Does Upwork Verify Education in 2026?

Upwork doesn’t formally verify university degrees. Freelancers who have a degree should add this information to their profile, though, along with any other verified certifications they hold.

What kinds of verification does Upwork do?

Upwork verifies freelancer identities and certain professional certifications.

Identify verification

Identity verification gives clients on Upwork peace of mind that they’re working with a real person. Upwork’s ID verification process happens on a rolling basis. Freelancers using upwork will get an email if or when it’s time to verify their identity.

Upwork verifies user identity in a few ways, including by:

• Requesting proof of a valid government-issued photo ID or national ID (such as a passport or driver’s license)
• Sending a verification code to the freelancer’s phone number
• Conducting a short video call for visual verification

If you’re a freelancer who’s completed identity verification, you can opt to showcase your verification through a profile badge. For example, visitors to my own Upwork profile can click on my verification badge and see more details:

Certification verification

Upwork lets freelancers add several verified certifications to a profile, including:

• AWS certification
• Google Ads certification
• IELTS certification
• Salesforce certification

The verification process requires freelancers to upload specific information about their certification and credentials; Upwork then checks to make sure the certification:

• Matches the freelancer’s name
• Is still valid

Upwork may request additional information, including a transcript, from freelancers in order to complete certification verification.

Clients can view information about verified credentials on a freelancer’s profile along with any education information that’s been voluntarily provided. This information appears alongside a freelancer’s work history on Upwork.

Should freelancers add unverified education details on Upwork?

As a freelancer, adding your educational background to your Upwork profile can help you attract clients who are looking for someone with your experience. Just as you would add degrees you hold to your resume, CV, and LinkedIn profile, listing your degrees on Upwork can help set you apart in a competitive market.

FAQs

Still confused about how Upwork chooses to verify specific information and why? The following answers may help.

Why does Upwork verify identities and select credentials?

Verifying identities and select credentials allows Upwork to confirm that users are who they present themselves to be. This is part of Upwork's Trust and Safety Team efforts to prevent fraud and help clients and freelancers feel comfortable working together.

Are freelancer profile photos real?

Freelancers are expected to add a real profile photo to their Upwork account. The visual ID verification process checks this photo against a government-issued ID.

Can a freelancer add any online course to their profile?

At present, Upwork only verifies specific credentials, but freelancers who have completed other online certifications or college degrees can add relevant information to their education history.

Does Upwork verify freelancer employment history?

No, Upwork doesn’t verify freelancer employment history. While some freelancers work independently as a side hustle, others have worked on their own for years — even their entire career! As a result, Upwork doesn’t have a process for verifying employment.

Clients who are evaluating a potential freelancer can:

• View provided employment history details
• Check out the freelancer’s portfolio of past projects
• Read prior client reviews
• Check the freelancer’s job success score (JSS)
• Look for Upwork profile badges
• Schedule an interview with a freelancer to learn more about their work experience

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This is why Upwork recommends that, as a freelancer, you fill out your entire profile — it gives potential clients lots of important information.

Can a freelancer use Upwork to find their first job?

Yes! Whether you’re looking for your very first job ever, or are looking for your first freelance job after working for a traditional employer, Upwork is a great place to start.

Upwork profiles make it easy for freelancers to showcase their education, soft skills, and experiences — whether that’s work experience, volunteering roles, or something else.

Why was my certification verification rejected?

If Upwork discovers a mismatch with your name or other provided certification details, your verification may not process. If this happens, you can contact support for more help.

What if a freelancer’s preferred name doesn’t match their ID?

No problem! There are many instances in which a freelancer may choose to use one name professionally, when another name appears on their official ID. Freelancers can:

• Use a nickname instead of their full name. This typically won’t require additional steps beyond the standard Upwork ID verification process.
• Work with Upwork support to adjust the name shown on their profile if their chosen name doesn’t match their ID. Legal name change documents may be requested.
• Request a name change exception. This is available for transgender and non-binary individuals who haven’t been able to obtain an official name change due to legal or other barriers.

If you’re a freelancer who suspects they need a name change exception or have issues getting your profile set up, you can contact our support team for help.

Note: Your verified name (matching your ID) may still be shown on contracts and invoices, even if your profile displays a nickname or other name.

Where can I learn more about how identity and credential information is used?

Upwork’s privacy policy, Terms of Service, and help center all contain more information to help you feel comfortable with how your ID and credential information is used.

Set up your Upwork profile today

You can start to set up your Upwork profile at any time — as a freelancer, a client, or both. We’ll help you make sure your profile information is complete, and walk you through the ID and certification verification process when it’s time. Log in or sign up to get started today.

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Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.