A credentials verification network utilizes blockchain technology to track/verify credentials for candidates that can later be used in the hiring verification process. As implemented by nodes of a distributed network, a candidate receives from a first network node a secure credential generated by a credentialing source from an original credential document. The first node processes the secure credential according to a security feature (e.g., hash function) to create a transaction, and assigns an identifier to the transaction. The first node signs the transaction with a private key to create a transaction signature. The first node sends the signed transaction to a central server that broadcasts the transaction to the blockchain network. Once the network has accepted the transaction, the candidate will be notified and handed over the raw text document and transaction receipt ID. The candidate can forward the information to a recruiter or potential employer running a second node.