Introducing an approach in which the academic credentials verification process can be done through a permissioned distributed ledger framework has been put forth. The system employs a consortium blockchain architecture whereby trusted educational institutions act as validating nodes in the system. The infrastructural and operational requirements are therefore met. Two portals are available on the platform. One is an administrative portal that institutions use to manage the digital credential templates and issue certifications, while the other is the student dashboard through which students can access and securely share certificates. One of the key developments in this area is the use of zero-knowledge proof to allow the bearer of the certificate to share a subset of the credential elements without revealing the full credential document. Each credential has its own unique cryptographic hash with an identifying function that interacts with the document in an active system. There is no need for third parties to request for sensitive personal information because they can access a public site that allows them to validate certificates without compromising person credentials. To improve the reliability of the system, the architecture of the system utilizes a Byzantine fault tolerant consensus mechanism designed for educational credentials. In this way, fast transaction rates are achieved while certificate issuance and verification processes are made tamper proof. Smart contracts were also employed to standardize the process of credential expiration, when they are no longer required, revocation where the required documents no longer suffice, and the renewal of required documents.