How to verify a certificate online
Whether you’re an employer screening a candidate or a recipient confirming your own credential, verifying a certificate should take seconds — if it was issued properly. Here’s how.
Three ways to verify
- Scan the QR code. Point your phone camera at the QR on the certificate — it opens a verification page that states whether the credential is authentic.
- Enter the short code. Most credentials also carry a human-readable code you can type into the issuer’s verify page.
- Check the issuer. A good page tells you not just “valid”, but who issued it and how their identity was confirmed.
What a trustworthy result shows
- Authentic and unaltered — the system re-checks a cryptographic signature over the certificate’s data; any change breaks it.
- A real issuer — backed by a verified email, domain, or registered business, not a self-typed name.
If a page just shows a green tick with no issuer detail, treat it with caution.
FAQ
Is verifying a certificate free?
With QRCertificates, yes — public verification is always free and unlimited, and no account is required.
Do I need an app to verify a certificate?
No. Scan the QR with your normal phone camera, or enter the short code on the issuer’s verify page in any browser.
How can I tell who issued a certificate?
A trustworthy verification page shows the issuer’s verified identity — confirmed by email, domain, or business registration — not just a name they typed in.