When an online school entitled to issue documents (certificates, diplomas)?

Elena Mashina

The listener turns to the online school primarily for knowledge and skills. However, the consumer may have a need to confirm the acquisition of this knowledge in the future, for example, in employment. An online school issuing diplomas or certificates would then have an advantage. This article will analyze the necessary criteria for an online school to issue certificates to students at the end of the course.

The content of the article:

Legal value of online school documents

An online school can issue any documents that confirm the completion of a specific course on the platform. However, these documents have no legal meaning. If an online school wants the certificates it issues to be valid, then this requires special permission, as well as compliance with certain requirements. It should be said that the first and most common thing is obtaining an educational license. The issuance of any document that confirms the completion of an educational course at an online school is one of the criteria for compulsory obtaining an educational license. You can read about how to get an educational license in another article from our lawyers “Educational license for an online school: criteria for need and receipt”.

What documents can an online school issue

A document confirming additional professional education. This form includes two types: advanced training and professional retraining. They correspond to two documents: (1) certificate of advanced training, (2) diploma of professional retraining.

What requirements must be met for the issuance of diplomas

An online school that does not meet the requirements cannot issue a document confirming the completion of additional professional education.

Requirements for the educational program for which the diploma is issued

The first group of requirements relates to the content of the educational program. If an online school wants to issue such diplomas, it should be more responsible in the design of the program. It is worth looking at the qualification requirements for a particular profession, including the curriculum, the curriculum schedule, certification forms, etc. Specific criteria can be found in the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of 07/01/2013 N 499. The minimum terms for mastering the program are established: for advanced training - 16 hours, for professional retraining - 250 hours. Upon completion of the online school is required to conduct a final certification. Upon successful passing of the exam, the school may issue a document. It is he who will be of importance in employment.

Requirements for an online school that issues a diploma

The second group is related to the requirements for an online school. First, you need to obtain an educational license. Secondly, the issuance of documents for advanced training or retraining is subject to strict regulation. The main document, which contains the requirements, is Methodological recommendations for the development, procedure for issuing and recording documents on qualifications in the field of additional. prof. education. Supporting documents must be located on counterfeit-proof forms; the document must contain the series and number; the organization should have a book for registering the issuance of such documents.

Collaboration of online courses and universities for the issuance of certificates

MOPs (Massive Online Courses) are increasingly opting for the model in which they are the platform on which universities host their online courses. Therefore, certificates that are issued after completing courses on such platforms usually bear the logo of the university and the signature of the program manager at the university. Such documents will not confirm professional development or retraining.

So, first of all, the online school must decide whether it wants to issue official documents or not. This depends in part on the field of activity in which she provides courses. Registration of official diplomas will require a more thorough study of the educational program and special consideration of the issued diplomas.