Credly is a platform that allows organizations to issue digital credentials like badges, certificates and licenses to individuals. Adding credentials you’ve earned to your Credly account allows you to easily share and verify your achievements online.
While some credentials can be automatically added and verified by Credly, others need to be manually uploaded by the recipient. This article will walk through the steps for manually adding a certificate you’ve earned to your Credly account.
Prerequisites
Before you can add a certificate to Credly, there are a couple requirements:
- You need to have a Credly account. If you don’t have one yet, you can sign up for free at credly.com.
- You need to have the certificate files from the organization that issued your certificate. This is usually provided as a PDF file.
Once you have those two things, you’re ready to add your certificate to Credly.
Step 1: Access Your Credly Account
First, access your Credly account by going to credly.com and clicking “Log In” in the top right corner.
Enter your email address and password to log into your account. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see your Credly dashboard.
Step 2: Go to Your Certificates Page
From your Credly dashboard, click on “Certificates” in the top menu. This will take you to your Certificates page.
The Certificates page shows all of the credentials you’ve already added to your Credly account. To add a new certificate, click the “Add Certificate” button on the right side.
Step 3: Upload Your Certificate File
After clicking the “Add Certificate” button, you’ll be taken to a page to upload your certificate PDF file.
Click the “Select File” button and locate the certificate file on your computer. Once you’ve selected the file, click “Upload This File” to add it.
Step 4: Enter the Certificate Details
After uploading, you’ll need to enter some key details about the certificate you’re adding:
- Certificate Name – The official name of the certificate as provided by the issuing organization.
- Issue Date – The date you were awarded the certificate.
- Issuing Organization – The organization that issued the certificate.
- Credential URL – A link to information about the certificate on the issuing organization’s website (optional).
Adding these details helps validate your certificate and makes it easier for others to understand what it represents.
Step 5: Add the Certificate Image
Credly allows you to upload an image to represent your certificate. This makes your certificate visibly distinct when you share it.
After entering the certificate details, you can upload the certificate image provided by the issuing organization. Click “Select Image” to upload your certificate image file.
Step 6: Pay any applicable fees
Some issuing organizations require recipients to pay a one-time fee in order to claim a digital certificate on Credly. If there is a fee associated with adding your certificate, you will be prompted to pay it before you can complete adding the certificate.
The fee amount and payment options will be presented after uploading the certificate files. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the payment.
Step 7: Accept any Terms & Conditions
If required, you’ll need to check a box to accept the Terms & Conditions of the issuing organization. Read through these carefully as they are legally binding.
You’ll be prompted after uploading the certificate files if Terms & Conditions need to be accepted. Be sure to check the box before completing the process.
Step 8: Click “Add Certificate”
Once you’ve uploaded the necessary files, entered the details, paid any fees, and accepted Terms & Conditions, click the “Add Certificate” button to complete the process.
This will add the certificate to your Credly account. You’ll see a confirmation message once it’s been successfully added.
Step 9: Share your certificate
Now that your certificate has been added to Credly, you can easily share it with others.
Click the “Share” button on your certificate page to get a shareable link or image embed code.
You can paste the link or embed code into your LinkedIn profile, website, email signature or anywhere else you want to display your certificate.
Others can click the link or embed code to verify your certificate on Credly. This allows you to showcase your credentials online.
Conclusion
Manually adding certificates to your Credly account is straightforward – just follow these 9 key steps:
1. Access your Credly account
2. Go to your Certificates page
3. Upload the certificate file
4. Enter the certificate details
5. Add the certificate image
6. Pay any applicable fees
7. Accept Terms & Conditions
8. Click “Add Certificate”
9. Share your certificate
Adding your certificates to Credly makes them simple to access, share and verify. This allows you to get more value from the credentials you’ve earned over your career.
If you have any trouble adding a certificate, reach out to Credly’s support team for assistance. They’re available by email and live chat.
Now get out there and start showcasing your credentials with Credly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I add my certificates to Credly?
There are a few key benefits to adding your certificates to Credly:
- Accessibility – All your certificates are available in a single location that you can access anytime.
