Quick Answer
How do you create a certificate for a membership course?
Open Memberships → Certificates. Create a blank certificate or customize a template, add the completion details and branding, and click Save. Attach it to the appropriate course or category, then test completion and confirm that the learner can view and download the issued certificate.
What Certificates Do
After building your course content, you may want a clear way to recognize when a learner completes a course or reaches a milestone.
A certificate provides a designed record of that achievement. You can attach it to a course or category so its delivery aligns with the appropriate completion requirements.
Without a defined finish line, learners may complete the content without a strong sense of progress or achievement. A certificate helps make that milestone visible.
The certificate builder includes a drag-and-drop editor for text, images, badges, and signatures. You can adjust sizing, alignment, colors, and fonts, use undo and redo or save shortcuts such as CTRL+Z and CTRL+S, and create output intended to work across mobile and desktop devices.
Follow the complete certificate workflow
Create the template, attach it to the correct course or category, test completion with a test member, and confirm the download experience in the Client Portal.
Certificates at a Glance
Before You Begin
Decide what the certificate will recognize and gather the details needed to create it.
- Choose the course or category completion milestone.
- Decide whether to start with a blank design or a template.
- Prepare the certificate wording, logo, badges, and signature.
- Identify any learner details to insert with custom fields.
- Decide whether the certificate should expire.
- Prepare a test member account to check issuance and downloading.
- Sign in to your BizStackPro account.
Step 1: Build a Certificate from Scratch
Use a blank certificate when you want to control the design from the beginning.
Open Certificates
Go to Memberships → Certificates.
Start a Blank Certificate
Click + New and select Blank Certificate.
Set the Layout and Background
Choose portrait or landscape orientation, arrange frames and spacing, and adjust background colors, images, patterns, or opacity.
Add the Completion Details
Add headings, recipient names, and completion statements. Include logos, seals, badges, instructor signatures, signature fields, or images where appropriate.
Refine and Save
Adjust text size, alignment, colors, and fonts. Review the finished design, then click Save.
Step 2: Use a Pre-Made Template
A ready-made design provides a faster starting point that you can customize for your course.
Open Certificate Templates
Go to Memberships → Certificates, then select New → Certificate Templates.
Choose and Customize a Design
Select a template and edit its text, branding, and layout to match the achievement you want to recognize.
Save Your Version
Click Save to keep the customized design as a reusable certificate.
Keep branding consistent
Add your logo and a consistent completion statement once, then reuse the design across appropriate courses.
Step 3: Personalize with Custom Fields
Custom fields can insert learner-specific information, such as a recipient name or membership detail, into the certificate.
Add a Text Box
Drag a Text box onto the certificate.
Select the Field
Click the text box, select Custom Field in its settings, and choose the field to insert.
Save the Template
Review the placement and save the personalized design so it is ready for issuance.
Step 4: Attach the Certificate to a Course or Category
Match the certificate to the completion point it is intended to recognize.
Check for a Default Certificate
A new course may already include a default certificate. Check its settings before adding or replacing one.
Attach to a Category
Place the certificate at the end of a category so it is issued when the required lessons in that category are completed.
Attach to a Course
Open the course or product and attach the certificate from the certificates area inside the builder.
Review Delivery
When issued, a certificate can be emailed with a link to view or download it.
Place the reward at the right milestone
Attach the certificate at the end of the intended category or at course completion so the award matches the learner’s achievement.
Step 5: Manage Issued Certificates
Review expiry, access, and records after certificates begin to be issued.
Set Expiry
Choose an expiry date when the recognition is time-limited, or select Never Expire when it should remain valid without an end date.
Review Reminder Emails
When enabled, reminder emails may be sent 7 and 2 days before expiry. The settings on an issued certificate can take precedence over the template’s expiry settings.
Search and Filter
Use the date and search filters in the Certificates module to find a specific template or issued certificate.
Export Records
Export issued certificates to CSV for reporting or recordkeeping.
Control Access
Use user or app permissions to control certificate access where needed.
Step 6: Send a Certificate Manually
You can issue an offline certificate to someone who completed training outside the course.
Open Certificates
Go to Memberships → Certificates.
Select a Design
Choose an existing certificate template or create a new one.
Enter the Delivery Details
Click Send, enter the instructor and recipient details, and choose an email template if one is available.
Send the Certificate
Review the details and send the certificate to the recipient.
Test before sending to learners
Send a test certificate to yourself to check spacing, font sizes, and the download experience.
Step 7: Confirm the Client Portal Download
When certificate access is enabled, learners can preview and download issued certificates from the Client Portal.
Log In
Sign in to the Client Portal as a learner.
Open Certificates
Select Certificates. Depending on the portal view, this may also be available through the profile avatar under Manage Your Account → Certificates.
Preview and Download
Preview the issued certificate, then click Download to save a high-quality copy.
Certificate Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use custom fields in certificates?
How do I send certificates manually to contacts not in a course?
What happens if a certificate has an expiry date?
How can clients download certificates from the Client Portal?
Can I search or filter certificates?
Continue Learning
Continue learning how to structure courses, measure completion, and help members access their achievements.
