---
title: Create Certificates
description: Configure certificate rules for a course, set completion requirements, and let students download their certificates.
---

Certificates recognize students for completing a course. You configure the rules on a per-course basis — how much of the course must be completed, whether a final exercise must be passed, and when certificates expire. Students can then download their certificate from the **Certificates** tab in the LMS.

:::warning[Paid plan required]
Certificate features require a paid plan. The controls are visible on free plans but disabled.
:::

## Configure certificate rules

Certificate options live in two places in your course. Download and the email message sit on the **Certificates**
tab, under its **Settings** sub-tab. The rules that decide who qualifies sit on the course's own **Settings** tab.

:::info
Both places are called Settings. **Certificates > Settings** is a sub-tab inside Certificates. The course **Settings**
tab is a separate item in the course menu. The table below says which one each option is on.
:::

| What you want to set                | Where                       |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Allow students download certificate | **Certificates > Settings** |
| Email Message                       | **Certificates > Settings** |
| Minimum completion (%)              | Course **Settings**         |
| Final exercise (optional)           | Course **Settings**         |
| Minimum score on final exercise (%) | Course **Settings**         |
| Course Completion Deadline          | Course **Settings**         |

### On the Certificates tab

Open your course in the admin dashboard and go to the **Certificates** tab. It opens on the **Design** sub-tab, so
click **Settings** next to it.

![Certificates tab with the Design and Settings sub-tabs, showing the Rules section and the download toggle](/help/certificates-rules.webp)

#### 1. Let students download their certificate

Under **Rules**, turn on **Allow students download certificate**. Students who qualify still complete the course and
earn their certificate record when this is off, but they cannot download the certificate itself.

#### 2. Add a custom email message (optional)

Enter text under **Email Message**. This message is included in the notification email sent to students when they earn their certificate.

### On the course Settings tab

Leave Certificates and open the course's **Settings** tab, then scroll to the **Course type** section. The four
qualifying rules sit at the bottom of it.

![Course Settings page showing Course Completion Deadline, Minimum completion and Final exercise under Course type](/help/certificates-completion-rule.webp)

#### 1. Set a completion threshold

Enter a percentage in **Minimum completion (%)**. This is combined lesson _and_ exercise progress, and it defaults to 100%.

#### 2. Require a final exercise (optional)

Select an exercise from **Final exercise (optional)**. When set, the student must reach the minimum score on that specific exercise, in addition to meeting the overall completion percentage.

**Minimum score on final exercise (%)** appears once you pick an exercise. The student's best attempt counts, and selecting an exercise here gives students unlimited attempts on it.

#### 3. Set a deadline (optional)

Enter a date and time in **Course Completion Deadline**. Students must meet the completion percentage at or before this datetime, in local time. A student who finishes exactly on the deadline still qualifies. Leave it empty for no deadline.

## Customize the design and add signatures

Set up how the certificate looks before the course goes live, so the first student to qualify gets the finished
version. On the **Certificates** tab, open the **Design** sub-tab and click **Customize design** to open the certificate editor.

![Certificate design editor showing the template picker and live preview](/help/certificates-design-editor.webp)

### 1. Pick a template and accent color

Choose a **Template** and an accent color to match your brand. A live preview shows the result as you change it.

### 2. Add signatories and signatures

Under **Signatories**, turn on **Show signatory 1** and fill in **Signatory 1 name** and **Signatory 1 role**, then
use **Signature image** to upload a signature graphic. You can enable a second signatory the same way.

![Signatories section with name, role, and signature image upload](/help/certificates-signatories.webp)

### 3. Set the certificate ID format (optional)

Set a **Certificate ID format** so every issued certificate carries a unique, verifiable reference.

:::info
Finalize the design and signatures before you publish the course. Certificates are generated from the current design
when a student qualifies, so getting it right up front means no one receives an unfinished certificate.
:::

## What students see

Once a student meets all the configured requirements, their certificate appears in the **Certificates** tab when they open the course in the LMS. They can view and download it from there.

![Student certificate view with download buttons](/help/certificates-student-download.webp)

## Related guides

- [How the Admin Dashboard Works](/organization-and-team/admin-dashboard) — certificates issued and recent certifications on the org dashboard
- [Create Your First Course](/get-started/create-first-course) — course setup overview
- [Create an Exercise](/create-and-deliver/create-exercise) — create the exercise you reference as a final exercise
- [Grade an Exercise](/create-and-deliver/grade-exercise) — grade submissions before certificates are issued
- [Control Course Progression](/create-and-deliver/course-progression): require completion before the certificate unlocks
- [Student Dashboard](/reference/student-dashboard) — where students access their certificates