Numbering BB Certificates?

[ArmorOfGod]

How does everyone's school number black belt certificates, if at all?
The schools I came through did not number them in any way, just date them, but I know many styles use a number system to show the order of who got rank and who would be in lineage to a system.
It couldn't be a simple 1,2,3 setup since someone who gets a 2nd dan would outrank one who has a 1st dan, regardless of the dates.

AoG

[Kacey]

The format we use is letters indicating our association, then a number indicating dan rank, and then a number indicating nth person to receive that rank - so, for example, my IV Dan certificate says YCTA-4-008.

The ITF uses - or at least, used, when we were still with them - a very similar system, but the letter indicates country, then a number indicating dan rank, then a number indicating nth person to receive that rank in that country - so, for example, my III Dan certificate from the ITF says A-3-873, meaning that I am from the USA, was awarded a III Dan, and was the 873rd person in the US to receive that rank.

[arnisador]

We number certificates, but just in order. Standing is by rank and then by date of rank within common ranks.

It's always good to explicitly designate one's successor, clearly and publicly--not implied by numbering. People can become inactive yet still be high-numbered!

[towknee]

I have actively participated in TKD and Japanese Karate. Both use numbering in BB levels.
We receive our BB (the physical entity) at end of the BB test. Then 1 year later we receive the certificate. Thus, defacto, the rank is date based.

I think this works very well. It reinforces the immediate physical part: I have a black belt. While waiting a year for the certificate helps reinforce the intellectual aspect of "you have a lot to learn yet, pilgrim".

Hope this helps.
luck.

[Kempojujutsu]

We use a number system for both Black belt and student rank.

[ArmorOfGod]

It's always good to explicitly designate one's successor, clearly and publicly--not implied by numbering. People can become inactive yet still be high-numbered!

You're defenitely right about that, particularly since many times the successor is not always the highest ranked.
I remember one kempo style that actually has a special black belt and whoever owns that belt is the head of the style, kind of like a king's crown. I thought it was a silly idea at the time, but then I saw a few styles where people were arguing over who has head of it.

AoG

[Brad Dunne]

The easist way we found was to use the date.......example - 010608 = month,day and year. The rank will be someplace else on the certificate.