Course Categories
Organise your courses into categories for easy navigation
Overview
Course categories help you organise training into logical groups. Categories are used to:
- Group similar courses together in the catalog
- Filter courses in reports
- Help users find relevant training
- Apply consistent visual styling to related courses
Step-by-Step: Adding a Category
Open Admin Settings
- Log in as an Admin
- Click Admin in the navigation menu
- Select Settings
- Click on the Categories tab
Fill in Category Details
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | The category name (e.g., "Health & Safety", "Compliance") |
| Description | No | A brief description of what courses are in this category |
| Icon | No | Choose an icon to visually identify the category |
| Colour | No | Select a colour for the category header in the catalog |
Choose an Icon
Click on the icon selector to choose from available icons:
- Book (default)
- Shield
- Award
- Briefcase
- Heart
- Users
- And more...
Choose a Colour
Select a colour from the palette. This colour will be used:
- As a header bar on course cards in the catalog
- To visually group related courses
Save
Click Add Category to save. The category is now available when creating or editing courses.
Managing Categories
Editing a Category
- Find the category in the list
- Click the Edit (pencil icon) button
- Update the name, description, icon, or colour
- Click Save
Tip
Deleting a Category
- Find the category in the list
- Click the Delete (trash icon) button
- Confirm the deletion
Warning
Suggested Categories
Here are common categories used by organisations:
| Category | Typical Courses |
|---|---|
| Health & Safety | Fire safety, Manual handling, First aid |
| Compliance | GDPR, Anti-bribery, Code of conduct |
| IT & Security | Cyber security, Phishing awareness, Password safety |
| Leadership | Management skills, Performance reviews, Coaching |
| Induction | Company introduction, Systems training, Team meet |
| Professional Development | Presentation skills, Time management, Communication |
| Policy | Company policies requiring acknowledgment |
How Categories Work in the Catalog
When users browse the Training Catalog:
- Category Header: Each course shows its category with the chosen colour
- Category Icon: The selected icon appears on the course card
- Filtering: Users can filter courses by category
- Grouping: Courses are organised by category when viewing the catalog
Best Practices
Keep Categories Broad
- Good: "Health & Safety"
- Avoid: "Fire Safety Training Only"
Use Consistent Colours
Consider using a colour scheme:
- Red/Orange for mandatory compliance
- Blue for professional development
- Green for wellbeing
- Purple for leadership
Limit the Number
Aim for 5-10 categories. Too many categories make navigation confusing.
Troubleshooting
Category not appearing when creating a course
Refresh the page after adding a new category.
Can't delete a category
The category has courses assigned. Go to Course Management and reassign those courses to a different category first.
Icon not displaying correctly
Try selecting a different icon and saving, then switch back to your preferred icon.
Related Guides
- Adding Courses - Assign categories when creating courses
- Searching the Catalog - Filter by category
- Course Builder - Create courses in specific categories