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How to Configure Course Prerequisites

Require learners to complete specific content before accessing a course.

Prerequisites allow you to specify content that a learner must complete before they can access a particular course. This is useful for creating structured learning paths where foundational knowledge is required first.

How prerequisites work

  • A learner who has not completed the prerequisite content will see the course in the Catalogue but will not be able to start it.
  • Once the prerequisite is completed, the locked course automatically becomes accessible without any admin intervention.
  • Prerequisites can be applied to: Courses, Live Learnings, Videos, Resources, and Programs.

How to add a prerequisite to a course

  1. Open the course you want to add a prerequisite to.
  2. Click the cog icon and select Update Course.
  3. Scroll to the Prerequisites field > Add Prerequisite.
    1. Select the content that must be completed prior to accessing this content. Prerequisites are ignored if a user is enrolled/registered by a facilitator or admin.
    2. Multiple groups can be added. It is important to pay attention to the "any" and "all" drop-downs when creating a group.
  4. Search for and select the content that must be completed first. Multiple prerequisites can be added — the learner must complete all of them before accessing this course.
  5. Click Update Course to save.

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Things to keep in mind

  • Archived completions count: If a learner previously completed a prerequisite course but their completion was archived by a Refresher Workflow, they may still be able to access the dependent course. Acorn checks for any completion (including archived) when evaluating prerequisites.
  • Admins and Facilitators bypass prerequisites: Admin and Facilitator users can access courses regardless of whether they have completed the prerequisites. Prerequisites only apply to Learner-role users.
  • Prerequisites do not affect enrolment: A learner can be enrolled in a course even if they haven’t completed the prerequisite. They just won’t be able to start the course content until the prerequisite is met.

Removing a prerequisite

  1. Go to Update Course for the course.
  2. In the Prerequisites field, click the X next to the prerequisite you want to remove.
  3. Click Update Course to save.