Certification Levels¶

Version: 1.0 Effective date: 2026-02-06 Status: Authoritative — complements certification-states.md

This document defines certification levels for Last1. Levels describe the depth and scope of validation an organization has achieved. Levels are distinct from states (Active, Conditional, Paused, Revoked), which describe standing within a level.

Overview¶

Level	What It Means	Public Visibility
None	No verification claim made	No badge, no verification page
Verified	Structural and operational validation passed	Internal verification page; badge available for org's own use
Certified	Full layered validation with ongoing integrity monitoring	Public verification page; "Last1 Certified" mark; listed in partner directories

An organization may hold any level. Within the Verified or Certified levels, the organization also has a state (Active, Conditional, Paused, or Revoked) that describes their current standing. See certification-states.md for state definitions.

Level Definitions¶

None¶

Meaning: The organization uses the Last1 platform but has not sought or received any verification or certification.
What it requires: Nothing. Any organization on a paid or free tier may operate at this level indefinitely.
What it grants: Access to platform features per their subscription tier. No verification claims, badges, or public pages.
Typical use: Organizations exploring the platform, those focused on internal accountability only, or those not yet ready to commit to external review.

Last1 Verified¶

Meaning: The organization has passed structural and operational validation. Their program structure, outcome definitions, and basic operational practices have been reviewed and found consistent with Last1 Standards.
What it requires:
Self-attestation of adherence to Last1 Standards
Declarative layer evidence (program definitions, outcome structures)
Basic structural layer evidence (staff roles, beneficiary consent processes)
Review by Last1.org (lightweight, typically asynchronous)
What it grants:
"Last1 Verified" badge for the organization's own use (website, grant applications)
Internal verification page (viewable by the org and invited parties, not public by default)
Eligibility to apply for Certified level
What it does NOT grant:
Public verification page
Listing in partner directories or RealOutcomes
The full "Last1 Certified" mark
Typical use: Organizations building toward full certification, those seeking a lightweight validation for internal stakeholders, or those whose funders do not require public verification.

Last1 Certified¶

Meaning: The organization has undergone full layered validation across all five validation layers and is subject to ongoing integrity monitoring. Their outcomes are verified through multiple evidence sources, and any discrepancies are subject to review and, if necessary, remediation.
What it requires:
All requirements of Verified level, plus:
Evidence across all five validation layers (Declarative, Structural, Operational, Observational, Temporal)
Certification review by Last1.org (substantive review, may include document review, interviews, or site visits for larger organizations)
Agreement to ongoing integrity monitoring (periodic re-validation, anomaly review)
Commitment to appeals and remediation processes
What it grants:
"Last1 Certified" mark for public use
Public verification page at last1.app/verify/{org-slug}
Listing in partner directories and RealOutcomes (when integrated)
Funder-ready verification reports
Priority support and onboarding assistance
Certification review fee: $500–$2,000 depending on organization size, paid to Last1.org as program revenue (separate from Last1.app subscription)
Typical use: Organizations seeking the public trust credential for funders, government contracts, or public accountability. Organizations in regulated sectors or those receiving significant grant funding.

Relationship Between Levels and States¶

Levels and states are orthogonal:

Level = how deep the validation goes (None → Verified → Certified)
State = current standing within a level (Active, Conditional, Paused, Revoked)

An organization at the Certified level may have a state of: - Active — Certification in good standing - Conditional — Certified with conditions (e.g., remediation in progress) - Paused — Certification temporarily suspended - Revoked — Certification withdrawn

An organization at the Verified level may similarly have Active, Conditional, Paused, or Revoked state.

An organization at None level has no state — they have not entered the verification/certification system.

State Transitions and Level Preservation¶

When an organization's state changes (e.g., Active → Conditional), their level does not automatically change.
Revocation at the Certified level returns the organization to None level (they must reapply for Verified and then Certified).
Revocation at the Verified level returns the organization to None level.
An organization may voluntarily step down from Certified to Verified (rare, but possible if they no longer wish to maintain ongoing monitoring requirements).

Visual Representation¶

                     ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
                     │                  CERTIFIED                  │
                     │   Full layered validation + monitoring      │
                     │   Public page, full badge, directories      │
                     │   States: Active | Conditional | Paused     │
                     └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                          ▲
                                          │ Certification review
                                          │
                     ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
                     │                  VERIFIED                   │
                     │   Structural + operational validation       │
                     │   Internal page, limited badge              │
                     │   States: Active | Conditional | Paused     │
                     └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                          ▲
                                          │ Verification review
                                          │
                     ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
                     │                   NONE                      │
                     │   Platform user, no verification claim      │
                     │   No badge, no page, no state               │
                     └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Prohibitions (Consistent with certification-states.md)¶

No scoring. Levels are categorical, not numeric.
No ranking. Organizations are not ranked by level. A Certified organization is not "better" than a Verified organization — they have made different commitments.
No coercion. Organizations are never required to pursue Verified or Certified status. Beneficiary participation does not depend on the organization's level.
No automatic promotion/demotion. Level changes require human review and, where applicable, application by the organization.

Implementation Notes (for platform developers)¶

The organizations table includes: - certification_level: enum (none, verified, certified) - certification_status: enum (none, active, conditional, paused, revoked)

These fields are independent. The platform should: - Display badges only for organizations with certification_level = verified or certified AND certification_status = active or conditional - Public verification pages should only be accessible for certification_level = certified AND certification_status IN (active, conditional) - Internal verification pages may be accessible for certification_level = verified AND certification_status IN (active, conditional)

End of Certification Levels v1.0