Network Members Frequently Asked Questions
About MyCreds
What is MyCreds| MesCertif?
MyCreds is a secure digital service that enables Canadian post-secondary institutions to issue certified digital records. Through MyCreds, individuals can access and share their transcripts, academic documents, badges, credentials, and micro-credentials from their post-secondary studies in Canada.
This national initiative, led by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC), involves recognized colleges, universities, and other trusted third-party organizations across Canada. Documents issued through the MyCreds network are verifiable, official, and supported by digital signatures.
What certified online records can I get through MyCreds?
MyCreds offers students and graduates access to digital transcripts, credentials, micro-credentials, badges, letters, and other official academic documents. Document availability depends on the issuing institution’s choices within MyCreds.
Who uses MyCreds?
Numerous Canadian higher education institutions use MyCreds to issue secure academic records.
How does it work?
Approved institutions in the MyCreds network issue digitally certified documents to students and graduates, who receive these records through the MyCreds portal. Individuals can then view and share their records with third parties online, controlling access and duration. Third parties can verify these records through the platform.
Joining MyCreds
Can my organization join MyCreds?
MyCreds is available to trusted education providers, regulatory bodies, government agencies, and similar organizations. Approval to join involves a formal review by ARUCC, and membership is one of the criteria. For more information, email info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca.
What is the cost of joining MyCreds?
Please contact info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca for details on joining.
How can I be set up as a Receiving Organization?
Organizations that frequently receive MyCreds documents may benefit from becoming a Receiving Organization, which provides a dedicated portal for record management. For more information, contact info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca.
Security and Legal Validity
How can I trust a MyCreds document?
Only verified institutions and organizations can issue documents in MyCreds, and students cannot alter them. Digital signatures support document integrity. Opening the PDFs in Adobe Reader (version 9 or later) provides a “blue ribbon” icon confirmation of documents being tamper free.
Is the underlying technology for MyCreds based on open standards?
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)
MyCreds uses AES compliant with the EU’s eIDAS 2016 standards, ensuring high security and legal validity. These signatures, generated through certified hardware devices, provide assurance of authenticity, tamper evidence, and non-repudiation.
Use of Open Standards
MyCreds adheres to security standards like XAdES-A and PAdES-LTV, ensuring high document security. Digital signatures are created on FIPS 140-2 Level 3 hardware, and issuance is audited for identity verification compliance.
Can I search the MyCreds database?
MyCreds is not a searchable database. Instead, individuals can generate access tokens, which they share with third parties for record verification, maintaining individual privacy.
Are MyCreds documents legally admissible?
MyCreds documents meet EU eIDAS AES standards, aligning with various international electronic signature laws, including the US E-SIGN Act and Australia’s Electronic Transactions Act.
How does MyCreds protect records in the long term? As Digital Certificates are only valid for a maximum period of 3 years, how does MyCreds ensure that the PDF documents are still valid many years from the time of signing?
Long-Term Document Validation
To preserve long-term validity, MyCreds documents use PAdES-LTV, meaning they are timestamped to verify the certificate’s validity at signing. This ensures authenticity even after the certificate expires.
How long are MyCreds documents valid for?
Document validity depends on issuer policy. Some documents, like degree certificates, are lifelong, while others, like status letters, may expire after months or years.
Employers
How can I verify a person’s record using MyCreds?
Employers can verify a person’s record by requesting a share URL unique to the document, which points to the MyCreds website. Ensure the URL starts with https://learner.mycreds.ca/.
How can external background screening agencies verify a candidate’s credentials on our behalf?
Background Screening
Agencies can request that candidates share their MyCreds documents, as the platform does not allow direct database searches by third parties.
Is there an easier way to receive volumes of certified documents?
Larger organizations can receive documents via a MyCreds inbox after undergoing a vetting process. Contact info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca for more details.
Can I integrate MyCreds with my recruitment or human resources system?
MyCreds offers an API for business-to-business integration. Contact info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca for technical details.
Institutions
How can MyCreds help my institution?
MyCreds replaces paper-based processes with a digital workflow, reducing costs, improving brand protection, and enhancing service for students and graduates. Many institutions report transformational impacts from MyCreds adoption.
How does MyCreds compare with the U.S. eTranscript exchange model?
MyCreds allows document issuance in bulk, after which students can access and share records without further intervention, removing institutions from the document delivery process.
What documents do you implement?
MyCreds supports transcripts, credentials, badges, micro-credentials, letters of graduation, enrolment letters, awards, and more.
What student information systems can you work with?
MyCreds integrates with major systems, including Banner, Oracle/PeopleSoft, SITS, and others, using REST APIs, JSON, and XML standards for smooth data export.
How long does MyCreds take to set up?
Institutions can begin issuing MyCreds documents within weeks, with full data export and document implementation taking 8–12 weeks. Project Management support is available for onboarding.
Can I receive credentials via MyCreds internationally?
MyCreds also enables you to receive verified digital credentials from around the world, including from postgraduate applicants and international students. Through our global partners, we can transform your international admissions process by allowing your office to receive verified digital documentation from all international applicants, regardless of where in the world they have studied previously.
Can MyCreds be rolled out to a consortium or group of institutions?
MyCreds supports sector-wide implementation. For details, contact info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca.
