VERIFICATION & COMPLAINTS
Verify a credential or file a complaint.
This page serves two distinct purposes. If you are verifying an NLP practitioner’s or trainer’s credentials — as an employer, client, or professional peer — start with the Credential Verification section. If you have a concern about an accredited trainer or school’s conduct, start with the Complaint Process section.
This page serves two distinct purposes. If you are verifying an NLP practitioner’s or trainer’s credentials — as an employer, client, or professional peer — start with the Credential Verification section. If you have a concern about an accredited trainer or school’s conduct, start with the Complaint Process section.
Both processes are handled securely and confidentially. Neither requires you to be an IBNIC member.
VERIFY A CREDENTIAL
Enter an IBNIC Credential Number for instant confirmation of any NLP practitioner or trainer certification.
Go to verification →
FILE A COMPLAINT
Submit a confidential concern about an accredited trainer or school’s conduct, ethics, or training standards.
File a complaint →
• No account required
• Confidential by design
• Independent review panel
• GDPR-aligned
• Binding outcomes
Credential Verification
Verify an IBNIC credential.
Every graduate and every accredited school receives a unique IBNIC Credential Number and a verified digital badge for use on their website, email signature, and marketing materials. Credential numbers appear on these badges and link directly here. Enter a number below to instantly confirm the credential’s validity, certification level, issuing school, date of issue, and the school’s current accreditation status.
IBNIC does not maintain a publicly browsable directory of practitioners. This is a deliberate design decision. Public registers expose practitioners to data scraping, spam, and privacy risks they did not choose. IBNIC’s code-based verification system means personal data stays protected by design — there is no list to scrape because there is no list. Verification is available to anyone with a valid Credential Number. A public database is available to no one.
ENTER CRDENTIAL NUMBER
Verification is available to anyone with a valid Credential Number.
A successful result confirms
• That the credential exists and has not been fabricated
• The practitioner’s certification level
• The name of the issuing school
• The date of issue
• The school’s current IBNIC accreditation status
Complaint Process
Filing a complaint or concern.
IBNIC operates two distinct pathways for raising concerns about an accredited trainer or school. The appropriate pathway depends on what the person filing the concern is prepared to do, and what outcome they are seeking.
IBNIC is not a court, a mediator, or an investigative authority. Its role is narrow and deliberate: to assess whether a school or trainer continues to meet the standards required for IBNIC accreditation. The question IBNIC asks in every review is the same — does this school or trainer still belong in the IBNIC register? That question, and only that question, is what IBNIC is empowered to answer.
Within IBNIC’s scope
Conduct that constitutes a breach of the Nine Pillars or the IBNIC Code of Ethics — including but not limited to:
• Discriminatory, racist, or harassing conduct in a training environment
• Sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct toward students or participants
• Psychological harm inflicted on participants during training
• Misrepresentation of qualifications, credentials, or program content
• Breach of the IBNIC Code of Ethics in a professional context
• Failure to maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment
Outside IBNIC’s scope
IBNIC will not investigate or adjudicate the following — these matters should be directed to the appropriate legal, regulatory, or consumer authority:
• Criminal matters — these must be reported to law enforcement
• Payment disputes between a trainer or school and a student
• Contractual or terms and conditions disputes
• Employment grievances between a school and its staff
• Personal or interpersonal disputes unrelated to training delivery
• Defamation, intellectual property, or legal claims between parties
If conduct raised in a complaint also constitutes a criminal matter, IBNIC will direct the complainant to the appropriate authorities. IBNIC’s own review on the accreditation question proceeds independently.
Track One — Formal Complaint
The trainer or school is notified.
A formal complaint is a structured submission in which the complainant is known to IBNIC and the complaint is actioned as a formal review. The trainer or school is notified that a complaint has been filed — not of the complainant’s identity, but of the fact that a formal complaint exists and is under review.
