When you complete a course with England Football Learning, you'll receive either a standard certificate or a verified certificate. Each course offers one type, depending on what the certificate is used for. This article explains the difference, when your certificate will be ready and what to do if you can't see it.
Standard and verified certificates at a glance
| Standard certificate | Verified certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Keeping for your own records | Proving your qualification to clubs, leagues, county FAs, employers etc |
| When it's ready | As soon as you complete the module/course | Within 24 hours of completing the module/course |
| QR code and verification key | No | Yes |
| Can others check it's genuine? | No | Yes - by scanning the QR code or entering the verification key in the verification page |
| Shows expiry date | Yes, if the qualification expires | Yes, if the qualification expires |
You don't need to choose a certificate type. Each course issues the type that fits its purpose, so some courses have standard certificates and others have verified certificates.
Which certificate does my course have?
Your course completion email tells you which certificate you'll receive. If it mentions a verified certificate, it will be ready within 24 hours. If it doesn't, your course has a standard certificate, which you can download straight away.
How to access your certificates
You can find all your certificates for content completed in the My Learning platform by following the below steps:
- Log in to My Learning.
- Select the menu icon (three lines) on the left-hand side.
- Select My certificates.
- Choose the button you need:
- View standard certificates for certificates to keep for your own records
- View verified certificates for certificates with a QR code and verification key
- View record of achievement for your full learning history and other key information in your FA account
How verified certificates work
When it will be ready
Your verified certificate will be ready to download within 24 hours of completing your course. Verified certificates take longer to create than standard ones, so it may not be available straight away. If you can't see it yet, it's still being created. Please try again later that day or the next day.
What makes it 'verified'
Each verified certificate has its own unique QR code and verification key. Anyone who needs to check your qualification, such as your club, league, county FA or an employer, can scan the QR code or enter the verification key to confirm:
- it's genuine
- it's still valid
- when it expires (if it has an expiry date)
This means you can share your certificate with confidence, and the people checking it don't need to contact The FA to confirm it's real.
Your record of achievement
As well as your certificates, you can see your full learning history in your FA account, through the My Account system. Your account also holds other key information, such as your DBS checks. It's a useful place to find everything in one go, for example when a club or county FA asks for your qualifications.
Frequently asked questions
I've finished my course but can't see my certificate. What should I do?
If your course has a verified certificate, it can take up to 24 hours to appear. Please check again later that day or the next day. Standard certificates are available as soon as you complete. Please also note, that not all modules include a certificate.
It's been more than 24 hours and I still can't access my verified certificate
Please raise a support ticket with the FA Education Services Team and we'll look into it for you.
Can I get a verified certificate for a course that issues a standard one?
No. Each course issues one certificate type, based on what the certificate is used for.
Someone has asked me to prove my qualification. What do I send them?
If you have a verified certificate, send them a copy. They can scan the QR code or enter the verification key to check it's genuine, still valid and when it expires. You can also view your full learning history in My Account.
Where can I find all my past courses and certificates?
Log in to your My Account to see your full learning history and other key information, such as DBS checks.
