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Install Moodle’s current Custom certificate activity (mod_customcert) by matching its release to your Moodle branch, placing a correctly named customcert directory in Moodle’s mod directory, and then completing the detected-plugin prompt at Site administration > Notifications. After that, configure templates under Site administration > Plugins > Custom certificate and add the activity to a course.
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The file copy alone does not finish the installation. Moodle creates the plugin’s database records only after an administrator opens Notifications and accepts the installation step. The procedure below covers ZIP and Git deployments, version selection, configuration, course use, troubleshooting, upgrades, and the difference between Custom certificate and the older Certificate module.
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What the Custom certificate plugin does
Custom certificate is a free Moodle activity plugin for generating dynamically created PDF certificates. Its browser-based editor lets an administrator or teacher create a template, place certificate elements, upload images, and define how certificates are issued. The technical component name is mod_customcert; the directory that Moodle loads is therefore named customcert.
The current Moodle Marketplace listing reports support for Moodle 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, with a latest release dated 11 October 2026. Support in that listing does not mean that every release of the plugin works with every branch. Moodle plugins are released for particular core branches, so choose the release whose compatibility information includes your site before copying any files.
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Check compatibility before downloading
Version matching prevents the most common installation failure: a plugin that copies successfully but cannot be installed because its required Moodle or PHP version is too new. Record the exact Moodle branch shown in Site administration > Notifications or your normal site-maintenance page, and confirm the PHP version used by that Moodle installation. Then select the corresponding Custom certificate package in the Moodle Plugins directory.
Known branch and runtime information
| Moodle branch | Release information documented for Custom certificate | PHP requirement or qualification | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | The current listing includes Moodle 5.3 support; a branch-specific release number is not stated. | Not stated for this branch in the available release information. | Use the package whose compatibility entry explicitly includes Moodle 5.3. |
| 5.2 | Version 5.2.0 is documented as a Moodle 5.2 release. | Version 5.2.0 requires Moodle 5.2 and PHP 8.3 or newer. | Verify PHP before selecting the 5.2 series, and test any third-party certificate elements before upgrading. |
| 5.1 | The current listing includes Moodle 5.1 support; the exact release number is not stated. | Not stated for this branch in the available release information. | Choose a release whose compatibility entry names Moodle 5.1 rather than assuming the newest package is suitable. |
| 5.0 | A 5.0.0 release is documented for Moodle 5.0. | Not stated for this release in the available information. | Use the 5.0-compatible package and check the site’s PHP version against that package’s requirements. |
| 4.4 or 4.5 | A 4.4.6 release is documented for Moodle 4.4/4.5. | Not stated for this release in the available information. | Use the 4.4/4.5-compatible package instead of a 5.x package. |
The 5.2.0 requirement is especially important when a site is being upgraded. A server running PHP 8.2, for example, does not satisfy the documented requirement for that release even if Moodle itself is otherwise operational. Remain on a compatible earlier plugin release until the Moodle and PHP upgrade has been completed and tested, or choose the release line that matches the existing branch.
Confirm that the package is really Custom certificate
- The archive or repository should identify the plugin as Custom certificate or
mod_customcert. - After extraction, the directory that will be copied must be named exactly
customcert. - Do not rename the directory to
certificate; that name belongs to the separate legacy Certificate module. - A common extraction mistake is an extra level such as
customcert/customcert/. Moodle must see the plugin files directly insidemod/customcert/.
Prepare the site and choose a deployment method
You need Moodle administrator access for the final installation prompt. You also need access to the Moodle application files, either through the server’s file manager or a shell account with permission to write to the Moodle mod directory. Schedule the change in a maintenance window appropriate to your site and keep a restorable backup of the database and Moodle code before changing production files.
There are two supported ways to put the plugin code on the server:
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- ZIP deployment: download the version-matched package, extract it, and copy the resulting
customcertdirectory into Moodle’smoddirectory. - Git deployment: clone the plugin repository directly into the Moodle
moddirectory, then check out the branch that corresponds to your Moodle version.
Use one method, not both. Mixing a copied archive with a Git checkout can leave files from different releases in the same directory and makes later updates difficult to audit.
Install with a ZIP package
- Select the matching release. In the Moodle Plugins directory, open the Custom certificate versions list and choose the package that names your Moodle branch. Check its PHP requirement as well as its Moodle requirement.
- Download the archive. Save the ZIP outside the Moodle web root first if your hosting workflow requires a separate staging area. Do not upload an archive intended for another branch merely because it has a higher version number.
