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What to do if…
you are instructed to do work that requires a certification or license you do not have

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Pause before starting, continuing, certifying, or signing off the task. Say clearly that you do not hold the required certification, licence or authorisation, and ask for the requirement and the responsible authorised person to be confirmed in writing.

Do not do these things

  • Do not do certified, licensed or authorised work “just this once” if you do not hold the required credential or confirmed authorisation.
  • Do not sign, countersign, approve, certify, or tick a box saying you are certified or competent if you are not.
  • Do not let your name, login, signature, email, pass, or account be used to imply that you supervised or authorised work you did not supervise or authorise.
  • Do not borrow someone else’s certificate number, login, signature, pass, or name.
  • Do not start because someone is rushing you before the credential requirement and responsible authorised person are clear.
  • Do not argue about motives in the moment; keep it factual and about competence, safety and compliance.
  • Do not delete messages, rota notes, job sheets, permits, or instructions about the task.

What to do now

  1. Pause the task safely. If you are already at the work area, equipment, vehicle, system, permit, or job sheet, step back to a safe point and stop doing anything that depends on the missing certification or authorisation.

  2. Say the issue plainly. Use simple wording such as: “I do not hold the certification, licence or authorisation for this task. I cannot start, continue, certify, or sign it off until the requirement and responsible authorised person are confirmed.”

  3. Ask for the compliant alternative. Ask for one of these:

    • reassignment to work you are trained and authorised to do
    • a certified or authorised person to perform the task
    • written confirmation of whether you may assist only with non-regulated parts
    • documented supervised assistance, if that is allowed for this specific task, with the authorised person controlling the work and signing off where required

  4. Create a written record immediately. Send a short email or message that records:

    • the task you were asked to do
    • who asked you to do it
    • what certification, licence, authorisation, training, permit, or sign-off you believe may be required
    • that you do not hold it, or cannot confirm that you hold it
    • what safe alternative you are willing to do now

  5. Check the workplace control that should show authorisation. Look for the relevant training record, competence matrix, authorised-person list, permit-to-work, job sheet, method statement, safe system of work, standard operating procedure, or sign-off register. If you cannot confirm quickly, keep the certified or authorised part paused.

  6. If there is a health and safety risk, use the safety reporting route. Report the issue through your workplace procedure, your manager, a health and safety representative, or the named reporting route. If you reasonably believe there is serious and imminent danger, move away from the danger if you can do so safely, then report it.

  7. If you are pressured, escalate once in the same calm wording. Contact a higher manager, HR, health and safety, the site lead, the duty manager, or your union representative if you have one. Say: “I am not certified or authorised for this. I am asking for reassignment or for a competent, authorised person to take responsibility.”

  8. Keep a clean timeline. Write down the date, time, place, task, names, messages, job numbers, permits, equipment numbers, and what you did after pausing. Keep copies somewhere you can still access if your work account is later restricted.

  9. Get quick outside guidance if the pressure continues. Contact Acas or your union with the practical facts: “I am being instructed to do work I am not certified or authorised for. I have paused, recorded it, and escalated. What should I do next?”

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to raise a formal grievance, whistleblowing disclosure, tribunal claim, regulator report, or professional complaint.
  • You do not need to prove the whole legal or regulatory position before pausing and asking for the requirement to be checked.
  • You do not need to resign, threaten resignation, accuse anyone, or make a final career decision in the moment.
  • You do not need to solve the staffing, deadline, client, rota, or production problem yourself.

Important reassurance

It is normal to feel frozen or pressured when someone senior says to “just do it.” A clear pause and a written statement about what you are not certified or authorised to do is a reasonable first step that helps protect you, other people, and the work.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to prevent harm and avoid being pushed into an irreversible mistake. Later decisions may need specialist help from your union, professional body, regulator, Acas, an employment adviser, or a legal adviser.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, professional, or health and safety advice. If anyone is in immediate danger, get to safety if you can and call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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