Overview

Submitting external credit just got significantly faster. We now use AI to read your uploaded certificate of completion and automatically fill in the details of your external credit request, so you spend less time on data entry and more time on what matters.

When you upload a certificate PDF, the system scans it and populates key fields on your behalf. You can then review, make any corrections, and submit - it's that simple.

How It Works

For Professionals Submitting External Credit

Step 1: Navigate to External Credit

Log in to LCvista and go to your External Credit submission form. Depending on how your firm has configured the system, this may appear as Submit External Credit (if approval is required) or Request External Credit (if approval is not required).

Step 2: Upload Your Certificate

Click to upload your certificate of completion in PDF format. Once uploaded, a preview of your certificate will appear alongside the form so you can reference it at any time during the process.

Step 3: Review the Auto-Populated Fields

Once the certificate is uploaded, we will scan your certificate and automatically fill in the following fields where the information is found:

• Program Name — the title of the course or event

• Completion Date — the date you completed the activity

• Sponsor Name & NASBA ID — the organization that issued the credit

• Field(s) of Study — the CPE subject area(s)

• Credit Value(s) — the number of CPE hours awarded

• Delivery Method — how the course was delivered (e.g., Group Internet Based, QAS Self-Study)

Fields that were filled in automatically will be visually indicated so you know exactly what was auto-populated versus what you may need to enter manually.

Step 4: Review, Edit, and Submit

Always review the populated fields before submitting. While the functionality is designed to be accurate, you know your certificate best. If anything looks off, simply correct it. Once you're satisfied, submit your request per your firm's normal workflow.

Tip: If a field wasn't populated, it may mean that information wasn't clearly present on your certificate. You can always fill those fields in manually.

For Administrators Reviewing Submissions

A side-by-side view of the populated form and the uploaded certificate is available to help you efficiently validate the extracted information without toggling between screens.

From there, your normal review options remain the same- you can approve, deny, or return the request for review as needed. The AI certificate scan does not change any approval rules, permissions, or downstream processing.

What to Expect

• Most certificates will populate successfully. This new feature functionality is trained to recognize common CPE certificate formats, including those from NASBA-registered sponsors.

• Not all certificates are identical. If a certificate uses an unusual format or the relevant information isn't clearly printed, some fields may not auto-populate. This is normal - simply fill in any remaining fields manually.

• Auto-populated fields are always editable. Nothing is locked. You are always in control of what gets submitted.

• Your existing workflow is unchanged. The certificate scan only affects the data entry step. All approval rules, credit validation, and compliance tracking work exactly as they always have.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file types are supported? Currently, the AI certificate scan supports PDF files only.

What if the wrong information was extracted? Simply edit any field before submitting. The auto-populated values are suggestions; you have full control to correct anything before your request is sent for approval (or processing- if your firm does not require approval for external credit entry).

Does this work for all three external credit workflows? Yes. Whether your firm requires approval or allows self-managed credit, the certificate scan and PDF preview are available across both workflows.

Will this affect how my credit is approved or recorded? No. The AI only assists with the data entry portion of the form. All approval logic, credit rules, and compliance tracking remain exactly the same.

What information does this new feature look for on my certificate? The system looks for your program name, completion date, sponsor name, and NASBA ID, field(s) of study, credit value(s), and delivery method. These are the standard fields required to submit an external credit request in LCvista.