diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/api.py
index c974fa0c8e5f..034a6002f954 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/api.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext as _
 
 from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.emails import send_verification_approved_email
+from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.models import VerificationAttempt
 from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.tasks import send_verification_status_email
 
 
@@ -33,3 +34,42 @@ def send_approval_email(attempt):
     else:
         email_context = {'user': attempt.user, 'expiration_datetime': expiration_datetime.strftime("%m/%d/%Y")}
         send_verification_approved_email(context=email_context)
+
+
+def create_verification_attempt(user, name, status, expiration_datetime=None):
+    """
+    Create a verification attempt.
+
+    Args:
+        user (User): the user (usually a learner) performing the verfication attempt
+        name (string): the name of the user
+        status (string): the initial status of the verification attempt
+        expiration_datetime (datetime, optional): When the verification attempt expires. Defaults to None.
+
+    Returns:
+        VerificationAttempt (VerificationAttempt): The created VerificationAttempt instance
+    """
+    verification_attempt = VerificationAttempt.objects.create(
+        user=user,
+        name=name,
+        status=status,
+        expiration_datetime=expiration_datetime,
+    )
+
+    return verification_attempt.id
+
+
+def update_verification_status(attempt_id, status):
+    """
+    Update the VerificationAttempt status.
+
+    Arguments:
+        * id (str): the verification attempt id
+        * status (str): the new status
+
+    Returns:
+        * None
+    """
+    attempt = VerificationAttempt.objects.get(id=attempt_id)
+    attempt.status = status
+    attempt.save()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/management/commands/approve_id_verifications.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/management/commands/approve_id_verifications.py
index b87b2eee4559..6d505618bcb3 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/management/commands/approve_id_verifications.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/management/commands/approve_id_verifications.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import time
 from pprint import pformat
 
-from django.contrib.auth.models import User  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=imported-auth-user
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=imported-auth-user, unused-import
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
 
 from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.api import send_approval_email
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_api.py
index acdebaa70c1c..4f5f42aedc04 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_api.py
@@ -3,14 +3,20 @@
 """
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
 import ddt
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core import mail
 from django.test import TestCase
 
 from common.djangoapps.student.tests.factories import UserFactory
-from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.api import send_approval_email
-from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.models import SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification
+from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.api import (
+    create_verification_attempt,
+    send_approval_email,
+    update_verification_status,
+)
+from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.models import SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification, VerificationAttempt
+from lms.djangoapps.verify_student.statuses import VerificationAttemptStatus
 
 
 @ddt.ddt
@@ -18,6 +24,7 @@ class TestSendApprovalEmail(TestCase):
     """
     Test cases for the send_approval_email API method.
     """
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
 
@@ -41,3 +48,77 @@ def test_send_approval(self, use_ace):
         with patch.dict(settings.VERIFY_STUDENT, {'USE_DJANGO_MAIL': use_ace}):
             send_approval_email(self.attempt)
             self._assert_verification_approved_email(self.attempt.expiration_datetime)
+
+
+@ddt.ddt
+class CreateVerificationAttempt(TestCase):
+    """
+    Test cases for the send_approval_email API method.
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+
+        self.user = UserFactory.create()
+        self.attempt = VerificationAttempt(
+            user=self.user,
+            name='Tester McTest',
+            status=VerificationAttemptStatus.created,
+            expiration_datetime=datetime(2024, 12, 31, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+        )
+        self.attempt.save()
+
+    def test_create_verification_attempt(self):
+        expected_id = 2
+        self.assertEqual(
+            create_verification_attempt(
+                user=self.user,
+                name='Tester McTest',
+                status=VerificationAttemptStatus.created,
+                expiration_datetime=datetime(2024, 12, 31, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+            ),
+            expected_id
+        )
+        verification_attempt = VerificationAttempt.objects.get(id=expected_id)
+
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.user, self.user)
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.name, 'Tester McTest')
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.status, VerificationAttemptStatus.created)
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.expiration_datetime, datetime(2024, 12, 31, tzinfo=timezone.utc))
+
+
+@ddt.ddt
+class UpdateVerificationStatus(TestCase):
+    """
+    Test cases for the update_verification_status API method.
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+
+        self.user= UserFactory.create()
+        self.attempt= VerificationAttempt(
+            user=self.user,
+            name='Tester McTest',
+            status=VerificationAttemptStatus.created,
+            expiration_datetime=datetime(2024, 12, 31, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+        )
+        self.attempt.save()
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        VerificationAttemptStatus.pending,
+        VerificationAttemptStatus.approved,
+        VerificationAttemptStatus.denied,
+    )
+    def test_update_verification_status(self, to_status):
+        update_verification_status(attempt_id=self.attempt.id, status=to_status)
+
+        verification_attempt = VerificationAttempt.objects.get(id=self.attempt.id)
+
+        # These are fields whose values should not change as a result of this update.
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.user, self.user)
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.name, 'Tester McTest')
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.expiration_datetime, datetime(2024, 12, 31, tzinfo=timezone.utc))
+
+        # This field's value should change as a result of this update.
+        self.assertEqual(verification_attempt.status, to_status)