Education verification

As a requirement of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), offers of employment for medical centers staff positions are contingent upon obtaining degree verification. Degree verification may also be required as part of degree-specific pay premiums as agreed to through collective bargaining.

Impacted Positions and Circumstances

Education will be verified on all staff candidates of medical centers positions who have received conditional offers of employment, including current employees who competitively apply for and are selected for new roles as follows:

When a postsecondary degree (bachelor’s degree or higher) is a requirement listed in the job description UW will verify the candidate’s highest obtained postsecondary degree which most directly applies to the position being hired for.
When a postsecondary degree is not a requirement listed in the job description, but the candidate lists a postsecondary degree on the resume, the UW will verify the degree.
If education verification needs to be run as a part of a competitive job change process, and the current employee has not had their education previously verified, or if there is a change in the stated education on the selected candidate’s resume.
At the completion of a degree if a candidate is offered a job, contingent on the successful completion of a degree (e.g., nursing students close to graduation/future degrees).
Education may also be verified in certain case-by-case scenarios outside of the regular recruitment process.

Education will also be verified on any patient care agency temporary employees brought on through staffing agencies (verified by the staffing agency).

Exclusions

Education will not be verified for a new hire if the individual only lists a degree obtained outside of the United States on their resume and is not being hired into a position that has a postsecondary degree requirement.

Education will not be verified for a current employee if the employee:

Meets or exceeds the minimum education requirements, education has previously been verified, and the stated education on the resume hasn’t changed since verification.
Is moving into the same job profile that they currently hold, regardless of location.
Is in a position that was reclassified by Compensation.
Has undergone a trial service reversion.
Has undergone an involuntary demotion.

Process

Education will be verified during the background check process by Medical Centers Recruiting, who will inform employing officials about selected candidate eligibility for employment.

However, education will also be verified:

If the check needs to be run as a part of a competitive job change process, and the current employee has not had their education previously verified, or if there is a change in the stated education on the selected candidate’s resume.
At the completion of a degree if a candidate is offered a job, contingent on the successful completion of a degree (e.g. nursing students close to graduation/future degrees).
In certain case-by-case scenarios when education must be verified outside of the regular recruitment process.

Candidate Rights and Responsibilities

In the event a selected candidate states a level of education or graduation date that cannot be verified, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to provide supporting documents, such as transcripts or diplomas.

If it is determined that the candidate does not possess the degree listed on their resume, or if the degree cannot be verified, a review will be conducted with the UW Medicine Conflict Resolution Specialist to determine if the job offer should be revoked.

Updates

Updates made on August 18, 2021 modified previous policy. Prior to this date, all degrees obtained by the candidate were verified.