How can I check my certificate online?

You can verify your own South African qualifications by requesting a record from the SAQA National Learners' Records Database (NLRD). For a matric, NCV, or trade test certificate, use the relevant official verification channel or the issuing institution.

What does verification of qualification mean?

It is the formal process of confirming that an educational certificate, degree, or diploma is genuine, was issued by a legally accredited institution, and belongs to the person presenting it.

What does National Certificate Vocational mean?

National Certificate Vocational, or NCV, is a TVET college qualification route that combines vocational subjects with general education subjects. It is not the same document as a National Senior Certificate.

Can I view matric certificate online?

Yiba Verified does not retrieve official matric certificates. Employers and background screening agencies can verify matric results through Umalusi's verification services or commercial vetting agencies.

What happens if a qualification is found to be fake?

Presenting a fraudulent qualification is a criminal offence in South Africa under the NQF Amendment Act. Employers can dismiss the employee, and the individual can face criminal prosecution and be added to a national register of fraudulent qualifications.

Verification Guide

Qualification Verification in South Africa

In a job market plagued by credential fraud, knowing how to verify qualifications is essential. Learn how employers check certificates and how learners can access their own records on the SAQA database.

Browse qualifications

How qualifications are checked

A printed certificate is no longer enough proof. Employers and recruiters use these four primary methods to verify authenticity.

SAQA VeriSearch

Individuals can request an extract from the National Learners' Records Database (NLRD) to prove their own qualifications to employers.

MIE & Background Screening

Employers use third-party vetting agencies (like MIE) connected to the NLRD to run bulk qualification verification checks on new hires.

Provider Direct Check

Contacting the issuing university, college, training provider, or trade test centre directly to verify that student numbers, trade test certificates, and certificate details are authentic.

Umalusi Verification

For matric certificates, National Certificate Vocational records, and TVET N-courses, Umalusi provides a dedicated verification service for employers and educational institutions.

The verification process for employers

Follow these steps to legally and accurately verify a candidate's educational background.

Step 1

Obtain consent

Under the POPI Act, you must obtain written consent from the candidate before attempting to verify their qualifications with any third party or institution.

Step 2

Check the institution's accreditation

Before verifying the certificate itself, confirm that the institution that issued it was legally accredited to do so at the time of study and linked to the correct qualification route.

Step 3

Use an official verification channel

Use SAQA's verification services, an accredited background screening company, Umalusi, QCTO, or contact the institution's registrar directly. Do not rely solely on the paper certificate.

Step 4

Verify the foreign equivalent (if applicable)

If the qualification was obtained outside South Africa, the candidate must provide a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation that maps the foreign degree to a local NQF level.

Spotting fraudulent qualifications

Degree mills and forged certificates are common. Look out for these major red flags before hiring.

The institution is not registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
The certificate does not have a valid SAQA ID printed on it (for post-1995 qualifications).
The degree was obtained extremely quickly (e.g., a Master's degree in 3 months).
The 'accreditation' claimed is from an unknown international body rather than a South African Quality Council.
The provider's website only has a generic email address and no physical campus address.