Recertification settings
  • 28 Nov 2023
  • 3 minutes to read

Recertification settings


Article summary

When editing a certification, you can edit the recertification settings by going to the Certification tab. The Certification section defines how long a certification is considered active and when a learner must complete their recertification.

Remember to click Save changes before navigating away from the page after configuring your settings.

Recertification date

This setting determines how the expiry date is calculated when a user completes the certification or recertifies. Choose from:

SettingDescriptionNotes

Use certification completion date

When a user completes one of the certification paths (original or recertification), the expiry date will be calculated based on the date that the completion occurred.  The active period is added to the completion date.

Over the span of several recertifications, this option can cause the expiry date to drift backwards (when completed early) and forwards (when completed overdue).

Use certification expiry date

Calculate the new expiry date based on the previous one. The first time this is calculated, it adds the active period to the assignment due date if there is one, otherwise it uses the date the certification was completed.

If the user is overdue or expired, it adds the active period to the date the primary certification was just completed (as if the user was newly assigned), so that certifications are active for a minimum of the active period.

Over the span of several recertifications, this option can cause the expiry date to drift forwards (when completed overdue) but not backwards.

Use fixed expiry date

This option causes the expiry time to be calculated based on the specified assignment due date (if available, otherwise the first completion date), and subsequent completion expiry dates will be calculated using that same base date, regardless of whether they are late or early.

The active period is repeatedly added to the base date until the first future date is discovered. The Minimum active period is available only with this setting, and must be at least as big as the Recertification Window (see the Minimum active period help for more information)

Over the span of several recertifications, this option will prevent the expiry date from drifting forwards or backwards.

Active period

Determines how long a certification, once complete, will be active or valid before it expires.

SettingDescriptionNotes

Certification is active for

Enter a numerical value in the field and select Day(s), Week(s), Month(s) or Year(s).

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Minimum active period

When Use fixed expiry date is set, this option specifies the minimum length of time that the certification will be guaranteed to be active. If a user completes their certification and there is less than this amount of time until it would be due to expire, the expiry date is pushed forward by another whole active period

For example:

  • Erik is assigned to the Coding and Integration Standards certification in July with an assigned due date of 1 December. He completes his certification in August so his certification status will be set to expire on 1 December of the following year. This will make his actual active period about 16 months (12 months active certification plus the four months between August and December).
  • Amal is enrolled in the same certification and completes her recertification in November while the two-month window is open.  Her certification would therefore be set to expire on 1 December of the following year, making her actual active period around 13 months (12 months active certification plus one month into the recertification window).
  • Taylor is enrolled in the same certification, and fails to recertify by 1 December. They subsequently complete the primary certification in April. Their certification would be set to expire on 1 December of the same year, meaning the active period is only around eight months.

Recertification window

The recertification window specifies the period before the certification expires that a learner can start recertifying. When the window opens, data and activity completion for all recertification pathway courses will be reset, including courses and activities completed by RPL.

Primary certification path courses will be reset only on expiry, and only if they are not also on the recertification path. 

SettingDescriptionNotes

Period window opens before expiration

Enter a value in the field, selecting either Day(s), Week(s), Month(s), or Year(s) from the dropdown.

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The Totara Academy has a whole course dedicated to using Programs and certifications in Totara Learn. Here you can learn more on how to use programs and certifications, see best practice, and give it a go yourself.

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us at documentation@totara.com. Alternatively, book a call to have a chat about your Totara platform with a dedicated Customer Success Manager.

© Copyright 2024 Totara Learning Solutions. All rights reserved.

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