Member Frequently Asked Questions

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.