Verification and SSN Trace
Identity verification is the foundation of every background screening package. DDS confirms a candidate’s identity through multi-source cross-referencing rather than relying on a single data point.
The standard DDS identity verification includes:
– Social Security Number trace — validates the SSN was issued by SSA, identifies all names and addresses ever associated with the SSN
– Credit history “header” data — confirms identity through credit bureau header information (name, address, DOB) without pulling a full credit report
– Driver’s license cross-reference — confirms identity against state DMV records where authorized
– Criminal history cross-reference — matches name and date of birth against criminal record databases for consistency
Where additional verification is required, DDS supports picture identification verification through document upload during the request process.
This multi-source approach catches synthetic identities, alias fraud, and SSN misuse that single-source identity checks miss.
Reference Checks — Human-Conducted, Not Automated
DDS performs reference checks the way they should be done: through human-conducted interviews with the references provided by the candidate.
Most providers in the market have moved to automated, survey-based reference platforms — sending a generic questionnaire to references via email. The output reads like every other automated reference report: bland, scripted, and unable to follow up on a useful answer.
DDS reference checks are different. A trained DDS researcher conducts a structured but conversational interview with each reference, asks follow-up questions, listens for hesitation or specific examples, and produces a written summary that actually tells the hiring manager something useful — what working with this person was like, what the reference would say if asked privately, and any concerns worth knowing about.
Reference checks are typically combined with other verifications as part of a customized screening package, finalized after the free consultation.
I-9 and E-Verify Support
DDS provides a dedicated I-9 and E-Verify portal for employers. Through the portal, the employer enters I-9 and E-Verify requests at the appropriate stages of the hiring process — Section 1 by the new hire, Section 2 by the employer’s authorized representative, and E-Verify submission within the required timeframe after hire.
The portal supports:
– Standard in-person I-9 completion
– The post-2023 DHS alternative remote procedure for E-Verify-participating employers
– Electronic I-9 storage with audit trail
– E-Verify case submission and resolution support
– Reverification of expiring work authorization documents
I-9 compliance is the employer’s legal obligation. DDS provides the technology, training resources, and support to make that obligation easier to fulfill correctly.
Workers' Compensation and Specialty Verifications
DDS performs specialty verifications where state law permits and where ADA-compliant timing applies.
Workers’ Compensation Verification. Workers’ comp claim history is verifiable in select states and is generally limited to post-offer review under the Americans with Disabilities Act. DDS workflow supports compliant post-offer-only workflows for this verification.
Passport and Travel Document Verification. Document authenticity verification for passports, visas, and government-issued ID — useful for international hires, security clearance pre-screening, and roles requiring travel.
Business Entity Verification. Corporate registration status, ownership records, and vendor due-diligence verification through state corporate filings, business credit data, and source-direct confirmation. Used by clients running vendor screening, M&A due diligence, and third-party risk programs.
For an explanation of all available specialty verifications, including international scope and turnaround expectations, request a free consultation.
Why Employers Choose DDS for Verifications
1. We go to the source. Every verification is sourced from the original record-holder — the employer, the registrar, the licensing board — not aggregated from a third-party database that may be out of date.
2. We don’t make excuses. When a source is unresponsive, we investigate further: corporate status checks, state licensing records, alternative contact discovery. The client gets a real explanation of why we did or didn’t reach the source, not a generic “unable to verify.”
3. Reference checks by humans, not surveys. Our researchers conduct conversational reference interviews and produce written summaries that actually tell you something. Automated reference platforms produce automated answers.
4. Operating since 1979. DDS performed verifications before automated platforms existed. The protocols we use now were built before “easy” was an option — they were built to actually verify.
5. Proprietary researcher network. Most verification companies are resellers of national wholesale data. DDS operates its own trained researcher network — the people who actually make the calls, send the documents, and document the result.
6. International coverage. Over 100 countries. Same source-direct methodology applied abroad as domestically.
7. 94% client retention. Verification clients stay with DDS for the same reason all DDS clients stay — accuracy, transparency, and people who answer the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DDS verify past employment?
