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How to Connect Canvas LMS to Certifier to Automatically Issue Credentials

Use Certifier's LTI 1.3 integration with Canvas to automatically issue credentials when learners complete a course module.

Written by Caroline Tyrko

📓 Heads up: Canvas works differently from all other Certifier integrations.

Most integrations follow a trigger → action pattern: something happens in an external app, and Certifier issues a credential.

Canvas works the other way around. Certifier is embedded directly inside your course as a module item. Canvas controls who can access it – and when a learner opens it, Certifier verifies the launch and issues the credential on the spot.

How Canvas Automation Works

Here's the full picture before we dive in:

  1. A Canvas admin installs Certifier as an LTI 1.3 app.

  2. A Certifier admin connects the Canvas deployment to a Certifier workspace.

  3. An instructor adds a Certifier module item to a Canvas module.

  4. The instructor maps that item to a Certifier credential template.

  5. A learner completes the required course content.

  6. Canvas unlocks the Certifier module item for that learner.

  7. The learner opens the item – Certifier verifies the launch, issues the credential once, and displays it inside Canvas.

Canvas controls access. Certifier handles issuance, email delivery, and display.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have the following ready before starting:

  • Canvas root admin access (or a Canvas admin who can help you),

  • A Certifier workspace admin account,

  • A published Credential Template in Certifier, ready to issue,

  • A Canvas course where you can edit modules,

  • A real Canvas student account for testing.

⚠️ Important: Never test credential issuance with an admin or teacher account.

When a teacher or admin opens the Certifier module item, they see the setup screen – not a credential. Credential issuance only happens for Canvas learners.

Step 1: Install Certifier in Canvas

Certifier connects to Canvas using the LTI 1.3 standard. There are two ways to install it — choose the one that fits your Canvas setup.

Option A: Install from the Canvas Apps Marketplace (Recommended)

If Certifier is available in your Canvas Apps marketplace, this is the quickest route:

  1. In Canvas, go to Admin and select your root account.

  2. Open Apps.

  3. Search for Certifier and open the listing.
    ​

  4. Click Install.

  5. Review user data sharing — we recommend sharing name and email.

  6. Set placements to include Course Navigation and Link Selection, press Next.

  7. Give the app a nickname if you'd like, then click Save and confirm the installation.

After installation, copy the Client ID — you'll need it shortly.

Option B: Install Manually via Developer Keys

If Certifier isn't in the marketplace yet, you can set it up manually:

  1. Go to Admin → Developer Keys.

  2. Click + Developer Key → + LTI Key.
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  3. Set the configuration method to Enter URL (1).

  4. Paste the Certifier configuration URL (2):

https://api.certifier.io/v1/lti/canvas/config.json

5. Give the key a name (e.g., Certifier) (3) and click Save (4).

6. Toggle the Developer Key to On.

7. Copy the Client ID from the Developer Key details.
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Then install the app in your account settings:

  1. Go to Admin → Settings → Apps and click View App Configurations.

  2. Press the + App button.

  3. Set the Configuration Type to By Client ID and paste the Client ID.
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  4. Click Submit → Install.

  5. Open the newly installed app's settings and copy the Deployment ID.

💡 You'll need both the Client ID and the Deployment ID in the next step — keep them handy.

Step 2: Connect Canvas to Certifier

Now you'll link your Canvas installation to your Certifier workspace.

  1. In Certifier, go to Integrations → Canvas LMS.

  2. Enter your Canvas URL (e.g., https://yourschool.instructure.com) (1)

  3. Paste your Client ID (2)

  4. Paste your Deployment ID (3)

  5. Click Save Canvas integration.

💡 Tip: You can skip filling in the form manually.
​
Once you've added the Certifier module item to a course (Step 4) and open it as a teacher, Certifier will redirect you with the Canvas URL, Client ID, and Deployment ID already pre-filled. Just review and save.

Step 3: Prepare Your Credential Template

Before setting up the automation, confirm your Credential Template is ready in Certifier.

