Credential Verification: How to Validate Digital Credentials
Credential verification is the process of confirming that a digital badge or certificate is authentic and was issued by a legitimate organization. IssueBadge provides public verification pages, QR codes, and Open Badges compliance for instant credential validation.
Why Credential Verification Matters
Credential fraud undermines trust in professional qualifications and academic achievements. Digital verification eliminates this risk by providing an instant, tamper-proof way to confirm any credential is authentic. When an employer or institution can verify a badge or certificate in seconds through a URL or QR code, it builds confidence in the credentialing system and increases the value of the credentials for earners.
How Verification Works on IssueBadge
Every credential issued through IssueBadge gets a unique public verification page. This page is accessible to anyone without requiring a login. The verification page displays: the badge or certificate details, the issuing organization, the recipient name, the criteria the earner met, skills and competency tags, the date issued, and the current status (active or revoked).
Verification URL
Each badge has a unique verification URL that can be shared, bookmarked, or embedded in resumes and portfolios. The URL leads directly to the public verification page where all credential details are displayed.
QR Code Verification
IssueBadge generates a QR code for each credential that links to the verification page. This is especially useful for printed certificates — anyone can scan the QR code with a phone to instantly verify the certificate is authentic.
Open Badges Verification
Open Badges is the international standard for digital credentials maintained by 1EdTech. Badges issued following this standard can be verified by any compliant platform or badge backpack. IssueBadge supports both Open Badges 2.0 and 3.0, meaning badges issued through IssueBadge are interoperable with the global credential ecosystem.
Open Badges 2.0
Open Badges 2.0 uses hosted verification — the badge assertion is hosted at a URL on the issuer's platform. When a verifier checks the badge, they fetch the assertion data from this URL to confirm authenticity.
Open Badges 3.0
Open Badges 3.0 (also known as Verifiable Credentials) extends the standard with W3C Verifiable Credentials support. This enables cryptographic verification and greater interoperability with other credential formats.
Badge Revocation
When a credential needs to be invalidated — due to policy violations, expired certifications, or errors — IssueBadge supports badge revocation. Revoking a badge updates the verification page to display a clear revocation notice. The badge is no longer valid for professional use, and anyone checking the verification page will see the revoked status immediately.
Verification for Employers & Institutions
Employers and educational institutions can verify credentials issued through IssueBadge by visiting the verification URL or scanning the QR code on a certificate. No account or login is required. The verification page provides all the information needed to confirm the credential: issuer organization, badge details, criteria, and current status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the badge's unique verification URL or scan the QR code on the certificate. The public verification page displays all credential details including the issuer, criteria, and current status — no login required.
Badges issued through IssueBadge have a unique verification page on the IssueBadge platform. The only way to confirm a badge is authentic is to check the verification URL. The badge image alone is not proof of the credential.
The badge's verification page is updated to show a revocation notice. Anyone visiting the verification URL will see that the credential has been revoked and is no longer valid.
No. Verification pages are public and accessible to anyone. Employers, institutions, or any third party can verify a credential without creating an account.
Continue reading
Related guides on digital credentialing.
Digital Badges
Digital badges are verified digital credentials that represent skills, achievements, or competencies. They contain embedded metadata including issuer details, criteria, and verification links following the Open Badges standard.
Open Badges Standard
Open Badges is the international technical standard for digital credentials maintained by 1EdTech. It defines how badges are created, issued, displayed, and verified across platforms. IssueBadge supports both Open Badges 2.0 and 3.0.
Digital Certificates
Digital certificates are formal credentials generated as PDF documents with recipient-specific data. IssueBadge provides a drag-and-drop certificate designer and bulk generation tools to create and deliver professional certificates at scale.
Ready to get started?
Create your first digital badge or certificate in minutes. No credit card required.