Overview

This guide explains how to use courses that have been built in your LMS with our LTI integration, including first steps for students and instructors.

If you don't yet have an integration set up and would like to learn what integration entails and how to request one, please visit our article: Is LMS Integration right for my organization? 

Instructor First Steps After Course Build

After configuration and testing, build out your courses in the LMS using the 'Linking to Course Resources' article for your LMS in our LMS Documentation.

Once your LMS course is built:

As the Instructor:
Click on any CertMaster LTI link inside your LMS course. In the background, this will automatically:

• Create your account in CertMaster if you don't have one
• Create an integrated Class in CertMaster tied to your LMS course
• Assign you as an Instructor to that Class.
• Grant you access to the corresponding CertMaster product

Important:

• Complete this step for each LMS course you teach.

• Do not manually create your course in CertMaster.

• Avoid renaming, duplicating, or archiving the class until after the semester ends.

Notes:

• Classes created automatically have a 12-month End Date by default. You can adjust the End Date manually in CertMaster.

• Changing the End Date will not affect student licenses or your ability to make course copies in the LMS.

• Please note that CompTIA releases new versions of our products every three years, and the previous version retires six months after a new one is released. When a new product is released, your course will need to be rebuilt to use links that point to the new product. If this is not done, new LMS courses that try to launch into retired products will be rejected.

Student Enrollment Process

Instruct Your Students:

Click on any CertMaster LTI link inside the LMS course. In the background, this will automatically:

• Create your account in CertMaster if you don't have one
• Enroll you in the CertMaster Class that's tied to your LMS course
• Activate your license if your school uses Licenses. If using Access Keys, you will receive a prompt the first time you click an integraiton link into a given product.

Important:

• Students and Instructors should not manually create accounts, submit CSVs, or register via a website outside the LMS.

• Clicking on at least one assignment link is critical to establish full integration.

Automatic Class Creation and Enrollment

• Classes are created automatically when users click CertMaster links.

• Students are automatically enrolled in the correct class.

• If using Usage-based Billing (UBB) or limited Licenses, students are granted a license automatically. Otherwise, they’ll be prompted for an access code.

Quick Test:

• From the LMS, click a CertMaster link.

• In CertMaster, go to Home > My Campus to confirm:

  • Your class matches the LMS course name.

  • The assigned CertMaster product appears.

  • Student names appear after they click in.

• In My Profile, you’ll see:

  • Name and email pulled from the LMS.

  • Assigned products activated.

Grade Return to LMS (LTI 1.3 Advantage)

With LTI 1.3:

• Students’ scores automatically return to the LMS Grade Book for all CertMaster assignments they complete.

• Students do not have to click every individual LMS link after initial setup, but they must click at least one assignment link initially to establish their account integration.

• Students access all CertMaster assignments through the LMS, not by logging in directly to CertMaster.

Notes:

• Instructors must also click at least one CertMaster link to establish integration.

• Only scores earned after the LMS course’s start date sync back.

• CertMaster sends raw percentage scores; your LMS handles how they are weighted or displayed.

CertMaster Class Start and End Dates

• If the LMS course start date is known, it is used in CertMaster.

• If the LMS course end date is known, it is used, but will not exceed 18 months from course creation.

• If the LMS dates are unknown:

  • Start Date = First link click date.

  • End Date = 12 months after Start Date.

• For continuous courses, End Date = 12 months after Start Date.

Legacy Support: LTI 1.1 (Older Integrations)

If using an older LTI 1.1 setup:

• Students must click each LMS assignment link individually to send each corresponding CertMaster score back to the LMS.

• CertMaster sends scores back after assignment completion if launched via the LMS.

• Best Practice: Students should close CertMaster after completing each resource before moving to the next.

Notes:

• If students redo an assignment without re-launching the LMS link, updated scores may not sync.

• Students can relaunch the link to push updated or higher scores.