How to Create a Certificate Template

LearnWorlds uses PDF templates to create user certificates. Those PDF certificates are PDF forms with fields corresponding to data (e.g., name, the course title, etc.) that you need to include in users' certificates. 

We provide a standard Certification option as a default offering, while also giving the opportunity to generate and upload a custom certificate to enhance brand visibility and recognition. Here is how our Default option looks: 

In this article, we will dive more into the Custom Certification creation process.

Certificate Template Creation Steps

To create and upload your custom PDF Certificate in your Certificate Learning activities, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Create your Certificate Learning Activity (Certificate of Knowledge or Certificate of Completion).

2. Customize your Certificate activity, and if you wish, you can add Custom Certificate PDF Keys.

3. Create the PDF template of your choice, with your brand or logo, for example, in a Word file or an external design tool, and then save it in a PDF format. 

4. Customize the PDF template in an external PDF fillable Editor. Use any PDF fillable editor you wish, upload your PDF template to edit it, and insert the appropriate Text Form Fields with the following values. Keep the file size below 1MB, preferably below 500KB. 

4.a. You can insert the custom Certificate pdf key that you have stated on the certificate learning activity.

4.b. Or you can insert one of the following default fields:

The PTIN field regards the Legacy Questionnaire Builder. In the new Assessment Builder, the Short Text certificate field can be used instead of the PTIN. You will find more about the Short Text field in the Certificate of Knowledge and Certificate of Completion articles.  Also, the PTIN is bound to each LearnWorlds school domain. If you choose to alter your custom domain and experience issues with the PTIN field, submit a support ticket to assist you further.

Field names are case-sensitive.

5. Upload the PDF template to your Certificate learning activity under Certificate candidate details.

In this article, we will also find out more about how to:

• Customize the Certificate screen by adding Certification Fields
• Create Custom Certificate PDF Keys
• Customize the PDF template in an external PDF fillable Editor
• Upload the Certificate template to your Certificate Activity

Add Certification Fields

You can further customize the Certificate screen by adding the available certificate fields. Hover over and click on +Add Certification Field.

You can add as many certification fields as you want and populate them on the PDF Online Editor while creating your custom Certificate template. This can be done by using Certificate PDF keys (see below)

Create Custom Certificate PDF Keys

When you add a Certificate field you can have a certificate PDF key if available for this specific certification field (e.g. cert_dropdown). 

For example, the below certificate field has the certificate PDF key cert_dropdown that can be used on the certificate template you will create in the PDF Online Editor. So it will populate the information/answer the user will submit on this specific certificate field.

You can see the available PDF keys.

You need to use the same PDF key in the PDF Online Editor when you create a custom PDF certificate.

The Custom Certificate Keys are available for the Assessment Builder. You can learn how to migrate your legacy Assessments here.

PDF Editors

You can customize the PDF template in an external PDF fillable Editor. Use any PDF fillable editor you wish, upload your PDF template to edit it, and insert the appropriate Text Form Fields with the following values. Ensure that the file size is below 1MB, preferably below 500KB.

Since the following PDF editors are 3rd-party tools, they may change anytime without notice. We do not have control over the changes that may occur.

Adobe Acrobat Pro

If you want to use Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can follow the steps mentioned here to create Text Form Fields. If you also wish to have the same Font Type, you need to select "Locked" in the Text Field Properties.

Docfly

You can also use a free tool such as Docfly as a PDF fillable editor in order to create Text Form Fields. You can find the steps here.

 On the free plan, you can export 3 PDFs per month. 

Sejda

You can also use Sejda as a PDF editor in order to create Text Form Fields, more information you can find here. To create Text Form fields, you need to:

1. Visit Sejda's official website: https://www.sejda.com/pdf-forms,

2. Click on Upload PDF file.

3. Mark the place you would like to add the text field form and click on Text field option on the top of your screen.

4. Select field properties and add one of the supported certificate fields mentioned at the top of this article.

5. As soon as you are ready, click on Apply changes.

6. You can download the PDF file by clicking on the Download option.

Keep in mind that if you use Sejda's free plan, there is a limitation of 3 tasks per hour.

Upload the Certificate template to your Certificate Activity

Once you have created and downloaded the Certificate PDF template, upload it to your Certificate learning activity under Certificate candidate details.

Here is an example of how the certificate will look:

You can find more information and a variety of ready-made Certificate templates here.