QR codes on certificates
A printed certificate is easy to fake. A QR code that opens a verification page on the issuer's own domain lets an employer or customer check, in one scan, that the certificate is real and still valid.
That works best with one dynamic code per certificate, created in bulk from your records. If a certificate is revoked, pause or repoint its code; the paper stays in circulation, but the scan tells the truth.
What to link from QR codes on certificates
Verification
Each certificate's code opens a page on your domain with the holder's name, the qualification and the date.
Revocation and expiry
Pause the code of a revoked certificate, or repoint it to a 'no longer valid' page.
Digital copy
A link to the PDF original so the holder can share it on LinkedIn or with employers.
Course and event certificates
Training providers can link to the course page or the next level.
Which QR code to use
Static codes are free and need no account, but can't be changed after printing. Dynamic codes and hosted pages can be edited at any time, count every scan, and keep working on every plan, even if you cancel.
Dynamic code per certificate, on your domain
Create codes in bulk through the API, one per certificate, on a custom domain so the verification link itself proves the issuer.
Create a dynamic codePDF page
An uploaded PDF people can read in the browser or download.
The certificate as a downloadable PDF, replaceable if you reissue it.
Build it in the dashboardLinkedIn QR code
For training providers: open your company page so holders can tag you.
Open the LinkedIn generatorHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate held in the hand | 35 cm (14 in) | 4.1 cm (1.6 in) |
| Framed certificate on a wall | 1 m (3 ft) | 11.6 cm (4.6 in) |
For a dynamic short link such as https://qrdx.dev/q/aB3dE5f at error correction Q, without the blank margin. Static Wi-Fi, vCard or long URL codes hold more data and need to be larger. Check yours with the print size calculator and the scan checker.
Placement tips
- Use your own verification system for the data; the QR code only needs to link to it.
- A custom domain makes a verification link more convincing than a generic short link.
- On framed certificates read from a metre away, the code needs to be about 12 cm; for in-hand checks, 4 cm is enough.
- Don't encode personal data in the URL; use an opaque ID.
Call-to-action copy
A code with a reason to scan beside it gets more scans than a bare code. Lines to print next to yours:
- Scan to verify this certificate
- View the digital original
- Verified by [Issuer]
QR codes on certificates: FAQ
How do QR codes verify certificates?
The code opens a page on the issuer's domain that confirms the certificate's details. A forger can copy the code, but not change what the issuer's page says.
Can I create QR codes for thousands of certificates?
Yes. Use the REST API to create dynamic codes in bulk on a paid plan, or the bulk generator for static codes from a CSV.
What happens if a certificate is revoked?
Pause its dynamic code or repoint it. Paused codes open your fallback URL or a neutral 'this campaign has ended' page, never a QRdx advert.