New Shipping/Handling Fee for Printed Certificates Takes Effect September 29

Digital certificates offer tremendous advantages to instructors, course takers and employers. This technology allows certificates to be downloaded and printed for free or shared quickly and easily.

The Red Cross is encouraging all instructors to remind participants of the huge advantages in choosing digital versus paper certificates on completion of their course:

• Instant Access: participants receive email notification and a link to their digital certificate as soon as you log it online.

• Code Certain: every digital certificate includes an alpha-numeric code and a Quick Response code (also known as a QR code) allowing participants to scan the code on their smartphone.

• View and Verify: employers can quickly validate the authenticity of certificates by scanning the QR code to access student training history.

• Always Online: digital certificates can't be lost or misplaced.

• Digital Catch-Up: participants who have completed a Red Cross course within the past two years can obtain a digital certificate by going to RedCross.org/DigitalCertificate.

Digital certificates are included as part of the course fee, and can be printed by the course taker for free any time. Course takers who require a printed copy sent from the Red Cross should call 1-800-RED-CROSS. A $7.95 shipping and handling fee will be charged for each request handled by the Red Cross. The shipping and handling fee does not apply to instructor requests for printed certificates. This change goes into effect September 29.

Digital certificates are another reason the Red Cross offers the best in training and service; be sure to share the advantage of going online with your participants.