Both parties provide evidence. A review panel with no connection to the school or trainer assesses that evidence. IBNIC’s review results in an accreditation decision — not a legal ruling. Possible outcomes include no action required, an improvement notice with defined conditions, a probationary period, suspension, or permanent removal from the IBNIC register.
Use this pathway if
You are prepared to have IBNIC formally notify the school or trainer that a complaint has been filed, and you are seeking a formal accreditation review with a documented outcome.
Track Two — Confidential Concern
The trainer or school is not notified.
A confidential concern is a submission in which the complainant’s name and the details of the concern are known to IBNIC only. Nothing is shared with the trainer or school — not the complainant’s identity, not the substance of the concern, and not the fact that a concern has been received.
The concern is logged in IBNIC’s confidential monitoring file. If IBNIC’s board determines that the weight and consistency of concerns across different students or cohorts warrants a board-level review, that review will be initiated at IBNIC’s discretion. If a review is initiated in connection with your submission, you will be notified — with your identity protected throughout.
Use this pathway if
You are not prepared to have the trainer or school know that a complaint has been filed, or if you are uncertain whether your concern rises to the level of a formal complaint but want it on record.
What both pathways have in common
IBNIC does not disclose the identity of complainants to third parties under either track. Neither pathway requires you to be an IBNIC member, and neither involves any fee. IBNIC acknowledges all submissions within five working days.
Track One
The formal complaint process.
The following six steps apply to Track One — Formal Complaint. The trainer or school is notified that a complaint is under review at Step 4. Your identity as a complainant is not shared at any stage.
Conduct that constitutes a breach of the Nine Pillars — including discriminatory conduct, harassment, misrepresentation, or failure to maintain a safe learning environment — is reviewed as an accreditation matter. IBNIC does not adjudicate disputes between individuals. Possible outcomes range from an improvement notice with defined conditions, through a probationary period, to permanent removal from the IBNIC register. An appeals process is available to any school or trainer who believes the decision did not accurately reflect the evidence submitted.
1
Submit a written complaint
Use the form below to submit your concern in writing. Include the name of the school or trainer, a clear description of the conduct, and any supporting documentation you hold.
2
Acknowledgment within five working days
IBNIC acknowledges all complaints within five working days of receipt. You will receive a reference number and a confirmation that your complaint has been logged.
3
Initial review
IBNIC conducts an initial review to determine whether the complaint falls within the scope of its standards. You will be informed of this determination within 20 working days.
4
School or trainer notified
Where a complaint proceeds, the school or trainer is formally notified and given the opportunity to respond. Their response is shared with the reviewing panel only — not with the complainant.
5
Panel review
A review panel with no commercial or personal connection to the school or trainer assesses the evidence. The panel may request additional documentation from either party.
6
Outcome communicated
The outcome of the review is communicated to both parties in writing. It is recorded in the school’s or trainer’s confidential file. Where accreditation is affected, the school is notified of the timeline and any remediation required.
Concerns about program quality or training materials are not handled through the complaint process. Schools are assessed against published standards at the point of accreditation and at each five-year renewal audit. Graduates are invited to provide feedback at the point of credential registration — that feedback contributes to IBNIC’s ongoing monitoring of accredited schools.
Submit a Concern
File a complaint or submit a concern.
Use this form to submit a formal complaint or informal concern about an IBNIC-accredited trainer or school. All submissions are treated confidentially. You are not required to be an IBNIC member to file a complaint.
If you are not sure whether your concern constitutes a formal complaint, submit it anyway. IBNIC’s administrative team will review it and advise you on the appropriate next step.
Confidentiality
The identity of complainants is protected throughout the review process. Your name is not shared with the school or trainer under review at any stage.
Take the Next Step
Ready to pursue independent accreditation?
The standard is published. The process is structured. The decision is independent. If your practice meets the Nine Pillars, IBNIC accreditation is within reach.
Open to all NLP lineages · Nonprofit · No commercial stake
IBNIC
International Board of NLP and Integrative Coaching. Independent.
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info@ibnic.org
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