---
title: How to Manage a Departing or Transferring Staff Member's Acorn Account
description: How to manage an Acorn PLMS user account when a staff member departs or transfers, including suspending access and preserving training records.
image: https://help.acorn.works/hubfs/acorn-meta-preview.png
---

[Skip to content](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/how-to-manage-a-departing-or-transferring-staff-member#main-content)

English - Australia

Show submenu for translations

[Contact Us](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en-au) [Customer Portal](https://support.acorn.works/tickets?hsLang=en-au)

[![AcornLogo\_Horizontal\_FullColourWhite\_1000px](https://help.acorn.works/hs-fs/hubfs/AcornLogo_Horizontal_FullColourWhite_1000px.png?width=200&height=45&name=AcornLogo_Horizontal_FullColourWhite_1000px.png)](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre?hsLang=en-au)

- [Help Articles](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles)
- [Patch Notes](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes)
- [Status](https://status.acorn.works/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Help Articles](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles)
- [Patch Notes](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes)
- [Status](https://status.acorn.works/)
- English - Australia
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [Contact Us](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/kb-tickets/new)
- [Customer Portal](https://support.acorn.works/tickets)

 Welcome to the Help Centre

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Acorn Help Centre](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre?hsLang=en-au)
2. [Help Articles](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au)
3. [User Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#user-management)

19 June 2026

# How to Manage a Departing or Transferring Staff Member's Acorn Account

## Steps to offboard a departing employee or transfer a staff member's account.

When a staff member leaves your organisation or transfers to a different role or tenancy, their Acorn account should be managed carefully to preserve their training history while removing or adjusting their access.

### When a staff member leaves

#### Step 1: Suspend the account

Suspending an account prevents the user from logging in while retaining all their training data and completion history. This is preferable to deleting the account.

1. Go to **Admin \> User Management \> Browse and Update Users** and search for the user.
2. Click the lock under **Suspended.
   
   ![2026-06-19 15.15.41](https://help.acorn.works/hs-fs/hubfs/2026-06-19%2015.15.41.gif?width=670&height=436&name=2026-06-19%2015.15.41.gif)**

See [How to Suspend and Un-suspend a User](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/how-to-suspend-and-un-suspend-a-user?hsLang=en-au) for detailed steps.

#### Step 2: If using a HR feed

If your tenancy uses an HR feed, the account will be automatically suspended when the user is marked as departed in your HR system and the next sync runs. You do not need to manually suspend the account in this case — but you may want to do so immediately if access needs to be revoked before the next sync. See [HRIS Integration FAQs](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/hris-integration-faqs?hsLang=en-au).

#### Step 3: Reassign any supervisor relationships

If the departing user was a supervisor, their direct reports will need to be reassigned to a new supervisor. Update the *manager\_username* field for affected users via a Bulk User Upload. See [How to Bulk Upload Users](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/how-to-bulk-upload-new-users?hsLang=en-au).

### When a staff member transfers internally and their role changes

1. Update their **Job Title**, **Department**, and **Cohort** memberships to reflect the new role.
2. If their email address changes, update it in Acorn before the HR feed sync to avoid a duplicate account being created. See [How to Browse and Update Users](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/browse-and-update-users?hsLang=en-au).
3. Review their enrolments — they may need to be unenrolled from role-specific courses and enrolled in new ones.

### Can I delete a user account instead?

Acorn does not recommend self-service deletion of user accounts. Suspending the account is the recommended approach as it preserves training records for compliance and reporting purposes.

