How a New Platform Streamlines Learning and Monetization

Moving from an eCommerce and association management platform, where learning was a secondary feature, to a more robust solution that enhances the learner experience and enables monetized certification capabilities, along with the sale of new products. Previously, the organization utilized two different LMS providers that fell short in delivering the necessary functionality for these goals.

Certifications! This solution allows the organization to provide a pathway to official accreditation for their learners while monetizing the offering. It ensures that they do not need to host exams within their own system, yet can confidently guarantee that candidates pursuing certification have met all necessary eligibility requirements.

The association achieved its goal of offering certification programs by providing courses approved for regional pesticide credits. At the end of these courses, learners complete a form to pursue certification, with all purchases managed externally via NetForum. Since the eCommerce aspect operates outside of Thought Industries, the association staff manually verify course prerequisites to ensure learners are eligible for certification.

This approach allows the association to offer official accreditation without hosting the exam within their own LMS, creating a seamless experience for learners. They can gain knowledge, sit for official exams, and receive certification while the association tracks learner eligibility through Thought Industries reporting.

The certification program includes two types: the Certificate of Completion, which ties to an exam and does not expire, and the Certification Program, requiring multiple completion certificates that have a renewal cycle. Learners access exams for the association programs via Examity and Testwise, with real-time data exchange through webhooks for a streamlined registration process. Additionally, multiple-choice quizzes, created using Thought Industries's native functionality, help prepare learners for the exams, with results available in the Assessment Results Overview report.

• Learning Paths
• Certifications
• Webhooks

Learners enroll in content through an external eCommerce platform, with redirects set up from the Thought Industries catalog and detail pages. A combination of Single Sign-On (SSO) and API integrations enables user creation and entitlement grants upon purchases. Course prerequisites are manually verified by staff, and after course completion, learners fill out a form to take the official exam. Learning Paths facilitate certification, and webhooks link to the external certification tool to manage credentials. Staff also verify learner performance and completion through manual reporting.

Colin McGrane

Senior Customer Success Manager