How to Create a Certificate in PowerPoint - Step-by-Step Manual

There are many reasons why you want to issue digital certificates. Thus, you are looking for an easy, quick, and free program to accomplish this task. Sounds like a familiar scenario, right? 

In today's article, we will tell you about how to create certificates in a widely used program – Microsoft PowerPoint. What's more, you'll learn whether it's worth using this system to manage diplomas and what other options you have to issue diploma documents successfully. So, let's get started!

Why creating a digital certificate is your best option?

Digital certificates and badges have become very popular recently. Here are a few reasons why:

can be shared on social media

can be signed with digital signatures

don't need to be handed out in person but sent to an email address

can be issued by a third-party certificate authority

are a great idea for rewarding project participants

So, if you're having trouble deciding how to reward your students, learners, webinar participants, etc., you can bet on impressive certificates! And we know a tool which can help you a lot with that. Surprise, surprise – it's not Microsoft PowerPoint.

Certifier is a certificate creator that makes credentials quick to build. All you need is a little creativity (but you can also use editable templates available). What's more, Certifier certificates can be designed to fit in with your brand's visual identity. And it's the software that takes care of certificate issuing as well!

Create and Send Digital Credentials

Take your digital certificate making to the next level.

Start for free

But if you still want to know the process of creating certificates in PowerPoint, we'll show you the quickest way possible to do that.

How to create a PowerPoint certificate template?

To successfully make a certificate in PowerPoint, you need to follow certain steps.

Step 1: Make a blank ppt presentation

To do so, go to the PowerPoint or download the app. You will have a choice of blank PowerPoint slides, but below, you will also find some PowerPoint certificate templates that you just need to fill in. We, however, are starting today with the blank presentation, so it's one you can choose. Immediately after that, a white rectangle will appear, which we will create. 

At the top is the Menu, and on the right is the window with themes, which you can close. On the left, you have a preview of your certificates, so if you add a new slide, it will appear there too.

Get access to more free PowerPoint certificate templates.

Step 2: Define and type the diploma certificate text

If your screen looks like in the previous step, we can go on. Now, we will start with defining and typing text on the diploma. To insert the text, you have to click on the project where it says Click to add a title – there you add title, and Click to add subtitle – there you add other content. 

But, if you want to add a new text field, you have to find Insert in the Menu. Then, on the left side, there is an A in the rectangle. If you click on this option, you will add a new text box!

Think carefully about what you wish to type and put text where you want it to appear. For example, like we just did.

We opted for two fonts – Century Gothic and STXingkai – and arranged the elements so that the awardee's name is in the center, along with the reason for giving the certificate.

Of course, you can arrange the text as you like and choose the best option. All that matters is that it should not be close to any edge so that it will not be cut off during eventual printing.

Step 3: Choose the PowerPoint certificate template background

Next, choose the color of the background to be on the certificate. You can choose from the colors that are available in PowerPoint and cover the entire space with them. To do this, you need to go again in the Menu to the Drawing field, choose a rectangle and draw one of the sizes of your slide. 

Then fill this rectangle with a color. To do this, go to the Shape Format tab, find Shape Styles, and select Shape Fill. But if you want your background to be white – this is also a good choice. Then, to make it more attractive, you can focus on adding some other elements.

Or you can find images on the Internet that will fit the theme of the course/event/webinar and make a background from them. Or even better – find a graphic that will be perfect to cover the entire background.

The possibilities are many, but the choice is yours. For us, it worked out like this. We paste the background and match it to the design.

Step 4: Add elements to your certificate design in ppt

The background is ready, and the text is also, so now it's time for the extras. Include such elements as you want in the design. We, for example, will add a rectangle under the certificate name to make it more visible. We'll also change the font color to match the design.

To do this, we select a rectangle from the Drawing section, draw it in a way that suits our needs, and fill it with color – just like in the previous step. We will not add new graphics because then the certificate will not be readable. And now it looks good!

Step 5: Save your project and send it to recipients

And that's it! You can save your project by clicking on File and on Save or Save As.

Keep the certificate in a prominent place and send it to the participants of your event. Unfortunately, you have to do this manually.

Why are certificate presentation NOT the best opinion available to make certificates?

The simple interface and wide popularity of PowerPoint are definitely among its best features. It not only allows you to create business presentations and colorful slide designs but also other simple projects, including just various credentials. Thanks to its ease of use, many people find it useful. However, PowerPoint has some limitations that definitely slow down document creation.