- [Help Articles](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [User Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#user-management)
    - [Course Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#course-management)
    - [Live Learning Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#live-learning-management)
    - [Email Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#email-management)
    - [Tenancy Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#tenancy-management)
    - [Reporting](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#reporting)
    - [Workflows](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#workflows)
    - [Capabilities](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#capabilities)
    - [Momentum](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#momentum)
    - [Resources, Videos, Programs and Pages](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#resources-videos-programs-and-pages)
    - [Payments](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#payments)
    - [Multi-Language](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#multi-language)
    - [Content Sharing](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#content-sharing)
    - [Widget Dashboards](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#widget-dashboards)
    - [Forms](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#forms)
    - [Activities](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#activities)
    - [Self Registration](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#self-registration)
    - [End User Guides](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#end-user-guides)
    - [Single Sign-On](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/help-articles?hsLang=en-au#single-sign-on)
- [FAQ's](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Gamification & Social Learning](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#gamification-social-learning)
    - [Implementation & Onboarding](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#implementation-onboarding)
    - [Roles, Permissions & Access Control](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#roles-permissions-access-control)
    - [Hosting, Infrastructure & Business Continuity](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#hosting-infrastructure-business-continuity)
    - [Learning Paths & Development Plans](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#learning-paths-development-plans)
    - [Competency & Skills Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#competency-skills-management)
    - [Support & Customer Success](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#support-customer-success)
    - [Incident Management & Security Operations](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#incident-management-security-operations)
    - [Notifications & Communications](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#notifications-communications)
    - [Network & Application Security](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#network-application-security)
    - [Certifications & Compliance Tracking](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#certifications-compliance-tracking)
    - [Authentication & Single Sign-On](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#authentication-single-sign-on)
    - [Multi-Tenancy & Organizational Structure](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#multi-tenancy-organizational-structure)
    - [eCommerce & Monetization](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#ecommerce-monetization)
    - [Compliance Certifications & Audits](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#compliance-certifications-audits)
    - [Data Security & Encryption](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#data-security-encryption)
    - [User Management & Accounts](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#user-management-accounts)
    - [Personnel & Physical Security](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#personnel-physical-security)
    - [Localization & Language Support](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#localization-language-support)
    - [Mobile Access & Offline Learning](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#mobile-access-offline-learning)
    - [Branding, UI & User Experience](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#branding-ui-user-experience)
    - [Assessments, Quizzes & Surveys](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#assessments-quizzes-surveys)
    - [Integrations & APIs](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#integrations-apis)
    - [Course & Content Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#course-content-management)
    - [Workflow Automation](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#workflow-automation)
    - [Instructor-Led & Virtual Training (ILT/VILT)](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#instructor-led-virtual-training-ilt-vilt)
    - [Enrollment & Registration](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#enrollment-registration)
    - [Secure Development & Change Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#secure-development-change-management)
    - [Reporting & Analytics](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#reporting-analytics)
    - [Performance Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#performance-management)
    - [Privacy & Data Protection](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#privacy-data-protection)
    - [User Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/faqs?hsLang=en-au#user-management)
- [Patch Notes](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [2026](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes?hsLang=en-au#2026)
    - [2025](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes?hsLang=en-au#2025)
    - [2024](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes?hsLang=en-au#2024)
    - [2023](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes?hsLang=en-au#2023)
    - [2022](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/patch-notes?hsLang=en-au#2022)
- [Developers](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/developers?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [API](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/developers?hsLang=en-au#api)
- [Announcements](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/announcements?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [New Features & Updates](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/announcements?hsLang=en-au#new-features-updates)
- [Course Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/course-management?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Course Settings](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/course-management?hsLang=en-au#course-settings)
    - [Enrolments](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/course-management?hsLang=en-au#enrolments)
    - [Forms](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/course-management?hsLang=en-au#forms)
    - [Course Types](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/course-management?hsLang=en-au#course-types)
- [Troubleshooting](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Workflows](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#workflows)
    - [Course Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#course-management)
    - [User Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#user-management)
    - [Reporting](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#reporting)
    - [End User Guides](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#end-user-guides)
    - [Quizzes & Assessments](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#quizzes-assessments)
    - [Email](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#email)
    - [Access & Login](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#access-login)
    - [Live Learning Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#live-learning-management)
- [Getting Started](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Technical Requirements](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#technical-requirements)
    - [Reference](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#reference)
- [Capabilities](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/capabilities?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Reporting](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/capabilities?hsLang=en-au#reporting)
    - [Overview](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/capabilities?hsLang=en-au#overview)
    - [Assessments](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/capabilities?hsLang=en-au#assessments)
    - [Setup & Configuration](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/capabilities?hsLang=en-au#setup-configuration)
    - [Administration](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/capabilities?hsLang=en-au#administration)
- [Momentum](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/momentum?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Workflow Builder](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/momentum?hsLang=en-au#workflow-builder)
- [Administration](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Email](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#email)
    - [Training Records](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#training-records)
    - [Certificates](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#certificates)
    - [Multi-Tenancy](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#multi-tenancy)
    - [Security](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#security)
    - [User Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/administration?hsLang=en-au#user-management)
- [Reporting](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/reporting?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Reports](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/reporting?hsLang=en-au#reports)
- [User Management](https://help.acorn.works/help-centre/user-management?hsLang=en-au)

[![AcornLogo\_Horizontal\_FullColourWhite\_1000px](https://help.acorn.works/hs-fs/hubfs/AcornLogo_Horizontal_FullColourWhite_1000px.png?width=200&height=45&name=AcornLogo_Horizontal_FullColourWhite_1000px.png "AcornLogo_Horizontal_FullColourWhite_1000px")](https://acorn.works/)

###### GET IN TOUCH

[support@acorn.works](mailto:support@acorn.works)

---

[Asia Pacific: +61 2 6269 3330](tel:+61262693330)

8:30am to 5:30pm AEST, Mon - Fri

---

[North America: +1 (888) 419-2505](tel:+18884192505)

8:30am to 5:30pm PT, Mon - Fri

<https://www.facebook.com/acornplms#> [mailto:hello@acorn.works](mailto:hello@acorn.works) <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEJBx67PrxKHQ5yX3kEN6Zg> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/acorn-plms/posts/?feedView=all>

Copyright © 2025, Acorn PLMS