Education Verification

Education Verification Includes

• Schools Attended
• Degrees
• Diplomas
• Dates Attended

Many positions in your company require a specific level of education. With USA-FACT, you have the opportunity to verify the educational level of an applicant. USA-FACT has an education verification staff ready to verify schools attended, diplomas, degrees, certificates and dates of attendance. Although some education verification requests may be completed by telephone, others require a written or faxed request. When transcripts are not required, an education verification provides a quick confirmation. Additional charges may be incurred for the following education verification services: transcript fees, registrar fees, language line, premium time calls, International long distance or any additional expenses incurred in retrieving the education information you requested. Education Verification turn around time is from 24 hours to 2 weeks depending on the school's procedures. Please provide the applicant's name and information requiring education verification.

The National Student Clearinghouse

The primary source for USA-FACT's education verification is the National Student Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization with more than 2,800 collegiate institutional members. On behalf of its member institutions, the Clearinghouse maintains the nation's largest database of degree and enrollment data and provides online education verification to organizations conducting background checks.

The Clearinghouse's education verification services are provided free of charge to its member institutions, which update the graduation and enrollment records in its database every 30-45 days. In return, the institutions agree not to directly confirm degree and/or enrollment for third-party organizations. If a participating institution is contacted directly by a requestor, that requestor will be referred back to the Clearinghouse. Screening organizations such as USA-FACT pay a fee for each education verification request to cover the operational costs of the service.

Is The Clearinghouse A "Primary Source" For Education Verification?

Yes. As the authorized legal representative of its participating educational institutions, the Clearinghouse is considered a primary source for degree and enrollment data. The Clearinghouse confirms the degree and enrollment records provided by its member institutions to requestors without additions or changes. Both the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) have approved the Clearinghouse for academic credential verifications.

How Long Does It Take To Obtain An Education Verification Thru the Clearinghouse?

Most education verification requests are confirmed instantly. When an educational credential can't be verified immediately, it's due to one of the following reasons:

• Additional research is required. This may be because the record pre-dates the institution's electronic records, incorrect information was submitted, or the applicant falsified his or her credentials.

USA-FACT will be given the opportunity to provide additional identifying information (e.g., birth date, year degree awarded, etc.) before the request is sent to the institution. Institutions prioritize education verification requests from the Clearinghouse and submit their research results electronically. As soon as the institution submits its findings, they are emailed to USA-FACT.

The average turnaround time for research requests is less than 48 hours. Delays may occur during holidays and graduation periods. Data on new degrees are typically not available until four to six weeks after the term ends.

• No record found. If the subject still claims a degree or to have attended the institution, proof (e.g., copy of the diploma or transcript) will need to be faxed by USA-FACT to the Clearinghouse, which will work with the institution to determine its authenticity.
• Student has placed a privacy block on the record. Before the data can be released, USA-FACT will need to fax the subject's signed/dated consent to the Clearinghouse.
• Institution has placed a hold on the record. USA-FACT will be notified that the individual must contact the institution directly to resolve the hold and obtain the verification.

Why can't USA-FACT by-pass NSC and obtain information directly from the school?

The NSC is an authorized legal representative of their members. Any attempts to by-pass the NSC by contacting the school directly are reported to the NSC by the participating school. In 99% of these attempts, the school will direct the screening company back to the NSC. Attempts to by-pass the NSC severely jeopardizes the contract the background screening company has with the NSC in regards to price and future access.