Open Badges v3 Credentials

CTFFactory issues verifiable digital credentials using the Open Badges v3 standard upon completion of a Learning Path. These credentials are not PDF certificates — they are structured, cryptographically signed, machine-readable assertions that can be independently verified by anyone with the public verification URL.

What Is Open Badges v3?

Open Badges v3 (OBv3) is a specification maintained by IMS Global (1EdTech) that defines how digital badges are structured, signed, and verified. Key properties of the standard:

• Portable — credentials are issued directly to the learner and can be shared anywhere
• Verifiable — any third party can confirm the badge is authentic without contacting CTFFactory directly
• Machine-readable — badge assertions are JSON-LD documents that can be parsed by ATS systems, HR platforms, and skills registries
• Standards-based — aligns with W3C Verifiable Credentials concepts and the 1EdTech CLR (Comprehensive Learner Record) ecosystem

How Credentials Are Issued

A credential is issued automatically when all certifiable cards in a Learning Path reach the Complete state. The sequence is:

1. The learner submits the final piece of required evidence on the last certifiable card.
2. CTFFactory verifies the submission (auto-verify for flags, or approval confirmed for reviewed evidence).
3. The platform generates a signed Open Badges v3 AchievementCredential JSON-LD document.
4. The credential is stored in the learner's CTFFactory account under Learn > My Badges.
5. An email notification is sent to the learner with a direct link to the credential and the public verification URL.

The entire issuance process is automated and typically completes within seconds of the final card being marked complete.

Public Verification URL

Every issued badge has a publicly accessible verification page:

https://app.ctffactory.io/verify/badge/{credential_id}

This URL can be shared with instructors, employers, or any third party. The verification page displays:

• Learner name and email (with consent)
• Badge title and issuing path
• Framework alignment (CCSSF competency clusters, NICE Work Role IDs)
• Badge level (Foundation through Advanced)
• Date of issuance and expiry (if applicable)
• Cryptographic signature status — Valid or Invalid

No CTFFactory account is required to view the verification page.

Machine-Readable Assertion JSON

The underlying credential document is a JSON-LD object conforming to the Open Badges v3 AchievementCredential type. A simplified example:

{
  "@context": [
    "https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1",
    "https://purl.imsglobal.org/spec/ob/v3p0/context-3.0.3.json"
  ],
  "type": ["VerifiableCredential", "OpenBadgeCredential"],
  "id": "https://app.ctffactory.io/verify/badge/cred_01JXABCDE12345",
  "issuer": {
    "id": "https://app.ctffactory.io",
    "type": "Profile",
    "name": "CTFFactory"
  },
  "issuanceDate": "2026-05-18T14:32:00Z",
  "credentialSubject": {
    "id": "did:email:[email protected]",
    "type": "AchievementSubject",
    "achievement": {
      "id": "https://app.ctffactory.io/paths/web-practitioner",
      "type": "Achievement",
      "name": "Web Security Practitioner",
      "description": "Demonstrates applied web security skills aligned to CCSSF WEB-03 and NICE PR-VA-001.",
      "criteria": { "narrative": "Completion of all certifiable cards in the Web Security Practitioner path." },
      "alignments": [
        { "targetName": "CCSSF WEB-03", "targetUrl": "https://www.cyber.gc.ca/ccssf" },
        { "targetName": "NICE PR-VA-001", "targetUrl": "https://www.nist.gov/nice" }
      ]
    }
  },
  "proof": {
    "type": "Ed25519Signature2020",
    "created": "2026-05-18T14:32:01Z",
    "verificationMethod": "https://app.ctffactory.io/.well-known/jwks.json",
    "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod",
    "proofValue": "z..."
  }
}

The raw JSON-LD is downloadable from the My Badges page and from the public verification URL.

What Instructors and Employers Can Verify

Any third party examining a CTFFactory Open Badge can independently confirm:

For HR and ATS platforms: The JSON-LD format is compatible with platforms that support the Open Badges v3 or 1EdTech CLR standards. Learners can also export badges to compatible backpack services such as Badgr or Credly where supported.