Understanding License Verification

Quick Answer

Heritage Web verifies your licenses and certifications against official government and professional databases or through manual staff review of your documentation. Verified credentials display a verification badge on your public listing and are eligible for lead matching. Unverified credentials still appear on your listing but without the badge.

Overview

When you add licenses or certifications to your profile, Heritage Web checks them against official sources like state licensing boards, medical board databases, and bar association records. When no public database is available, Heritage Web staff can verify your credential through manual review of a proof document or verification URL you provide.

This verification process protects consumers and builds trust in your professional listing.

Verification happens per-license — you can have some credentials verified (with badges) and others unverified (displayed without badges) on the same profile. Only credentials that are both active and verified are eligible for lead matching.

How Verification Works

Step 1: You Submit Your Credentials

Enter your license details in the Licenses & Certifications tab of your Edit Profile page. Required fields include license name, number, type, country, and acquired date. To help Heritage Web verify your credential faster, you can also provide:

Verification URL — A link to the public lookup page where your credential can be independently confirmed (e.g., a state bar member search page or IRS EIN lookup)
Proof Document — A PDF or image of your license (max 10MB) when no public database exists for your credential type

Step 2: Heritage Web Verifies Your Credentials

During the listing approval process, your credentials are checked using one of two methods:

Method	How It Works	When It's Used
Automated database check	Your credential is checked against a public verification database	Public database is available (state bar lookup, medical board registry, IRS EIN search, etc.)
Manual staff review	Heritage Web staff reviews your license details, verification URL, and/or uploaded proof document	No public database exists, or the automated check was inconclusive

Sources checked include:

State licensing board databases
Bar association records
Medical board registries
DEA registration systems
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (for 501(c)(3) status)
Professional certification body records
Industry accreditation registries

Step 3: Results Are Applied Per-License

Each license receives its own verification status:

Status	What It Means	Public Display	Lead Matching
Verified	Confirmed via database check or manual review	Shows verification badge ✓	Eligible (if license is also active)
Unverified	Not yet confirmed, or no verification source available	Displays without badge	Not eligible

What Gets Verified

Heritage Web can verify many types of professional credentials, including:

Legal: State bar licenses, federal bar admissions, patent bar registration, immigration court admission
Medical: Medical licenses (MD, DO), nursing licenses (RN, LPN, NP), dental licenses, pharmacy licenses, psychology licenses, therapy/counseling licenses (LCSW, LPC, LMFT), DEA registration
Real Estate: Salesperson and broker licenses, appraiser licenses
Financial: CPA licenses, insurance licenses, securities licenses (Series 7, 63, 65, etc.), CFP certification
Other Regulated Professions: Contractor licenses, engineering licenses (PE), teaching certificates

Why Some Credentials Don't Get Verified

Not all credentials can be verified. This happens when:

The issuing authority doesn't have a publicly accessible database
The credential type is newer or less common
International credentials may not have accessible verification systems
The credential is from a smaller jurisdiction without online lookup

You can help: Providing a verification URL or uploading a proof document gives Heritage Web staff what they need to verify credentials that can't be checked automatically. Proof documents are stored securely in HIPAA-compliant cloud storage and are only accessible to Heritage Web staff during review.

Unverified credentials still display on your profile — they just won't show the verification badge.

How Verification Affects Your Listing Approval

Not all credentials carry the same weight during listing approval:

Critical credentials (e.g., state bar license, medical license, real estate license) — These are foundational to your professional identity on the platform. If a critical credential is found to be invalid or fraudulent, the entire listing may be rejected.
Supplementary credentials (e.g., industry certifications, additional accreditations) — If these can't be verified, your listing can still be approved. The credential will display without a badge, and Heritage Web may reach out to assist with verification.

Your listing can be approved with a mix of verified and unverified credentials.

How Verification Impacts Lead Matching

For your credential to count toward lead matching, it must meet both conditions:

License Status	Verification Status	Eligible for Lead Matching?
Active	Verified	✓ Yes
Active	Unverified	✗ No
Expired	Verified	✗ No
Expired	Unverified	✗ No
Suspended	Any	✗ No
Revoked	Any	✗ No

Listings without any credentials can still receive leads — matching also considers industry, location, language, and other factors. Some lead types don't require specific credentials.

License Expiration and Renewal

Expiration Reminders

Heritage Web sends email reminders as your license expiration date approaches:

60 days before expiration
30 days before expiration
7 days before expiration
On the expiration date — a 7-day grace period begins
7 days after expiration — license is automatically marked as expired and removed from lead matching

Renewing a License

When you renew a credential, update your license entry with the new expiration date and/or license number. Important things to know:

Updating your license number or expiration date resets your verification status to unverified
Heritage Web will re-verify the renewed credential
Your verification badge is restored once the renewal is confirmed
Renewal does not automatically restore verified status — re-verification is required every time

Annual Re-Verification

Heritage Web automatically re-checks verified credentials on an annual schedule to ensure they remain active and valid. During this process:

Credentials are checked against official databases to confirm they're still active
The system looks for disciplinary actions, suspensions, or name changes
Your listing remains published and lead matching continues during the review

If issues are found:

Heritage Web contacts you about the issue
Your license status and verification status are updated as needed
For critical credentials (state bar, medical licenses), Heritage Web staff may take additional action
You may need to provide updated documentation

Important Notes

Critical credentials must verify: Foundational licenses like state bar or medical licenses must verify for your listing to be approved
Verification badges build trust: Visitors see which credentials have been independently confirmed
Keep information current: Report any changes to your license status (suspensions, restrictions, revocations) promptly via [email protected] or the chat bubble
Provide a verification URL: Linking to the public lookup page for your credential helps Heritage Web verify it faster
Upload proof when needed: If no public database exists, upload a PDF or image of your credential (max 10MB)
Expiration is monitored: Heritage Web sends reminders and automatically updates expired licenses after a 7-day grace period

FAQs

Why doesn't my credential show a verification badge? Not all credentials can be verified against public databases. To improve your chances, provide a verification URL (link to the public lookup page) or upload a proof document (PDF or image, max 10MB). Your credential still displays — it just won't have the badge. This doesn't mean your credential is invalid.

How long does verification take? Verification happens during the listing approval process. Sponsor listings are typically reviewed within 1 business day; free listings within 2–3 business days.

What if my license was verified incorrectly? Contact support at [email protected] or use the chat bubble with your official documentation. Heritage Web will review and correct any verification errors.

Does renewing my license affect my verification badge? Yes. When you update your license number or expiration date, your verification status resets to unverified. Heritage Web will re-verify your renewed credential, and the badge will be restored once confirmed.

What happens if my license expires? Heritage Web sends email reminders at 60, 30, and 7 days before expiration. After your expiration date, you have a 7-day grace period to update your listing. If not renewed within that window, the license is automatically marked as expired and excluded from lead matching.

What formats are accepted for proof documents? PDF, JPG, and PNG files up to 10MB. Your document should clearly show the credential holder name, license number, issuing authority, and dates.