Glossary
Agency badges
Agency badges are the Upwork talent badges an agency itself can hold, Rising Talent by invitation and Top Rated or Top Rated Plus for strong results, shown on the agency profile and its proposals and, under set rules, on its exclusive members' profiles.
Updated
Also written: Agency talent badges, Top Rated agency.
Upwork's agency badge article names three. Rising Talent is for agencies just starting out and is "Available by invitation only". Top Rated and Top Rated Plus recognise agencies with strong performance and client outcomes. The article does not list Expert-Vetted for agencies, and it does not publish the agency thresholds; the individual criteria are under Top Rated and Top Rated Plus.
Where they show. On the agency profile and on agency proposals. On exclusive members' profiles the badge depends on the member's Job Success Score:
- a member who does not yet have a JSS shows Rising Talent;
- a member who has a JSS shows Top Rated;
- a Top Rated agency member without a JSS yet still shows Rising Talent.
The article covers exclusive members only; it says nothing about badges on non-exclusive members.
Perks Upwork lists. A one-time bonus of 30 free Connects, the ability to offer consultations, the Job Digest email of matching jobs, faster payments on hourly contracts, and priority customer support.
Do not declare them yourself. Upwork's agency profile guidance says not to list Top Rated, Top Rated Plus or Expert-Vetted in the awards and certifications section, because earned badges already appear on the profile.
Not the same as the Availability Badge. That badge signals availability, not performance; Upwork confirms it is available for agencies too, and Agency Plus members can turn it on with agency Connects.
The score behind it. The JSS an agency shows is calculated across every contract the agency holds, not one person's; see agency JSS.
Source
Upwork's definition: Understanding agency talent badges on Upwork, read on .