In the job market today which is incredibly diverse and competitive applicants are continuously competing to grab coveted job vacancies that align with their interests and qualifications. In most cases when a job is advertised, companies are inundated with a myriad of applications from prospective candidates with impressive educational qualifications to their credit on paper. Yet, how do you know if these qualifications are genuine?  

It is not unusual for candidates to exaggerate their education credentials on their CVs or job applications to nab a job. Employers can make the mistake of hiring candidates for important roles by blindly believing everything they mention on their resumes thereby putting the organization at greater risk. This is where an education background check becomes a vital part of the employment recruitment process.

 

Index What is an Education Background Check? How does a background check verify education? Why do employers verify education & college degrees? What does an Education Background check show? Conclusion FAQs

What is an Education Background Check?

An education background check also referred to as education verification, confirms that the applicant has the training, education, and certification they claim from high schools, colleges, and vocational schools they have mentioned. They also confirm if the course mentioned has been completed and the degree/ diplomas/courses have been attained because many people tend to drop out during their education for many reasons. Thus, education checks identify and validate any potential discrepancies and confirm that the candidates have obtained the mentioned degree upon which he/she has been considered as a recruit. 

License verification for working in specific sectors does not fall under the umbrella of education background checks; that falls under the domain of Professional Membership checks. However, these checks play a crucial role in the hiring process; determining qualified, educated hires, mitigating the risk of hiring people with false credentials & protecting the organization against liability claims.  

How does a background check verify education? 

To verify the educational credentials of any applicant, employers need to ask them for specific and correct information. This may include:

• The full name of the candidate (Note: Be sure to get the full name that the person graduated under. For instance, a female candidate might be applying under her married name but graduated under her maiden name.)
• The name and address of the degree-granting institution
• The dates attended (Note: Month and year should be sufficient. For instance, 08/2005–05/2009)
• The title and field of their degree
• Degree and transcript copies front and back both
• Passport or ID card copies front and back
• A signed authorization release from the applicant

The applicant must likely be familiar with the hiring process, and provide the information readily. Once the information is received, what's the next step??

1. Outsource an  Education Verification Service
   This is the easiest and most convenient method to complete education verification. Hand over your collected data to a third-party background verification company like Check Xperts, and they can verify your applicants’ credentials directly from their respective institutions. By taking care of the process, the background check company saves you time and hassle, while ensuring authentic, accurate, and timely education verification so you can make your hire for the smooth running and growth of your company. 
   
   
2. The DIY Route 
   Some employers choose to handle the education verification process by themselves. If you go this route, here’s what you can expect:
   
   You’ll have to contact the institution mentioned on the candidate’s CV and provide the information you have collected from your applicant. Then, you must wait for the institution to complete verification. If you verify education via the DIY route, you must be prepared to tackle issues that might slow down the verification process. Also, you need to watch out for diploma mills. 
   Moreover, some applicants may have received their degree abroad. If this is the case, you’ll want to be extra careful. It can be easier for a candidate to falsify credentials from a foreign school. So, ensure you are thorough and have the right network of contacts locally and internationally. 
   

It depends on the company’s policy how they opt for an education background check, but overlooking an education check can be a gruesome mistake with long-term and multiple side effects. It may take a while to compile the results, however, it's worth the wait. You’ll hire someone qualified with complete certainty in your process. You won’t have to find out later that the person lied, saving you and your company the hassle of rehiring.

Why do employers verify education & college degrees?

A person’s formal education and qualifications are, in many cases, indicative of their ability to work in the advertised role. Employers have the responsibility to ensure that the hired candidates have the skills, knowledge, and experience to do the job. Thus, the role of an education check is crucial to determine the authenticity of candidates' educational credentials. 

1. Watch out for Diploma Mills:
   Increasingly, over the years there has been a growing presence of online organisations which provide seemingly legitimate documentation of degrees or qualifications, for a fee. These are known as ‘diploma mills’, and the caveat is that they are not legitimate educational institutions. These ‘diploma mills’ have made the acquisition of degrees pretty easy demeaning the entire education process.
   
   Furthermore, employers have to be equally cautious when hiring prospective candidates who claim they are qualified in specific fields. No matter how experienced the hiring party is, just by looking at a standard CV, there is nothing to suggest that the candidate is lying. Yes, the interview process might help you determine the worth of a person, but there is still a high chance someone’s education could be fabricated or falsified. They could, just as easily, have bought a fake degree from a ‘diploma mill’. 
   
   
2. Qualified Hiring:
   An education background check not only ensures your candidate has good moral character; it also ensures they have the qualifications to do the job. A candidate with the proper education will adequately fulfil their role.
   
   Additionally, hiring a qualified candidate protects employers from liability. This matter is crucial in healthcare, education, and other highly specialized fields. If you hire someone who falsified their credentials, your company will eventually be responsible. 

What does an Education Background check show? 

An education background check shows a candidate’s education history, such as dates of attendance, majors, graduation date, and degrees or certificates earned. In the case of candidates who are graduates, the verification will usually focus on the most recent school attended.

For candidates currently in school, an education verification will usually confirm an active student registration status and may also provide the date of enrollment. This type of education verification is sometimes referred to as enrollment verification. This is what you may expect from an education background check: 

• Enrollment and attendance
  Verify your candidate’s enrollment history and dates of attendance.
• Degree obtained
  Validate the type of degree, such as a Bachelor's degree, and major completion status.
• Graduation date
  Confirm the graduation date provided by your candidate is accurate.

 Conclusion

In summary, education checks help organizations to:

• Hire properly-qualified people
• Protect their reputation
• Build a trustworthy team
• Ensure they are filling vacancies with the right candidates
• Filter out individuals who would not be suitable for the role(s)

Conducting an educational background check is the cornerstone of your hiring procedure, which shouldn’t be amiss. Subsequently, education verification doesn’t have to be complicated. Check Xperts takes care of the process quickly and deftly while staying within your budget. With us, you’ll be on your way to hiring the right applicant for your company. 

 

FAQs

1. How to check online degree verification in Pakistan?  
   HEC has introduced online receipt of attestation fee through 1-link in effect from 5th August 2023. Applicants must first pay the attestation fee online through 1-link and verify the payment in their profile. After verification of payment, the option of downloading the application form will be enabled on the applicants’ profile. 
   
   
2. How much time is required for HEC degree verification?
   Your degree or transcript (which you selected for attestation) will be scrutinized by the HEC Attestation Team (usually it takes 8 to 10 days, depending on the workload). Once they verify your degree, you will receive an SMS or email to schedule your appointment date and time at the “Dashboard” tab. 
   
   
3. What happens if a candidate doesn’t pass the education check?
   If a candidate fails a background check the company is legally obligated to inform them and provide a photocopy of the report. The candidate then has the right to dispute the findings or provide an explanation before a hiring decision can be made. However, the final decision remains in the hands of the employers. 
   
   
4. Are all academic degrees verified in the education check?
   During an educational background check, the extent to which degrees are verified can vary based on several factors, such as the purpose of the check, the level of scrutiny required, and the policies of the verifying organization.