Top 11 Registrar Certifications

Certifications are important for a registrar in the job market because they demonstrate that the registrar has gained and maintained a certain level of knowledge, skill, and experience required to perform their job. Certifications help to show employers that the registrar is qualified and knowledgeable about their field of work, which can make them more attractive to potential employers. Additionally, certifications can provide a competitive advantage when applying for jobs and can act as an assurance that the registrar is up-to-date on best practices in their profession. Having certifications also allows employers to easily verify the qualifications of potential hires.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Registrars and explains how they can help to advance a registrar's career.

What are Registrar Certifications?

Registrar certification is a process by which an independent third-party organization audits and certifies that a company has met specific standards and requirements. The standards are typically related to the quality of the company’s products, services, or processes. For example, companies may seek certification from a registrar in order to demonstrate compliance with ISO 9001 or other industry-specific standards.

Registrar certification can help companies in many ways. It can provide assurance to customers and other stakeholders that the company meets certain quality standards, increase customer confidence in the company’s products or services, improve employee morale and engagement, establish a competitive advantage over non-certified competitors, and create opportunities for marketing recognition. Additionally, it may also help companies reduce their liability risks by demonstrating their commitment to quality control and helping them identify any potential areas for improvement. Finally, registrar certification can be used as an indicator of organizational performance that helps organizations better manage their operations and make more informed decisions about their business strategies.

Pro Tip: When selecting a registrar for certification, make sure to research their reputation and track record of successful certifications. Also, be sure to review the details of their process, fees, and other requirements prior to signing up.

Related: What does a Registrar do?

Top 11 Registrar Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Registrars today.

1. ICANN Accredited Registrar

ICANN Accredited Registrar is an organization that has been approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to register domain names. ICANN is a non-profit organization responsible for managing the internet's Domain Name System (DNS). It ensures that all domain names are registered in accordance with its policies and regulations.

To become an ICANN accredited registrar, organizations must meet certain requirements and demonstrate their ability to provide reliable services, including customer service, technical support, and data accuracy. The application process typically takes 4-6 weeks to complete.

Organizations must submit an application form along with supporting documents such as business registration certificates, financial statements, contracts, etc., and pay a fee of $2,000 USD. Once approved by ICANN, the company will be listed on the official list of ICANN accredited registrars.

The cost of registering a domain name with an ICANN accredited registrar varies depending on the type of domain being registered and other factors such as promotional offers or discounts. Generally speaking, prices range from around $10 - $20 USD per year for most popular top-level domains (TLDs).

2. Nominet UK Accredited Channel Partner

Nominet UK Accredited Channel Partner is a special status given to companies that provide domain name services to customers. It is awarded by Nominet, the official registry for all UK domain names. This accreditation ensures that companies offering domain name services meet the highest standards of customer service and technical expertise.

In order to become an Accredited Channel Partner, a company must first complete an online application form and submit it to Nominet. The application process typically takes around four weeks and involves providing evidence of their technical capability, customer service record, financial stability and other relevant information. Once approved, the company will receive a certificate from Nominet confirming their status as an Accredited Channel Partner.

The cost of becoming an Accredited Channel Partner varies depending on the size of the business applying for accreditation and their existing level of experience with domain name services. Generally speaking, it costs between £500-£2,000 per year for small businesses (with fewer than 10 employees) and between £2,000-£4,000 per year for larger businesses (with more than 10 employees).

3. Verisign Certified Domain Name Registrar

Verisign Certified Domain Name Registrar is an online service that allows businesses and individuals to register domain names with the Verisign registry. It is a secure and trusted way to register a domain name.

Verisign is a trusted third-party provider that verifies the identity of the registrant and ensures that the domain name is unique, legitimate, and not already registered by another party. The process takes approximately two days to complete, depending on the availability of the domain name.

To get a Verisign Certified Domain Name Registrar, you must first choose a domain name for your website or business. Once you have chosen a domain name, you can then go to Verisign’s website and fill out their application form. You will need to provide contact information such as your email address and phone number so they can verify your identity. After submitting your application, Verisign will review it and if approved, will send you an invoice for payment.

The cost of registering a domain name through Verisign varies depending on the type of registration you choose (e.g., one year or multiple years). Generally speaking, registering a .com or .net domain name through Verisign costs around $10-$15 per year plus any applicable taxes or fees.

4. Public Interest Registry (PIR) Certified Registrar

Public Interest Registry (PIR) is a non-profit organization that manages the .org domain name registry. It is the largest domain registry in the world and provides services to millions of websites. PIR Certified Registrar is a program designed to recognize registrars who meet or exceed certain standards of excellence in customer service and technical support. This certification helps customers identify reliable and trustworthy registrars who can provide them with quality services.

