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

# Certificates

> Create branded completion certificates for quizzes, control what appears on the PDF, and decide when learners can generate them.

Certificates let learners generate a downloadable, verifiable certificate after completing a quiz. Each certificate is linked to a **single quiz** and uses one template that you can edit anytime.

If you're looking for a guide about how to create **Quizzes**, you can find it here:

<CardGroup cols={1}>
  <Card title="Quizzes" icon="square-check" href="/dashboard/quizzes">
    Create graded quizzes inside Courses using multiple choice, true or false, sliders, and open-ended questions, with built-in scoring and response analytics.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

**Note**: you need a paid plan to add or edit certificates.

***

## Access and setup

* Certificates live under **Assessment** inside a **Course** product.
* To create a certificate, you must have **at least one quiz** in the product, and it must be linked to an existing lesson Page.

***

## Create a certificate

You can create a certificate in two ways:

* Click **Add Certificate** in **Assessment**.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL/images/certificate-add.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL&q=85&s=82f82f4c0a488986d7ffab0eee4193a0" alt="Quizzes & certificates dashboard with Add Certificate button" title="Add Certificate from Quizzes & certificates" width="1278" height="716" data-path="images/certificate-add.png" />
</Frame>

* Or open the quiz overflow menu (•••) and select **Issue Certificate**.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/wC6ufsAAEhpHmoPt/images/assessment-issuecertificate.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=wC6ufsAAEhpHmoPt&q=85&s=c2ecfc0fcf4840b49c77c74fa8b08bfd" alt="Quiz action menu showing Issue Certificate" title="Issue certificate from a quiz" width="2770" height="1488" data-path="images/assessment-issuecertificate.png" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open certificates">
    In your Course product, go to **Quizzes & certificates** and click **Add Certificate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write the certificate copy">
    Customize the text that appears on the certificate:

    * **Certificate Title**: the main heading (example: “Certificate of Completion”).
    * **Awarded Copy**: the line shown before the recipient name (example: “This certificate is awarded to”).
    * **Reason Copy**: the line shown before the quiz title (example: “For successfully completing the course”).
    * **Title** (optional): overrides the quiz title shown on the certificate. Leave empty to use the quiz name.
    * **Score Label** and **Score Suffix**: labels for the score line (example: “With a score of” and “out of 100”).

    <Frame>
      <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL/images/certificate-edit.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL&q=85&s=04dcc76388c6e48722fefbeef298fe99" alt="Certificate editor with fields for certificate title, awarded copy, reason copy, optional title override, and score labels" title="Certificate copy" width="2462" height="1378" data-path="images/certificate-edit.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose display options">
    Configure what appears on the PDF and when certificates can be generated:

    * **Show Score**: displays the learner’s score on the certificate (scores are normalized to 100).
    * **Require passing score**: only allow certificate generation for scores **60 or higher**.
    * **Show Completion Date**: displays when the certificate was earned.
    * **Show QR Code**: adds a QR code that links to the certificate verification page.

    <Frame>
      <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL/images/certificate-display.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL&q=85&s=ba233702f5fef7d106d04c1755cd3753" alt="Certificate display options with toggles for score, passing requirement, completion date, and QR code" title="Display options" width="2302" height="822" data-path="images/certificate-display.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create">
    Click **Create** to save the certificate template.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Certificate PDF

Certificates render as a clean PDF designed for sharing and printing.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/SO3I-O-uJqV6zru4/images/certificate-example.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=SO3I-O-uJqV6zru4&q=85&s=3aa2030a8ca9dba4e9fd2ba807c334ca" alt="Certificate PDF example with certificate of completion, recipient, quiz title, score line, date, and QR code" title="Certificate PDF" width="1628" height="1150" data-path="images/certificate-example.png" />
</Frame>

## Verification via QR code

If you enable **Show QR Code**, the certificate includes a QR code that leads to a verification page confirming authenticity and showing key details like recipient, score, course, issue date, and certificate ID.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/w20N6emRqIp1l8yO/images/certificate-qrcode.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w20N6emRqIp1l8yO&q=85&s=28dd0b1be8fe1f5aa8771aefee7f4e07" alt="Certificate verification page showing valid certificate status and certificate details" title="Certificate verification" width="2286" height="842" data-path="images/certificate-qrcode.png" />
</Frame>

Take a [live look here](https://demo.sherpo.io/c/2xXteQfDHimnioOFvsghb/v/f97e699d-bf1d-48d0-9c33-f36e177c5cc4)!

***

## Editing and deletion behavior

* Editing a certificate updates the **template** used going forward.
* Previously generated certificates remain **valid and verifiable**, even if you later change the template.
* If you remove a certificate from a quiz (or delete the template link), learners will no longer be able to generate new certificates for that quiz, but **existing certificates still verify**.

***

## Best practices

* Keep headings and short labels concise for clean layouts (aim for 50 characters or fewer where possible).
* Turn on **Require passing score** for graded programs, and leave it off for participation certificates.
* Enable **Show QR Code** if learners will share certificates publicly or you need easy verification.
* If you run multiple quizzes with similar names, use the optional **Title** override to make the certificate unambiguous.

***

## FAQs

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I reuse one certificate across multiple quizzes?">
    No. Each certificate template is linked to a single quiz.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What counts as passing?">
    If "Require passing score" has been enabled, learners will have to obtain a score of 60 or higher. Quiz scores are normalized to 100, and question weights can change how points are distributed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will learners lose certificates if I edit or remove the template?">
    No. Certificates that have already been generated remain valid and verifiable. Removing the template only affects future generation.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I stop showing scores without disabling passing rules?">
    Turn off **Show Score** in the certificate settings. You can still keep **Require passing score** enabled.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What score is recorded on the certificate?">
    The certificate records the learner’s best score at the time they generate it.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>