Instructor Verification

  • Instructor Identity Verification Process - Frequently Asked Questions

    To maintain the integrity of our learning community, all instructors must verify their identity before they can publish a course on the marketplace. This article answers frequently asked questions regarding the instructor identity verification process.

    Frequently asked questions

    Do I need to complete verification every time I submit a new course for review?

    Identity verification is typically only required once per account. Some instructors may be prompted to complete the process again if there are flags identified in account activity or course content.

    How does Udemy verify my personal data?

    Udemy partners with third-party vendors, which utilize trusted and licensed data sources including; credit bureaus, electoral rolls, government-issued public and private data, telephone/utility records, and watch lists to verify the information you provide. 

    How is my information handled?

    Please see Udemy’s Privacy Policy for details on all types of account data.

    What happens if I do not pass the automated identity verification by the deadline?

    All instructors must be verified when publishing courses on Udemy. If the process is not completed by the deadline specified, any associated courses and accounts will be frozen.  If you have any difficulty, please contact policy@udemy.com with any questions. 

    Will I need to submit my course for review after I complete identity verification?

    Yes, once you have successfully completed verification, please submit your course for review through the course management dashboard. 

    If I am a co-instructor in a course, do I need to complete identity verification?

    No. Only the course owner must complete verification before the course can be submitted for review. 

    If I am an instructor on Udemy Business, do I need to complete identity verification?

    No, this is only required for instructors on the marketplace. 

    Is verification required for free courses?

    Yes. All published instructors are required to complete the verification process. This helps ensure the integrity of the marketplace.

    Can I use a pen name or pseudonym for my instructor account?

    While you can create an account under a pen name or pseudonym, you may be asked to complete additional verification if it differs from your legal name.

    Please note: With the exception of your instructor account name, all other information that is included in your profile must be accurate to complete the verification process. 

    Can I use my business name for the verification process?

    If a business name is submitted, we may need to speak to a representative of the company and verify that you are associated with that business. As a result, the verification process could take longer.

    Can I use a profile picture that is not my own?

    Using a profile picture of another person, even if from a stock image or an image that is AI-generated, is not permitted.

    Can I be verified as an instructor if I am under the age of 18?

    According to our Terms of Use, you must be 18 years old to create an account on Udemy. 

    If you are above the required age for consent to use online services where you live, you can publish a paid course through a legal guardian’s account, following their consent during the verification process. If we discover that you have created an account that violates these rules, we will terminate your account.

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  • Instructor Identity Verification Process

    To maintain the integrity of our learning community, all instructors must verify their identity before they can publish a course on the marketplace.

    When instructors are required to verify their identity

    If you have not yet verified your identity with Udemy, you will be prompted to complete instructor verification when you're ready to submit a new course for review. 

    When your first course has been uploaded and is ready to be published, the Udemy site will guide you through the automated verification process. 

    Instructors may also be directed to complete the verification process after publishing a course, as Udemy’s Trust & Safety Team runs periodic sweeps of more established instructors. The two-step process should only take a few minutes. You can exit and re-enter the flow at any time, but be sure to complete by any specified deadline.

    Information instructors may need to provide during the verification process

    During the verification process, instructors will see some or all of the following prompts: 

    • Request to confirm ownership rights to the course content
    • Request to provide information regarding their current place of residence
    • Request to provide identity documents such as a national ID or passport

    Please note: the information required will vary depending on the instructor’s country of residence and/or activity patterns within the account.  

    This information is strictly confidential, and is reviewed by a third party identity verification service provider in order to validate details. 

    Completing the verification process

    Successful submission and verification with the automated system should only take seconds. Please review your information carefully before submitting as you will only have limited attempts to successfully verify your information.

    After the automated verification process has been completed our team will review your submission and confirm with you, via email, that your account has been verified and that you can submit your course for review.

    The email that is sent confirming your account has been verified, will be sent to the email address that is registered with your Udemy account. Generally, the confirmation process takes 2 -3 business days.

    If you are having trouble completing the verification for your account, please reach out to policy@udemy.com with any questions you may have.

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