Certificates

Swetta Abeyta; Nataly Blas; Theresa Huff; John Jackson; Jessea Young; Karna Younger

Certificates

Explore the OER California Certificate Series templates and customize them to recognize faculty training, contribution, and leadership in open education. Flip through the templates by selecting the arrows above, hover to view the name of each template, or select the four arrows at top right to view them full screen. Scroll down to access the templates.)

Introduction

Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart. — Rumi

Behind every OER is a great deal of work that may not always be visible. Faculty and staff often invest time, creativity, and care into open education without much formal acknowledgment. Recognizing those contributions helps honor that labor and acknowledge the energy and commitment needed to sustain OER efforts. Though extrinsic rewards alone may not sustain motivation for long, recognition can still help build the visibility, value, and institutional culture that keep this work moving forward^[1].

The flexible certificate template can be used for both training-based completion certificates and special recognition certificates. Below you will find ideas for how to use the flexible certificate template, a few real examples of OER recognition in practice, and guidance for customizing the template for your own campus or project.

Ideas for Use

This certificate template can be used in different ways depending on the purpose and audience. Here are a few simple ideas.

For Faculty

Use it to document training completion. Recognize participation in accessibility, instructional design, open pedagogy, or other OER-related workshop pathways.
Use it to acknowledge special contributions. Celebrate work such as instructional design alignment, accessibility leadership, innovative H5P use, or thoughtful AI-supported design.
Include it in professional materials. Save a digital copy for annual review, portfolio materials, tenure and promotion documentation, or grant reporting.

For Staff

Present it at a workshop, showcase, or celebration. Turn OER recognition into a visible part of your event or faculty development work.
Adapt one template for multiple awards. Keep the overall format consistent while changing the title, names, and recognition category.
Pair it with a small recognition package. Combine the certificate with a thank-you note, sticker, bookmark, or public acknowledgment.

For Programs and Institutions

Use it to recognize completion of required pathways. Create a consistent way to mark faculty participation in multi-part OER initiatives.
Use it to recognize exemplary work. Highlight contributions that reflect local values such as access, equity, creativity, or sustainability.
Build continuity across years. Use the same template family over time so your recognition materials feel connected and credible.

Inspirations

Here are a couple of real examples of OER recognition in practice.

Staff Example: Northern Illinois University

Who did it: Northern Illinois University

What they did: NIU’s Leading with Impact program recognizes departments for their use of affordable course materials, and the top departments receive both a monetary award and a framed certificate.

Why it worked: The recognition is formal, visible, and tied to a clear institutional goal. A framed certificate helps turn affordable course materials work into something public and celebratory rather than invisible labor.

How to adapt it with this certificate template:

- Use the template to recognize faculty teams, departments, or pathways connected to OER goals.
- Present the certificate publicly during a workshop, showcase, or faculty recognition event.
- Frame printed versions for display in offices, departments, or libraries.

Cal Poly Affordable Learning Solutions

Who did it: Cal Poly’s Affordable Learning Solutions program

What they did: Cal Poly recognizes departments for affordable course materials and OER efforts through awards that include a framed certificate to post in the department office. Their faculty recognitions and awards page explicitly notes framed certificates for departmental achievement, honorable mention, and outstanding efforts.

Why it worked: The certificate was designed not just for the recipient, but for public display. That made the work visible to others in the department and helped signal that OER and zero-cost course materials are valued institutional contributions.

How to adapt it with this certificate template:

- Create certificates that are suitable for both digital sharing and physical display.
- Design the certificate so it looks strong when framed or posted publicly.
- Include clear wording that connects the recognition to access, affordability, and open education.

Quick Tips for Using Certificates

Keep the wording clear. A certificate should quickly show what was recognized, who received it, and when.
Make the hierarchy obvious. The recognition title, recipient name, and issuing program should stand out first.
Use consistent categories. If you are issuing multiple certificates, consistent naming makes the recognition feel more intentional.
Keep signatures and branding clean. Include enough institutional identity to make the certificate feel official without overcrowding the design.
Think about both print and digital use. A certificate should look strong whether it is framed, emailed, or added to a faculty portfolio.

Guidance and Templates

View the video or select the arrows to read the steps for customizing your certificate.

Get the certificate templates.

