[John Valentine]

The former has a “certificate” number and is referred to as a certificate.

That certificate number is the number of the archival "Certificate of Live Birth". That's why it is described as the "Certificate Number" and not the "Certification Number." It is a reference to the primary document.

So, they know the Certificate number; pull up the file, copy it and give the nation a respite from all this nonsense.

[kabar]

See post #9. I don't know if the file number corresponds to the certificate number. Also, note the admonition on the bottom of the "secondary" form, "Any Alterations Invalidate This Certificate."