Comparative Analysis of Professional Qualification Verification Systems

This peer-reviewed interdisciplinary study examines institutional systems used to verify professional qualifications and document professional identity in contemporary transnational labor markets. The research analyzes how the globalization of professional activity and increasing cross-border mobility have intensified the need for mechanisms capable of confirming competencies and professional experience across institutional and national boundaries. The article provides a comparative analysis of several major models of qualification verification, including state-based credential systems, supranational frameworks such as Europass and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), digital platform-based identity systems (LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar, ResearchGate), and emerging non-state documentation initiatives such as Amerpass. Particular attention is given to the institutional logic underlying these systems. State-issued diplomas and professional licenses provide strong legal authority but often remain territorially bounded. Supranational initiatives such as Europass improve the comparability and portability of qualifications, while digital platforms enhance the visibility and discoverability of professional information. However, each system captures only part of an individual’s professional trajectory, leading to structural fragmentation of professional identity across multiple institutional environments. The study includes a comparative evaluation of credential systems that examines institutional authority, verification mechanisms, cross-border usability, and functional roles in professional mobility. The analysis demonstrates that professional identity governance in contemporary labor markets operates through multiple overlapping systems rather than a single unified framework. Within this institutional landscape, the article examines emerging non-state professional identification frameworks designed to organize dispersed evidence of professional activity into structured documentary formats. Such systems aim to complement rather than replace existing credential structures by integrating references to external verification sources, including academic repositories, professional associations, and digital identifiers. The findings suggest that hybrid credential architectures combining standardized documentation, digital verification tools, and professional community validation may represent an important direction for the future governance of professional identity. The study contributes to research on migration, professional mobility, credential recognition, and institutional innovation in global labor markets. The version deposited in Zenodo corresponds to the peer-reviewed scholarly publication and reflects the authors’ original research without substantive modification.