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When you link a certification to a program, participants who complete all required components are automatically certified when the program ends. The certification pipeline gives you a real-time view of who is on track and who needs attention.

Linking a Certification to a Program

You can link a certification when creating a program or add one later.

When Creating a Program

During program creation, use the Certification dropdown to select an existing certification. If you do not have any certifications yet, create one first.
Certifications page showing available certifications to link to programs

After Creating a Program

From the program dashboard, the certification pipeline card on the right panel shows an Add Certification button if no certification is linked.
Certifications must be enabled for your workspace. If you do not see the certification option, contact your Exec account manager.

How Automatic Certification Works

When you end a program that has a linked certification, Exec evaluates each participant:
  1. Required components are checked: Every component that is not marked as optional is evaluated. Announcements, group meetings, and coaching intro sessions are excluded from this check.
  2. Status is determined:
    • Complete: The participant finished all required components. A certificate is automatically issued.
    • Did Not Pass: The participant did not finish all required components. No certificate is issued.
  3. Certificates are issued: For participants who passed, a certificate is created with:
    • The certification name and details
    • Issue date (when the program ended)
    • Expiration date (based on the certification’s validity period settings)
    • A unique downloadable certificate
  4. Notification emails are sent to participants with their completion status.
If a participant already has an active certificate for the same certification (from a previous program, for example), the old certificate is revoked and replaced with the new one.

The Certification Pipeline

The certification pipeline is a dashboard that tracks participant progress toward certification across all programs linked to a specific certification.

Accessing the Pipeline

There are two ways to view the pipeline:
  1. From the Certifications page: Click on a certification to see its full pipeline dashboard
  2. From a program dashboard: The certification pipeline card on the right panel shows a summary for participants in that specific program

Pipeline Statuses

Each participant in the pipeline has one of four statuses:
StatusWhat it means
EnrolledThe participant is in a program linked to this certification, but has not started any components yet
On TrackThe participant is progressing through components with no past-due items
Off TrackThe participant has past-due required components that have not been completed
Did Not PassThe participant failed to meet certification criteria (has required components marked as Did Not Finish, Did Not Pass, No Response, or Missed)

Pipeline Statistics

The pipeline dashboard shows four summary cards at the top:
  • Enrolled: Total number of participants in the pipeline
  • On Track: Count of participants progressing on schedule
  • Off Track: Count of participants with past-due work
  • Did Not Pass: Count of participants who failed to meet criteria

Pipeline Participants Table

Below the statistics, a table lists all participants with:
ColumnWhat it shows
NameParticipant name and avatar
ProgramWhich program they are enrolled in
ExpectedEstimated certification date (based on the last component’s end date)
StatusPipeline status badge (Enrolled, On Track, Off Track, Did Not Pass)
You can filter participants by name, group, or program. All columns are sortable.

In-Program Pipeline View

When viewing a program with a linked certification, the right panel shows a Certification Pipeline Card with:
  • The certification name
  • A visual progress grid showing each component’s status as a colored badge:
    • Components the participant has completed
    • Components in progress
    • Components not yet started
    • Announcements are excluded from this view
  • An overall status label: “On Track,” “Off Track,” “Not Started,” or “Certification Criteria Not Met”

Program Completion Banner

When a program ends, participants see a completion banner on their dashboard showing:
  • Their certification status (passed or did not pass)
  • A certificate preview if they were certified
  • The certification name and validity dates

Best Practices

Set clear required vs optional components. Mark components as optional if they are supplementary. Only required components determine whether a participant passes. This gives you flexibility to include bonus content without penalizing participants who skip it.
Monitor the Off Track count regularly. Participants who fall behind early are unlikely to catch up on their own. Use nudges and extensions to help them get back on track.
Review certification settings before linking. Make sure the certification’s validity period and other settings are configured how you want them before linking it to a program. Changes to the certification after linking still take effect.

Getting Help

Need help with program certifications? Contact us at [email protected].