User Guide: How to Issue Digital Badges

Welcome to Earned Credentials! This guide will help you get up and running with our digital credentialing platform.

Creating Your Organization

After registering, you'll be prompted to create your organization. This is the issuing entity that will appear on all credentials you issue.

Badges are reusable templates that define an achievement, skill, or competency. Once created, you can issue credentials based on these badges to multiple recipients.

Using the Badge Designer

Our built-in badge designer lets you create professional badge images without any design skills. Access it from Dashboard → Badge Designer.

Badge Information

When creating a badge, you'll need to provide the following information:

Badge Lifecycle

• Draft - Badge is being created/edited. Cannot issue credentials.
• Published - Badge is active and credentials can be issued.
• Archived - Badge is retired. Existing credentials remain valid, but no new ones can be issued.

Skills Framework

Link your badges to recognized skills and competencies using our skills framework. This enhances discoverability and provides additional context about what earners have achieved.

• ESCO Framework - European Skills, Competencies, Qualifications and Occupations
• Custom Skills - Define your organization's own skills taxonomy
• Proficiency Levels - Specify the level of competency demonstrated

Credentials are individual instances of badges issued to specific recipients. Each credential is unique, verifiable, and contains metadata about the achievement.

Single Credential Issuance

To issue a credential to an individual recipient:

1. Navigate to Dashboard → Credentials → Issue Credential
2. Select the badge you want to issue
3. Enter the recipient's name and email address
4. Optionally add evidence or custom notes
5. Click Issue Credential

Bulk Credential Issuance

Issue credentials to many recipients at once using CSV upload (requires Professional plan or higher).

name,email
John Smith,john.smith@example.com
Jane Doe,jane.doe@example.com
Bob Johnson,bob.j@example.com

Credential Status

Managing Credentials

• Resend Email - Re-send the claim notification email to a recipient
• Revoke - Invalidate a credential (requires providing a reason)
• View Details - See full credential information, claim status, and verification

Pathways allow you to create structured learning journeys by combining multiple badges into a sequence. Earners who complete all required badges automatically receive a completion badge.

Creating a Pathway

1. Navigate to Dashboard → Pathways → Create Pathway
2. Enter a name and description for the pathway
3. Select the badges that make up the pathway steps (in order)
4. Choose or create a completion badge
5. Publish the pathway when ready

Automatic Completion

When an earner claims the final badge in a pathway sequence, the system automatically:

• Checks if all pathway badges have been earned
• Issues the completion badge automatically
• Sends a congratulatory notification to the earner

This section is for individuals who receive and earn badges. Learn how to claim, manage, and share your credentials.

Claiming Your Badge

1. Check your email for the credential notification
2. Click the Claim Your Badge link
3. Create an account or log in if you already have one
4. Accept the credential to add it to your portfolio

Your Badge Portfolio

Access your earned badges at My Badges after logging in. From here you can:

• View all your earned credentials
• Filter by status (active, expired, revoked)
• See details and verification information
• Track pathway progress

Sharing Your Credentials

Share your achievements with employers, on social media, or embed them on websites:

Public Profile

Your public profile showcases your earned credentials. Access it at https://earnedcredentials.com/@yourusername

Portfolio Settings

Customize how your credentials appear on your public profile:

• Theme - Choose light, dark, or auto theme
• Layout - Grid, list, or masonry layout
• Featured Badges - Highlight specific credentials
• Visibility - Show or hide specific badges
• Order - Drag and drop to reorder
• Bio & Social Links - Add personal information

Embedding Credentials

Embed your credentials on personal websites, portfolios, or resumes using our embed widgets:

<iframe src="https://earnedcredentials.com/embed/credential/YOUR_ID"
        width="400" height="300"
        frameborder="0"></iframe>

Available sizes: Small (300x200), Medium (400x300), Large (600x400)

Track the performance of your credentialing program with comprehensive analytics and reporting tools.

Dashboard Metrics

Available Reports

• Issuance Trends - Credentials issued over time
• Claim Trends - How quickly recipients claim their badges
• Top Badges - Most issued and most claimed badges
• Platform Breakdown - Where credentials are being shared
• Badge Comparison - Compare performance across badges

Exporting Data

Export your analytics data for external reporting:

• CSV Export - Raw data for spreadsheet analysis
• PDF Report - Formatted report for stakeholders
• Date Filtering - Export specific time periods

Integrate Earned Credentials with your existing systems using our REST API. Automate credential issuance from your LMS, HR system, or custom applications.

API Authentication

Authenticate API requests using your API key in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer your_api_key_here

Creating API Keys

1. Go to Settings → API Keys
2. Click Generate New Key
3. Give it a descriptive name
4. Copy and securely store the key (it's only shown once)

Available Endpoints

Example: Issue a Credential

curl -X POST https://earnedcredentials.com/api/v1/credentials \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer your_api_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "badge_id": "badge_abc123",
    "recipient_name": "John Smith",
    "recipient_email": "john@example.com"
  }'

Webhooks

Receive real-time notifications when events occur in your account. Configure webhooks at Settings → Webhooks.

Available Events

Webhooks include HMAC signatures for security verification. See webhook logs to monitor delivery and retry failed deliveries.

Organization Settings

Configure your organization profile at Settings → Organization:

• Organization name and description
• Logo upload
• Website URL and contact email

Team Management

Invite team members to help manage your credentialing program. Each member can have a different role:

User Profile & Security

Manage your personal account settings:

• Profile - Update name, email, and profile photo
• Password - Change your account password
• Two-Factor Authentication - Enable 2FA for enhanced security
• Profile URL - Customize your public portfolio URL (@username)

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Add an extra layer of security to your account:

1. Go to Profile → Two-Factor Authentication
2. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)
3. Enter the verification code to enable 2FA
4. Save your recovery codes in a secure location

Enterprise plan includes advanced features for larger organizations with complex credentialing needs.

White Label

Remove Earned Credentials branding and customize the platform with your organization's identity:

• Custom primary and secondary colors
• Custom footer text
• Remove platform branding from credential pages
• Custom CSS support

Single Sign-On (SSO)

Enable SSO for seamless authentication with your organization's identity provider:

Setting Up SSO

1. Go to Settings → Single Sign-On
2. Select your identity provider
3. Add and verify your domain(s)
4. Configure the SSO settings with your provider's credentials
5. Enable SSO enforcement for your domain(s)

Custom Email Templates

Customize the emails sent to credential recipients:

• Modify email subject and body content
• Use variables for dynamic content (recipient name, badge name, etc.)
• Preview emails before saving
• Send test emails to yourself

Audit Logging

Track all actions taken in your account for compliance and security:

• View detailed action logs
• Filter by user, action type, and date
• Export audit logs for compliance reporting