Summary
This proposal suggests enhancing the default “Your certificate is ready” notification email and the course Progress page by including a link to detailed documentation explaining how learners can print or save their certificate as a PDF.
This improvement aligns with industry standards and addresses frequent learner questions about downloading their certificate.
Motivation
Learners commonly expect to receive a downloadable PDF version of their certificate upon completion. Although Open edX certificates can be printed to PDF using browser functionality, many users are not aware of this or do not know how to do it.
This often leads to repeated support requests such as:
- “How can I download my certificate as a PDF?”
- “Can I get a printable version of my certificate?”
By adding a helpful link in both the certificate notification email and directly on the Progress page, we can reduce support burden and improve the learner experience.
Proposed Change
Update the following to include a line of guidance and a link to a printable certificate guide:
- Default certificate notification email
- Progress page, directly underneath the “Request Certificate” or “View Certificate” button
Suggested text:
You can print your certificate to PDF using your browser’s built-in tools.
For step-by-step instructions, visit:
How to Print Your Certificate to PDF
Read the Docs Page (to be developed)
This new documentation page will cover:
- How to print to PDF in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
- Instructions for Windows and macOS
- Screenshots and simple, clear steps
- Tips on printing layout and formatting
Benefits
Improves usability for learners- Reduces support ticket volume
- Aligns with common expectations from MOOC and LMS platforms
- Makes certificates easier to download, save, and share
- Adds in-platform discoverability via the Progress page
Technical Approach
- Modify the default certificate email template (likely in
lms/templates/emails) - Add instructional text/link to the Progress page template (e.g.,
lms/templates/progress.html) beneath the “Request/View Certificate” button - Create a new page in the Open edX Read the Docs under the “Learner Guide”
- Optional: Add i18n support for translated versions of the documentation
Risks & Mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Instructions may become outdated with browser changes | Use general language and commit to doc maintenance |
| Learners on mobile or restricted devices may still face issues | Include fallback links to browser help pages |
Alternatives Considered
-
Generate and attach a PDF certificate to the email
Rejected: introduces scalability and security concerns. -
Add PDF generation feature in the LMS
Rejected: higher complexity for relatively small usability gain.
Next Steps
-
Gather feedback from the community on this Discourse post
-
Create GitHub issue + PR for documentation page
-
Submit PRs for updating:
- Certificate notification email template
- Progress page template
-
Test changes on sandbox or devstack
Request for Feedback
We’re looking for input on:
- Improvements to the proposed doc content
- Suggestions on placement or design on the Progress page
- Accessibility or localization considerations
Thanks in advance for your feedback!