Exam certificates

[imnotthatkindofmum]

Long story short.

Getting a job in a field I am not experienced in but the job description fits my experience of over 15 years.

I do not have a degree. And I left school 30 years ago.

For the new job which they want me to start asap I have been asked for gcse and a level certificates. I do not have these and they have said I have to have them or I can't start. If they are anywhere they're in my parents loft. My parents are in their 80s and live a 2 hr drive away.....and they might not actually even be there. I was also divorced 20 years and a lot of stuff is just gone forever.

I can get certificates but it's going to cost £50 per qualification, take over 20 days and I don't even know what exam boards I did.

The HR contact is aghast that I've never had to show my certificates to anyone. Obviously if it related to the job I could understand it.

So my questions are should I still have my certificates? Does everyone else still have their certificates after 30 years? Have you been asked for (unrelated) certificates to do a job you have experience in?

AIBU that they are BU?

I would argue that after 30 years, your GCSEs and a-levels are frankly not going to tell anyone anything compared to what you have done in those intervening 30 years.

After 30 years working do you really think GCSEs taken at 16 are going to tell anyone anything interesting?
GCSE geography? Biology? Seriously?
your employment history will be far more telling.

I’m 40 and recently needed to show degree equivalence. I had some Level 6 qualification certificates and my A level certificates. I couldn’t find my GCSE certificates but found a print out from the school confirming my grades, which was accepted.

It was tucked in my National Record of Achievement - they did bang on about keeping it! 😂

I am 50 and yes, I have my certificates and yes, I have been asked to show them recently (eg when I applied for an administrative job in a school). Needing to prove you have GCSE English & Maths is pretty standard in most desk jobs, I would have thought?

I left school in 1976, numerous house moves, god knows what happened to them! Never been asked to show them for any job I’ve held.

I've just changed jobs and for the first time ever I've been asked to show all my certificates. I did my O levels in 1980! I can't find any of them, even my degree certificate. I think they might have been at my parents' house and got lost/thrown when they downsized. Anyway, work don't seem too bothered and just said to submit copies for my file if they turn up.

I had to send mine from 1999 in for the first time ever last year to start an apprenticeship

I am so shocked that so many people have their certificates! Mine are long lost and I’m only 32. It might be because I’ve worked in jobs that have solely relies on my experience as my GCSEs and A Levels mean pretty much nothing compared to my actual work experience and what I’ve learned on the job but I am now thinking I should get replacements just in case.

I'm in my 40s and in the 7 jobs I have had since finishing my A-Levels, I have never once had to show my certificates! I'd find it odd to be asked, although judging from these responses clearly it's very normal for lots of jobs. I think I might vaguely know where my GCSE certificates are, but not sure about the A-Levels.

It might tell you people are telling the truth though. All those people who nudge their grades up one or two points. Still seems a bit unnecessary after 30+ years, but if it were the difference between getting a job o'r not, it's fine by me.

It’s a probity thing. Did you put them on the application form/CV? Even if not essential for the job, they can expect you to be able to prove anything you have claimed during the application. If it turned out that you had lied about them, they would likely withdraw the offer on dishonesty grounds, even if not specifically needed for the role.

I have all mine, GCSE’s 97, A Level / BTEC 99, Degree 2002.

Had to show at most of my jobs.

Yep, got mine in a folder, all apart from my English A level. Have needed them roughly 5 times in the last 15 years

I'm shocked at the number of people who have lost their certificates. For those who are married do you still have that certificate or has that gone too?

I know roughly where they are, there's a couple of document boxes I'd need to look through but I could locate it fairly quickly. They're from 25 years ago.

Yes. I always had to show them even the gcses. They in a folder ready to be taken to any interview. It's a standard request at any interview.

Yeah, I have all mine from GCSE onwards, in a box in the cupboard. DH left school after GCSE's but still has his certificates.

I work in a job where you have to show your certificates: probably about 1/3 of people don't have them, and out of that third I'd say only 1/3 manage to find the right exam board, etc.

But we do accept evidence in your personal learner record, which you all have online!

I have never had to show my certificates for any job, but I still have my O level certificates from 1975 and A level certificates from 1977.

Of course they need evidence of what you're claiming, especially if you've nothing above 'A' level! Does your former school not have information such as the exam board?
Mid 90s there weren't too many Boards, maybe contact Edexel, AQA and OCR to see if they can help, names may have changed but they are still the same Boards.

Mine where lost not long after I passed my exams. I've since done an admin NVQ and then a degree and some post graduate certificates. If I was job hunting now it might be an issue.

My school actually still had a record not that long ago.

Yes I have mine (somewhere!). I keep better track of my degree certificates as that’s what is requested. They’re in my study in a locked cabinet with other important documents. I also have certified copies of each. I’ve never been asked for GCSE or AL. I also have scanned copies of all saved on my laptop - most places ask for soft copies.

If you can't find them in your parents' attic, this is your next step:

https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate

I never collected my A level certificate but needed it when I joined the Civil Service. However, I got a letter from my school confirming all my exam results which they accepted as evidence.

I have been asked for my GCSE ones once, many years ago. Not sure where they are now. I never collected my A level ones and thankfully no one has ever asked to see them, I think because once you have a degree no one is really interested.

I do sometimes think about getting copies of my certificates though. I might need them at some point.