Fraudulent certificates are a growing concern across the training and skills sector. These are documents that appear to show a qualification or competence but have not been issued by a recognised Awarding Organisation, have not been assessed correctly, or have been obtained without meeting the required standards.
In regulated sectors—particularly first aid, pre-hospital care, driving, and emergency services—the use of fraudulent certificates is not just misleading; it can place lives at risk. Read how Birmingham airport was nearly shut down because of forged training certificates:
- Birmingham Airport security trainer sentenced after pleading guilty to forgery
- Birmingham Airport came close to being "shut down"
What is a fraudulent certificate?
A certificate may be considered fraudulent if it:
Claims to be a qualification but is only informal or “training-only”
Uses the name or logo of an Awarding Organisation without authorisation
Has no learner registration, assessment, or external quality assurance
Cannot be verified through an official Awarding Organisation database
Is issued by a provider with no regulatory approval or oversight
The certificate to the right is fraudulent and was presented to us for verification.
Whilst it used our logo, the certificate had various errors like dates for refreshers, and training provider name spelt incorrectly and was not a genuine Qualsafe Awards Qualification Certificate.
This certificate was not issued by us, however the person named on the certificate claimed to have paid a non-market price for the course (sub £250, where normal market price is £400-£500). The course was completely online, adn when asked how the assessments where carried out like CPR, the person said they were observed by the trainer on camera doing CPR on a cushion.
No Oxygen, No BVM, No Airway Adjuncts, No MCQ Exams....... yet still thought they were qualified.
We assumed our logo was used becuase this person was in England, and we are in Northern Ireland, therefore they assumed it wouldn't be found out, or it would go undetected.
Why this matters
Employers, commissioners, and regulators rely on certificates as evidence of competence, safety, and compliance. Fraudulent certificates undermine confidence in the sector and can lead to:
Unsafe practice in high-risk roles
Invalid insurance or breach of contract
Regulatory enforcement or investigation
Disciplinary action, dismissal, or reputational damage
In regulated qualifications, certificates are issued only after robust assessment, internal quality assurance, and external oversight by bodies recognised by Ofqual and other UK regulators.
How learners and employers can protect themselves
Always check who the Awarding Organisation is, not just the training provider
Ask whether the qualification is regulated and on the RQF
Confirm that certificates can be independently verified
Be cautious of “instant certificates”, “guaranteed passes”, or “no assessment” claims
How to Verify a Certificate (Step-by-Step)
Identify what it claims to be
Check whether it says regulated qualification (RQF) or just training / attendance. These are not the same thing.
Find the Awarding Organisation name
Look for the Awarding Organisation (AO) on the certificate (e.g., Qualsafe Awards, FutureQuals, etc.). If there’s no AO listed, treat it as a red flag.
Check the qualification title and level
Confirm the full qualification name, level (e.g., Level 3), and (where relevant) the qualification number/code. Vague titles like “Emergency Care Certificate” can be misleading.
Check learner details match
Ensure the learner name (and any learner number/ID) matches the person presenting it, and that the date and location/provider details are clear.
Confirm the centre/provider details
Look for a named training centre/provider and (if shown) an approved centre number. If a provider refuses to share their approval status, that’s another red flag.
Verify it with the Awarding Organisation
Use the AO’s official certificate verification process (online checker or email verification). You’ll typically need:
Learner name
Certificate number / unique ID
Qualification title
Date of achievement
Request supporting evidence if needed
For higher-risk roles, ask for additional proof such as: registration confirmation, transcript/unit breakdown (if applicable), assessment records, or employer correspondence.
Check validity/expiry where relevant
Some certificates are time-limited (common in first aid). Confirm expiry dates and whether refresher training is required.
Watch for common warning signs
“Same-day qualification” or “guaranteed pass” claims
No assessment evidence
Spelling/formatting errors, inconsistent logos, odd wording
Missing certificate number, missing AO, or unverifiable provider
When in doubt—pause and confirm
If you can’t independently verify it, don’t accept it for compliance purposes. Ask the issuing provider/Awarding Organisation to confirm it in writing.
Tip for employers: build verification into onboarding—don’t wait until an audit or an incident.