Canvas LTI 1.3 with Advantage - Linking to Course Resources

This article covers the process of using LMS Integration to place links to learning resources in the CertMaster products. 

Creating links and assignments from Canvas' Modules page

"Module Menu Modal" Placement

1. Navigate to the desired course, and then to either Modules. If your course is empty, click +Module to create one.

2. In the title bar of your module, click the three-dot menu on the right and select the CertMaster tool.

Note: The default tool name is 'CertMaster LTI Adv'. If your integration was configured before June 2024, your tool may be called ‘LabSim LTI Adv’ or ‘TestOut LTI Adv’. Your LMS Administrator also has the power to change the tool name.

3. Once the tool loads, click Course Resources.

4. Search for and select the desired product.

• If your institution purchases license pools or uses Usage-based Billing, you can check Institution-licensed products to show only the products that have licenses available. The small badge to the right of the product indicates a license has been set up.

Please note the different CertMaster product types, and only select one for any given certification line you wish to place into your course. Not every certification offers every product, but most of them do.

• Learn (and TestOut Pro): The base-level product. Contains reading content, interactives, quizzes, simulation-based Labs, as well as Assessments and Practice Exams.
• Labs: Supplementary product that contains Virtual Machine Labs that allow students to practice in a full version of the operating system in question. Only available for products released in 2024 and after.
• Perform (and Learn + Labs): The flagship product. Contains all of the above. Only available for products released in 2024 and after.

5. On the left, select the chapter you wish to link to from the list. The resources within that chapter will appear in the right-hand column. 

6. Select a Section Heading and/or specific Resource to create an assignment link for each selected item.

Tip: In order to avoid long loading times, create less than 30 links at one time. 

Tip: You can select the filter icon to filter by content type. 

7. Click Continue.

9. On the next page, you will see a summary of the links that you are creating. By default, all gradeable items are set to create both a grade-synced Assignment in Canvas with a corresponding gradebook column, as well as a link to that Assignment in the Canvas Module. If you only want a link in the Module and don't want to create a Canvas Assignment, uncheck the item's box in the Graded column.

Note: Section Headings are not graded and therefore cannot be checked.  The link will still show up in your module. 

10. Click Create Links. 

11. To Publish your content click the Publish radio button for your module.  Optionally, you may publish individual Assignments by clicking each respective Publish radio button. Note that grades will only sync to published Assignments.

12. You may Edit any Canvas Assignment to set a Due Date or to adjust Points. Other Canvas supported options are available within More Options. Then click Save. 

13. Test at least one Assignment link to make sure it functions properly and that grades are successfully returning to the LMS gradebook where expected. Finding that grades aren't syncing properly on the first day of class is unpleasant for all parties involved!

• As instructor/admin, confirm both the course and the assignment you wish to test is Published.
• Log in as a test student account. Canvas' will not function for integration links.
• If you need access for your test student, ask the CompTIA Technical Implementation Manager on your LMS Install ticket, telling them the email address associated with the test student account.
• Click a graded link and complete the activity. 
• Grades should appear in the gradebook within a minute of completion.

14. After successfully building and testing your course, send instructors and students the information at the bottom of this article.

Creating assignments from Canvas' Assignments page

"Course Assignments Menu" Placement

If your integration was configured on or after Sept 1, 2025, you can also add Canvas Assignments directly to the Assignments page without adding them as a Module item. 

1. Navigate to the Assignments page of a Canvas course.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, next to the colored +Assignment button, and select CertMaster LTI Adv
3. Continue from Step 3 in the section above this, selecting only graded items. 
4. Send instructors and students the information at the bottom of this article.

Notes about this method:

• In the screen where you choose if an item is Graded or not (Step 10 above), there must be no empty checkboxes or "N/A"s. If there are, Canvas will create a Module containing all the items you selected from the content selector.
• Assignments will be added to the Assignment Group at the top of the Canvas Assignments page. If you wish to add assignments to a specific Assignment Group, simply minimize all the Groups and reorder them so the desired Group is at the top.
• If your integration was configured prior to when this functionality was available, a Canvas Admin can add this capability. See our related help article for instruction.

Next Steps for Instructors and Learners

Please make instructors and students aware of our article LMS Integration: Using Integrated LMS Courses for first steps with an integrated course. No manual setup of users or classes is required in an integrated course, and if an instructor attempts it anyway, it can cause technical issues.