The job application process can be lengthy, and as you are filling out applications with plenty of questions asking about your educational background and degree, you might be wondering if employers even check for these details.
Most of the time, an employer will check to verify the validity of your degree, though how stringent these checks are depends on the workplace and specific employer policies. Our article gives you more details on the educational verification process that you might have to undergo as you apply for jobs.
Is It Legal For an Employer to Check Your Education?
It is perfectly legal for an employer to check your education and verify your degree as you apply for a job. Many times, employers will check for this information to ensure you are fully qualified for the job that you are applying for and that you truly have the specialized education needed to ensure you can complete the job accurately and without issue.
Employers are obligated in many cases to check this information, as not doing it and accidentally hiring a candidate who is unqualified or falsifying their information can leave them open to lawsuits or other legal issues, not to mention creating an unsafe workplace.
That being said, employers must follow all federal and state regulations when it comes to informing individuals that their information is being accessed and obtaining consent for educational background checks.
Methods Used for Degree Verification
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Employers can use several methods to check your degree, the most popular of which we list below. Depending on your employer, they could use one or all of these methods, though they will typically tell you which method they wish to use before a degree verification is completed.
Educational Background Checks
Educational background checks are done by the employer utilizing a background check service and then entering in your information.
The employer will typically carry this kind of background check out in-house, and they may look only at your education information and credentials, or they may complete an in-depth background check and look at the entirety of your background record.
Direct Contact With Schools
Contacting schools directly is another popular way that employers check degrees. When you fill out an employment application, you can expect the names and contact information of any schools you have attended to be requested, and your employer will use this information to complete their degree verification. You might also be requested to provide a copy of your degree or educational transcripts.
Third-Party Background Check Services
A third-party background check service is used when employers don’t wish to conduct their degree verifications in-house. Instead, they will contract a service to complete this process for them, and using a third-party background check service may make the degree verification process take slightly longer due to turnaround times.
When Can I Expect a Job to Check My Degree?
Not every job will check your degree and educational record, but you should always be prepared for this to be an option. In most cases, a job is more likely to check your degree and educational record if it is a highly-regulated profession, like a position in the medical field, or if you need a specific skill set and certifications to complete the job, such as anything that involves using specific equipment or machinery.
Before a job will check your degree, they are required to inform you of the background check and ensure that your consent is obtained. This is mandated by the federal Fair Credit and Reporting Act, and it is regulated to ensure that employers are not accessing personal background and educational information about someone without them ever knowing this information was being evaluated.
Is It Possible to Lie About My Education?
While it is technically possible to lie about your education when applying for a job or a certification program, we do not recommend this. Lying about your education may only land you in trouble, and if you are found to be falsifying your degrees or using false educational credentials to access a job that is highly regulated, you can land in serious legal trouble.
It is much better to be honest about your education and apply for jobs that you are qualified for; if you want to change careers or improve your position in the workplace, you can engage in degree programs or additional certifications as needed until you earn all of the proper credits and education you need.
How Can I Make Sure My Educational Information Is Up to Date?
Your educational information is often found on your personal record, and it is important to review this information yourself from time to time to ensure it is correct and up to date.
After all, any information on your record that is not correct may slow down the process of an educational background check or raise red flags with your employer if your degrees and certifications are not all properly listed.
Conduct a people finder free search on yourself from time to time to verify your educational information. If you discover that things are not properly listed or that your degrees and certifications are missing from your educational record, you may need to contact local courthouses, schools, or record-keeping offices to ensure that this information is completely updated.
Ensuring Your Employer Likes What They See
When it comes to applying for jobs, it can be nerve-wracking to put down all of your personal details and agree to things like personal and educational background checks.
However, this information is important for employers to review, as they must complete their due diligence when it comes to hiring the most skilled and qualified candidates for a job. Your employer may check your degree, or they may not – this depends on the employer and the job’s requirements.
Make sure that your educational background is up to date to ensure any slowdowns in this process and always be truthful with your information to ensure that your potential employer likes what they see if they do choose to check your degree.