  1. Open the Credential Template you want to issue.

  2. Confirm the design uses the correct attributes:

    • Recipient name: [recipient.name]

    • Recipient email: [recipient.email]

    • Issue date: [certificate.issued_on]

    • Template name: [group.name]

  3. Confirm that email delivery is configured if learners should receive a credential email.

👉 Not sure about Credential Templates? Check out How to Create and Manage Credential Templates.

Step 4: Add Certifier to a Canvas Module

In Canvas, add Certifier as an External Tool item inside a course module:

  1. Open your course and go to Modules.

  2. Choose the module where learners will receive their credentials.

  3. Click + to add a new module item.

  4. Choose External Tool (1)

  5. Select Course Certificate (or Certifier, depending on the name you set during installation) (2)

  6. Confirm Canvas fills in the tool URL and page name, then click Add Item (3)

⚠️ Important: Don't publish the item yet — you'll configure the automation first in Step 5.

💡 Tip: Place the Certifier item at the end of the module, after all required course content. It should be the last thing learners unlock.

Step 5: Configure the Automation

Open the Certifier module item as a teacher to map it to a Credential Template:

  1. In the module, click the Certifier module item while signed in as an instructor or admin.

  2. The Certifier automation setup screen will appear inside the module.

  3. Select the Credential Template you want to issue when a learner opens this item (1)

  4. Click Save Automation (2)

  5. Confirm that the success message appears.
    ​

The module item is now mapped to your chosen Credential Template.

Now, you can go back to the module and publish the Certifier item so learners can access it.

Step 6: Set Module Completion Requirements (Recommended)

For most courses, you'll want to gate the Certifier item so learners can only access it after finishing the required content. Here's how:

  1. Click the settings icon (⋮) on the module to open module settings.

  2. Add requirements – require learners to view pages, submit assignments, pass quizzes, or complete previous items.

  3. Make sure the Certifier item is placed after all those requirements.

  4. Publish the module and all required items.

This is what makes the credential meaningful – Canvas ensures learners have actually completed the course before Certifier issues the credential.

Step 7: Test the Setup

Always test with a real Canvas student account before the course goes live.

  1. Enroll a test learner in the course.

  2. Log in as that learner.

  3. Complete the required module content.

  4. Open the Certifier module item.

  5. Certifier should issue the credential and display the credential page inside Canvas. ✅

  6. Check the learner's email for the credential email.
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  7. In Certifier, confirm the issued credential appears in the selected Credential Template.

Opening the same Canvas item again should not create a duplicate credential for the same learner.

What Learners See

After completing the module requirements, the learner opens the Certifier item. Certifier will:

  • Verify the Canvas launch

  • Identify the learner from their Canvas profile

  • Issue the credential once (no duplicates on repeat visits)

  • Display the credential page inside Canvas

  • Send the credential email if email delivery is enabled in the Credential Template

Updating the Automation

To change which Credential Template is issued for a module item:

  1. Open the Certifier module item as a teacher or admin.

  2. Select a different Credential Template from the dropdown.

  3. Click Save Automation.

The new mapping applies to all future learner launches. Existing issued credentials are not affected or replaced.

Troubleshooting

Canvas doesn't show Certifier as an External Tool when adding a module item

Confirm the LTI app is installed at the correct Canvas account level, the Developer Key is toggled On, and the Link Selection and Course Navigation placements are enabled.

The Certifier module item shows a setup screen instead of a credential

This is expected – the setup screen is what teachers and admins see. Credential issuance only happens for Canvas learner accounts. Make sure you're testing with a real student account, not a teacher or admin.

Certifier says the Canvas deployment is not connected

You may see the following message when configuring the Certifier Module:

Go to Certifier → Integrations → Canvas LMS and confirm your Canvas URL, Client ID, and Deployment ID are saved correctly. You can also press the Connect in Certifier button to be taken directly to the configuration.

No Credential Templates appear in the automation setup screen

Create and publish a Credential Template in Certifier first, then reopen the Canvas module item.

Credentials are not being issued to learners

Check that the Canvas learner has met all module requirements before opening the Certifier item. You can also check Automation Runs in Certifier for error logs.

Need more help?

If you still have questions, reach out via the chat icon in the lower right corner, or email us directly: [email protected]

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