Quick Answer
Heritage Web verifies your organization's credentials against official databases including IRS records, state business registries, and accreditation bodies. Verified credentials display a verification badge, while unverified ones still appear but without the badge.
Overview
When you add business licenses, certifications, or accreditations to your organization listing, Heritage Web checks them against official sources. This verification builds trust with potential customers and ensures your organization's credentials are legitimate.
Each credential is verified individually—your listing can have a mix of verified (with badges) and unverified (without badges) credentials.
How Verification Works
Step 1: You Submit Credentials
Enter your license details including the credential name, number, country, state (if applicable), and acquisition date.
Step 2: Heritage Web Checks Official Sources
During approval, credentials are checked against sources such as:
Credential Type | Verification Sources |
Nonprofit Status | IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, state charitable organization registries, GuideStar/Candid |
Healthcare Facilities | State health department databases, CMS certification databases |
Business Licenses | State business registration databases, Secretary of State records |
Accreditations | ISO certification registries, BBB database, Joint Commission, industry-specific accreditation bodies |
Step 3: Results Applied
Status | What It Means | Display |
Verified | Confirmed against official database | Shows verification badge ✓ |
Unverified | Could not be confirmed | Displays without badge |
What Can Be Verified
Highly Verifiable:
501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status (via IRS database)
State business licenses (via Secretary of State)
Medical facility licenses (via state health departments)
BBB Accreditation (via BBB database)
Joint Commission Accreditation
Sometimes Verifiable:
ISO certifications (depends on certifying body)
Industry-specific accreditations
International credentials
Typically Not Verifiable:
Internal company certifications
Newer or less common credentials
Credentials from organizations without public databases
Visibility Toggle: A Key Difference for Organizations
Unlike Profile listings (where licenses always display), Organization listings can hide the Licenses section:
Setting | Public Display | Lead Matching |
Visible (ON) | Credentials shown with/without badges | ✓ Active |
Hidden (OFF) | Credentials hidden | ✓ Still active |
This is useful for organizations that want verification benefits for lead matching without publicly displaying license numbers.
Annual Re-Verification
Heritage Web automatically re-checks verified credentials each year to ensure they remain active:
System re-verifies against databases on annual schedule
Issues are flagged for staff review
You're notified if any problems are found
License status is updated accordingly
Expired or suspended credentials are excluded from lead matching.
Important Notes
Verification is per-credential: Each license gets its own verification status
Critical credentials must verify: Foundational business licenses should verify for approval
Unverified ≠ Invalid: Some credentials simply can't be verified against public databases
Keep information current: Report any changes to your credentials promptly
FAQs
Why doesn't my ISO certification show a verification badge? ISO certifications are verified through certifying bodies, which may or may not have public verification databases. Your certification still displays—just without the badge.
How long does verification take? Verification happens during the listing approval process. Sponsor listings typically take 1 business day; free listings take 2-3 business days.
Can I hide my licenses but still have them verified? Yes. Toggle visibility off to hide the section from your public listing. Verification and lead matching continue normally.
What happens if my business license expires? You'll receive a notification, and the expired license will be excluded from lead matching. Update your credentials as soon as you renew.