specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Certn
providerId: certn
created: '2026-07-03'
modified: '2026-07-03'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Background Checks
- Screening
- Identity Verification
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Certn spend. Certn is a pay-per-check platform: API access is
  free and cost is driven entirely by the checks you order. Each check type has
  its own unit price (criminal, identity/OneID, credit, public records,
  employment/education/credential verification, reference, driver's abstract,
  social media, and international variants), and bundled CertnCentric tiers or
  enterprise agreements offer negotiated rates at volume. Cost management is
  therefore about controlling the mix and volume of checks ordered per applicant
  and per team.
notes: >-
  Per-check rates are published self-serve in CAD and vary by check type and
  jurisdiction; international checks are quoted per country. Enterprise pricing is
  bundled and negotiated. Verify current unit prices on certn.co/pricing during
  reconciliation.
sources:
- https://certn.co/pricing/
- https://certn.co/background-screening-api/
- https://docs.certn.co/api
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Certn
serviceCategory: Identity and Background Screening
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: CAD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Certn Background Screening
  ServiceCategory: Identity and Background Screening
  ProviderName: Certn
  PublisherName: Certn
  InvoiceIssuerName: Certn
  BillingCurrency: CAD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Usage-Based
meters:
- name: criminal_record_checks
  description: Criminal record checks ordered (Basic/Enhanced Canadian, US, international, SOQUIJ), billed per check.
  unit: checks
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - team
  - country
- name: identity_verifications
  description: Identity / OneID verifications ordered, billed per check.
  unit: checks
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - team
- name: credit_and_financial_checks
  description: Credit reports and public records checks ordered, billed per check.
  unit: checks
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - team
- name: verification_checks
  description: Employment, education, and credential verifications ordered, billed per check.
  unit: checks
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - team
- name: reference_and_other_checks
  description: Reference checks (digital/phone), driver's abstracts, and social media checks ordered.
  unit: checks
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - team
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track check volume and cost by check type, team, and country; each check type has a distinct unit price.
- name: Allocation
  description: Scope applications to teams/owners so per-check spend maps to internal cost centers and hiring/leasing workflows.
- name: Optimization
  description: Order only the checks a role or jurisdiction requires; use bundled CertnCentric tiers or enterprise volume pricing when check volume is high; avoid re-running checks by upgrading existing applications.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners per team; review monthly per-check spend against the published unit prices and any negotiated bundle rates.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com