Education Verification

Verify academic credentials and detect diploma fraud with thorough education checks.

Typical Turnaround: 2-7 business days

Diploma mills and credential fraud are a recognized problem for employers — the U.S. Department of Education publishes guidance on identifying accredited institutions precisely because unaccredited "degree" providers exist. Our education verification service contacts schools, colleges, and universities directly to confirm degrees earned, dates of attendance, fields of study, and honors received. DatabaseRecords.com has been detecting fraudulent credentials for 33 years, protecting employers from candidates who misrepresent their qualifications.

What's Included

Degree Confirmation

Verify that the candidate earned the specific degree they claim, including degree type (BA, BS, MBA, etc.) and major/minor.

Dates of Attendance

Confirm enrollment dates to identify fabricated or exaggerated education timelines.

Diploma Mill Detection

Identify credentials from unaccredited institutions or known diploma mills that sell fake degrees.

Certification Verification

Verify professional certifications, continuing education credits, and specialized training credentials.

GPA & Honors Verification

Where authorized, confirm grade point averages and academic honors claimed by the candidate.

International Credentials

Verify degrees from international universities through established verification channels and credential evaluation services.

How It Works

1

Candidate provides authorization and list of educational institutions

2

Our team contacts each institution's registrar office directly

3

Degree, dates, and major are verified against candidate claims

4

Institution accreditation is confirmed through recognized databases

5

Verification report delivered within 2-7 business days

Why Choose DatabaseRecords.com

Direct contact with registrar offices—not third-party databases alone
Diploma mill and accreditation fraud detection expertise
33 years of credential verification experience
International degree verification capabilities
FCRA-compliant reporting with detailed documentation
Persistent follow-up with slow-responding institutions

Education Verification: Myth vs. Reality

Common misconceptions that put employers at risk.

Myth

"If someone has a diploma, their degree is legitimate."

Reality

Diploma mills produce professional-looking certificates that are indistinguishable from legitimate degrees at a glance. Only direct verification with the institution's registrar can confirm authenticity and accreditation status.

Myth

"Education verification is only necessary for entry-level hires."

Reality

Executive-level candidates are just as likely—sometimes more so—to misrepresent credentials. High-profile cases of CEOs and executives with fabricated degrees demonstrate that seniority doesn't guarantee honesty.

Myth

"Checking LinkedIn or the school's alumni directory is sufficient."

Reality

LinkedIn profiles are self-reported and unverified. Alumni directories may be incomplete or outdated. Only direct registrar verification provides confirmed, FCRA-compliant credential data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a diploma mill?

A diploma mill is an unaccredited institution that sells degrees without requiring meaningful academic work. These organizations often have official-looking websites and certificates, making detection difficult without professional verification.

How do you verify degrees from closed schools?

When institutions close, their records are typically transferred to a successor institution or state archive. Our investigators know how to locate these records through the Department of Education and state agencies.

Can you verify professional certifications like CPA or nursing licenses?

Yes, we verify professional certifications and licenses through the issuing boards and regulatory agencies. This includes confirming active status, expiration dates, and any disciplinary actions.

How common is education fraud?

Commonly quoted percentages come from vendor surveys with very different methodologies, so we do not publish a single figure. What we can say from our own casework is that degree inflation — claiming a completed degree where coursework was started but not finished — is the most frequent discrepancy we find, ahead of entirely fabricated credentials. Employers can confirm whether an institution is legitimately accredited through the U.S. Department of Education database.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact us today for a free consultation and custom quote for your education verification needs.

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