Digital Certificates and Paper Certificates – FAQs

Overview

This article answers common questions about Trinity College London digital certificates, digital badges, Accredible accounts, certificate access, and paper certificates.

Receiving your digital certificate

When will I receive my digital certificate?

For digital exams, your digital certificate is normally issued at the same time as your result email.

For face-to-face exams, your result may be issued separately and your digital certificate may arrive before or after your result.

Typical issue times are:

• Grade exams: 1–2 weeks
• Diploma exams: 6–8 weeks

I have not received my digital certificate. What should I do?

First, check the email address used during your exam entry.

If you cannot locate your certificate email,  contact trinity  for assistance.

Accessing your certificate

How do I access my digital certificate?

Your certificate email contains a "View my certificate" link.

Selecting this link opens your certificate on the Accredible platform.

Do I need an Accredible account?

No. You can view your certificate without creating an account.

However, creating an account provides ongoing access to your certificates and avoids the need to request new access links in the future.

How do I create an account?

When viewing your certificate, select "Set a Password".

This creates your Accredible account.

You only need to do this once, where you re-use the same email address for a new exam booking.

I opened my certificate but can no longer download or share it 

If your certificate link has expired, this will either mean you did not use it within 7 days, or you used it and did not set an account password:

1. Open the expired link.
2. Select "Send a new Link".
3. Open the replacement email.
4. Use the new "View my certificate" link.

If you still have access to the original email address, you can normally complete this process yourself. If you no longer have your certificate email, please contact trinity  

I no longer have access to the email address used for my certificate.

If you no longer have access to the email address associated with your certificate, contact trinity  

A certificate can be reissued to a different email address.

What is the difference between requesting a new link and reissuing a certificate?

A new link:

• Sends another access email to the original email address.
• Is used when the original link has expired or the email has been deleted.

A certificate reissue:

• Associates the certificate with a different email address.
• Requires Trinity intervention.

Managing certificates

Can I access multiple certificates in one account?

Yes, if the same email address was used during the exam entry process.

Certificates issued to different email addresses will be delivered separately.

Can certificates be merged into one account?

No.

If certificates need to be associated with a different email address, they must be reissued to the required email address. Please  contact trinity  if you need to arrange this.

I have forgotten my password.

If you have already created an Accredible account, use the password reset option provided by Accredible.

Sharing certificates

Can I share my digital certificate?

Yes.

Available sharing options include:

• Secure link
• Email
• LinkedIn
• Smart Resume
• Facebook
• X (Twitter)
• WhatsApp

Can I download my certificate?

Yes.

Certificates can be downloaded as:

• PDF
• JSON (Open Badge 3.0)
• JSON (W3C Verified Credential)

Can I share my certificate on LinkedIn?

Yes.

LinkedIn sharing options are available within the Accredible platform.

Can I forward my certificate email to someone else?

No.

The certificate access link is private.

If you need to share your achievement, use the sharing options available within the platform.

My certificate is marked as private. What does this mean?

Certificate links are private by default.

You can manage privacy settings within the platform and choose whether to make shared links more widely accessible.

Under 18 candidates

Who should own the Accredible account for a candidate under 18?

The account should normally belong to a parent or guardian.

In some cases, an individual acting in loco parentis may manage the account.

Can the account be transferred when the candidate turns 18?

Yes.

A certificate linked to a parent or guardian email address can be transferred to the candidate's own email address once they turn 18.

Paper certificates

Can I purchase a paper certificate?

Yes.

Paper certificates can be purchased separately for eligible qualifications.

Instructions are included in your digital certificate email.

What information do I need to order a paper certificate?

You will need:

• Your Candidate ID
• The email address to which your digital certificate was sent
• The country where the exam took place

Where can I find my Candidate ID?

Your Candidate ID is shown:

• In the bottom left-hand corner of your digital certificate
• On your result form
• On your appointment slip (face-to-face exams only)

How long does delivery take?

Typical delivery times are:

UK and Ireland

• 1–3 weeks

International destinations

• 2–6 weeks

I need a replacement paper certificate. What should I do?

The process depends on when your qualification was awarded.

For qualifications awarded from September 2023 onwards, use the replacement certificate service.

For qualifications awarded before September 2023, use Trinity's Certificate Replacement and Amendment process.

See: Ordering a Paper Copy Certificate for full details.