It typically takes about 2-4 weeks for a registrar to get certified by PIR, depending on their level of preparedness. In order to become certified, registrars must submit an application form, complete an online training course, and pass an exam. The application fee for the certification is $500 USD. Once approved, the registrar will receive a certificate from PIR valid for one year.

5. OpenSRS Accredited Reseller

OpenSRS Accredited Reseller is a program that allows resellers to offer domain name registration services to their customers. It is a free program that provides resellers with access to the OpenSRS platform, which includes domain name registration, renewals, transfers, and management of DNS records.

The process of becoming an OpenSRS Accredited Reseller typically takes around 2-3 weeks. To get started, you must first create an account on the OpenSRS website and provide basic information about your business. After submitting your application, it will be reviewed by the OpenSRS team and you will receive a response within two weeks.

Once approved for the program, you will need to purchase an API key from OpenSRS in order to access their platform. The cost of the API key depends on the number of domains you plan to register or transfer per month: $50/month for up to 500 domains; $100/month for up to 1,000 domains; and $200/month for up to 5,000 domains.

You will also need to set up a payment gateway so that customers can pay for their domain registrations or renewals through your website. Finally, you must agree to abide by all terms and conditions outlined in the OpenSRS Accredited Reseller Agreement before being officially accepted into the program.

6. ENom Certified Reseller

ENom Certified Reseller is a program offered by eNom, one of the leading domain registrars. It allows resellers to offer domain registration services to their customers while having access to eNom’s powerful API and control panel. The program also provides resellers with access to marketing materials, training resources, and technical support.

It typically takes around two weeks for an application to be approved and for a reseller account to be set up. To become an ENom Certified Reseller, applicants must have a valid business license or equivalent documentation and provide proof of identity such as a driver's license or passport. Applicants must also agree to abide by the terms of service outlined in the ENom Reseller Agreement.

The cost of becoming an ENom Certified Reseller varies depending on the size of the reseller’s business and how many domains they wish to register through eNom. Generally speaking, there is no upfront cost associated with becoming an ENom Certified Reseller; instead, resellers pay a commission on each domain registration they make through eNom.

7. GoDaddy Pro Partner Program

GoDaddy Pro Partner Program is a program designed for web professionals to help them manage their clients’ websites. It offers access to tools and services that make it easier for web professionals to build, launch, and manage websites for their clients.

The program is free to join and takes only minutes to get started. To join the GoDaddy Pro Partner Program, you must have an active GoDaddy account and provide your business information. This includes your company name, website URL, contact information, and a valid payment method.

Once you have joined the program, you will gain access to exclusive discounts on products and services as well as priority support when needed. You will also be able to manage multiple client accounts in one place with the GoDaddy Pro dashboard.

The cost of joining the GoDaddy Pro Partner Program varies depending on the plan you choose. There are three plans available: Basic ($9/month), Plus ($19/month), and Premium ($29/month). Each plan offers different levels of discounts and access to additional features such as priority support, bulk domain registration, and more.

8. Tucows OpenSRS Certified Partner Program

The Tucows OpenSRS Certified Partner Program is a program designed to recognize and reward partners who demonstrate expertise in the use of the OpenSRS platform. It is a certification program that provides partners with formal recognition for their knowledge, experience, and commitment to delivering high-quality services using OpenSRS.

To become an OpenSRS Certified Partner, you must meet certain criteria and complete the application process. This includes providing evidence of your technical abilities, customer service skills, and understanding of the OpenSRS platform. Once you have met these requirements, you can submit your application for review by Tucows’ Certification Team. The review process typically takes two to four weeks to complete.

Once accepted into the program, you will be required to pay an annual fee of $50 USD. This fee covers the cost of maintaining your certification status and access to exclusive resources such as marketing materials and discounts on products and services from Tucows.

As an OpenSRS Certified Partner, you will have access to a range of benefits including: priority support from Tucows’ team; special discounts on products and services; access to exclusive training materials; early access to new features; recognition on the Tucows website; invitations to special events; and more.

9. Network Solutions Accredited Domain Name Registrar

Network Solutions Accredited Domain Name Registrar is a service that allows individuals and businesses to register domain names. This service is provided by Network Solutions, an ICANN-accredited registrar.

It typically takes up to 24 hours for a domain name to be registered with Network Solutions once the application has been submitted. To get a domain name registered with Network Solutions, you need to go through the following steps:

1. Choose a domain name: You can search for available domain names on the Network Solutions website or use their Domain Name Generator tool to help you find available domains.

2. Purchase your domain name: Once you’ve chosen your desired domain name, you can purchase it from Network Solutions using either a credit card or PayPal account.

3. Activate your account: After purchasing your domain name, you will receive an email from Network Solutions containing instructions on how to activate your account and manage your domain settings.

4. Configure DNS settings: You will also need to configure DNS settings for your new domain in order for it to become active and accessible online.

