Professional Verification Policy

1. What we verify

• Identity match: the listed name corresponds to a real licensee.
• License or credential number: matched against the public records of the issuing authority. For Certified Public Accountants this is the state board of accountancy; for Enrolled Agents, the IRS Office of Enrollment; for CIA, CFE, CMA, and similar designations, the issuing professional body.
• License status: active, inactive, lapsed, suspended, or revoked, as published by the authority.
• Jurisdiction: the state(s) in which the license is issued.

2. What we do not verify

• Malpractice history, civil judgments, or settlements outside what the licensing authority publishes;
• Board-discipline records that have been sealed or are not publicly available;
• Specialty-level certifications, niche credentials, or continuing-education completion beyond what the listed professional documents and we are able to confirm with the issuer;
• Fees, service quality, communication style, or fit for any particular engagement.

3. Badge states

• Verified: license confirmed active at the most recent check.
• Pending: verification submitted; we have not yet completed the check.
• Unverified: the listing is sourced from public data but the individual has not completed verification.
• Expired: previously verified, but our re-check or the licensing authority indicates the license is lapsed or inactive.
• Revoked: the licensing authority has revoked or surrendered the license, or the professional has been found to have provided false verification information.

4. Cadence

Verification is performed on initial claim, on a rolling annual schedule, and on receipt of a credible complaint. We may perform additional spot checks at our discretion. Badge state may change between checks if the licensing authority publishes a change.

5. Sources of public data

We rely primarily on state-board licensee lookups, IRS RPO searches, and equivalent issuer-published registries. Where an authority does not provide a free public lookup, we may require the professional to provide a license certificate or other documentation.

6. Corrections and disputes

If you are a listed professional and believe a verification result is incorrect, contact us at hello@cpazenith.com with your full name, license number, jurisdiction, and the specific record you are disputing. We will respond within 10 business days. If you are a member of the public and have information that a verified professional's status has changed or appears fraudulent, please report it the same way.

7. Limitations

Verification confirms licensure status at a point in time. Before engaging any professional, you should independently confirm their current standing with the relevant licensing authority. See our General Disclaimer for the broader context.