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Character Certificate — format & editable download
A character (or conduct) certificate records the school's assessment of a student's behaviour during their enrolment — asked for at college admissions, some job applications and alongside TCs. It is short, but schools hesitate over the wording; this format settles it.
Download editable format (.rtf — opens in Word)When schools need this document
- College/junior-college admissions that ask for conduct evidence alongside the TC.
- Passport, defence-academy and certain government applications for young applicants.
- Issued together with the TC as a leaving-document set in many schools.
The format
[SCHOOL NAME]
[Address] · [Phone] · [Email]
Certificate No.: ________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______
CHARACTER CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that [STUDENT'S FULL NAME], son/daughter of
[PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME], was a student of this school from
[MONTH, YYYY] to [MONTH, YYYY], studying from Class [__] to Class [__].
During this period, his/her conduct and character were found to be
[GOOD / SATISFACTORY].
We wish him/her success in future endeavours.
Place: ____________
____________________
Principal
(School seal)
Every field, explained
Certificate number & date
Serial + date, like every certificate the office issues — traceable in the register.
Student name, class/period of study
The span the conduct assessment covers: 'from June 2019 to March 2026'.
The conduct line
Keep to the established scale — 'good' / 'satisfactory' — and stay factual. A character certificate is a record, not a recommendation letter.
Principal's signature & seal
The authority making the assessment.
How to use it well
- Stick to the factual conduct scale your school uses on TCs — the two documents are often read together and must agree.
- If conduct was genuinely problematic, most schools issue 'satisfactory' rather than editorialise; disciplinary records stay internal unless formally requested through proper channels.
Board & state note
No board prescribes a character-certificate format. Where one is requested alongside a TC, ensure the conduct entry matches the TC's 'general conduct' field exactly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a character certificate and a bonafide certificate?
A bonafide certificate proves enrolment (that the student genuinely studies/studied at the school); a character certificate additionally records the school's assessment of the student's conduct during that period. Receiving institutions ask for one or the other by name — issue what is asked.
Who issues a character certificate for a student?
The head of the institution — the principal — signs it with the school seal, usually based on the class teacher's record. For students who left years earlier, schools issue it from the conduct entry recorded on the TC counterfoil.
What should a school write if a student's conduct was poor?
Most schools use 'satisfactory' as the floor of the public scale and keep disciplinary specifics internal. A character certificate is a factual record on a standard scale, not a reference letter — and anything beyond the scale invites disputes.
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