Many roles throughout an organization require specialized training, education, or experience. Credential verification is the process of validating the education or experience of a given applicant to make sure they’re qualified before bringing them onto the team.

Credential verification often refers to education but can also include relevant certifications, or any other formal credentials an applicant may list on an application. Past work experience through an Employment Verification can also be conducted.

Accounting, nursing, or HR management roles require specific training and experience to handle job responsibilities adequately. Verifying provided credentials gives you confidence that a new hire is both qualified and trustworthy. 

Read on to discover what a credential verification check is, what you’ll learn, and why they’re essential to the overall hiring process.

What is a Credential Verification Check?

A credential verification check obtains additional information from an applicant and validates all credentials listed on the application and resume.

Verifying education is a common goal of this type of check. This process involves contacting the education institution and ensuring the applicant graduated with the degree and GPA listed on the application. 

However, credential verification isn’t limited to education. Specific certifications related to the role can also be verified, especially for nursing and accounting or other positions that require specialization. In addition, professional references may also undergo verification if necessary for the hiring process.

Why Should You Run a Credential Verification Check?

Verifying an applicant's credentials provides significant insights to help you make an informed hiring decision. Some of the top reasons employers verify credentials include the following:

• Only hire qualified candidates: Unfortunately, anyone can list education or professional credentials even if they’re not valid. Diploma mills are becoming increasingly popular and verifying these credentials ensures you’re hiring the right candidate ready for the demanding nursing, accounting, or HR role you need to fill.
• Prevent hiring dishonest applicants: Discovering that someone falsified their credentials sheds light on their trustworthiness. However, hiring an untrustworthy candidate can lead to significant issues even beyond invalid credentials.
• Credential verification is cost-effective: Fortunately, you don’t need to call universities and certification organizations personally. Instead, companies like Hire Performance can take credential verification off your plate for an affordable rate, letting you focus on the business while we validate credentials.

It’s well worth a slight delay in the hiring process to validate an applicant’s credentials. Depending on how much information needs to be validated, this type of check can usually take 3-7 business days. With Hire Performance's years of experience and network of schools to verify the information we are able to offer a same-day turnaround! You’ll accurately understand a candidate’s genuine credentials when the process finishes and be ready to make the right decision.

Are There Any Legal Restrictions on Credential Verification?

There are vital legal considerations in place regarding credential verification. These considerations apply broadly to all background checks and become increasingly relevant while verifying an applicant's credentials. 

It’s important to remember the following principles:

• Minimum data collection: Privacy laws in Canada emphasize collecting the least amount of information necessary during all background checks. You should only collect the information necessary to verify credentials and nothing more. Hire Performance does not collect any information that is not required for the verification.
• General Obligations: Two general obligations apply to credential verification:
• Data collection regarding any candidates must be reasonably relevant to the hiring process.
• The applicant must consent to all data collection and its usage.
• Meaningful Consent: Have written consent from all applications to verify credentials and conduct other background checks.

Team Up With Hire Performance for Fast and Accurate Credential Verification

Verifying an applicant's credentials is essential for roles where specialized training is required, such as HR management, nursing, and accounting. It’s well worth the effort to validate the information provided by a candidate, so you only hire qualified candidates.

Hire Performance’s eScreener platform provides on-demand and accurate credential verification. Are you ready to discover how our platform can streamline your processes? Try eScreener today to see the difference.