The cost of registering a domain name with Network Solutions varies depending on the type of extension (e.g., .com, .net, etc.) and length of registration period (e.g., 1 year, 2 years, etc.). Generally speaking, prices range from $10-$20 per year for most popular extensions like .com or .net domains.

10. Rebel Domains Accredited Registrar

Rebel Domains Accredited Registrar is an accredited domain name registrar that offers customers the ability to register and manage their domain names. It is a service provided by Rebel, a company that specializes in providing web hosting services and other related services.

The process of getting a Rebel Domain Accredited Registrar usually takes around 24 hours after submitting all the necessary documents. To get started, you will need to provide your personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, email address, and payment details. You will also need to provide proof of identity (such as a copy of your driver’s license or passport) and proof of address (such as a utility bill). Once these documents have been submitted and accepted, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the registration process.

The cost for registering with Rebel Domains Accredited Registrar depends on the type of domain name you are registering. Generally speaking, .com domains cost $9.99 per year while .net domains cost $14.99 per year. There may be additional fees for certain extensions or if you choose to add extra features such as private registration or email forwarding.

Once you have registered your domain name with Rebel Domains Accredited Registrar, you will be able to manage it through their user-friendly control panel. This includes making changes to DNS settings, renewing the domain name when needed, transferring the domain name to another registrar if desired, and more.

11. RegisterFly ICANN-Accredited Registrar

RegisterFly ICANN-Accredited Registrar is a domain name registration service that is accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It is an online service that allows individuals and businesses to register domain names, such as .com, .net, .org, and other extensions. RegisterFly provides a secure platform for users to manage their domain names, including setting up DNS records, updating contact information, and transferring domains.

The process of registering a domain name with RegisterFly typically takes only a few minutes. First, you will need to create an account on the website and provide your contact information. Then you can search for available domain names using the search feature on the website. Once you have selected the desired domain name, you can proceed with checkout and pay for your registration fee.

The cost of registering a domain name with RegisterFly depends on the type of extension chosen; however, most standard .com domains cost around $10 per year. Additional fees may apply if you choose to purchase additional services such as privacy protection or hosting plans.

Once your payment has been processed successfully, your new domain name will be registered in your account within 24 hours. You can then manage your domain settings from within your account dashboard at any time.

Do You Really Need a Registrar Certificate?

The short answer is no, you do not need a Registrar Certificate. However, depending on the purpose of your document, it may be useful to obtain one. A Registrar Certificate is a document issued by an official registrar or government body that verifies the accuracy and validity of certain information. This could include things like marriage or birth certificates, or documents related to property ownership and legal proceedings.

In some cases, a Registrar Certificate can be used to prove the authenticity of important records, such as those related to immigration or citizenship applications. It can also help to secure access to services such as banking or employment opportunities in countries where proper documentation is required for these activities. In addition, many companies and organizations require this type of certificate when verifying someone’s identity or qualifications.

It is important to note that while a Registrar Certificate may be helpful in some situations, it is not always necessary. For example, if you are applying for a loan from a bank, they may simply ask for your driver’s license and other forms of identification instead of requiring a certificate from an official registrar. Similarly, if you are applying for a job at a company that does not require any special documents from applicants, then having one would likely not make much difference in their decision-making process.

Overall, whether or not you need to obtain a Registrar Certificate will depend on the specific situation and requirements set forth by the organization you are dealing with. If it is required for whatever purpose you have in mind, then it would be wise to follow through with obtaining one so as to ensure that everything goes smoothly and without any complications down the line.

Related: Registrar Resume Examples

FAQs About Registrar Certifications

1. What is a registrar certification?

Answer: A registrar certification is a third-party endorsement of an organization’s management system that has been audited and found to be in compliance with the requirements of a particular standard. It demonstrates that an organization is dedicated to providing quality services and products that meet customer needs.

2. Who is responsible for obtaining a registrar certification?

Answer: The responsibility for obtaining a registrar certification lies with the organization itself. Depending on the type of certification, it may require hiring an external auditor or consulting firm to assess their management system against the applicable standard requirements.

3. What are the benefits of having a registrar certification?

Answer: Having a registrar certification demonstrates your commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, increases public trust in your organization, allows you to access new markets, and can lead to cost savings by improving efficiency and reducing errors. It also provides independent verification that your organization meets industry standards, which can help increase customer confidence and loyalty.

4. How long does it take to obtain a registrar certification?

Answer: The time frame for obtaining a registrar certification depends on several factors such as the size and complexity of your organization's management system, the type of audit being performed, the availability of resources, etc. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months depending on these variables.

5. Are there any additional costs associated with obtaining a registrar certification?

Answer: Yes, there are typically additional costs associated with obtaining a registrar certification such as fees for the audit itself as well as any necessary training or consulting services needed in order to achieve compliance with the relevant standard requirements. Additionally, if changes need to be made in order for your management system to meet all applicable standards then those costs will need to be taken into consideration when budgeting for the project.