Understanding Credential Templates

Modified on Thu, 29 Jan at 2:56 PM

Understanding Credential Templates

This article explains what credential templates are, how to create and manage them, and the different claim types available in Credentium.

What is a Credential Template?

A Credential Template is a reusable blueprint that defines the structure and content of credentials you issue. Think of it as a master form that specifies:

What the credential looks like (badge image, certificate design)
What information it contains (achievements, assessments, activities, entitlements)
How long it remains valid (optional validity period)

Once created, you can use a template to issue credentials to multiple recipients without recreating the structure each time.

Template Statuses

Templates have three possible statuses:

Status	Color	Meaning
Incomplete	Yellow	Template has no claims added yet. Cannot be used to issue credentials.
Active	Green	Template has at least one claim and is ready for credential issuance.
Archived	Gray	Template is locked and cannot be used for new credentials. Existing credentials remain valid.

Status Transitions

Incomplete → Active: Automatically happens when you add the first claim
Active → Incomplete: Automatically happens if you remove all claims
Active → Archived: Manual action via the Archive button
Archived: Cannot be changed back - archiving is permanent

Creating a Template

Step 1: Basic Information

Navigate to Credential Templates and click New Template. Fill in:

Field	Required	Description
Title	Yes	Name of the credential (max 100 characters)
Description	Yes	Detailed description of what the credential represents (max 2000 characters)
Badge Image	Yes	Visual badge shown on credentials (PNG/JPG, max 5 MB)
Diploma Template	No	Custom PDF template. If not provided, Credentium's default template is used.
Validity Period	No	Optional expiration period (days, months, or years from issuance)

After saving the basic information, additional tabs become available for adding claims.

Step 2: Adding Claims

Claims describe what the credential holder has achieved or is entitled to. There are four types:

Learning Achievements - Competencies, skills, and learning outcomes
Learning Assessments - Evaluations and grades
Learning Activities - Participation in learning experiences
Entitlements - Rights, certifications, and professional qualifications

Each template can have multiple claims of different types. The template status changes to Active when at least one claim is added.

Claim Types Explained

Learning Achievements

Document acquired competencies and skills. Key fields:

Field	Description
Title	Name of the achievement (required)
Description	What the holder learned or can do
Learning Outcome Summary	Detailed outcomes of the learning
Thematic Area	Subject classification
Mode	Formal, non-formal, or informal learning
Volume of Learning	Hours spent on learning
Credit Points	ECTS or other credit system points
Entry Requirements	Prerequisites for this achievement

Learning Assessments

Record evaluations and grading. Key fields:

Field	Description
Title	Name of the assessment (required)
Description	What was assessed
Grade	The grade or score achieved
Grading Scheme	Description of the grading scale used
ID Verification	Method used to verify identity (proctoring, supervision)
Mode	Online, face-to-face, hybrid, etc.

Note: When issuing credentials from a template with assessments, you must provide individual grades for each recipient.

Learning Activities

Document participation in learning experiences. Key fields:

Field	Description
Title	Name of the activity (required)
Description	What the activity involved
Start Date	When the activity began
End Date	When the activity ended
Volume of Learning	Hours spent on the activity
Location	Where the activity took place

Entitlements

Document rights and professional qualifications. Key fields:

Field	Description
Title	Name of the entitlement (required)
Description	What rights or qualifications are granted
Category	Classification of the entitlement
Status	Current or future status of the entitlement

Preview and Helper Mode

Preview Mode

Toggle Preview Mode in the form header to see a live preview of how the credential will look. The preview shows:

Main certificate page with badge, title, and recipient placeholder
Supplement pages for each claim type
Final seal page with QR code and verification details

Helper Mode

Toggle Helper Mode to see indicators showing where each field appears:

JSON - Included in the machine-readable credential format
Certificate - Shown on the PDF certificate
Supplement - Included in certificate supplement pages
Wallet - Displayed in the recipient's digital wallet

Archiving Templates

Why Archive?

Archive a template when:

You've replaced it with an updated version
The credential program has ended
You want to prevent accidental new issuances

What Happens When Archived

Template moves to the Archived Templates tab
All fields become read-only - no changes possible
Cannot be used to issue new credentials
Existing credentials remain valid and unchanged
Template remains accessible for reference and audit purposes

How to Archive

Open the template you want to archive
Click the dropdown menu (three dots)
Select Archive
Confirm the action

Important: Archiving cannot be undone. Make sure you have an active replacement template if needed.

Best Practices

Naming Templates

Use clear, descriptive titles that indicate the credential's purpose
Include version numbers if you update templates (e.g., "Python Certification v2")

Badge Images

Use high-quality images (300+ DPI recommended)
Keep designs simple and recognizable at small sizes
Include your organization's branding

Claims Organization

Add only relevant claims - don't overload with unnecessary information
Use consistent naming conventions across templates
For assessments, define clear grading schemes

Template Lifecycle

Test templates by issuing a credential to yourself first
Archive old templates rather than deleting them
Document changes when creating updated versions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a template after issuing credentials?

Yes, you can edit Active templates. However, changes only affect new credentials - already issued credentials remain unchanged.

Can I delete a template?

You can delete Incomplete templates (those with no claims). Active templates should be archived instead of deleted to preserve the audit trail.

Can I copy or duplicate a template?

Currently, templates cannot be duplicated. Create a new template and manually add the same information.

How many claims can I add to a template?

There's no hard limit on the number of claims. However, for clarity and recipient experience, we recommend keeping templates focused with 1-5 claims.

What if I need to update credentials already issued?

Already issued credentials cannot be modified. If the information is incorrect, revoke the credential and issue a new one with the corrected template.

Need Help?

If you have questions about credential templates, please contact:

Credentium Support Email: support@credentium.com

Last updated: January 2026