Primary source verification

ECFMG defines it as confirming authenticity directly with the source: for a qualification, that means confirming it with the institution that issued it. A notarised photocopy, an apostille or a certified copy proves something about the document's signature or copy, but not that the qualification was actually awarded. Primary source verification does.

It can cover your degree, transcript, internship, postgraduate training, registration or licence, and in some systems your English test result.

• UK doctors: the GMC independently verifies the primary medical qualification of anyone who qualified outside the UK and does not already hold provisional registration. ECFMG does this through EPIC.
• Ireland doctors: the Medical Council uses EPIC, and verifies English test certificates at source.
• UK nurses: the NMC asks your permission to contact your regulator to verify your registration, and your education provider if you have not been registered before.
• USA doctors: ECFMG verifies your final medical diploma and transcript with your school as part of ECFMG certification.
• USA nurses: the Nurse Licensure Compact's uniform requirements say international graduates' education must be verified by an independent credentials review agency. TruMerit's CES Professional Report validates licences, registrations and diplomas, and it needs academic records sent directly by each school.

1. You submit a copy of the credential and, if it is not in the required language, a translation.
2. The verifying body checks it is an acceptable document, then sends a request to the issuing institution.
3. The institution confirms, often electronically, that it issued the credential to you.
4. The verifier reviews the response and, if acceptable, records the credential as verified and reports it to the regulator.

The verification is complete only when the response comes directly from the issuer. Copies you send yourself do not count.

Some verifiers check more than your degree. TruMerit, for example, validates every licence and registration you hold or have held, as well as your diplomas, and it can verify English test results for boards that require them. The Medical Council in Ireland verifies IELTS, OET and Cambridge certificates at source rather than accepting copies.

Most of the time is spent waiting for the issuing institution. For EPIC, ECFMG says about 80% of credentials are verified within 30 days and 90% within 90 days. The GMC says most schools respond within 90 days, and requests sent by post or courier take longer than electronic ones.

Delays usually come from schools that answer slowly or only by post, closed institutions, names that differ between documents, missing translations and uploading the wrong document type. Start verification as early as possible: the GMC keeps a registration application open for only 90 days. Verification of your record by another country's verification provider does not replace the one your new regulator asks for.