A method electronically validates credentials information pertaining to applicants. The method collects credentials information pertaining to applicants in one or more of a plurality of formats and converts the credentials information into a common format of collected credentials information. The converting utilizes a common object model. The method stores the collected credentials information in a database, validates for a plurality of applicants the collected credentials information with external sources through an electronic interface, automatically electronically updates the database with the retrieved data, automatically electronically notifies a user of inconsistencies between obtained third-party credentials data and the collected credentials information pertaining to the applicant, and provides selective electronic access to the third-party credentials data over a communication network to one or more users and to the applicant to which the third-party credentialing data pertains.