Society certificates

Society members can download signed, printable certificates. Each one carries a permanent registry code and a QR code, so anyone can confirm it's genuine at the Certificate Registry.

What certificates does the Society issue?

• Certificate of Membership. Every member in good standing can download it from day one. It certifies that you are "a member in good standing of the Underground Aquarium Society" and shows the year you were admitted and your member number.
• Breeder certificates. One for every species you've had a spawn log approved for, titled "Certified [species] Breeder" (for example "Certified Angelfish Breeder"). The certificate reads "BREEDER CERTIFICATION" and says you have "spawned and raised this species under Society peer review." It lists the Breeder Award Program, the points and your member number.

Title (rank) certificates are no longer issued. Any that were issued before still verify at the Certificate Registry. Course certificates are a separate thing; see Course certificates.

How do I download my Society certificates?

1. Go to Certificates in the member area.
2. For your membership certificate, click Download PDF next to Certificate of Membership.
3. For a breeder certificate, find the species under Breeder certificates and click PDF.

You can also download a breeder certificate straight from an approved spawn log with Download your breeder certificate. The file downloads as a PDF named with its code, ready to print and frame.

Why don't I have any breeder certificates?

Breeder certificates come from approved spawn logs. Until you have one, the Certificates page says: "Get a spawn log approved and you'll earn a certificate like Certified Angelfish Breeder," with an Open a spawn log link. See Spawn logs and submissions.

Do I get a certificate for every approved spawn log?

You get one breeder certificate per species. If you have several approved logs for the same species, the certificate is based on the first one approved.

What's printed on a Society certificate?

• UNDERGROUND AQUARIUM SOCIETY at the top, with the certificate type underneath.
• "This is to certify that" and your name (your roster name).
• The award wording and details (member number, points and so on).
• The date of issue, bottom left.
• The Society seal in the center.
• The signature of Christopher M. Lewis, Founder & Judge, bottom right.
• REGISTRY NO. and your certificate's code along the bottom, with "Verify at undergroundaquarium.com/verify."
• A QR code in the bottom right corner marked SCAN TO VERIFY, which opens the certificate's own record.

What is a certificate registry code?

Each certificate gets a permanent code when it's first issued, in the form UA-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. The first letter after "UA-" shows the program (M for Membership, B for Breeder Award Program). Anyone can type the code at the Certificate Registry to confirm the certificate is real. See Verifying a certificate.

If I download a certificate again, does the code change?

No. Downloading the same certificate again gives you the same registry code. Once a certificate has been issued, its code also appears on the Certificates page under the certificate's name, as a link to its public record. You can share that code or link with anyone who asks for proof without downloading the PDF again.

What does "revoked" mean next to my certificate code?

If a code on your Certificates page shows revoked in red, that certificate has been withdrawn and the registry will show it as No longer valid. If you think this is a mistake, email support@undergroundaquarium.com.

Can I change the name on my certificate?

Certificates use your roster name. You can change your roster name on the manage page (see Leaving the Society, which also covers editing your details). A certificate that was already issued keeps the name it was issued with in the registry, so email support@undergroundaquarium.com if an issued certificate needs a correction.

Where do my breeder certificates show publicly?

Your public profile lists your breeder certificates under Certified breeder, one line per species with the Society seal. Verified ones link to their public record. The profile shows up to five, with a link for the rest.

Can I get my certificates if my dues lapse?

The Certificates page is inside the member area, so it's locked while your dues are lapsed. Your certificates aren't deleted, and they still verify at the Certificate Registry. Renew to download them again. See Society dues and renewal.

Common problems

Clicking Download PDF shows an error message instead of a file. The certificate couldn't be issued, usually because you're no longer in good standing or the spawn log isn't approved. Check your membership, then try again. If it persists, email support@undergroundaquarium.com.

"Title certificates are no longer issued. Breeder certificates are issued per species." You followed an old link for a rank certificate. Download your breeder certificates from Certificates instead.

Clicking download sent me to Log in. Your session ended. Sign in and click download again.

The name on my certificate is wrong. Update your roster name, then email support@undergroundaquarium.com if an already-issued certificate needs fixing.

My certificate doesn't show a registry code on the Certificates page. The code appears after the certificate is first downloaded. Download it once and the code will show.