How we verify coaches
A coach earns the Verified by COACHED badge only after clearing identity, background and credential checks. There is no partial badge and no way to buy one — the badge reads directly from the result of each check.
1. Identity
Every coach submits a government photo ID that must match the legal name on their account. Nicknames and display names are allowed; unverified identities are not.
2. Criminal background check
We run a criminal background check through an accredited screening provider covering national, county and sex-offender registry searches. Coaches consent directly with the provider — COACHED never handles the underlying report data.
3. Credentials and certifications
Certifications, coaching history and any claimed playing or teaching experience are reviewed by our team. Anything we can't substantiate is removed from the profile before it goes live.
4. Payment account
Coaches complete identity and banking verification with our payments partner. Payments are held by COACHED until both people confirm the session happened.
Three tiers, matched to the service
A tennis coach and a nurse shouldn't clear the same bar. Every category on COACHED carries a tier, and a provider always has to meet the strictest tier across everything they offer.
Tier 1 — Standard
Verified by COACHED- Government ID matched to the provider's legal name
- Criminal background check cleared
- Verified payout account
Tier 2 — Licensed
Licensed & verified- Everything in Standard
- Current state occupational licence on file
- Licence number and expiry reviewed by a COACHED admin
Tier 3 — Clinical
Clinically verified- Everything in Licensed
- Clinical credential (RN, NP, PA-C, licensed therapist or equivalent)
- Active NPI number
- Active malpractice insurance
- Signed scope-of-practice attestation
Examples: a basketball coach or phone repair technician is Tier 1. A barber, nail technician or laser specialist is Tier 2. An in-home nurse, phlebotomist or physical therapist is Tier 3.
Ongoing, not one-time
Background checks are re-run periodically and after any reported incident. Licences and malpractice cover are checked against their expiry date on every search, so a lapsed document removes a provider from search that day — a pending or failed check means no listing, no bookings and no payouts.