Learndash Certificate Builder — Documentation
Build professional Learndash Certificates with WYSIWG, add unique cert ID, QR and secure share link.
Overview
LearnDash Certificate Builder lets you design course certificates in a visual drag-and-drop builder while retaining LearnDash’s native certificate assignment and learner access flow.
Create a certificate layout with dynamic learner and course data, branded backgrounds, watermarks, custom images, unique certificate IDs, PNG QR codes and public verification links. The same design is used in the builder preview, learner certificate view and public verification page.
LCB supports course-level LearnDash certificates only in V1. It is not designed for quiz, group or other LearnDash certificate contexts.
Requirements
| WordPress | 6.7 or later |
| PHP | 8.1 or later |
| LearnDash | 4.x required; 4.25.6 tested for V1 |
| Certificate scope | Course-level certificates only |
| Public verification | A publicly reachable site and working WordPress permalinks are required for share links and QR verification. |
| Printing | Chrome, Firefox and Edge recommended for predictable print / PDF output. Safari and other WebKit browsers may require manual print-size adjustment. |
| Free trial | 15 days of full builder access |
| Licence | LCB Pro activates one production site per licence key |
Quick Start
- Install & activate — Requires WordPress 6.7+, LearnDash 4.x and PHP 8.1+. WooCommerce is not required. New installations begin with a 15-day full-feature trial.
- Create or edit a certificate — Go to LearnDash LMS → Certificates, save the certificate title, then select Launch Builder.
- Design and save — Add the elements and visual assets needed for your course certificate, then save the layout. Use Preview to check the finished composition before assigning it.
- Assign it to a course — Use LearnDash’s normal course-certificate setting. LCB enhances the assigned course certificate; there is no separate assignment workflow.
- Test the learner journey — Complete the course with a test learner, check the certificate view and public verification link, then enable LCB’s certificate email if you want it sent automatically on completion.
User Guide
Build and manage a certificate
Activate the builder
Open a saved certificate in LearnDash LMS → Certificates and select Launch Builder. Design and save the layout, then assign that certificate to a course through LearnDash’s normal course settings.
| Activate Builder | Enables the visual builder for the current certificate. |
| Deactivate Builder | Returns the certificate to native LearnDash rendering without deleting the saved LCB layout. |
| Reactivate Builder | Restores the saved layout for that certificate. Review and save it before making it live again. |
| Multiple builder windows | Supported for editing and review. The last saved layout is the version retained. |
Dynamic certificate content
Use LCB’s built-in elements for learner and course information. These resolve when the certificate is viewed by the learner or through its verification link.
| Learner name | Uses the learner’s WordPress profile name. |
| Course title and completion date | Uses the course to which the certificate is assigned and the learner’s completion record. |
| Certificate ID | A unique identifier for the issued certificate. |
| QR code | A PNG QR image that links to the public verification page. |
| Expiry date | Displays the relevant course-access / certificate expiry date when available in the learner context. |
Design and visual assets
| Text elements | Add headings, body text, signatures, seals and other static certificate copy. |
| Background image | Use a PNG or JPG certificate background at the intended print dimensions. |
| Custom image | Add a logo, signature image or other uploaded visual asset. |
| Text watermark | Add a repeatable text-based watermark for branding or protection. |
| Image-pattern watermark | Add a repeating image watermark. Test transparent images in preview and a real certificate render before publishing. |
| Alignment | Elements snap to horizontal and vertical centre lines to make balanced layouts easier. |
| Preview | Use Preview before saving. Check a real learner certificate after changes to transparent images, watermarks or background artwork. |
Custom CSS and generic third-party WordPress shortcode elements are not supported in LCB V1.
Delivery, verification and email
Learner certificate and public verification
When an eligible learner views their completed course certificate, LCB renders the saved layout using their course data. Each issued certificate receives a secure public verification link and matching QR code.
Anyone with the verification link can view the issued certificate without logging in. This allows employers, accreditation bodies and other third parties to check the certificate.
| Certificate ID | The identifier shown on the issued certificate. |
| Learner and course | The learner name, course title and completion date used for that issuance. |
| Expiry information | Displayed where relevant expiry data is available. |
| Issued Certificates report | Records certificates when they are generated / accessed. This is expected runtime behaviour. |
Certificate email
LCB can automatically email a certificate link when a learner completes a supported course. Configure this under the LCB Email Settings screen, then enable auto-send only after testing with a real receiving address.
