Every certification needs a number. By default, all programs in your Rhythm account share one ascending certification number sequence. If a program needs its own numbering, such as when you migrate existing certification numbers from another system, you can set that program’s starting point.
What It Controls
This setting controls where a program gets numbers for newly activated certifications. A program either uses the shared number pool for your Rhythm account or a sequence that belongs only to that program. Renewals are not affected, because a renewed certification keeps its existing number. This setting matters only when Rhythm creates a new certification, usually when an application is activated into a certification.
Where to Find It
Go to Setup › Programs › Catalog, then open a program to Create Program or Edit Program. Scroll to the Other Information card near the bottom of the form and find Next Certification Number:.
The Settings
| Setting | Options | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next Certification Number: | Blank, or a whole number of 1 or more | Blank | Leave the field blank to use the shared number pool across every program in your Rhythm account. Enter a number to give that program its own sequence. The next newly activated certification in that program receives that number, and the saved value increases by one for the next certification. |
For example, if you are migrating 1,041 existing certification holders into a program and want the next Rhythm-created certification to be number 1042, enter 1042. The next activation in that program gets 1042, and the program advances to 1043 for the certification after that.
If you migrate those existing holders through an import instead of entering them by hand, the import typically uses Membership Number as the unique identifier that matches each imported row to the right person. A row with no membership number generally is not created during that kind of import, so make sure every row you are migrating has one before you run it.
Dependencies and Precedence
- Applies only to new certifications. When staff create a certification directly, or activate an application into a certification, Rhythm uses the program’s next-number setting. If that field is blank, Rhythm uses the shared pool instead. A renewed certification keeps its existing number, regardless of this setting.
- Cloning a program copies the setting. If you clone a program, the new program starts with the same next certification number as the original program. Two programs can start from the same number until you change one of them.
- You can change it at any time. When you save the program with a different value, the change applies to the next certification that program issues.
Change Impact and How to Revert
Clear Next Certification Number: to return the program to the shared account-wide pool for future certifications. Enter a new number to have the program start counting from that number instead.
Warning
Rhythm does not compare the number you enter with certifications the program has already issued. If you enter a number that is already in use, or lower than one already in use, the next activations issue those same numbers to new holders without warning. Before you reset a program’s next number, check the highest certification number the program has already issued and choose a higher starting point.
Two people can have the program’s edit form open at the same time. If someone saves the form later with an older next-number value, that save can write the older value back after a certification was just activated. That effectively undoes the number advance from the activation. If certification numbers look out of sequence after a busy period of activations and edits, reopen the program and confirm its current next number before you make more changes.
Permissions
Setting or changing a program’s next certification number is part of creating or editing the program. There is no separate permission just for numbering. If your Rhythm account uses stricter Console permission checking, you need permission to create programs to set it on a new program, or permission to edit programs to change it on an existing program. Without that permission, the Create Program or Edit Program page does not open, and you see an Access Denied message instead.
Validation and Errors
- If you enter a value, it must be a whole number of at least 1. Entering 0, a negative number, or a partially typed value shows "You haven't entered a valid value for Next Certification Number" in the form’s error panel.
- To fix the error, enter 1 or greater, or clear the field to use the shared pool.
- Saving does not ask you to confirm a change to this field, so double-check the value before you save changes to an existing program’s numbering.
Related Tasks
Certification numbers are used automatically when an application is activated into a certification or when staff create one directly, as described in Create, Edit, or Delete a Certification. For the rest of what a program’s form controls, including its identity, Portal presentation, and layouts, see Certification Programs.