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SPECIFICTION
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European Digital Credentials for Learning

europass.europa.eu

Free plan WebWindows
Visit europass.europa.eu
Spec score 7.5 #25 of 31 in Credentialing Software

What it is

European Digital Credentials for Learning provides tools for organisations to create, issue, view, store, share, and verify credentials for degrees, diplomas, micro-credentials, participation certificates, and other learning records. The Online Credential Builder makes reusable templates; the EDC Issuer can issue from those templates or take existing JSON credentials for sealing and delivery. Credentials may be emailed or sent to Europass and other EDC-compliant wallets, and holders can share links when their wallet supports them. The viewer checks matters including format, seal, owner, revocation, accreditation, and validity. Credentials need an advanced or qualified electronic seal, and the viewer checks its integrity. The infrastructure says it does not store the personal information layer added for recipients. It issues JSON-LD credentials aligned with W3C Verifiable Credential v1.1 and uses the European Learning Model. The web tools require free NexU software, which runs only on Windows. Issuer, Viewer, and Wallet components are open-source software for integration into an organisation’s own infrastructure. The infrastructure is free; the listed platforms are web and Windows.

Spec sheet

Purpose
The infrastructure provides tools to create, issue, view, store, share and verify European Digital Credentials for Learning.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Intended users
Any institution, organisation or company that wishes to issue credentials aligned with European standards can use the tools.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Support
The Commission offers guidance and technical assistance for digitising more complex credentials and lists an EDC support email for questions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Credential builder
The Online Credential Builder lets organisations create reusable credential templates.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Credential types
Credentials can represent degrees, diplomas, micro-credentials, participation certificates and other learning records.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Data handling
The EDC infrastructure states that it never stores the personal information layer added for credential recipients.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Issuing formats
The EDC Issuer can issue from Online Credential Builder templates or accept existing credentials in JSON format for sealing and sending.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Open source
The Issuer, Viewer and Wallet components are available as open-source software for integration into an organisation's own infrastructure.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Platform requirement
Issuing credentials with the web tools requires the free NexU software, which the page says can run only on Windows devices.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Security and trust
Credentials must be sealed with an advanced or qualified electronic seal, and the seal's integrity is checked when the credential is viewed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Standards and integrations
The infrastructure issues JSON-LD credentials aligned with W3C Verifiable Credential v1.1 and uses the European Learning Model.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Verification
The viewer automatically checks credential authenticity and validity, including format, seal, owner, revocation, accreditation and validity checks.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu
Wallets and sharing
Credentials can be sent by email or to Europass and other EDC standard-compliant wallets, and holders can share them using links when their wallet supports that feature.Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu

Plans and prices

European Digital Credentials for Learning infrastructure Free Freely available to organisations and institutions · issuing requires an eIDAS-compliant electronic seal and NexU on Windows Read 7 Oct 2026 · europass.europa.eu

Every European Digital Credentials for Learning plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free infrastructure for organisations and institutions.
  • Creates reusable credential templates.
  • Viewer checks authenticity and validity.
  • Supports email and compliant wallet delivery.
  • Open-source components are available for integration.

Limits

  • Issuing requires NexU on Windows.
  • Credentials require an advanced or qualified electronic seal.
  • Digital badges are not supported.

Who it suits

It suits institutions, organisations, and companies that want to issue learning credentials aligned with European standards. Teams with more complex digitisation needs can seek guidance and technical assistance from the Commission.

Verdict

This is a free credential workflow for organisations that need to create and verify learning records. Issuing through the web tools has a Windows-only NexU requirement and requires an electronic seal.

Where Specifiction places it

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