What Is a Valid Pennsylvania Birth Certificate?

You will need a valid birth certificate to get a passport, to enroll in school, to gain employment, to obtain a state ID, or to get a state driver's license. You may also need a birth certificate to get a marriage license or to legally change your name. In Pennsylvania, there are many distinct features on a valid birth certificate.

Official Seal

• A valid Pennsylvania Birth Certificate is issued from the state's Division of Vital Records. The Pennsylvania birth certificate is no bigger than a standard-sized post card. The face colors are yellow, grey and white. There is a grey circular stamped seal located in the lower right corner. It is the official embossed seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, it shows two horses rearing up, mirroring each other, and an eagle above the center.

Top of Certificate

• The Pennsylvania birth certificate will always clearly show "Certification of Birth" centered at the top of the document. On the left it lists your birth date and the "County of Birth." On the right side is the "File No.," which is seven numbers followed by a hyphen and your birth year (e.g., XXXXXXX-1976). Directly below the file number is the "Date Filed." Usually, the birth certificate is filed between the first few days of birth up to a month later. "Date Issued" is below the filing date. That date depends on when the birth record was requested.

Middle of Certificate

• The birth certificate will also list your full birth name, sex, and the names of your parents. Below the mother's maiden name it should say "This is to certify that this is a true copy of the record which is on file in the Pennsylvania Department of Health, in accordance with Act 66, P.L 304, approved by the General Assembly, June 29, 1953," followed by the signatures of the Secretary of Health and the State Registrar.

Bottom of Certificate

• Listed at the bottom center of the birth certificate is this warning: "IT IS ILLEGAL TO DUPLICATE THIS COPY BY PHOTSTAT OR PHOTOGRAPH." At the very bottom left, there are three letters and to the very bottom right are eight numbers; those letters and numbers are another means of determining validity of the birth certificate.

Back of Certificate

• On the back side, you should see the words "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Vital Record" around the edges. At the top it says, "The information appearing on the certified copy of birth is exactly transcribed from information contained on the original birth certificate as filed with the Office of Vital Records." The form provides instructions for making changes. There's also a place for a notary to stamp and sign the document.