- Shareability – Credly makes it easy to share your certificates on social media, websites and anywhere else online.
- Validation – Viewers can instantly validate your certificates on Credly.
- Security – Certificates are securely stored and backed up by Credly.
What file type should I upload for the certificate?
Credly recommends uploading your certificate as a PDF file for best results across all devices and platforms. JPG or PNG image files are also accepted.
What happens if I lose my original certificate file?
The certificate file you upload to Credly serves as a permanent backup. Even if you lose your original, you’ll still have access to the certificate from your Credly account.
Can I edit a certificate I’ve already added?
Yes, you can edit the name, issue date, organization and other details after a certificate has been added. Just access the certificate from your account and use the “Edit” button to update any information.
Is there a limit to how many certificates I can add?
There is no limit to the number of credentials you can add to your Credly account. You can store as many badges, certificates and licenses as you’ve earned.
What if I need help adding a certificate?
If you have any trouble uploading, verifying or sharing a certificate, Credly offers 24/7 customer support via email and live chat. Just click Support in the site footer or visit support.credly.com.
Table Summary of Steps for Adding a Certificate
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Access your Credly account |
| 2 | Go to your Certificates page |
| 3 | Upload your certificate file |
| 4 | Enter the certificate details |
| 5 | Add the certificate image |
| 6 | Pay any applicable fees |
| 7 | Accept Terms & Conditions |
| 8 | Click “Add Certificate” |
| 9 | Share your certificate |
Issues When Adding Certificates and How to Fix Them
“File type not supported” error when uploading
This error occurs if you attempt to upload a file type that Credly does not accept such as Word Doc, Excel Sheet, etc. Be sure you are uploading a PDF, JPG, or PNG file for the certificate.
Certificate image is blurry
Low resolution certificate images may appear blurry or pixelated on Credly. For best results, upload the highest resolution image file provided by the issuing organization.
Certificate status stuck in “pending”
If your certificate status remains “pending” for more than 24 hours after adding it, this typically means Credly is waiting for the issuing organization to verify the certificate. Contact the issuing organization to ask them to approve your pending certificate request.
Certificate image not displaying
The most common reason a certificate image won’t display is because the file size is too large. Try compressing the image file to under 2MB in size and re-uploading for best results.
Certificate not sharing properly
Double check that you clicked the “Share” button after adding your certificate. This enables the shareable link and embed code that allow others to view and validate the certificate properly.
Best Practices for Adding Certificates
Follow these best practices when adding certificates to ensure the process goes smoothly:
- Gather certificate files and details before starting.
- Use the highest resolution image available.
- Double check all entered details for accuracy.
- Compress large image files before uploading.
- triple check that certificates are successfully added.
- Click Share to enable third-party viewing and validation.
- Contact Issuer and Credly for any errors or pending statuses.
Taking these steps will help avoid common hiccups when adding certificates manually.
Tips for Managing Multiple Certificates
If you have earned a number of certificates over your career, here are some tips for effectively managing them:
Organize into groups
Credly allows you to create custom groups to organize your certificates into logical categories like “Finance Certificates” or “Art Certificates”. Add each new certificate to the appropriate group.
Use search
With lots of certificates, trying to scroll and scan through them becomes difficult. Use the search bar to quickly find a specific certificate by keyword or issuing organization.
Add most recent or relevant first
When you need to share or display certificates, the most recent or relevant ones probably hold the most value. Add these certificates first so they appear at the top of your profile.
Review and remove unused
Periodically review your certificates and remove any that are no longer relevant for your needs. This keeps your Credly profile clean and focused.
Highlight in profile
Use the “Highlight in Profile” toggle to identify the certificates you want to showcase in your public profile. Keep this limited to your most important credentials.
Following these organization and management tips will make all your certificates easy to find and manage within your Credly account.
Conclusion
Manually adding certificates to your Credly account enables you to consolidate and showcase your credentials in one centralized and shareable location.
Make sure to gather all required files and details beforehand for a smooth uploading process. Enter each detail accurately and take advantage of organizational features like groups once your certificates are added.
Credly makes it simple to showcase your proudest professional achievements. Sign up for an account and start adding your certificates today.
