# Create a certificate

> Go to Recognition → Certificates → Create certificate. Name it, choose what it's for and its layout, upload a background, place the fields, then preview and create it.

- Product: Recognition › Recognition settings guides
- Who can do this: Super admins
- Plan: Recognition
- Where: Admin dashboard
- Last checked: 15 Oct 2026
- Web page: https://www.vantagecircle.com/en/help/recognition/recognition-settings/create-a-certificate/

A certificate is the printable design attached to an award, a badge or a work anniversary milestone. Only super admins can open **Recognition → Certificates**. Select **Create certificate** to start. There are three steps: **Details**, **Design** and **Preview**.

## 1. Details

1. Enter a **Certificate name** of at least 3 characters, for example "Customer Champion". Each certificate needs its own name.
2. Under **Used for**, choose **Recognition awards and badges** or **Work anniversaries**. Your choice decides which fields you can add in the next step.
3. Under **Page layout**, choose **Landscape** (297 × 210 mm) or **Portrait** (210 × 297 mm).
4. Upload a background image. Drag it onto the page or select **Choose image**. JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP and AVIF work, up to 10 MB. HEIC, TIFF, PDF, PSD and RAW files don't; save them as JPG or PNG first. Put your company logo in the background image before you upload it.
5. Crop the image to fit the page, then select **Apply and continue to design**.

![The Details step with Customer Champion as the name, Recognition awards and badges selected under Used for and Landscape selected under Page layout](https://cdn.vantagecircle.com/image/upload/q_auto,f_auto/v1792133411/vantagecircle/help-centre/en/recognition/recognition-settings/recognition-certificate-details-806e84ef0a686263.png)

You can't change **Used for** or **Page layout** after the certificate is created. To use another one, create a new certificate.

## 2. Design

Click a field to add it, then drag it into place on the certificate. Fields are filled in with real details when the certificate is issued. For awards and badges, they include **Awardee**, **Reward name**, **Recognition message** and **Issued date**. For work anniversaries, they include the number of years completed.

Select a field to change its font, size, colour, alignment or line spacing. For a date field, choose a **Date format**. You need at least one field before the certificate can be saved.

## 3. Preview

The preview fills the fields with example details. Check it, then select **Create certificate**. You'll see "Certificate created".

## After you've created it

- **Use it.** Choose the certificate on the **Certificate** step when you create or edit an award or badge, or a service milestone award. Service milestone awards only offer certificates made for **Work anniversaries**.
- **Edit it.** Select it in the list, or choose **Edit** from its menu, then **Save changes**.
- **Download it.** Choose **Download PDF** from its menu to get a PDF of the last saved version.
- **Delete it.** Choose **Delete** and confirm. If active recognition items still use it, you'll see "This certificate is still in use". Remove it from each of them first.