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Guidelines for querying schools, colleges, and educational programs

Credentialing & Verification Update, November 21, 2007

There are some general procedures that might help expedite verifications and ensure that they are sent to the appropriate person. Consider the following points when requesting telephone or written verifications:

• Identify yourself clearly and state the purpose for your query when requesting telephone verifications
• Include self-addressed stamped envelopes when requesting written verifications
• Provide any useful identification information-such as each graduate's name (including the name under which the individual was registered, if applicable), graduation date, birth date, and Social Security number-to help an office retrieve records and information more quickly and easily
• Include directions on the envelope or fax cover sheet of requests for written verifications, such as the words "Attention: Degree verification request enclosed"
• Include specific instructions that indicate where and to whom the office should mail or fax written verifications (a department, name, and title can help ensure that the verification reaches the right person)
• Include a photograph of each graduate in question to reduce the possibility someone successfully adopting the identity of a graduate
• If expedited processing is needed, consider sending the request via overnight mail with a return overnight mail envelope included

Editor's note: Do you have tips for expediting and streamlining the verification process with schools, colleges, and other education programs? Please share them, and we'll print them in future issues of CVU, to aid your colleagues nationwide. Send suggestions to mcoler@hcpro.com.

For more information about verification, check out the 2008 Credentials Verification Desk Reference at www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-5961.html. (Note that the title changed from the 2007 Credentialing & Privileging Desk Reference.)

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