Learners / Credential Holder Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create an account?
Process Overview:
- Request Document Provisioning:
- Contact your institution’s registrar’s office or the appropriate department to request the specific document you need (e.g., transcripts, credentials).
- For contact details, please refer to the MyCreds Trust Registry, where you can find your institution’s information.
- Await Email Invitation:
- Once your institution provisions the document, you will receive an email invitation from MyCreds to set up your account. Please monitor your inbox and spam/junk folders for this email.
- Set Up Your MyCreds Account:
- Click the link in the invitation email to create your MyCreds™ account.
- Use the same email address associated with your student record to ensure proper linkage.
- Access and Share Your Documents:
- After logging in, you can view your documents and securely share them with recipients as needed.
If you encounter any issues or have further questions, please contact your institution’s registrar’s office directly, as they are best equipped to assist with MyCreds-related inquiries.
I don’t remember my password.
If you’ve forgotten your password, you can reset it by following these steps:
1. Visit the MyCreds login page.
2. Click on the “Can’t Sign In?” link.
3. Follow the prompts to reset your password. You will receive an email with instructions to complete the process.
If you don’t see the reset email in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folder. If the issue persists, contact your institution’s registrar’s office for further assistance.
My email address assigned by my college or university is no longer active.
If your email address assigned by your institution is no longer active, please follow these steps:
1. Contact Your Institution: Reach out to your institution’s registrar’s office and inform them about the issue. They can update your email address in their system.
2. Receive Updated Access Details: Once your email is updated, your institution can resend the necessary information to access your MyCreds account.
I need to Merge my Accounts. How do I do this?
Here are a few steps you can follow:
- Watch the Profile Settings and Linking Accounts Video:
- We recommend watching the instructional video available on the MyCreds website.
- You can access it here: How-To Videos – Profile Settings and Linking Accounts.
- Link Your Email to Your MyCreds Account:
- If your email is already in use, it’s possible that it’s linked to an existing MyCreds™ account.
- Try logging in using the “Sign in with your email” option on the MyCreds Login page.
- If you don’t remember your password, click “Can’t Sign In?” to reset it.
- Check for Institution-Specific Access:
- Some institutions may have specific processes for linking email addresses.
- If needed, contact your institution’s registrar’s office for additional guidance.
If you continue to experience issues after following these steps, we encourage you to contact your institution’s registrar’s office, as they manage email linkage and document provisioning.
I haven’t received my verification code email OR my code is expired/invalid. What do I do?
Please ensure you’ve completed the following steps:
- check your spam folder for the email
- try using your phone to access the code more quickly; your pc or mac may have a tool or application that’s causing a delay in receiving emails (which are sent immediately), i.e. access the portal on your computer and the email on your phone
- during the login process, you can select an alternate email address on the MFA validation screen by choosing “Try another way” and selecting a different email address.
- Ensure that you don’t
- close your browser window/tab
- navigate to another page
- refresh the page
- request a new verification code too soon (this will overwrite previous codes requested)
There is an error in my document. Can I get a refund?
If you’ve noticed an error in your document, please contact your institution’s registrar’s office directly. They manage the content of academic documents and can assist with corrections.
Please note that MyCreds cannot process refunds independently of the issuing institution. Please reach out to your institution, who can guide you on any corrective actions and next steps.
How do I share a document?
Here’s how you can share your document:
1. Log In to Your MyCreds Account: Go to MyCreds Login and log in using your credentials.
2. Select the Document You Wish to Share: Navigate to the “Documents” section and click on the document you want to share.
3. Use the “Share” Option: Click the “Share” button and follow the prompts to enter the recipient’s email address or select a registered organization.
How do I know my document or credential reached its destination?
You can verify that your document reached its destination by following these steps:
1. Log in to Your MyCreds Account: Go to MyCreds Login and log in using your credentials.
2. Navigate to the “History” Section: Select the document you shared and click on the “History” tab to view the activity log.
3. Check for Delivery Confirmation: The activity log will show whether the recipient has accessed the document.
I would like to share my credentials with an organization that is not listed as a ‘registered organization’.
If the organization you wish to share with is not listed as a “registered organization” in MyCreds, you can still securely share your document by generating a share link.
Here’s how:
1. Log in to Your MyCreds Account: Go to MyCreds Login and log in using your credentials.
2. Select the Document to Share: Navigate to the “Documents” section and click on the document you wish to share.
3. Generate a Share Link: Use the “Share” button to generate a secure link and provide the email address of the recipient.
I need to download a PDF version of my document. How do I do this?
Video with instructions below on how to download a pdf copy of your academic document:
I need hardcopy documents. Can you help?
MyCreds provides secure digital access to academic documents; however, hardcopy documents are managed directly by your institution.
We recommend contacting your institution’s registrar’s office to request hardcopy versions of your records. They will guide you on the process and any associated fees
How can I check if my share was accessed?
You can check if your shared document has been accessed by following these steps:
1. Log in to Your MyCreds Account: Visit MyCreds Login and log in using your credentials.
2. Access the Shared Document: Navigate to the “Documents” section and select the document you shared.
3. Review the “History” Section: The activity log will show whether the recipient has accessed the document and provide timestamps for these actions.
For any issues with document access, please contact your institution for additional support.