Return to thecn.com

Articles in this section

Prepare Self-created Custom Certificate Template

Avatar
CourseNetworking
  • Updated
Follow
This guide will show CN Channel Admins how to create certificates with their own template and issue them to users. Please note that this feature is only available to institutions that have purchased this advanced feature. Contact the CN Team if your institution hopes to access this feature. 
If your PDF certificate design has already been created skip to STEP8.
Otherwise, continue to get started from the very beginning. 

Creating and Preparing Your Certificate

STEP1: If you don’t know where to get started, we suggest visiting Canva.com to create a custom certificate, there are free and paid templates available with many customization options and it’s very easy to use. Other options for creating certificates include: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, Edraw, Visme, and Fotor.
Continue to STEP2 to get started in creating your custom certificate!
STEP2: Head over to Canva.com. If you don’t have an account, don’t worry! An account is not necessary to create your design, however, if you wish to save the design for future modifications or insert custom images such as an eSignature, we recommend creating an account with Canva, they offer free and paid accounts. In this case, we will show the non-Canva account view.
STEP3: Select “Templates” from the top navigation bar.
Then you will be taken to the “Templates” page.
STEP4: Search “Certificates” in the search bar.
STEP5: Once you have done that, you should see a page with the offered certificate templates. From here you can filter based on the style or theme you are wanting and scroll through and select a pre-existing design, or create your own from scratch. 
STEP6: After selecting a design, you can then continue to make any modifications necessary by editing text, moving elements, or deleting anything unwanted. Further assistance on Canva’s tools is available here. Please remember to leave sections blank for the Name, Date, Course and other form information that will be unique, as we will set these dynamic fields up in the next section. Below is a sample template that features the design, text, and signature, and is ready to add the form fields.
STEP7: Once you have your certificate how you want it, let’s export it! To export your certificate, select the download icon(1.) and make sure “PDF Print” is selected to ensure the highest quality of download. Then select the larger “Download” button(2.) and choose a save destination.
Congratulations! You are now ready to move on to STEP8 to begin adding form fields!

Adding Form Fields to Your Certificate

At this point, you should have the PDF file of your certificate ready to add form fields and should be filled out completely besides the changing dynamic information that will be auto-generated by CN, for example, a user’s name, the date of issuance and expiration, and other information unique to each user. We will now begin the process for identify the dynamic form fields!
STEP8: Now it’s time to add the necessary form fields to be generated!

We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Pro: visit adobe.com/acrobat to begin. Please note that Adobe Acrobat Pro is required for form field editing — the free Reader won’t support it.
You can either:

  • Click “Start free trial” for 7-day full access
  • Or choose “Buy now” if you’re ready to purchase
Then you may choose your subscription plan.
STEP9: Open Your PDF and Launch “Prepare a Form
Open the certificate file you designed (PDF format) in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
In the left toolbar, scroll and click on “Prepare a Form”. This tool converts any document into a fillable form.
Tip: It works for scanned images, Word docs, and Excel sheets too.
STEP10: Select File & Start Form Creation
  • A dialog box will appear — click “Select a file”.
  • Choose your certificate PDF -> Click “Start”
    Adobe will automatically detect potential fields (like underlined blanks), but you can manually add or adjust them as needed.
STEP11: Add a Text Field

Use the top toolbar to select the “Text Field” option.
You can also choose from options like checkboxes, dropdowns, or date fields depending on your need.

STEP12: Place the Field

Click anywhere on your document where you want the field (e.g., under “Name” or “Date Issued”)
Resize and align it for a clean fit
Press Enter to confirm. You can repeat this for each field you want to add.

To test the field, click inside the form field and type something (like a test name). Make sure text fits properly and appears aligned with your design. If needed, adjust font size and positioning using the Properties panel.

For certificates, text fields are most commonly used for names, roles, and dates.

The “Name:” is Case-Sensitive and should match the “CN Supported Certificate Fields” exactly in Table1 and 2 below, otherwise the issued certificates will not generate properly. 
Table 1: PDF Form Fields For CSV Issued Certificates

CN Supported Certificate Form Fields

Description *Required Certificate Fields

Example

Notes
Name
The name of the certificate recipient.
John Smith
  
Course_Program
The name of the course or program that issues the certificate.
2021 Security Training
  
Certificate_Issue_Date
The date that the certificate was awarded.
Jan 1, 2022
Enter the date into the .csv file as you would want it to appear on the certificate. Ex. Jan 1, 2022; 1/1/22, January 1st, 2022. 
Certificate_Expiration_Date
The date the certificate expires.
Jan 12, 2024
Enter the date into the .csv file as you would want it to appear on the certificate. Ex. Jan 1, 2022; 1/1/22, January 1st, 2022. 
Date_{X}_Year_After_Issue_Date
A date {X} years after the date the certificate was issued.
{X} is a number, ranging from 1 to 9.
For example:
  • Date_1_Year_After_Issue_Date
  • Date_2_Year_After_Issue_Date
  • …
  • Date_9_Year_After_Issue_Date
Jan 12, 2024
If your certificate expires after a certain number of years, specify this field ONLY in the pdf filler tool, not Certificate_Expiration_Date and remove Certificate_Expiration_Date from .CSV if you wish to take this approach.
Message
A custom message that will be displayed on the certificate.
This training course requires 30 hours to complete. 
  
Table 2: PDF Form Fields For CN Auto-Awarded Certificates (i.e. course completion certificates)

CN Supported Certificate Fields

Description *Required Certificate Fields

Example

Notes
Name
The name of the certificate recipient.
John Smith
CN will automatically fill this field when the certificate is issued.
Course_Program
The name of the course or program that issues the certificate.
2021 Security Training
CN will automatically fill this field when the certificate is issued.
Certificate_Issue_Date
The date that the certificate was awarded.
Jan 24, 2022
CN will automatically fill this field when the certificate is issued.
Date_{X}_Year_After_Issue_Date
A date {X} years after the date the certificate was issued.
{X} is a number, ranging from 1 to 9.
For example:
  • Date_1_Year_After_Issue_Date
  • Date_2_Year_After_Issue_Date
  • …
  • Date_9_Year_After_Issue_Date
Jan 12, 2024
If your certificate has an expiration date, CN will calculate this date for each recipient based on when their certification issue date is. 
Message
Custom message that will be displayed on the certificate.
This training course requires 30 hours to complete. 
You MUST first identify this field on your certificate template, then compose this message through course completion settings.  
Note, not all of the form fields are required on a certificate template. You only identify fields that you need. 
STEP13: Save Your Document
After you have completed your certificate, please export it by Go to File ->  Save As
Save the PDF with a new name, like Certificate_Template_Form.pdf
Now, you have a fillable version of your certificate ready to use or upload.
Now you’re ready to upload your newly created PDF to CN! 

Related articles

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Powered by Zendesk