General Questions
What is AcadCert?
AcadCert is a secure platform for issuing, storing, and verifying academic credentials using RSA-4096 cryptographic signatures. It ensures that degrees, transcripts, and certificates cannot be forged or tampered with.
Who can use AcadCert?
AcadCert serves three types of users: Students who receive credentials, Issuers (faculty/registrars) who issue credentials on behalf of institutions, and Administrators who manage institutional settings and users.
How secure are credentials on AcadCert?
Each credential is cryptographically signed using RSA-4096 encryption—the same security standard used by governments and financial institutions. Every document can be independently verified to confirm it was issued by the stated institution and has not been altered.
For Students
How do I access my credentials?
After your institution issues a credential to you, you'll receive an email notification. Log in to AcadCert using your institutional email to view, download, and share your documents.
Can I download my credentials?
Yes. All credentials can be downloaded as PDF files with embedded cryptographic signatures. Downloaded files retain their verification capabilities—anyone can confirm authenticity using the public verification page.
How do I share credentials with employers or other institutions?
You can share credentials by downloading the PDF and sending it directly, or by sharing the verification link. Recipients can verify authenticity through the public verification portal without needing an account.
What if my credential shows as "Revoked" or "Superseded"?
"Superseded" means a newer version has been issued (e.g., an updated transcript). "Revoked" indicates the credential is no longer valid. Contact your institution's registrar for details or to request corrections.
For Credential Issuers
How do I issue a credential?
Navigate to the Upload page, select the student recipient, choose the document type, upload the PDF, and submit. The system will cryptographically sign the document and notify the student via email.
Can I revoke or update a credential after issuing it?
Yes. Issuers can revoke credentials (marking them invalid) or supersede them by uploading a corrected version. Both actions require providing a reason and are logged in the audit trail.
What file types are supported?
Only PDF files are accepted, with a maximum size of 50MB. The system validates each PDF for security threats and embeds metadata before signing.
Who can I issue credentials to?
Issuers can only issue credentials to students registered under their institution. Students must be pre-approved (whitelisted) by an administrator before credentials can be issued to them.
Technical & Security
How does cryptographic verification work?
Each document is hashed (converted to a unique fingerprint) and signed using the institution's private RSA key. Verification involves re-computing the hash and confirming the signature matches using the public key—proving the document is authentic and unaltered.
Where are documents stored?
Documents are securely stored on encrypted servers with access controls based on user roles. Cryptographic keys are managed separately from document files for additional security.
Can credentials be forged or tampered with?
No. Any modification to a signed document—even changing a single character—will cause verification to fail. Only the issuing institution possesses the private key needed to create valid signatures.
What happens if I lose access to my account?
Contact your institution's administrator to regain access. Your credentials remain securely stored and can be accessed once your account is recovered.
Still have questions?
For technical support or platform-specific inquiries, contact your institution's credential administrator or registrar office.