A Parent Due Diligence Checklist Before Booking Any Tutor

Booking a tutor is one of those decisions parents often make quickly, sometimes after reading a single profile on a Sunday night. A tutor due diligence checklist slows that decision down just enough to protect your child, your money, and your peace of mind. This guide walks you through six concrete steps you can complete in about an evening, before booking any tutor on any platform. It is built around the safety framework used at Tutriva, an education marketplace that helps families connect with independent tutors, browse profiles and reviews, and message tutors directly with transparent flat pricing and no middleman markup.

Why due diligence belongs to parents, not just platforms

Every tutoring marketplace divides safety work between the platform and the family. The honest ones tell you exactly where that line sits.

Tutriva uses a declaration-based safety framework. Every tutor must confirm that their profile information is accurate and truthful, that they will communicate professionally, that they will follow the Tutriva Educator Code of Conduct, and that they have no criminal convictions or legal restrictions preventing work with students or minors. Tutors who provide false or misleading information may be removed from the platform.

Just as important is what the platform does not claim. Tutriva states in its Trust and Safety policy that unless explicitly stated, it does not independently verify all tutor credentials, licenses, certificates, background records, or qualifications. Profile information is written by tutors themselves, and families are encouraged to do their own checks. That disclosure is not a weakness. It tells you exactly which checks still belong to you. For details, read the Tutriva tutor declaration explained.

The checklist at a glance

1. Read the profile critically.
2. Ask for supporting documents.
3. Contact at least one reference.
4. Ask probing questions in writing.
5. Set conditions for in-person lessons.
6. Agree on communication rules and know how to report.

Step 1: Read the profile critically

Look for specifics, not adjectives

On Tutriva, tutors may list their education background, licenses, certificates, subject expertise, and experience. Strong profiles name real things: a degree with an institution and year, a teaching certificate with a registration body, and the exact courses taught, such as BC Math 10 or English 12. Weak profiles lean on adjectives such as passionate, experienced, and proven, without a single checkable fact.

Cross check anything that can be checked

If a tutor claims a professional designation, look it up. Certified teachers in British Columbia can be found in the province’s public online registry. If a degree claim feels vague, ask about the program and year. Our guide on how to choose a tutor in BC covers matching credentials to your child’s grade and subject.

Step 2: Ask for supporting documents

Tutriva encourages families to request evidence, and tutors can indicate they are willing to share supporting documents with families on request. The Educator Code of Conduct makes two things explicit: tutors must not claim degrees or licenses they do not hold, and they must respond honestly when families ask for documentation.

Reasonable documents to request include:

• A copy or photo of the relevant degree or certificate
• Proof of professional registration, if the tutor claims one
• A sample lesson plan for your child’s subject and grade
• Anything that supports a specific claim, such as exam results they cite

A professional tutor treats these requests as normal. Defensiveness or deflection at this stage is itself useful information.

Step 3: Contact at least one reference

Ask the tutor for one or two families they have worked with, then actually call or email. Five questions cover most of what you need:

• How long did the tutor work with your child?
• What measurable change did you see?
• Was the tutor reliable and punctual?
• How did they communicate progress to you?
• Would you hire them again?

A new tutor with no references yet is not automatically disqualified. It just means the other steps carry more weight, and the reviews on their profile matter more.

Step 4: Ask probing questions in writing

Message the tutor through the platform before you book. Written answers give you a record and show you how the tutor communicates. Good openers include how they assess a new student in the first session, how they report progress to parents, and what they change when a student does not respond to their usual method.

One question deserves special attention: ask how they handle homework and test preparation. Under the Tutriva Educator Code of Conduct, tutors must not complete exams, assignments, or admission materials for students. A tutor who hints at doing the work for your child is violating the code and teaching your child nothing. For more, see questions to ask before hiring a tutor in Vancouver.

Step 5: Set conditions for in-person lessons

Tutriva’s safety guidance for in-person lessons is simple and worth following on any platform: choose an appropriate environment and ensure adult supervision. The Code of Conduct requires tutors to agree on locations and supervision arrangements with families.

In practice, that means lessons happen in a public place such as a library, or at home with an adult present. First sessions are a good time to stay within earshot. None of this signals distrust. Good tutors welcome clear structure.

Step 6: Agree on communication rules and know how to report

The Code of Conduct requires tutors to communicate with students who are minors only through Tutriva channels or channels a parent has approved. Keeping messages on the platform creates a record you can refer back to. If a tutor steers a young student toward private apps you have not approved, treat that as a red flag and address it directly. We cover this in depth in our guide to safe communication in online tutoring for minors.

Finally, know the exit before you enter. Families can report a concern to support@tutriva.com. Tutriva may review reports and may restrict communication, cancel sessions, or suspend or remove accounts. Tutors themselves must promptly report suspected abuse or misconduct to Tutriva, a duty that does not replace legal reporting to police or child protection. Our guide on how to report a concern on Tutriva explains what happens next.

FAQ

Does Tutriva verify tutor credentials?

Unless explicitly stated, Tutriva does not independently verify all tutor credentials, licenses, certificates, background records, or qualifications. The platform uses a mandatory declaration in which tutors confirm their information is accurate and that they have no criminal convictions or legal restrictions preventing work with minors. Families are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and tutors who provide false information may be removed.

What documents can I ask a tutor to show me?

You can ask for degree or certificate copies, proof of professional registration, references, and sample lesson plans. The Tutriva Educator Code of Conduct prohibits tutors from claiming credentials they do not hold and requires them to respond honestly to document requests.

How should a tutor communicate with my child?

Under the Educator Code of Conduct, tutors must communicate with minor students only through Tutriva channels or channels the parent has approved. Keeping conversations on the platform gives your family a written record.

What should I do if something feels wrong?

Report the concern to support@tutriva.com with as much detail as you can. Tutriva may review reports and may restrict communication, cancel sessions, apply interim measures, or suspend or remove an account.

Run the checklist tonight

Due diligence fits into one quiet evening: read closely, ask for evidence, call a reference, put questions in writing, and set ground rules before the first session. When you are ready, browse tutor profiles and reviews at tutriva.com/find-tutors, choose your own tutor, and message them directly with the questions above.