Everything you need to know about basic certificate use.
The ability to certify your users is a benefit of using Axis LMS. But how your user achieves that Certification can vary depending on your business; for example, when an employee or customer passes a quiz, or completes a series of quizzes, or, they’ve finished a combination of different classes.
Axis LMS addresses these different scenarios by providing you with several highly customizable LMS certificate types, which can be used either independently, or in conjunction with each other.
Of the various LMS certificate types, Quiz LMS Certificates are the simplest, and one of the most commonly used.
They have one requirement – pass the quiz.
Course LMS Certificates require both a Score and Progress percentile to be achieved before becoming accessible. Unlike Quiz LMS Certificates, these may be accessed by the user, but aren’t valid until they’ve met the requirements.
Competency LMS Certificates require a passing score in multiple courses, as well as eligibility for the certification. Every user could theoretically complete the same courses, but only users from eligible user-groups are capable of earning the Competency Certification.
Certification Program LMS Certificates are the only certification within Axis LMS that is renewable. Once a certification is earned, users can take courses to earn CEU credits towards recertification of the program.
LMS Certificates
The objective of many LMS admins is to have their users earn a certification, or something akin to a certification. As an Axis LMS admin, you are able to customize how your certificate looks, and how your users earn and access that certificate.
There are several different certificates your users can earn, and can be delivered in conjunction or independently from each other. However, which certificates you use, and how they are weaved into your system may change based on your business practices.
Certificate Access (All)
All of a user’s certificates can be accessed by the user by adding a certificates widget to your learning portal.
- System > Site Design > Learning Portal Designer > Edit {page} > Add Widget > Reports and Scores > Certificate Listing Widget
Certification Program LMS Certificates
- Talent > Certifications & CEUs > Manage Certification Programs > Edit Certification Certificate
Certification program certificates are the only certification within Axis LMS that is renewable. After the certification has expired, the user may still be able to access the certificate, but its valid dates will have passed.
How is it earned?
Certification program certificates are earned after completing a certification course. After completing the course, the user must accrue CEU credits from valid courses to renew their certification.
Where can I customize it?
Your certification program certificate can be edited on a program by program basis by going into your Talent tab, and selecting certifications & CEUs. Manage your certification programs then select the edit certification certificate icon. You can then change both the background and text by using either the front-facing editor, or the HTML editor. This editor also allows you to use two unique placeholders, which reflect the day that certificate was first earned, and the current expiration date.
Access
Users can access their certification program certificates from either the certificates or certifications widget.
Read more about Axis LMS Certification Programs here
Course LMS Certificates
- Learning > Online Courses > Manage Courses > Course Certificate
Unlike graded quiz certificates, course certificates are dynamic. If a user opened a course certificate both before and after marriage, the name on the certificate would update to use the latest information available.
How is it earned?
Course certificates are, by default, always accessible to a user. But it does not become valid until the user has achieved the requirements set by the admin, which include course progress, course average, or both.
Where can I customize it?
Your course certificate can be edited on a course by course basis by going into your course dashboard, and selecting course certificate. You can then change both the background and text by using either the front-facing editor, or the HTML editor.
Access
Users can access their course certificates from either a certificates placeholder within the course, or the certificates widget on the learning portal.
Competency LMS Certificates
- Learning > Competencies > New / Edit Competency > Certificate
Competencies are a collection of courses that form a type of curriculum, so by their nature, a user will have earned multiple course certificates before earning their competency certificate.
How is it earned?
Competency certificates are earned after a user has completed a competency, which can be a fairly elaborate process (read more here), but does require that, in addition to completing the required courses, also be eligible to earn that certificate. The same users could complete the same activities, but only the user that is eligible to earn that competency (by being in an eligible group), will be able to access the certificate.
How can I customize it?
Competency certificates can be edited when initially creating the competency, or right before activating the competency. Because of the nature of competencies, certificates cannot be edited after activating the competency.
Access
Users can access their competency certificates from the certificates widget, or the competencies widget on the learning portal.
Graded Quiz LMS Certificates
- Learning > Online Courses > Learning Objects > Manage Learning Objects > Edit {Graded Quiz} > Graded Quiz Settings
Graded quiz LMS certificates are unique in that they take a snapshot of the user’s data as soon as it is achieved. What this means is that the certificate is static. If a user earns a graded quiz certificate this year, and is married next month, when the user opens the certificate it will reflect their pre-marital name.
How is it earned?
Graded quiz LMS certificates are the simplest certificates, and only require a user to pass and complete the graded quiz. The passing score of a graded quiz can be edited by going to the learning object’s graded quiz settings.
Where can I customize it?
Your graded quiz certificates, by default, use a Blue ribbon border with the text below.
You can edit the text of the certificate by going to the learning object’s graded quiz settings, and working with the certificate editor.
Access
Users can access their graded quiz LMS certificates at the end of the quiz (upon passing), in their score reports within the course, and from a certificates widget on the learning portal.