What should I compare?
Compare the identifier, holder display name, assessment title, issue date and score on the document with the official record. Check the current status. Open the link on the official Cert-Advance website rather than trusting a look-alike page or an image of a certificate.
What do valid, revoked and missing mean?
Valid means a corresponding certificate record is marked valid in Cert-Advance. Revoked means the record exists but is no longer valid. A missing identifier produces a not-found response; it should not be treated as a valid certificate. A temporary lookup error is also not a successful verification.
What does the QR code do?
The QR encodes the public record URL, including the certificate identifier. It does not contain an account password, private access token or the full PDF. A QR by itself is not proof: follow it and compare the actual record.
Which details are public?
The public verification record includes holder display name, assessment, score, identifier, issue date and status. Email addresses, profile biographies, answers, private feedback and internal owner identifiers are not included. Individual record pages use noindex,follow and are omitted from the sitemap; links remain shareable, so this is not an access restriction.
Does verification establish identity?
Assessments are self-directed and unproctored. A certificate is not an accredited qualification, verified identity, professional licence or evidence that the work was completed without assistance. The lookup confirms the platform record, not the identity of the person presenting it.