- Extract the archive. Inspect the extracted contents. The top-level plugin directory should be
customcert, containing the plugin files and subdirectories. If extraction createdcustomcert-version-number/customcert, use the innercustomcertdirectory. - Copy the directory into Moodle. Place the directory at
<moodle-root>/mod/customcert, alongside Moodle’s other activity directories. The final path must not be<moodle-root>/customcert,<moodle-root>/mod/certificate, or<moodle-root>/mod/customcert/customcert. - Preserve ownership and permissions. The web server must be able to read the plugin files, while your normal deployment policy should remain in force. Do not make the entire Moodle tree world-writable as a shortcut.
- Finish in the administrator interface. Log in as a Moodle administrator and open Site administration > Notifications. Moodle scans the code tree, reports the new plugin, and presents the database/plugin installation step. Read the displayed version and requirements, then select the button that continues the installation.
When the prompt completes, the plugin is installed. Seeing a notification after copying the files is expected: Notifications is where Moodle performs the database upgrade and records the plugin in the site configuration.
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Git is useful when your deployment process already tracks Moodle plugins as repositories. Run the clone from Moodle’s mod directory so that the destination directory is created with the correct name:
git clone https://github.com/mdjnelson/moodle-mod_customcert.git customcert
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After cloning, check out the repository branch that corresponds to your Moodle branch. The exact branch name can change between repository releases, so list the available branches and select the one documented for your site rather than guessing a name. Keep the checkout on that branch for the life of the Moodle branch; do not follow the repository’s default branch blindly on a production site.
- Change to the Moodle
moddirectory. - Run the clone command above, using
customcertas the destination. - Inspect the repository’s available branches and check out the branch matching your Moodle version.
- Confirm that the resulting path is
<moodle-root>/mod/customcertand that the files are readable by the web server. - Log in as an administrator and visit Site administration > Notifications to run Moodle’s detected-plugin installation.
Git does not bypass Moodle’s installation step. Cloning supplies the code; Notifications still creates or updates the database structures required by the activity.
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Open Site administration > Notifications after the files are in place. Moodle compares the code it finds in mod with the plugins registered in the database. For a new Custom certificate installation, it displays the plugin name, version, and an action to complete installation. Follow that prompt until Moodle reports that the operation has finished.
If the page shows a normal site status but no Custom certificate entry, do not repeatedly reinstall the archive. First verify the directory name and location, then confirm that the account is a site administrator. A nested directory, a copied legacy certificate folder, or a package for an incompatible branch can prevent Moodle from detecting the intended plugin.
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Configure Custom certificate site-wide
Once installation succeeds, open Site administration > Plugins > Custom certificate. The documentation describes controls for certificate templates, uploaded images, and optional position coordinates. Configure defaults here before asking teachers to build course certificates.
Templates
Create a template that defines the page and the elements that will appear in the generated PDF. Plan the fixed parts of the design—such as a logo, title area, signature lines, and institutional wording—before adding variable elements supplied by Moodle. A reusable template reduces the chance that each course will implement a different layout for the same award.
Images
Upload images through the plugin’s configuration and template tools rather than linking to files on a developer’s computer. Keep original image files in your normal asset-management process so that a replacement logo can be identified and restored if a template is edited later.
Position coordinates
Where the editor offers optional position coordinates, use them to place elements consistently on the page. Make a small test certificate after changing coordinates; a value that looks correct in an editor can still place text too close to an edge when rendered to PDF.
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Add Custom certificate to a course
- Open the course in which certificates will be issued.
- Turn editing on and choose Add an activity or resource.
- Select Custom certificate from the activity list.
- Enter the activity settings required by the course and save the activity.
- Create or select a certificate template, then place the required certificate elements.
- Set the issue and availability rules appropriate to the course. These rules determine when a learner can receive or access the certificate; they should match the course’s completion policy.
- Use a test learner or a controlled staff account to generate a certificate and inspect the resulting PDF before opening the activity to everyone.
Course-level work is separate from the site-wide installation. A successful installation makes the activity available; each course still needs its own activity, template choice, element placement, and issuance rules.
Verify the result before production use
- Confirm that Custom certificate appears in the activity chooser.
- Open the activity as a teacher and verify that the intended template and image controls are available.
- Generate a test PDF and check names, dates, page size, text wrapping, image resolution, and signature placement.
- Test the activity with a learner role to ensure availability and access rules behave as intended.
- Keep the test certificate clearly marked as a test until the course owner approves the final layout.
Testing matters because the installation prompt validates the plugin code and database setup, not the wording, layout, or completion logic of an individual course certificate.
