How to Check a PSA Cert Number (and Spot a Fake Slab)

2024 Panini Prizm Monopoly #58 Tyrese Haliburton Blue Millionaire Shimmer PSA 10 5/10 front

Buying a graded card means trusting the slab. The good news: every PSA-graded card has a certification number you can check in under a minute. Here’s how to do it, and what to look for so you don’t get burned.

2024 Panini Prizm Monopoly Tyrese Haliburton PSA 10 slab, front with the PSA label and cert number
Back of the same PSA 10 slab, showing the back of the PSA label
Front and back of a PSA 10 slab from our shop. The cert number is printed on the label at the top.

Where to Find the PSA Cert Number

The cert number is printed on the front of the PSA label, the paper insert at the top of the slab. It’s the long string of digits, usually next to the grade. Newer slabs also have a QR code on the back of the label.

How to Look Up a PSA Cert

  1. Go to psacard.com/cert.
  2. Type in the cert number exactly as it appears on the label.
  3. Check that the result matches the card in your hand: year, set, card number, player or character, variation and grade.
  4. If PSA shows photos for that cert (common for cards graded in recent years), compare them closely with the card. Look at centering, print marks and edges.
  5. Optional: check the PSA population report to see how many copies exist at that grade. A low number means a rarer card (more on that in raw vs graded cards).

You can also download the PSA app and scan the QR code on the back of newer labels. It takes you straight to the cert page.

Quick check on Card Tings: every PSA card in our shop has a Verify PSA cert link right under the title. One tap opens the cert on PSA’s site.

Red Flags That a Slab Might Be Fake or Tampered With

  • The cert doesn’t exist, or it belongs to a different card or grade.
  • The card doesn’t match PSA’s photos. A real cert can be paired with a different (or fake) card in a counterfeit holder.
  • The label looks off: blurry printing, wrong fonts, uneven spacing, or colours that don’t match other PSA labels from the same era.
  • The holder looks off: cloudy plastic, rough seams, signs of prying, or a card that slides around more than it should.
  • The security features are missing. PSA labels include holographic security features that change as you tilt the slab.
  • The price is too good to be true. It usually is.

If anything feels wrong, ask the seller for more photos, or skip it.

PSA 10 slabs you can verify right now

How Card Tings Handles Graded Cards

Every PSA card we list has its cert number on the product page, so you can check it before you buy. Where PSA has photos for the cert, we use them in the listing. Browse all our graded slabs, from NBA and soccer rookies to Pokémon PSA 10s.

Got a PSA slab you want to sell? See how to sell your cards to Card Tings. Questions about a specific card? Email support@cardtings.com.

Where Is the PSA Certification Number?

On modern PSA slabs the cert number is printed on the front label, usually on the right side under the grade, and is also encoded in the barcode. Older labels may show it in a different spot.

PSA Cert Lookup on Your Phone

The free PSA app can scan the label barcode and pull up the cert page instantly. It is the fastest way to check a slab at a card show or when meeting a seller in person.

What the Cert Page Shows

  • Year, brand, card number and player
  • The grade and label type
  • PSA population and how many are graded higher. See the PSA population report explained
  • For many modern submissions, high resolution images of the front and back of the slab

Compare the Images to the Slab

If the cert page has images, compare them closely to the slab in front of you or in the listing. Centring, print lines and small marks should match exactly. If the card looks different, the slab may have been tampered with or the label swapped.

PSA Cert Check FAQ

Can a cert number be faked? A fake slab can copy a real cert number, which is why you should match the card, grade and images, not just confirm the number exists.

The cert number does not come up. What now? Double check the digits. Very recent submissions can take time to appear. If it still does not show, ask the seller and be cautious.

Does Card Tings list cert numbers? Yes. Every PSA slab we sell lists its cert number so you can verify it before you buy.

Buy Graded Pokémon Cards and Sports Slabs Online

Want to buy Pokémon slabs online or pick up graded sports cards without the guesswork? Every slab at Card Tings lists its PSA cert number. Shop graded cards and PSA slabs and Pokémon slabs.

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