Create a professional certificate of completion for a course, workshop or training in minutes. Pick a design, enter the participant, course, hours and date, add your logo and signers, and download a print-ready landscape PDF or PNG. Make a whole class at once with batch mode.
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Batch: one certificate per participant
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How to use the Certificate of Completion Maker
Choose a design from the five templates at the top.
Enter the recipient and course, then the hours, completion date and provider.
Add signers, and upload your logo or keep the drawn seal with your own text.
Pick a color and paper size; the preview updates as you type.
Download the PDF or PNG, or open Batch and paste a list of names to create the whole class in one PDF.
Hours, contact hours and CEUs
Training certificates often state how much learning time they represent. The terms are related but not identical, so pick the one your audience or licensing board expects.
Term
Meaning
Conversion
Contact hour
One hour (usually 50 to 60 minutes) of instruction or participation
Base unit
CEU (Continuing Education Unit)
IACET unit for non-credit professional education
1 CEU = 10 contact hours
CE hours
Continuing education hours as defined by a licensing board
Usually 1 CE hour = 1 contact hour; check the board
CPD hours
Continuing professional development, common outside the US
Usually 1 CPD hour = 1 hour of learning
Certificate of completion vs. other certificates
A certificate of completion confirms that someone finished a course or training program. It differs from a certificate of achievement, which recognizes outstanding results, and from a certificate of attendance, which only confirms that someone was present. For professional training, include enough detail (course title, hours, date, provider and an ID) that an employer or licensing board can match the certificate to your attendance records.
Tips for professional-looking certificates
Print on 65 to 110 lb (176 to 300 g/m²) card stock, and turn off "fit to page" scaling so the borders stay even.
Keep the course title short; put long subtitles or module lists in your records rather than on the certificate.
Use the certificate ID in a simple spreadsheet (ID, name, course, date, hours) so you can confirm a certificate if anyone asks.
Have the instructor and the program director sign: two signatures look more official than one.
Frequently asked questions
What should a certificate of completion include?
At minimum: the participant's full name, the course or training title, the completion date and the organization that provided it, plus an authorized signature. For continuing education, add the number of hours (or CEUs), the instructor and a certificate ID so the record can be verified later.
How many CEUs is a course worth?
Under the widely used IACET standard, 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) equals 10 contact hours of participation in an organized learning experience. So an 8-hour course is 0.8 CEUs and a 15-hour course is 1.5 CEUs. Licensing boards may use their own rules, so check what your board accepts.
Can I make certificates for a whole class at once?
Yes. Open Batch, paste one name per line and click Create batch PDF. Add a comma and a number after a name (for example "Ben Carter, 6") to give that person different hours. Each page gets its own numbered certificate ID.
What size is the certificate?
Certificates are landscape US Letter (11 × 8.5 in) or A4 (297 × 210 mm). The PDF is rendered at about 300 dpi, sharp enough for professional printing on card stock.
Can I add my company logo and signatures?
Yes. Upload a logo (PNG with a transparent background looks best) to show it at the top, or use it in place of the seal. Signer names can appear in a handwriting style, or leave that off and sign the printed certificates by hand.
Is this certificate of completion maker free?
Yes, it is free with no watermark and no account. Certificates are drawn in your browser, and your names, logo and details are never uploaded.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.