Degree Verification Service: US Registers and FCRA Rules

A degree verification service in the United States confirms that a named person earned a specific degree from a specific school, usually by querying the National Student Clearinghouse's DegreeVerify or the school's registrar. There is no federal register of degree holders. The federal and accreditor databases only tell you whether a school is legitimately accredited.

This guide explains which US sources an employer can use, what each one confirms, and the consent and disclosure rules that apply when a third party runs the check.

What a US degree verification service checks

A degree verification service compares the candidate's name, school, degree title and dates of attendance or conferral against the school's own record. The comparison happens against data the school or its agent controls, because the federal government does not hold it.

Two questions get mixed up. "Is this school accredited?" is answered by public databases. "Did this person graduate?" is answered only by a school record, whether obtained through the Clearinghouse or directly from the registrar. A "no record" response calls for follow-up on name changes, merged campuses or a different conferral date, not for a conclusion.

The National Student Clearinghouse and DegreeVerify

DegreeVerify, run by the National Student Clearinghouse, is the main US service for confirming degrees, covering the schools that report their data to the Clearinghouse. Employers and screening firms submit the candidate's details and receive confirmation of degree, major and date where the school participates.

As of October 2026, DegreeVerify remains the standard route for confirming US degrees at scale, with coverage depending on which institutions report to the Clearinghouse (National Student Clearinghouse).

Coverage is not universal. Some schools, particularly small or closed institutions, do not report. Closed-school records are often held by a state higher education agency or a successor institution, so ask the candidate which one holds them.

Fees and turnaround are published by the Clearinghouse and can change. Check the current schedule rather than budgeting from older figures.

CHEA and DAPIP: accreditation, not holders

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) database and the US Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) confirm that an institution holds recognized accreditation. They help you spot unaccredited "diploma mill" schools. They say nothing about whether the candidate attended.

Accreditation also matters for the value of the credential. Regional and national accreditors differ in how other institutions treat their credits, so for roles where the level matters, note which accreditor stands behind the school.

Registrar requests and FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) limits what a school can release about a student without written consent. Schools may disclose "directory information" such as dates of attendance, degrees and honors, unless the student has opted out, but each school sets its own directory policy.

In practice that gives employers two routes. Either the candidate signs a release and the school or Clearinghouse confirms the record, or the candidate requests an official transcript or degree confirmation and sends it to you. Details are on the US Department of Education FERPA pages.

FCRA, consent and state rules

When an employer uses a third-party screening company to verify education, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) treats the report as a consumer report. That triggers a standalone written disclosure, the candidate's written authorization, and an adverse action process (pre-adverse notice, copy of the report, a summary of rights) before a decision based on it. The Federal Trade Commission publishes employer guidance on background reports.

If the employer verifies directly with the school, without an agency, FCRA generally does not apply, but FERPA consent still does. Some states and cities add their own notice, privacy or fair-chance rules. State privacy statutes such as the California Consumer Privacy Act also reach applicant data held by employers, so confirm the rule in each state where you hire.

Short working rules:

1. Use the standalone disclosure form and get written authorization.
2. Verify only credentials relevant to the role.
3. Follow the adverse action sequence if a mismatch affects a decision.
4. Keep records only as long as you need them and as state law allows.

Foreign degrees and professional licenses

A degree from outside the US needs two steps: confirm the issuer, then evaluate equivalence. Evaluation is done by credential evaluation agencies, many of which belong to NACES or AICE. An evaluation says what a foreign degree is comparable to; it does not confirm it was issued to the candidate. Confirmation comes from the foreign institution or its ministry, which can take longer.

For licensed occupations, the state licensing board is the primary source. Nursing, law, engineering and teaching all have state-level license lookups, usually free and instant. Where the license is required to practice, the board record matters more than the degree.

Comparison: which source answers which question

Questions recruiters and candidates ask

Is there one national register? No. The Clearinghouse is the closest to a central source, but it depends on school participation.

Can I call the school? You can, but most registrars will ask for the graduate's written consent and may refer you to the Clearinghouse. The call leaves no formal record.

Do I need the candidate's consent? Yes in practice. FERPA and, with a screening firm, FCRA both require it.

What about foreign degrees and timing? Combine an evaluation with issuer confirmation. Plan for days at best and weeks for some countries.

How much does it cost? Fees vary by provider and volume. Check the Clearinghouse and your screening vendor for current prices.

A practical order of checks

1. Confirm the school is accredited (CHEA, DAPIP).
2. Collect the FCRA disclosure and authorization, or the school's release.
3. Run DegreeVerify, or ask the registrar if the school does not participate.
4. Evaluate foreign degrees through an agency.
5. Look up state licenses where required.
6. Record date, source and result, and keep only what you need.

See also HR document verification: diploma checks and right to work and background check documents for employer verification. The sector context is in our industry verification guide.

Automating the comparison step

When a team handles hundreds of diplomas and transcripts, the comparison itself becomes the bottleneck. CheckFile's HR solution reads the name, school, degree title and dates on a diploma and compares them against the register response or the issuer's reply, then flags mismatches for a human to review. It supports a decision and does not prove by itself that a document is authentic. Staffing firms can see the recruitment and temp staffing page, and the pricing and security pages cover cost and data handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a US degree verification service confirm?

It confirms that a school's records show a named person earned a given degree on a given date. Most checks run through the National Student Clearinghouse's DegreeVerify or directly through the registrar.

Does CHEA or DAPIP verify an individual's degree?

No. They list accredited institutions and programs. You still need DegreeVerify or the registrar to confirm that the candidate graduated.

Does FCRA apply to education verification?

It applies when a third-party screening company produces the report. You must provide a standalone disclosure, obtain written authorization and follow the adverse action steps. If you verify directly with the school, FERPA consent is the main requirement.

Can a school refuse to confirm a degree?

Yes, if it has no consent or the student opted out of directory disclosure. Ask the candidate to sign a release or send an official record.

How do I verify a foreign degree?

Confirm the award with the issuing institution, then get a credential evaluation from a NACES member or similar agency to establish the US equivalent.