Education Verification – Certn

This article is for users(both clients and applicants)of CertnCentric (https://client.certn.co/). If you're unsure which platform you're using, check [this article], and to learn more about CertnCentric, click [here].

How education is selected, verified, and reported

Learn how to choose the education scope, what information Certn verifies, and how automated and manual verification methods work.

Overview

Education Verification compares the education information provided by an applicant with records from the institution or a trusted third-party education database. Certn creates a separate verification for each education entry included in the selected scope.

Certn automatically selects the best available verification method. Depending on the institution and available records, the check may use HEDD, NSCH, Auradata, or manual verification.

Education verification providers

Provider	Full name	Coverage
HEDD	Higher Education Degree Datacheck	Automated verification for eligible UK higher education institutions.
NSCH	National Student Clearinghouse	Automated verification for eligible US higher education institutions.
Auradata	Auradata	Automated verification for eligible Canadian higher education institutions.
Manual verification	Direct contact with the source	Used when automated verification is unavailable or the institution is not eligible.

Not every institution can be verified through an automated provider. Routing depends on the institution, enrollment status, award date, available provider records, and other eligibility requirements.

How Education Verification works

The client selects the education scope when ordering the check.
The applicant provides their identity information and education history.
Certn determines the appropriate verification method for each education entry.
The institution, an education database, or Certn’s verification team confirms the available information.
The report compares the applicant-provided information with the verified information and displays an outcome for each entry.

Choose the education scope

Scope	What is verified	Important information
All education	Every education entry provided by the applicant.	The applicant confirms that they have provided their full education history.
Highest completed level	The applicant’s highest completed education.	Standalone Education Verification generally allows one education entry for this scope.
All post-secondary education	University, college, tertiary, and other post-secondary qualifications.	Secondary qualifications, including the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or O-Level, are excluded.
Education within Experience Verification	Education selected by the template plus entries that overlap the configured lookback period.	Multiple education checks may be created. In some highest-level configurations, multiple in-scope entries may require manual verification.

Information the applicant provides

Institution name and country.
Qualification level and specific designation.
Subject or course of study.
Start date and award date, when applicable.
Grade or classification when required.
Whether they are currently attending or did not obtain the qualification.

Additional requirements may apply. HEDD and Auradata checks require signed consent. Providing a US Social Security Number for NSCH is optional but may improve the match rate. Indian tertiary education may require a final marksheet and degree certificate.

What Certn verifies

Information	What is compared
Institution	The institution named by the applicant is compared with the institution confirmed by the source.
Qualification and designation	The reported qualification and credential are compared with the available institutional record.
Subject	The applicant’s course or field of study is compared with the source information.
Grade	The reported grade or classification is compared when the source provides it.
Dates	The reported start date, enrollment status, and award date are compared with the source record.

How the verification method is selected

Clients choose the education scope but cannot select the provider used for an individual entry. Certn determines the route automatically.

Education entry	Usual verification method
Eligible UK higher education institution	HEDD, meaning Higher Education Degree Datacheck.
Eligible US higher education institution	NSCH, meaning National Student Clearinghouse.
Eligible Canadian higher education institution	Auradata.
Secondary school or GCSE qualification	Usually manual verification.
Custom or “Other” institution	Manual verification.
International institution without an available provider record	Manual verification.
Institution or enrollment status not eligible for automated processing	Manual verification.

Manual verification

When automated verification is unavailable, Certn contacts the institution by email, phone, or its verification portal. The institution may confirm the qualification, designation, subject, grade, and dates, depending on the records it holds and the information it is willing to release.

Manual verification may remain incomplete if the institution:

Does not respond.
Has closed.
No longer holds the records.
Will not release information to third parties.
Cannot locate a matching record.

If Certn is unable to contact the institution, we may accept the applicant’s official transcript, degree, or diploma to complete the check. These documents must be provided by the client, not directly by the applicant.

To request completion using these documents, contact the Certn Support team at support@certn.co.

Understanding results

Result	What it means
Verified	The source confirmed the education information.
Discrepancy	The source confirmed a record, but one or more material details differ from the information provided by the applicant.
Unable to Verify	Certn could not obtain enough information to confirm the education. This does not necessarily mean the applicant provided incorrect information.
In Progress	The provider or institution requires more information, consent, or additional processing.

If HEDD returns a permanent provider error because the institution or enquiry type is unavailable, Certn automatically routes the education to manual verification. NSCH and Auradata outcomes that cannot be verified generally complete as Unable to Verify without an automatic manual fallback.

Consent requirements

HEDD and Auradata require a signed applicant consent form. If the applicant changes their name, previous names, or education history after signing, they may need to sign the consent form again. NSCH may also request additional consent before it can complete a verification.

Fees

Education Verification includes the base check fee. Additional pass-through access fees may apply when HEDD, NSCH, Auradata, an institution, or another third-party source charges for access to its records. Fees vary by institution, provider, region, and outcome.

This page outlines the pass-through access fees incurred by various checks.

Frequently asked questions

Does every UK education verification use HEDD?

No. HEDD, which stands for Higher Education Degree Datacheck, is used only when the institution and education entry meet the automated verification requirements. Otherwise, the check is completed manually.

What happens with a GCSE verification?

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. GCSE and other secondary-school qualifications are usually verified manually because secondary schools are generally not available through HEDD. They are excluded entirely when the selected scope is All post-secondary education.

Can documents be used if the institution cannot be contacted?

Yes. Certn may accept the applicant’s official transcript, degree, or diploma to complete the check. The client must provide these documents; they cannot be submitted directly by the applicant.

Contact the Certn Support team at support@certn.co to request completion using these documents.

What happens if HEDD cannot verify the education?

A cancelled HEDD request generally completes as Unable to Verify. If HEDD returns a permanent provider error because the institution or enquiry type is unavailable, Certn automatically routes the education to manual verification.

What happens if NSCH or Auradata cannot verify the education?

NSCH, meaning National Student Clearinghouse, and Auradata generally return an Unable to Verify outcome with the available reason. These paths do not automatically fall back to manual verification.

Can clients choose which provider is used?

No. Clients select the education scope. Certn automatically chooses HEDD, NSCH, Auradata, or manual verification based on the institution and eligibility requirements.

Why was the education routed to manual verification?

Common reasons include a custom institution entry, a secondary school, an unsupported enrollment status, an award date outside the provider’s supported range, or the absence of an eligible automated provider record.

Why were multiple education checks created in Experience Verification?

Experience Verification may include the selected education scope plus other education entries that overlap the configured lookback period. A separate check is created for each in-scope entry.

Are there additional fees?

Yes. Automated providers, institutions, or other data sources may charge pass-through access fees in addition to the base check price. These fees vary by provider and institution. More details can be found here on pass through access fees.