Why online courses need verifiable certificates
A static PDF certificate looks official, but it proves nothing — anyone can edit it, and no employer can confirm it without calling you. For online courses, where learners and employers may never meet you, trust has to be built into the credential itself.
GrokCred issues each new completion as a cryptographically signed Open Badges 3.0 credential with a public page anyone can check, while preserving historical unsigned OB2 credentials.
Certificates that prove themselves
- Verifiable, not just a PDF — every newly issued certificate is backed by a signed Open Badges 3.0 credential with its own public verification page.
- Certificate and badge together — when enabled, recipients download a printable landscape certificate and can view the linked public credential status page.
- Four built-in designs — choose a certificate design during single or bulk issuance; one design applies across the whole batch.
- Continuing-education credit — attach CEU and ATD hours (shown as CPTD / APTD) in half-hour increments.
From completion to credential
- Design the certificate — create a badge design for the course with a name, description, completion criteria, and an image or logo.
- Issue on completion — issue to one graduate, or upload a spreadsheet of an entire cohort and issue the whole batch at once.
- Learners verify & share — each graduate is emailed a verification link, a downloadable certificate, and a one-click Add to LinkedIn button.
Frequently asked questions
How is a digital certificate different from a PDF?
A standalone PDF often lacks a built-in way for a third party to verify it. A GrokCred certificate is connected to an Open Badges 2.0 credential with a public status page and machine-readable record.
Can graduates still download a printable certificate?
Yes. When issuing, you can choose to enable a downloadable certificate PDF and a badge image, alongside the public verification page — so learners get something to print and something to prove.
Do my learners need to create an account?
No. Graduates receive their certificate by email and can view, verify, download, and share it without ever signing up.
Can I award continuing-education credit?
Yes. You can attach CEU and ATD hours (shown as CPTD / APTD) to a course's certificate in half-hour increments, published as part of the standards-compliant metadata.