7 Tips To Maximize Your LMS Certificate Management Functionality To Improve Compliance

How To Maximize Your LMS Certificate Management To Improve Compliance

Certificates hold employees accountable and allow them to track their progress. As well as highlight performance areas for improvement. Which makes it a perfect pairing for your compliance program. While your team has mastered other LMS features (they know how to customize their dashboards like pros), certifications are still a bit mysterious. Thus, you may not be getting the most from your platform when it comes to reducing compliance risks and upholding company standards. These tips can help you maximize your LMS certificate management functionality to maintain compliance and prevent costly mistakes.

7 Tips To Make The Most Of LMS Certificate Management Functionality

1. Identify Employees Who Are Falling Below Company Standards

LMS certificate management features help you identify employees who are falling behind and aren’t living up to company standards. For example, they haven’t earned their health and safety certificates or aren’t meeting the criteria for your diversity training certs. You can pull these employees aside, find out why they’re lagging behind, and offer follow-up resources. This ensures that everyone is on the same level and meets your current expectations.

2. Track Performance To Identify In-house Compliance Mentors

Compliance certification functionalities also allow you to spot performers who may be good candidates for your mentorship program. Such as those who excel in a particular topic or task and can assist their fellow co-workers. Invite them to host events, form social media groups, or contribute to the compliance training library. Employees who haven’t achieved their certifications will follow their example and strive to do better. Another great way to identify potential mentors is linking your certification paths with badges. Team members who earn top-notch badges are likely to become active compliance training advocates and coaches. Plus, it gives them even more motivation to participate and earn high marks.

3. Keep Accurate Records In The Event Of An Audit

Whether it’s an internal check-up conducted by your HR Manager or an external audit by a governing board, you must maintain accurate records. LMS certificate management functionality helps you keep track of who has completed which course, when, and how they have fared. For example, you can prove that a sales associate has completed their vendor-sponsored product knowledge course, but they need to re-certify again in the fourth quarter. In some cases, the lack of vital compliance records could cost you. Not being able to verify that your team is up-to-par may result in penalties and fines.

4. Set Up Automatic Renewals And Reminders

Who has time to keep tabs on which employee has earned a compliance certificate and when they need to re-take the course? Your LMS admins and HR team are already tasked with so many responsibilities. An LMS with built-in certifications can lighten their load by providing automatic reminders. An employee receives a notification a month before (or any other pre-determined time) their certificate expires. Which gives them the opportunity to renew their cert (certification?) on their own and maintain compliance. They’re also able to brush up on any tie-in skills or topics to prepare for the exam, thereby, reinforcing their knowledge and further improving their performance. They may even find emerging gaps or areas for improvement in the process and address those during the re-certification course.

5. Launch Personalized Certification Pathways Based On Job Rank

Not everyone needs the same online training certifications. It greatly depends on their position, job duties, and tasks. For example, your warehouse staff may require safety training courses that aren’t pertinent to your customer service staff. LMS certificate management functionality personalizes the process because you can launch separate paths. Employees can even use checklists or interactive maps to see what they have achieved, what’s next, and how they can prepare for the upcoming milestone. This ensures that every member of your team has certifications that are relevant to their everyday work responsibilities.

6. Provide Refresher Certification Courses To Mitigate Risks

You don’t necessarily have to provide re-certifications for compliance issues that aren’t mandatory. For instance, the company policy course that isn’t required by law. However, there are always new updates and procedures employees should know about. An LMS with certificate management features is also a variable investment for refresher-worthy topics. Using the example above, employees can take a yearly ‘booster’ course that includes new policies you have put in place or updated protocols that will improve on-the-job performance. Refresher certification courses can also be used as prep work for regulatory compliance programs. Employees can participate in simulations or scenarios that jog their memory and get them ready for the mandatory cert course.

7. Use Customized Reporting To Notify Managers Of Under-performers

Use the LMS customized reporting features to automatically send graphs and charts to managers and supervisors. They’re able to see who has earned which certifications and spot under-performers. This function verifies that the reports get into the right hands. Namely, team leaders who can intervene and offer timely support, before the problem spirals out of control and ends up costing your organization a small fortune. You should also inquire about their preferred report delivery method and how often they need them. For instance, your customer service manager may want to view the reports at the end of every month to prepare for the team meeting shortly after. That gives them time to evaluate the analytics and create a list of recommendations and feedback notes.

Conclusion

LMS certificate management functionality ensures that you’re covered during an audit. More importantly, you can reduce workplace injuries, offer follow-up training support, and personalize the process. Employees have access to knowledge refreshers so that they don’t slip back into bad behaviors, especially when they have a mentor to encourage them and hold them accountable.

Do you need a new LMS for your compliance certification program? Find the best match for your organization with the help of our online directory. It features the top platforms and allows you to search by features, pricing models, and other crucial factors.

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