Certificate Module — User Guide
The Certificate module is a course activity that lets the course team award a certificate (PDF) to learners. When you open the activity, you can get your certificate—it opens in the browser, downloads to your computer, or is emailed to you, depending on how the teacher set it up. Each certificate can include your name, the course name, date, a unique code, and optional grade or credit hours. You can also verify a certificate using its code (e.g. from a QR code on the printed certificate). This guide explains how to use it as an end user.
Who can use it?
| Role | What they can do |
|---|
| Learners (students) | View the certificate activity and get their certificate (PDF or HTML). May be blocked until they have spent a required time in the course, if the teacher set that option. |
| Teachers / Editors / Managers | Add a certificate activity to a course, manage its settings (type, delivery, design, required time), view the report of who received certificates, and optionally receive email when learners are awarded. Some can be listed as “trainer” on the certificate. |
| Anyone (including guests) | Use the verification page to check that a certificate is genuine by entering its code (e.g. from the PDF or QR code). |
Where do I find the Certificate activity?
The Certificate is added by a teacher inside a course. To use it:
- Open the course and find the Certificate activity in the list of topics or sections (e.g. “Course Certificate” or the name the teacher gave it).
- Click the certificate name to open its page.
You do not need to type a URL; use the course page and the certificate link there.
Getting your certificate (learners)
- Open the course and click the Certificate activity.
- Read the short introduction if the teacher added one.
- If the teacher set a required time in the course, you must have spent at least that many minutes in the course before you can get the certificate. If you have not, you will see a message and a link back to the course. Complete the required time and return to the certificate activity.
- Click the “Get your certificate” button (or similar label). What happens next depends on the delivery setting:
- Open in new window — The certificate opens in a new browser window as a PDF. You can print or save it from there.
- Force download — The browser will prompt you to save the PDF file to your computer.
- Email — The certificate is sent to your email address as an attachment, and it may also open in the browser. Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the message.
- If your site supports it, you may also see a button to view the HTML version of the certificate in a popup (useful for viewing on screen without downloading).
You can return to the certificate activity later to get the certificate again (e.g. to download or print). The issue date shown on the certificate is usually the first time you received it.
What appears on the certificate?
The teacher chooses the layout and content. Typically the certificate can include:
- Your name, the course name, and the date issued (or completion date).
- A unique code (and sometimes a QR code) so the certificate can be verified.
- Optional: course grade, credit hours, trainer names, custom text, border, seal or logo, and signature image.
Exact content depends on the certificate type and settings in your course.
Verifying a certificate
To check that a certificate is genuine (e.g. when someone shows you a printed certificate or a PDF):
- Open the Certificate verification page. Your organisation may give you a link (e.g. from the main site or the certificate text). The address is often: Your site URL + /mod/certificate/verify.php
- Enter the certificate code (the unique code printed on the certificate, or obtained by scanning the QR code if present).
- Submit. The page will show whether the code is valid and, if so, details such as recipient name, course, and date issued.
If the code is not found, the certificate may be invalid or from another site.
Teachers: Certificate report
If you have permission to manage the certificate activity:
- On the certificate activity page you see a link such as “View certificate views” (or “X certificates issued”). Click it to open the report.
- The report lists learners who have received the certificate, with issue date and optionally the certificate code. You can use this to confirm who was awarded and to help with verification.
User journey (overview)
flowchart LR
A[Open course] --> B[Open Certificate activity]
B --> C{Required time met?}
C -->|No| D[Message: return to course]
C -->|Yes| E[Click Get certificate]
E --> F[PDF: open / download / email]
F --> G[Print or save]
Tip: If you chose “Email” and do not receive the message, check your spam folder and that your profile email in the Academy is correct. You can always open the certificate activity again and get the certificate (e.g. open in browser or download) from there.