Education Verification

Verify degrees, dates of attendance, institutions, and fields of study. Catches diploma mills, unaccredited programs, and credential misrepresentation before they become your problem.

What Education Verification Confirms

Education verification confirms that the degree, institution, and timeline claimed by the candidate are accurate. It also checks whether the institution is legitimately accredited.

Degree Earned

The specific degree conferred (Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate, etc.) and whether it was actually awarded - not just attended.

Dates of Attendance

Enrollment dates confirming when the individual attended the institution, verifying the timeline matches what was claimed.

Institution Confirmation

Verification that the institution exists, is accredited, and that the individual was enrolled there. Catches diploma mill and fictitious school claims.

Field of Study / Major

The specific field of study, major, or concentration associated with the degree - important when the role requires a specific educational background.

Honors & Distinctions

Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) and other academic distinctions where claimed and where the institution reports them.

Accreditation Status

Whether the institution holds legitimate accreditation from a recognized accrediting body - the first line of defense against diploma mills.

How Education Verification Works

PSBI uses multiple methods depending on the institution and location. U.S. institutions are typically verified through the National Student Clearinghouse first, with direct contact as a fallback.

National Student Clearinghouse

Automated verification through the NSC database, which covers approximately 97% of U.S. college enrollments. Fast results for participating institutions.

Typical Turnaround:

Typically 1-3 business days

Direct Institution Contact

PSBI contacts the institution's registrar office directly when the school doesn't participate in NSC or when additional detail is needed beyond what the database provides.

Typical Turnaround:

3-10 business days (varies by institution)

International Education Verification

Verification of degrees and credentials from institutions outside the United States. Longer timelines due to different educational systems, languages, and verification processes.

Typical Turnaround:

10-30 business days (varies by country and institution)

Diploma Mills & Accreditation Checking

Diploma mills are organizations that sell degrees without requiring meaningful academic work. Education verification catches these by checking accreditation status against recognized accrediting bodies.

No Physical Campus

Diploma mills often have no real campus, faculty, or academic program. They may use addresses that are mail drops or virtual offices.

Unrecognized Accreditation

Many diploma mills claim "accreditation" from fake or unrecognized accrediting bodies. Legitimate accreditation comes from agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA.

Degrees for "Life Experience"

Schools that award degrees primarily based on payment and vague "life experience" claims rather than academic coursework and examination.

Suspiciously Fast Completion

A four-year degree "earned" in weeks or months is a red flag. Diploma mills sell credentials without requiring the time investment of legitimate education.

Accreditation Verification Is Standard

Every education verification through PSBI includes an accreditation check. The institution's accreditation status is verified against the U.S. Department of Education's database and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If the institution is unaccredited or accredited by an unrecognized body, it's flagged in the report.

How Pricing Works

Education verification pricing includes the PSBI service fee plus any third-party database fees (National Student Clearinghouse, etc.). International verifications carry additional fees based on the country and institution.

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See how PreSearch handles education verification and credential confirmation for your organization.