Why PDF Certificates are not the same as Digital Credentials

Digital credentials and PDF certificates are two common ways of documenting and sharing achievements online. However, it is essential to understand why PDF certificates are not the same as digital credentials.

In this article, we will explore the fundamental differences between these two formats and their respective purposes.

What are PDF certificates?

PDF certificates are electronic documents often used to document and certify the completion of courses, workshops, seminars and other academic or professional achievements. These certificates contain basic information about the achievement, such as the name of the holder, the name of the course, the date of completion and sometimes the digital signature of the issuer. PDF certificates have become a common way of proving participation in training programs, but they have significant limitations compared to digital credentials.

What are digital credentials?

Digital credentials, which can be in the form of digital badges or digital certificates, are a modern way of recognizing and documenting achievements, competencies and skills.

Digital credentials are digital images that contain embedded metadata, such as information about the achievement, the issuing entity, validated skills and a verification link.

Digital credentials are based on open standards and allow holders to share and display their achievements online in a verifiable way.

Why are PDF certificates not recommended?

There are several reasons why PDF certificates are not the best alternative for certifying achievements and learning:

1. They lack security: PDF certificates are vulnerable to forgery, as anyone can create them. Instead, digital credentials with blockchain technology add an additional layer of security, ensuring that certificates are immutable and authentic.
2. Lack of verification: Digital credentials are specifically designed to be verifiable. Each credential contains metadata that allows any person or entity to verify the authenticity of the achievement and associated skills. PDF certificates lack this verification functionality, making it difficult to verify their authenticity.
3. Information limitations: PDF certificates generally contain basic information such as course name and completion date. Digital credentials are more detailed and can include specific skills, length of achievement, issuing organization and more. This provides a more complete picture of the holder's skills.
4. Difficult to share and upload: Digital credentials can be shared and displayed online with a single click, on websites, social networks and online CV platforms, and even collected in a skills portfolio. PDF certificates, on the other hand, are usually limited to individual files and are not easy to share and display online.
5. Lack of open standards: Digital credentials follow open standards, such as Open Badges, which guarantee interoperability and understanding between different platforms and systems. PDF certificates are not based on these standards and therefore lack the flexibility and compatibility that digital credentials offer.

Despite their usefulness in certain contexts, PDF certificates should not be confused with digital credentials. Digital credentials are a more advanced and versatile solution for documenting and sharing achievements, competencies and skills in the digital age. By adopting digital credentials, educational institutions, employers and individuals can take advantage of a more powerful tool to validate and communicate achievements online more effectively.