Available email tokens include learner name, course title, completion date, certificate ID, certificate link, expiry date and site name.
Trial, licence and expiry behaviour
LCB begins with a 15-day full-feature trial. Activate an LCB Pro licence under LearnDash → License to continue using the builder after the trial.
| During trial / active licence | Builder activation, layout saving, certificate email and public verification are available. |
| Trial or licence expiry | LCB unhooks its builder rendering from assigned course certificates, disables new builder activation and disables automatic certificate email. |
| What is retained | Layouts, admin settings, issued-certificate records and existing public verification links remain intact. |
| After reactivation | Saved layouts are available again. Reactivate the builder only on the certificates you want to return to LCB rendering. |
LCB does not silently rehook every certificate after payment or reactivation. This prevents unexpected changes to certificate output.
Data management and troubleshooting
Deactivate or remove LCB
Deactivating the builder on an individual certificate restores native LearnDash rendering and retains its layout. Before using any Delete All Data or clean-uninstall option, take a backup: LCB layouts, settings and issued-certificate records cannot be recovered after deliberate cleanup.
Builder does not open
Save the certificate title first, then reload the edit screen and select Launch Builder. Clear browser cache if the builder assets have been updated. Confirm the site still has an active trial or licence.
Verification page shows Not Found
Go to Settings → Permalinks and select Save Changes to refresh WordPress rewrite rules. The public verification URL requires normal WordPress permalinks and a publicly reachable site.
QR code does not open a certificate
Confirm the certificate has been issued on a publicly reachable site. Local-only URLs are suitable for layout testing but cannot be scanned by third parties outside that environment.
Print layout differs from the builder
Enable Background Graphics in the browser print dialog and select the intended page size. Chrome, Firefox and Edge provide the most predictable print/PDF output. Safari and other WebKit browsers may require manual print-size adjustment.
Certificate email is not received
Confirm auto-send is enabled, no competing certificate-email plugin is active, and WordPress email delivery is configured correctly. Test with an address that can receive external mail before investigating the LCB template.
Developer Notes
Course-level scope: LCB is designed for certificates assigned to LearnDash courses. Quiz, group and other certificate contexts are outside the V1 support boundary.
Public verification: Issued certificates use public verification URLs and PNG QR codes. Treat those links as shareable certificate records; they are intentionally accessible without learner login.
Email integration: LCB uses WordPress email configuration via wp_mail(). It provides certificate email templates and tokens, but does not configure SMTP or replace a site’s mail-delivery service.
Integration boundary: Layout storage, issued-certificate records and internal REST endpoints are not a public extension API in V1.
Changelog
+ Course-level visual certificate builder for LearnDash, with dynamic learner, course, completion-date, certificate-ID, expiry and QR-code elements.
+ Branded certificate backgrounds, custom images, text watermarks and image-pattern watermarks.
+ Matching builder preview, learner certificate and public-verification rendering, including PNG QR verification links.
+ Unique issued-certificate records and public verification pages for completed course certificates.
+ Optional course-completion certificate email with editable templates and certificate-link tokens.
+ Builder activate / deactivate lifecycle: return to native LearnDash rendering without deleting saved layouts.
+ Centre snapping for horizontal and vertical element alignment.
~ Layout persistence across builder windows; the most recently saved layout is retained.
~ 15-day full-feature trial and LCB Pro licensing, preserving layouts, issued records and public verification links on expiry.
! Builder, preview and public-certificate parity improved for transparent images and watermark rendering.
! Safari / WebKit print limitation documented; Chrome, Firefox and Edge recommended for predictable print and PDF output.
Quick Reference
| WordPress | 6.7 or later |
| LearnDash | 4.x required; 4.25.6 tested for V1 |
| PHP | 8.1 or later |
| Certificate scope | Course-level LearnDash certificates only |
| Browser / print | Chrome, Firefox and Edge recommended for predictable print/PDF output. Safari / WebKit may require manual print-size adjustment. |
| Rendering | HTML and CSS browser rendering; no separate PDF engine required |
| Verification | Public verification URL and PNG QR code for issued certificates |
| Issued records | One LCB issued-certificate table, alongside native LearnDash certificate and course data |
| Free trial | 15 days of full builder access |
| Licence | LCB Pro — one active production site per licence key |
| Licence management | LearnDash → License — activate, check or deactivate a licence key |
| Purchase / renew | View LearnDash Certificate Builder plans |