Screening Add-Ons: When Should I Get a Credential Verification? 1 Nov 2017

Definition of Credential Verification: it is the process of verification from the original source of a specific credential (education, training, licensure). Its purpose is to determine the accuracy of the qualifications of an individual/potential employee.

From accountants to airline pilots, radiologists to real estate brokers, there are many professional positions that require specific licenses. Furthermore, these credentials are provided by numerous organizations, including industry watch groups and governmental entities.

If you’re hiring for one of these positions, you want to make sure that the candidate you hire not only has the license that indicates they have the skills to do the job, but also that the license is active. In addition, requirements can vary depending on the position, your location and the demands of the position. Therefore, start by knowing which licenses you require.

You can then set your applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter resumes by the specific credentials needed. This is the first but not only step in ensuring you’re hiring a qualified candidate. Once you find the best candidates and are nearing making a decision, you’ll want to run an employee background screening.

Getting a Credential Verification

Smart employers enhance their employee background screening with credential verification for positions that require licenses and certifications. In a perfect world you could take a candidate’s word that they have the necessary requirements. On the contrary, in reality there is too much room for error and too much at risk to not take this additional step.

A license could be expired. An oversight on a certification restriction could disqualify an applicant. A credential might not be applicable for the state where the employee wants to work. Indeed, you might discover disciplinary action has been taken, or worse, the candidate’s license was revoked. Without checking, the company hiring for the position is vulnerable to costly fines, penalties, and negligent hiring claims. Moreover, there is also the potential of tarnishing brand reputation.

There are hundreds of licenses and credentials that should be verified. Some of the most common include:

• Accounting
• American Academy of Professional Coders
• American Board of Internal Medicine
• Chiropractic or doctor’s license
• FCC
• Medical coding
• Nursing
• Pharmacy
• Principals and school-related occupations
• Professional engineers
• Surgical technologists

Credential Verification Services

When you work with Trusted Employees for credential verification, you can feel confident about your employee background screening. The certification verification service includes:

License Type: Trusted Employees contacts the issuing board or authority and verifies the applicant’s application claims. You learn the kind of certification an applicant has and which board or institution issued the license or credential.

Issue and Expiration: You’ll learn when the applicant’s professional license was issued and if it’s expired.

Restrictions and Conditions: It’s not enough to just have a license. Additionally, you need to make sure the candidate you hire has no restrictions on that license that would impede their ability to do the work.

Disciplinary Measures: Issuing authorities take disciplinary action for a variety of reasons. Once Trusted Employees provides you this information, you can verify if the applicant is eligible for employment or not.

Learn more about Trusted Employees’ credential verification and take the steps needed to give yourself the confidence that you’re making the best hiring decisions possible. Our professionals will be happy to help be make the best decisions when it comes to hiring!