How to Customize the Date Format in CertFusion

Want your certificate dates to match your region? In CertFusion, open your template's Settings, go to the Recipient tab, and choose an Automatic date format — for example DD/MM/YYYY or "23 June 2026." Click Save, and the issued date updates on every certificate from that template instantly, with no need to reissue anything.

The date shown on a certificate is a small detail that audiences notice. A learner in London reads 17/06/2026 without thinking, while an ISO-style 2026-06-17 can look like a typo to some readers — and 06/17/2026 means something different again depending on where you are. CertFusion lets you set the issued-date format once, at the template level, so every certificate you send matches the convention your audience expects.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A CertFusion certificate template with at least one issued certificate (so you can preview the date change).
• Access to that template's Settings tab.

That's it — this is a settings change, not a redesign. You don't need to edit your certificate layout.

[INTERNAL LINK: Design your certificate template → CertFusion template editor guide]

What the date format controls

The Automatic date format controls how the [certificate.issued_on] date is displayed wherever it appears on the certificate and the public certificate page. It changes presentation only — the underlying issue date stays the same. Switching formats won't reissue certificates or change any dates on record; it just reformats what your recipients see.

Step-by-step: change the certificate date format

1. Check the current date format

Open a certificate's public page — the view your recipient sees after it's issued. By default, the issued date appears in YYYY-MM-DD format (year, month, day), shown here as 2026-06-17.

2. Open Settings and select Recipient

Go back to your certificate template and open the Settings tab. In the left-hand menu, choose Recipient.

3. Choose an Automatic date format

Under Automatic date format, open the dropdown. Each option shows the format name alongside a live example of today's date, so you can see exactly how it will read — for instance YYYY-MM-DD (2026-06-23), DD/MM/YYYY (23/06/2026), or j F Y (23 June 2026). Pick the one that suits your audience.

4. Save your change

Click Save. CertFusion confirms with a "Recipient settings have been updated successfully" message.

5. See the new format on the certificate

Reopen the certificate's public page and refresh. The issued date now shows in your chosen format — here, 17/06/2026 in DD/MM/YYYY. The change applies to every certificate from this template, so you only set it once.

05-updated-date!

Why the date format matters

For CPD, CME, and CEU programs serving learners across regions, date conventions vary — and a certificate is a formal record. Matching the expected local format makes your certificates look professional and avoids confusion about when someone actually completed your course. Setting it at the template level also means consistency: every recipient in a cohort gets the same, correct format without you touching anything per person.

FAQ

Does changing the date format reissue my certificates?

No. The format setting only changes how the issued date is displayed. The actual issue date and the certificate itself stay the same — refresh the certificate page and the new format appears.

Will it apply to certificates I've already sent?

Yes. The format is applied at display time on the public certificate page, so previously issued certificates from that template show the new format once you save and refresh.

Which date formats can I choose from?

CertFusion offers common formats including YYYY-MM-DD (2026-06-23), DD/MM/YYYY (23/06/2026), and j F Y (23 June 2026), each previewed with a live example in the dropdown so you can confirm before saving.

Is the date format set per template or per account?

It's set per template, in that template's Settings under Recipient. This lets different templates use different formats if your programs need them.

What is [certificate.issued_on]?

It's the placeholder for the certificate's issue date. The Automatic date format setting controls how that value is rendered on the certificate and the public page.

Schema suggestion: This post fits HowTo structured data (the numbered steps) combined with FAQPage structured data (the FAQ section). Adding both helps the steps and questions surface in search and AI answers.

Prefer to watch?

Here's the full walkthrough in under a minute — checking the default date, opening Settings, choosing a new Automatic date format, and seeing the certificate update.

https://youtu.be/WntHW9Xn6To