Dear Faculty,
Since we first migrated to Canvas as our Learning Management System, we have been using the free version of Canvas Badges/Credentials, which allows instructors to recognize learner accomplishments by awarding digital badges.
On June 13, 2025, Canvas announced that they will be discontinuing the free version of its Badges/Credentials platform. If you currently use Badges/Credentials in Canvas, please take note of the following timeline.
What’s Changing?
Canvas is phasing out the free version of Badges/Credentials in two stages:
- After June 30, 2025 – You will no longer be able to create a new free issuer account. An issuer is an entity that awards badges. Existing issuers will still be able to award badges up until December 31, 2025.
- After December 31, 2025 – All free issuing capabilities will end. After this date:
Free issuers will no longer be able to issue badges. Data export will be disabled.
Existing issuers will be converted into backpacks and will remain accessible for viewing.
Students and Faculty who previously received badges will still have access to their earned badges through the Canvas Credentials Backpack.