Certificate Templates in Canva

screenshot of a certificate template with poppy background, placeholder text, and highlighted "View template" — *Select the Canva template link and then select **View template** to access the template.*

Select the certificates Canva template links below to open the editable templates. Each template link has several certificate templates within a theme. The templates are free to use and adapt, but you’ll need to create and sign in to a free Canva account to customize and download your certificate. To begin using the template, select View template. Once you sign in to your account, you may then be prompted to Open in Editor.

Need more options for adapting your asset template?

Once you’ve created your free Canva account and signed in, you can open the Growing Your OER Starter Kit alongside any asset template to copy and paste colors, graphics, icons, photos, and design elements to help your version stay within the OER-California branding theme.

Customize your certificate.

Step 1. Open the Canva template and choose the certificate type.

Select the Canva template link above to open your certificate template and easily customize it for your own OER recognition or award. Start by deciding whether you are creating:

- A completion certificate for training or workshop participation
- A recognition certificate for exemplary contribution or leadership

Adapt the title of the award to reflect your choice. If you plan to create both, consider choosing several templates from the same theme to help your materials feel consistent.

Step 2. Adapt the template.

You can update the text, swap images and change colors, if needed using the Growing Your OER Starter Kit. You might also include your institution’s logo or official seal.

Step 3. Add the certificate details.

A certificate of achievement with poppy background, campus logos, and signatures for the OER for Social Justice — *This template was adapted by adding institutional logos, the name of the project, and the project leader’s names.*

Update the template with the information that fits your recipient and recognition category. You may want to include:

- Recipient name
- Team name, if applicable
- OER title
- Role or contribution
- Recognition or training title
- Date
- Signature line or lines
- The name of the project or initiative

Step 4. Review the format and readability.

A certificate should feel polished and easy to read. Before finalizing, check that the:

- Recipient name stands out clearly
- Certificate title is easy to identify
- Layout has enough white space
- Logos or decorative elements do not overpower the text
- Use the Accessibility Guidance in the Appendix to ensure your marketing materials are as accessible as possible.

Step 5. Download your Certificate

Once you have reviewed your certificate, you are ready to download it.

To download, select the Share button at the top right of the screen [1] and then select Download [2].

From the File type drop-down menu, select PDF Print.

From the Select pages drop-down menu [4], select the page or pages of the certificate(s) you wish to download.

Then, select Download [5], and your file will be downloaded to your device.

Step 6. Prepare it for print or digital sharing.

If you plan to print your certificate(s), choose whether you want to print it yourself or send it to a campus or commercial printer.

If you plan to send certificates digitally, simply attach the PDF file you downloaded to the email or messaging tool.

Option A. Print it on a personal printer

If you want to print the certificate(s) yourself, use white certificate paper or white cover stock rather than standard copy paper. A matte or lightly textured paper usually gives a more formal look than glossy paper and is easier to write on if signatures or notes will be added later.

Before printing:

Check what paper sizes and types your printer supports. Most home and office printers can print on 8.5″ x 11″ Letter paper, but if you want to print on heavier paper, you’ll need to check to ensure your printer can handle that.

Print one test page first to check the layout, colors, and readability.

When you are ready to print:

1. Open the file and choose Print.
2. Set the paper size to match the paper you are using.
3. Choose Color printing.
4. Choose Best or High Quality print settings.
5. In the paper settings, choose the closest match to your paper.

Note: If you are printing a certificate on a personal printer, a heavier paper or presentation paper will usually give a better result than standard copy paper.

After printing:

- - Let the sheet dry fully before handling it, especially if you are using an inkjet printer.
  - Review the printed certificate to make sure the color, spacing, and text all look the way you want.
  - If you plan to sign the certificate later, test a pen on one sample first.

Option B. Send it to a campus or commercial printer

If you are printing a large batch of certificates or want a more polished result, sending the file to a campus print shop or commercial printer is a good option. When you send the file, include these details:

- - Finished size: 8.5″ × 11″
  - Orientation: portrait
  - Print in full color
  - Paper preference: white matte certificate paper, white cover stock, or another formal non-gloss paper
  - Finish: matte, linen, or lightly textured
  - Quantity: how many certificates you want
  - File type: PDF

Post, M., & Meutstege, M. (2024). Recognizing, rewarding, and incentivizing working with digital and open educational resources. HAN approach to digital educational resources. ↵

License

Icon for the CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license

To the extent possible under law, Swetta Abeyta; Nataly Blas; Theresa Huff; John Jackson; Jessea Young; and Karna Younger have waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to Growing Your OER Program, except where otherwise noted.