diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index 0e2dbd30ec..390a7ce381 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class VerifyView(View):
         if course_id in request.session.get("donation_for_course", {}):
             chosen_price = request.session["donation_for_course"][course_id]
         else:
-            chosen_price = verify_mode.min_price.format("{:g}")
+            chosen_price = verify_mode.min_price
         context = {
             "progress_state": progress_state,
             "user_full_name": request.user.profile.name,
diff --git a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/verified_cert_receipt.html b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/verified_cert_receipt.html
index 92aec646a3..a5e7e3e39b 100644
--- a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/verified_cert_receipt.html
+++ b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/verified_cert_receipt.html
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 <%! from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _ %>
 <%! from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse %>
 <%! from student.views import course_from_id %>
+<%! from datetime import datetime %>
+<%! import pytz %>
 
 <%inherit file="../main.html" />
 <%block name="bodyclass">register verification-process step-confirmation</%block>
@@ -105,10 +107,14 @@
                             % for item in order_items:
                                 <tr>
                                     <td>${item.line_desc}</td>
-                                    <td>${_("Starts: {start_date}").format(start_date=course.start_date_text)}
+                                    <td>
+                                    %if course.start > datetime.today().replace(tzinfo=pytz.utc):
+                                        ${_("Starts: {start_date}").format(start_date=course.start_date_text)}
+                                    %else:
                                     <ul class="list-actions">
                                         <li class="action action-course"><a href="${reverse('course_root', kwargs={'course_id': item.course_id})}">${_("Go to Course")}</a></li>
                                     </ul>
+                                    %endif
                                     </td>
                                 </tr>
                                 % endfor