diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/generation_handler.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/generation_handler.py
index 1bb7f8d629..652865bb98 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/generation_handler.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/generation_handler.py
@@ -102,11 +102,8 @@ def can_generate_allowlist_certificate(user, course_key):
         ))
         return False
 
-    if not IDVerificationService.user_is_verified(user):
-        log.info(
-            '{user} does not have a verified id. Certificate cannot be generated.'.format(
-                user=user.id
-            ))
+    if not IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(user):
+        log.info(f'{user.id} has not ever had a verified id. Certificate cannot be generated.')
         return False
 
     if not _is_on_certificate_allowlist(user, course_key):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_generation_handler.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_generation_handler.py
index a5b8cf06b1..14b6d11f6b 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_generation_handler.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_generation_handler.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.certificates.config import waffle
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-ID_VERIFIED_METHOD = 'lms.djangoapps.verify_student.services.IDVerificationService.user_is_verified'
+ID_VERIFIED_METHOD = 'lms.djangoapps.verify_student.services.IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified'
 AUTO_GENERATION_NAMESPACE = waffle.WAFFLE_NAMESPACE
 AUTO_GENERATION_NAME = waffle.AUTO_CERTIFICATE_GENERATION
 AUTO_GENERATION_SWITCH_NAME = '{}.{}'.format(AUTO_GENERATION_NAMESPACE, AUTO_GENERATION_NAME)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/services.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/services.py
index 3f97ce8963..a34a53d39e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/services.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/services.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_
 from common.djangoapps.student.models import User
 
 from .models import ManualVerification, SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification, SSOVerification
-from .utils import earliest_allowed_verification_date, most_recent_verification, active_verifications  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=unused-import
+from .utils import most_recent_verification
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -69,6 +69,31 @@ class IDVerificationService(object):
             return expiration_datetime >= now()
         return False
 
+    @classmethod
+    def user_has_ever_been_verified(cls, user):
+        """
+        Return whether or not a user has ever satisfactorily proved their identity (has had an approved verification)
+        of any kind.
+        """
+        if not user:
+            log.warning('No user provided. Verification attempts cannot be checked.')
+            return False
+
+        if SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification.objects.filter(user=user, status='approved').exists():
+            log.info(f'User {user.id} has an approved SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification')
+            return True
+
+        if SSOVerification.objects.filter(user=user, status='approved').exists():
+            log.info(f'User {user.id} has an approved SSOVerification')
+            return True
+
+        if ManualVerification.objects.filter(user=user, status='approved').exists():
+            log.info(f'User {user.id} has an approved ManualVerification')
+            return True
+
+        log.info(f'User {user.id} has no approved verifications')
+        return False
+
     @classmethod
     def verifications_for_user(cls, user):
         """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_services.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_services.py
index f411d324dd..fb1058aa04 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_services.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_services.py
@@ -51,6 +51,46 @@ class TestIDVerificationService(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         attempt.save()
         assert IDVerificationService.user_is_verified(user), attempt.status
 
+    def test_user_has_ever_been_verified(self):
+        """
+        Test to make sure we correctly answer whether a user has ever been verified.
+        """
+        # Missing user
+        assert not IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(None)
+
+        # User without any attempts
+        photo_user = UserFactory.create()
+        assert not IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(photo_user)
+
+        # User without an approved attempt
+        attempt = SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification(user=photo_user, status='submitted')
+        attempt.save()
+        assert not IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(photo_user)
+
+        # User with a submitted, then an approved attempt
+        attempt = SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification(user=photo_user, status='approved')
+        attempt.save()
+        assert IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(photo_user)
+
+        # User with a manual approved attempt
+        manual_user = UserFactory.create()
+        attempt = ManualVerification(user=manual_user, status='approved')
+        attempt.save()
+        assert IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(manual_user)
+
+        # User with 2 manual approved attempts
+        attempt = ManualVerification(user=manual_user, status='approved')
+        attempt.save()
+        assert IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(manual_user)
+
+        # User with an SSO approved attempt, then a must_retry attempt
+        sso_user = UserFactory.create()
+        attempt = SSOVerification(user=sso_user, status='approved')
+        attempt.save()
+        attempt = SSOVerification(user=sso_user, status='must_retry')
+        attempt.save()
+        assert IDVerificationService.user_has_ever_been_verified(sso_user)
+
     def test_user_has_valid_or_pending(self):
         """
         Determine whether we have to prompt this user to verify, or if they've