Troubleshoot common installation problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Custom certificate does not appear on Notifications. | The directory is in the wrong location, is nested one level too deep, is not named customcert, or the account is not a site administrator. |
Check for <moodle-root>/mod/customcert, inspect the first level of files, correct the directory name, and reload Notifications with an administrator account. |
| Moodle reports an incompatible Moodle or PHP version. | The downloaded release targets another Moodle branch or has a newer runtime requirement. | Return to the versions list, select the release matching the site’s branch, and verify PHP. Version 5.2.0 specifically requires Moodle 5.2 and PHP 8.3 or newer. |
The page shows a certificate directory but the Custom certificate activity is missing. |
The legacy Certificate module was copied instead of Custom certificate. | Remove the wrong package according to your change-control procedure and install the package whose directory is customcert. Do not rename the legacy folder to disguise it. |
| The plugin files are present but the course activity is unavailable. | The detected-plugin installation was not completed, or the activity is disabled in site administration. | Finish the Notifications prompt first, then check the plugin’s site-wide settings and return to the course activity chooser. |
| A Git checkout contains unexpected files after an update. | The checkout followed the repository’s default branch or mixed files from a ZIP deployment. | Keep one deployment method, inspect the current branch, and restore the branch documented for the Moodle version before running Notifications. |
| Existing certificate elements fail after upgrading to the 5.2 series. | Custom certificate 5.2.0 introduced a major element-system/API change that can affect third-party element plugins. | Inventory third-party elements, test them on a staging copy, and confirm compatibility before upgrading production. |
| A generated PDF has misplaced text or images. | Template coordinates or uploaded assets do not suit the page layout. | Adjust the template and optional position coordinates, regenerate a test PDF, and approve the result before issuing certificates. |
Plan upgrades carefully
Upgrading the plugin is not only a matter of replacing files. Match the target release to the target Moodle branch and read its runtime requirements. For the 5.2 series, plan for PHP 8.3 or newer because that is the documented minimum for version 5.2.0.
The 5.2.0 change log also records a major element-system/API change. If your site uses third-party certificate elements, list those elements and test every template that depends on them on a staging site. A template that uses only the plugin’s standard elements may be unaffected, but compatibility cannot be assumed for an external element simply because the main activity installed successfully.
- Back up the database and Moodle code, and make a staging copy when your operational process allows.
- Confirm the target Moodle branch and PHP version.
- Read the target Custom certificate release notes, paying particular attention to element-system changes.
- Update the plugin code using the same controlled ZIP or Git method used for the original deployment.
- Visit Site administration > Notifications and complete the upgrade prompt.
- Open representative templates and generate test PDFs, including templates that use third-party elements.
- Schedule the production change only after the staging results are acceptable.
Custom certificate versus the legacy Certificate module
MoodleDocs documents a separate, older Certificate module. Its package is installed by unpacking a version-matched ZIP, copying a directory named certificate into Moodle’s mod directory, and completing installation at Site administration > Notifications. That folder is not an alternate name for Custom certificate.
| Decision factor | Custom certificate (mod_customcert) |
Legacy Certificate module |
|---|---|---|
| Moodle-version support | The current listing includes Moodle 5.0–5.3; releases are branch-specific. | A separate older module with its own version-matched packages; current branch support is not stated. |
| Template customization | Browser-based creation of dynamically generated PDF certificates, with templates, uploaded images, and optional position coordinates. | Uses the legacy module’s implementation; equivalent current customization details are not stated. |
| Deployment directory | <moodle-root>/mod/customcert. |
<moodle-root>/mod/certificate. |
| Installation completion | Administrator visits Notifications after copying or cloning the code. | Administrator visits Notifications after copying the version-matched ZIP contents. |
| Maintenance and release information | The current listing reports a release dated 11 October 2026, with branch-specific releases. | It is described as an older, separate module; a comparable current release cadence is not stated. |
| PHP and element compatibility | Version 5.2.0 requires Moodle 5.2 and PHP 8.3 or newer; its element-system/API change requires testing of third-party elements. | Requirements and third-party element behavior are not stated in the available documentation. |
For a new installation on a supported current Moodle branch, follow the Custom certificate procedure and use the customcert directory. Keep the legacy module only when an existing site’s courses or templates specifically depend on it and its package is compatible with that site; never substitute its folder while following Custom certificate instructions.
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A concise installation checklist
- Identify the exact Moodle branch and PHP version.
- Select a Custom certificate release that explicitly supports that branch.
- Use either ZIP extraction or Git, not a mixture of both.
- Ensure the final directory is
<moodle-root>/mod/customcert. - Log in as an administrator and complete the prompt at Site administration > Notifications.
- Configure templates, images, and optional coordinates at Site administration > Plugins > Custom certificate.
- Add the activity to a course, set template and issue rules, and generate a test PDF.
- Before a major upgrade, verify PHP requirements and test third-party certificate elements.
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