> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.easelms.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Certificates

> Generate and customize professional certificates for course completion

Reward learner achievements with beautiful, customizable certificates that are automatically generated upon course completion.

## Overview

EaseLMS includes a powerful certificate generation system that creates professional PDF certificates with:

* **Automatic generation** - Certificates created when learners complete courses
* **Custom templates** - Upload your own certificate backgrounds
* **Digital signatures** - Add instructor or organization signatures
* **Unique certificate numbers** - Each certificate has a unique ID for verification
* **PDF download** - Learners can download and share certificates
* **Email delivery** - Automatic notifications when certificates are ready

## Enabling certificates

Configure certificates when creating or editing a course:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to course settings">
    Go to **Admin → Courses** and select a course, or create a new course.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open certificate settings">
    In the course builder, find the **Certificate Settings** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable certificates">
    Toggle "Enable Certificate" to activate certificate generation for this course.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure certificate options">
    Customize your certificate appearance, text, and signature (detailed below).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Certificates are course-specific. Enable and configure them individually for each course that should award certificates.
</Info>

## Certificate types

Choose the certificate type that best matches your course:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Completion" icon="graduation-cap">
    "Certificate of Completion"

    Text: "has successfully completed"

    Best for courses focused on finishing content.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Participation" icon="users">
    "Certificate of Participation"

    Text: "has successfully participated in"

    Best for workshops or events.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Achievement" icon="trophy">
    "Certificate of Achievement"

    Text: "has successfully achieved"

    Best for courses with assessments.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Custom certificate title

Create your own certificate title:

1. Select **"Custom Title (Optional)"** from certificate type options
2. Enter your custom title (e.g., "Certificate of Excellence", "Professional Development Certificate")
3. The custom title replaces the default type on the certificate

<Tip>
  Custom titles give you complete flexibility to match your organization's terminology and branding.
</Tip>

## Certificate customization

### Certificate description

Write a custom description that appears on the certificate:

* **Character limit**: 150 characters maximum
* **Placeholders**: Use `[Student Name]` and `[Course Name]`
* **Formatting**: Placeholders render in **bold** for emphasis

**Example descriptions:**

```
This certifies that [Student Name] has completed the [Course Name].
```

```
[Student Name] has demonstrated excellence in completing [Course Name].
```

```
Awarded to [Student Name] for successful participation in [Course Name].
```

<Note>
  Placeholders count toward the 150-character limit. Keep descriptions concise and impactful.
</Note>

### Certificate template

Upload a custom background image for your certificates:

**Requirements:**

* **Format**: PNG, JPEG, or PDF
* **Orientation**: Landscape (recommended)
* **Size**: Maximum 5MB
* **Dimensions**: A4 landscape ratio (842px × 595px or 1684px × 1190px)

**Best practices:**

* Use high-resolution images (300 DPI for print quality)
* Ensure text areas are clear and uncluttered
* Light backgrounds work best for readability
* Include your organization's branding elements

<Steps>
  <Step title="Design your template">
    Create a landscape certificate background in your design tool (Canva, Photoshop, etc.).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload the template">
    Click the upload area in Certificate Settings and select your file.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview the result">
    The template preview appears immediately. Check that it looks correct.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  If no template is uploaded, EaseLMS uses a clean default certificate design with your platform branding.
</Info>

### Digital signature

Add an authentic signature to certificates:

**Signature image:**

* **Format**: PNG or JPEG
* **Size**: Maximum 1MB
* **Recommendation**: Use transparent PNG for best results
* **Placement**: Bottom of certificate

**Signature details:**

* **Name of signer** - The person's name (e.g., "Jane Smith")
* **Title of signer** - Their position (e.g., "Course Instructor", "Director of Education")

These details appear below the signature on the certificate.

### Additional text

Add optional supplementary text to certificates:

* **Character limit**: 150 characters maximum
* **Placement**: Below the main description
* **Use cases**: Accreditation info, continuing education credits, terms

**Example:**

```
Accredited by the Professional Development Board. Valid for 2 years.
```

## Certificate generation

Certificates are generated automatically when learners meet completion criteria.