DDS contacts the past employer’s authorized verification contact directly — typically HR or a designated verifications department. Standard data confirmed includes employment dates, position held, and where the employer discloses, reason for leaving and rehire eligibility. Where the past employer has outsourced employment records to The Work Number, DDS uses The Work Number as the authorized source designated by that employer.
What does DDS do when a past employer doesn't respond?
Most providers close out unresponsive cases after three failed contact attempts and report “unable to verify.” DDS does not. We investigate further — confirming whether the entity is still in business through state corporate licensing records, locating alternative contacts where the original is invalid, and documenting why a verification could or couldn’t be completed. The client gets a real answer, not an excuse.
Does DDS verify international employment and education?
Yes. DDS administers drug and alcohol testing under 49 CFR Part 40 for employers regulated by FMCSA (commercial transport), FAA (aviation), FRA (rail), FTA (transit), PHMSA (pipeline), and USCG (maritime). All DOT testing protocols — five-substance panel, certified collection, SAMHSA lab, MRO review, and statistical random selection — are handled in-house.
How is education verification conducted?
All education verifications go directly to the source — typically the institution’s registrar’s office or, where the institution has designated one, an authorized third-party records holder. DDS does not rely on database-only verifications for education. Where additional identification documentation is required by the institution, the employer uploads it during the request process.
Does DDS offer reference checks?
Yes. DDS conducts human-led reference interviews with references provided by the candidate. Unlike automated survey-based reference platforms, our researchers conduct structured but conversational interviews, ask follow-up questions, and produce written summaries that actually inform the hiring decision.
How does professional license verification work?
DDS verifies professional licenses against the official state or federal licensing board records — not aggregated databases. Coverage spans healthcare, legal, financial, engineering, trades, and other state-regulated credentials. For roles requiring ongoing licensure, DDS supports periodic re-verification on a schedule set by the client.
Does DDS provide continuous license monitoring?
DDS supports scheduled re-verification of licenses on whatever cadence the client requires — typically annually for healthcare and other roles where active licensure is a condition of employment. Real-time monitoring of licensing board databases is not currently available as a continuous service in this category; license status changes are captured through scheduled re-verification.
What identity verification does DDS perform?
DDS cross-references Social Security number trace data, credit bureau header data, driver’s license records, and criminal history matches against name and date of birth. Where additional verification is required, picture identification can be uploaded during the request process. This multi-source approach catches synthetic identities and SSN misuse that single-source checks miss.
Does DDS handle I-9 and E-Verify?
DDS describes the pros, cons, and possible liabilities based on the specific city and state jurisdictions a client operates in, and recommends best-practice approaches by industry. The final policy decision is the client’s. We don’t impose a position — we provide the information and adjust the testing panel and protocol to match the client’s approved policy. For DOT-regulated employees, federal law continues to require marijuana testing regardless of state legalization.
Can DDS verify workers' compensation history?
DDS performs workers’ compensation verification in states where this information is legally available, and only on a post-offer basis to remain compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The DDS workflow enforces post-offer-only timing for this verification.
Does DDS verify business entities and vendors?
Yes. DDS performs Business Entity verification — confirming corporate registration status, ownership, active operating status, and other due-diligence data through state corporate filings and source-direct confirmation. This is commonly used by clients running vendor screening, M&A due diligence, and third-party risk programs.
How long do verifications take?
Verification turnaround depends primarily on how quickly the source responds. Across all DDS services — record checks, verifications, and drug testing combined — 85% of orders complete within 24 hours. Verifications dependent on third-party response (past employers, schools, licensing boards) may take longer when those institutions are slow to respond. DDS’s persistence protocol ensures we don’t close out cases prematurely.
Ready to Talk?
A free consultation is the fastest way to design a verification program that actually verifies. We’ll walk you through which checks matter for your roles, how each verification is conducted, and what kind of report you’ll receive. No obligation, no charge.