Here are some reasons why you should abandon the idea of creating certificates in PowerPoint.

It’s not a premium Certificate System

First of all, you have to remember that PowerPoint is not a dedicated system for certificate creation. You won't find many basic features there (not to mention drop-down menus, pre-made certificate elements, ready certificate layouts, certificate styles, etc.).

While PowerPoint does offer you some free certificate templates, there are only a few of them. What’s more, using such award templates has one key disadvantage: they are very popular, which means your competitors can also use them. As a result, you either have to create a certificate from scratch or search the Internet for other awesome certificate template designs.

Pst! Certifier provides a library of free certificate templates that you can customize to your liking!

Free PowerPoint certificate templates →

Can be time-consuming

Creating online documents in PowerPoint can be tedious. Imagine you want to send certificates to 50 recipients. With PowerPoint, you will have to type the name of each recipient manually. 

The tool doesn't give you a function that fills in the names of the participants in the document yourself. And that will make delivering certificates to clients not so fast anymore.

Can’t send certificates in bulk

There is no such option in PowerPoint as sending certificates in bulk, which allows you to send all your documents in one go. Instead, you have the standard format for sending documents – which is – surprise – manual.

This is a huge inconvenience with 50 recipients waiting for their documents, let alone with more participants in your course.

Can’t manage your credentials

In PowerPoint, you don't have any options related to managing digital credentials. You can't see who successfully received the certificate, who opened it, whether any of the participants added it to social media, etc. You can only save the file to your computer's desktop and come back to it when you want to edit it. 

So, as you can see, PowerPoint is not as perfect a solution as you thought. Although it's easy to use, it lacks the features that are key to building, managing, and sending certificates.

The fastest way on how to make a certificate

So, instead of opting for PowerPoint, why not bet on a tool that will deliver certifications like a pro?

Watch this video to see how to make a certificate in PowerPoint in 8 minutes:

Certifier is an advanced certificate software that will help you create great projects, make your documents shine, and send them in a few moments. Using it, you won't have to worry about the kind of problems you encounter when using PowerPoint. Certifier is intuitive and easy to use, so everyone can use it.

In addition to managing certificates, with this tool, you will be able to:

manage your recipients

create different groups and send documents only to selected users

have marketing insights in real-time so that you can make key decisions for your business.

In Certifier, you can create digital certificates in two ways. Using ready-made PowerPoint templates and manually, that is, from scratch (using built-in features).

Best practices for creating a certificate template for PowerPoint (and not only!)

Can you see it? It's not complicated. You probably don't have to learn much to get into a routine with it. In addition to this guide, we've got three best practices for you that are sure to come in handy when designing certificates – whether in PowerPoint or Certifier.

Choose the main professional-looking certificate style

When choosing, e.g., a certificate template for PowerPoint or when you want to edit a certificate template, follow one style. Choose the one that best suits the theme of the course/webinar/training/classes.

This way, your activities will be consistent and will be positively received by the audience. And moreover, the whole project will be clear and attractive. If you want to mix several styles, you need to do it carefully. After all, you want your project to be visually appealing, right?

Include branding

To make your credentials give 100%, try to include elements of your brand, for example, logo, color combination used by your brand, style, font, etc.

Such a procedure make customizable certificates promotion of your company and increase its recognition in the market. For example, if you add your company's logo to a document and someone shares your credential on social media, you are thereby increasing the chance that more people will know about your business and the courses you offer.

This, in turn, can lead to more interest in your products and more sales. Such a simple procedure, and so many benefits.

Less is more

Following the rule of less is more, you can assume that the simpler the certificate design, the better it will be for your target audience! Include key information (such as the name of the person) and put it in the foreground.

Don't overdo the elements you add. Put more emphasis on the readability of the certificate and its structure. Add an image only if necessary. Graphics are great, but they can focus attention and distract from the content of the document.

Use a maximum of two fonts, but one will also be a good option. What's more, don't mix colors – bet on those related to your brand or those that match, such as two shades of yellow.

Creating certificates in PowerPoint is now easier than ever

As you can see, issuing digital certificates is a piece of cake. But only if your chosen platform supports your efforts. Then, even if you have a complicated project to do, you will still be successful in delivering the certificate files to the right people.

You don't need to struggle with unintuitive systems. Go to Certifier, sign in, and you'll be able to design attractive certificates today!