### Completion criteria

A certificate is generated when:

1. **Course has certificates enabled** in settings
2. **Learner completes 100% of lessons** in the course
3. **All lessons marked complete** including videos, documents, and quizzes

### Generation process

<Steps>
  <Step title="Learner completes final lesson">
    When the last lesson is marked complete, the system detects 100% progress.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Certificate generated">
    EaseLMS automatically generates a PDF certificate with:

    * Learner's full name
    * Course title
    * Completion date
    * Unique certificate number
    * Configured customizations
  </Step>

  <Step title="Email notification sent">
    Learner receives an email with:

    * Congratulations message
    * Certificate download link
    * Certificate number for reference
  </Step>

  <Step title="Available in dashboard">
    Certificate appears in the learner's dashboard under completed courses.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Unique certificate numbers

Every certificate includes a unique identifier:

* **Format**: `CERT-{timestamp}-{random}`
* **Example**: `CERT-1678901234-A3F7K9`
* **Purpose**: Verification and authenticity
* **Location**: Bottom of certificate

<Tip>
  Certificate numbers can be used to verify authenticity if learners share certificates with employers or institutions.
</Tip>

## Certificate delivery

### Email notifications

Learners receive a professional email when their certificate is ready:

**Email includes:**

* Congratulations message
* Course name and completion date
* Direct download link to PDF certificate
* Certificate number
* Link to dashboard

### Accessing certificates

Learners can access certificates multiple ways:

1. **Email link** - Click download link in notification email
2. **Dashboard** - View all certificates in the learner dashboard
3. **Course page** - Download from completed course details

### PDF format

Certificates are delivered as high-quality PDF files:

* **Standard**: A4 landscape (842pt × 595pt)
* **Quality**: Print-ready resolution
* **File size**: Optimized for web and email
* **Compatibility**: Opens in any PDF reader

## Certificate design

EaseLMS renders certificates with a professional layout:

### Default certificate design

When no custom template is uploaded:

* Clean, professional appearance
* Platform logo (if configured)
* Certificate type/title prominently displayed
* Learner name in large, bold text
* Course name clearly visible
* Description with formatted placeholders
* Signature with name and title
* Issue date and certificate number
* Additional text (if provided)

### Custom template design

When a template is uploaded:

* Your background image fills the entire certificate
* Text and elements overlay the template
* Maintains readability with proper contrast
* Logo, signature, and text positioned automatically

### Font and styling

Certificates use the **Poppins** font family:

* **Regular** - Body text and descriptions
* **Bold** - Names, titles, and placeholders
* **Sizing** - Responsive to content length

<Note>
  The certificate renderer automatically adjusts text size to prevent overflow while maintaining readability.
</Note>

## Managing certificates

### Viewing issued certificates

Admins can view all issued certificates:

1. Navigate to **Admin → Certificates**
2. See list of all generated certificates
3. Filter by course, learner, or date
4. Download certificate PDFs
5. View certificate details and metadata

### Re-generating certificates

If you update certificate settings:

* Existing certificates are **not** automatically updated
* New completions use the updated settings
* Manually re-generate certificates if needed

### Certificate storage

Certificates are stored securely:

* **Database records** - Certificate metadata and references
* **File storage** - PDF files stored in AWS S3
* **Access control** - Only certificate owners can download
* **Backup** - Included in regular platform backups

## Best practices

### Template design

* **Keep it simple** - Avoid cluttered backgrounds
* **Maintain contrast** - Ensure text is readable over the background
* **Use landscape** - Matches standard certificate format
* **Brand consistently** - Use your organization's colors and logo
* **Test printing** - Verify templates look good printed

### Certificate text

* **Be concise** - Keep descriptions short and impactful
* **Use placeholders** - `[Student Name]` and `[Course Name]` personalize certificates
* **Proofread carefully** - Errors on certificates are permanent
* **Stay professional** - Maintain formal, achievement-focused language

### Signatures

* **Use real signatures** - Scan or digitally sign for authenticity
* **Transparent backgrounds** - PNG files look best
* **Appropriate size** - Not too large or small
* **Include credentials** - Add titles and credentials to increase value

### Course completion

* **Clear requirements** - Tell learners what they need to complete
* **Achievable goals** - Make sure courses can be reasonably completed
* **Value-driven** - Ensure certificates represent real achievement
* **Promote certificates** - Mention certificates in course descriptions

<Tip>
  Highlight certificate availability in course descriptions to increase enrollment and completion rates.
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting

### Certificate not generating

**Check:**

* Certificates are enabled in course settings
* Learner has completed 100% of lessons
* All lessons are marked complete in the database
* No errors in server logs

### Image not appearing

**Check:**

* Image URL is accessible (not blocked)
* Image format is supported (PNG, JPEG)
* File size is within limits
* Image is not SVG (PDFKit doesn't support SVG)

### Text overflow

**Solution:**

* Shorten certificate description
* Reduce additional text length
* Use concise course titles
* Check character limits (150 characters)

<Info>
  The certificate renderer includes overflow protection, but very long text may be truncated. Stay within character limits for best results.
</Info>