In an increasingly digital and connected world, the recognition of achievements and skills becomes increasingly important. The digital credentials and PDF certificates are two common ways to document and share achievements online. It is essential to understand why PDF certificates are not digital credentials. In this article, we will explore the fundamental differences between these two types of digital formats and their respective purposes.
What are PDF certificates?
PDF certificates are electronic documents that are often used to document and certify the completion of courses, workshops, seminars and other academic or professional achievements. These certificates contain basic information about the achievement, such as the name of the holder, the name of the course, the date of completion, and sometimes a digital signature of the issuer. PDF certificates have become a common way to prove participation in training programs, but they have significant limitations compared to digital credentials.
What are digital credentials?
Digital credentials, which may be in the form of badges or certificates with blockchain, are a modern way of recognizing and documenting achievements, competencies and skills. These credentials are digital images that contain embedded metadata, such as information about the achievement, the issuing entity, validated competencies, and a verification link. Digital credentials are based on open standards and allow holders to share and display their achievements online in a verifiable way.
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Why is the use of PDF certificates not recommended?
There are several reasons why PDF certificates are not the best alternative when certifying achievements and learning:
1. They lack security:
PDF certificates are vulnerable to forgery since anyone can create them. Instead, digital credentials with blockchain technology add an additional layer of security, ensuring that certificates are immutable and authentic.
2. Lack of verification:
Digital credentials are specifically designed to be verifiable. Each credential contains metadata that allows any person or entity to verify the authenticity of the achievement and associated competencies. PDF certificates lack this verification functionality, making it difficult to verify their authenticity.
3. Information limitations:
PDF certificates usually contain basic information such as the course name and completion date. Digital credentials are more detailed and can include specific competencies, duration of achievement, issuing entity, and more. This provides a more complete picture of the incumbent's skills.
4. Difficulty sharing and carrying:
Digital credentials can be shared and displayed online with a single click, across websites, social networks and online resume platforms, and even collected in a skills wallet. PDF certificates, on the other hand, are usually limited to individual files and are not easy to share and display online.
5. They lack open standards:
Digital credentials follow open standards, such as Open Badges, which ensure interoperability and understandability across different platforms and systems. PDF certificates are not based on these standards and therefore lack the flexibility and compatibility that digital credentials offer.
Despite their usefulness in certain contexts, PDF certificates should not be confused with digital credentials. Digital credentials are a more advanced and versatile solution for documenting and sharing achievements, competencies and skills in the digital age. By embracing digital credentials, educational institutions, employers, and individuals can take advantage of a more powerful tool to validate and communicate achievements more effectively online.
