How to Create Your CertLister Account

Time required: Under 5 minutes

What you'll need:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Password (or use Google Sign-In)

Overview

Creating a CertLister account is a two-step process:

1. Create your account — enter your name, email, and password
2. Set up your workspace — add your organization details (optional, can be skipped)

After both steps you land directly on your dashboard, ready to start issuing certificates.

Method 1: Sign Up with Email and Password

Step 1: Go to the Sign-Up Page

1. Visit app.certlister.com/auth/register
2. Or click "Get Started" on the CertLister website

Step 2: Fill Out the Registration Form

Your Account Information:

• First Name — your first name (e.g. "Sarah")
• Last Name — your last name (e.g. "Johnson")
• Email Address — your work email, used to log in (e.g. "sarah@yourschool.edu")
• Password — must meet the following requirements:
  • At least 8 characters long
  • One uppercase letter (A–Z)
  • One lowercase letter (a–z)
  • One number (0–9)
  • One special character (!@#$%^&* etc.)

Step 3: Complete CAPTCHA Verification

CertLister uses Cloudflare Turnstile to prevent spam accounts. A verification widget will appear below the form — wait for the green checkmark before continuing.

Step 4: Click "Create Account"

Click "Create Account" and wait a moment while your account is created. You'll be taken directly to Step 2.

Step 5: Set Up Your Workspace (Optional)

After your account is created you'll see the Set up your workspace page.

All fields here are optional — you can fill them in later from Settings → Organization at any time.

Click "Continue to Dashboard" to save and proceed, or click "Skip for now" to go straight to the dashboard without saving.

Method 2: Sign Up with Google

Faster if you already have a Google account.

Step 1: Click "Continue with Google"

On the sign-up page, click the "Continue with Google" button. You'll be redirected to Google's sign-in screen.

Step 2: Choose Your Google Account

1. Select the Google account you want to use
2. Review the permissions CertLister is requesting (basic profile: name and email)
3. Click "Continue" or "Allow"

Step 3: Set Up Your Workspace

First-time Google sign-ins are taken to the same Set up your workspace page as email sign-ups. Fill in your organization details or click "Skip for now".

Signing In

Returning users can sign in at app.certlister.com/auth/login.

Use your email and password, or "Continue with Google" if you signed up with Google.

What Happens When You Sign Up

When you create your account, CertLister automatically:

• Creates your organization
• Sets you as the organization Admin
• Generates 5 sample certificate categories
• Creates 20 sample certificates (for testing)
• Sets up your public verification portal
• Initializes your dashboard with statistics

This all happens in a few seconds.

Your Free Plan

When you sign up you get:

• 50 certificates — more than enough to get started
• 1 user seat (invite more with Basic or Pro)
• All core features — certificate management, verification, expiration tracking
• Public verification portal — let employers verify certificates instantly
• Design Studio — 1 background template included
• No credit card required — free forever, no trial expiry

Next Steps

1. Delete Sample Data

CertLister creates sample certificates and categories so you can see how the app works. Delete them before adding real data.

Delete sample certificates:

1. Go to Certificates
2. Select all (checkbox at top)
3. Click Delete Selected → confirm

Delete sample categories:

1. Go to Categories
2. Delete or rename the ones you don't need

2. Create Your First Category

Certificates are organized by category (e.g. "CPR Certification", "Safety Training"). Create at least one before issuing certificates. See Creating Categories for details.

3. Issue Your First Certificate

Once you have a category, you're ready to create certificates. See our step-by-step certificate guide.

Account Security: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

CertLister supports two-factor authentication (2FA) using email one-time passwords (OTP). Enabling 2FA adds an extra layer of protection — after signing in with your password, you'll be prompted for a 6-digit code sent to your email.

2FA is available on all plans and is optional per user.

How to enable 2FA

1. Go to Settings → Profile
2. Scroll to the Two-Factor Authentication section
3. Click Enable Two-Factor Authentication
4. CertLister sends a 6-digit code to your email address
5. Enter the code in the confirmation dialog (valid for 10 minutes)
6. 2FA is now active on your account

Signing in with 2FA enabled

After entering your email and password, you'll see a prompt to enter your authentication code. Check your email for a 6-digit code and enter it within 10 minutes. If you don't receive it, check your spam folder or click Resend code.

How to disable 2FA

1. Go to Settings → Profile
2. Scroll to the Two-Factor Authentication section
3. Click Disable Two-Factor Authentication
4. Confirm with a one-time email code

Note: Google Sign-In users can still enable email OTP 2FA as an additional step on top of Google's own authentication.

Troubleshooting

"Email already exists"

You already have an account with that email.

• Try signing in instead: app.certlister.com/auth/login
• Use the "Forgot password?" link if you don't remember your password
• On the sign-up page, if an existing email is detected you'll see options to Reset Password or Sign In directly

"Password too weak"

Your password doesn't meet the requirements. Use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters — for example MySchool2026!.

CAPTCHA not working

• Refresh the page and try again
• Temporarily disable browser extensions (especially ad blockers)
• Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all work)

Google Sign-In not working

• Popup blocked — allow popups for certlister.com in your browser settings
• Third-party cookies — make sure cookies aren't blocked for certlister.com
• Try signing out of Google and back in, then try again
• Fall back to email/password sign-up if the issue persists

Account locked after failed sign-in attempts

After 5 failed login attempts, your account is locked for 15 minutes. Wait and try again, or use "Forgot password?" to reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Free plan really free forever?

A: Yes. No time limit, no credit card required, no surprise charges. The Free plan (50 certificates, 1 user) is available indefinitely.

Q: Can I update my organization details later?

A: Yes. Go to Settings → Organization at any time to update your organization name, industry, website, logo, and more.

Q: Can I change my email address?

A: Email addresses are currently read-only after sign-up. Contact support@certlister.com if you need to change yours.

Q: What if I need help?

A: Browse the Help Center or email support@certlister.com — we typically respond within 24 hours on business days.