How to Manually Issue Offline Certificates in Sparkforge

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

Offline Certificates let you email a certificate to any contact, even for courses that don't live in Sparkforge. Send from a template and track everything under Memberships > Certificates > Issued Certificates.

Offline Certificates send credentials by hand to any contact, useful for offline training, certification testing, or courses hosted outside Sparkforge.

Send a manual certificate

Step 1: Open Certificates

Log into your Sparkforge account.
From the dashboard, select Memberships.
Click Certificates to open the certificate management area.

Step 2: Pick or create a template

Use an existing certificate template or build a new one from scratch with the design and merge fields you need.

Step 3: Send

Click Send on the chosen template.
Fill in the instructor's name and the recipient's email.
If the recipient isn't a contact yet, click Add New to create the record on the fly.
Click Send.

Step 4: Delivery

The learner receives an email with a link to download the certificate as a PDF.

Step 5: Track issued certificates

Go to Memberships > Certificates > Issued Certificates for a full record of every certificate you've sent. Filter and search to confirm delivery and resend if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a certificate to someone who isn't a contact yet?

Yes. During the Send step, click Add New to create the contact record before issuing the certificate.

What format does the learner receive?

An email with a download link. The certificate downloads as a PDF, ready to print or share.

Can I issue certificates for courses I run outside Sparkforge?

Yes. That's the main use case for offline certificates: in-person training, third-party courses, or certification exams.

Where do I view every certificate I've sent?

Memberships > Certificates > Issued Certificates lists each one with delivery status.