> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mercor Academy

> How to take a free, self-paced Mercor Academy course on the Work Platform and earn a certificate

Mercor Academy is the free learning area of the Mercor Work Platform. You take a course at your own pace, pass a knowledge check after each video lesson, finish with a capstone, and earn a certificate.

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Free and self-paced" icon="graduation-cap">
    There is no cost and no deadline. Your progress is saved, so you can stop and continue later.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Videos, knowledge checks, and a capstone" icon="list-check">
    Each course has short video lessons, a knowledge check after each one, and a final capstone.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Google Chrome on a computer" icon="laptop">
    Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop is the most stable option. The capstone also needs a camera, a microphone, and screen sharing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Certificate at the end" icon="certificate">
    When you complete a course, you earn a certificate you can share on LinkedIn or X.
  </Card>
</Columns>

## Before you start

* Mercor Academy is in the **Learn** tab of the Work Platform, at [work.mercor.com/learn](https://work.mercor.com/learn).
* Use Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop, and start each course in the browser you plan to use for the capstone.
* On a Mac, allow screen recording for Chrome in **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording**.
* Turn off ad blockers for work.mercor.com.
* Turn off any VPN or proxy before you start. The [Account Security and Conduct policy](/policies/account-security-conduct#vpns-proxies-and-anonymizing-networks) explains the VPN block.

## How it works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a course">
    Go to [work.mercor.com/learn](https://work.mercor.com/learn), choose a course, and click **Start learning**. Each course card shows how many lessons the course has and its estimated time.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mercor-external/YAfOkfW6JX-Ln217/images/academy/start-learning.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=YAfOkfW6JX-Ln217&q=85&s=01336a2d014bf1fd11c7af100b5cc20a" alt="A Mercor Academy course card with its lesson count, its estimated time, and the Start learning button" width="500" data-path="images/academy/start-learning.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Agree to the code of conduct and enroll">
    On the welcome page, check the box to agree to the Mercor Academy code of conduct and confirm that the work you submit will be your own. Type your full name under **Signature**, then click **Enroll**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mercor-external/YAfOkfW6JX-Ln217/images/academy/enroll.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=YAfOkfW6JX-Ln217&q=85&s=4c4c16eacfa3f038a4a96a66093e982e" alt="The Accept to begin panel with the code of conduct checkbox, the Signature field, and the Enroll button" width="500" data-path="images/academy/enroll.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch each video lesson">
    Watch each video to the end inside the lesson page, then click **Mark complete & continue**. Lessons unlock in order.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pass the knowledge check after each video">
    After each video there is a short knowledge check. You get 3 attempts per check, and there is no time limit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete the capstone">
    Read the capstone instructions, do the activity they describe, then take the AI interviews at the end of the course.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Claim your certificate">
    When you finish the last capstone interview, click **Claim certificate**. After that, the course page shows **View certificate**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What is in a Mercor Academy course?

A course page lists its lessons in order under **Curriculum**. Each video lesson is followed by a knowledge check on that video. The course ends with the capstone: reading lessons that give its instructions, then the AI interviews.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mercor-external/YAfOkfW6JX-Ln217/images/academy/curriculum.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=YAfOkfW6JX-Ln217&q=85&s=48d97cf6c9248ec3d24d42eedd553f8a" alt="A course's lesson list with video lessons, a knowledge check after each one, and the capstone lessons at the end" width="500" data-path="images/academy/curriculum.png" />
</Frame>

## What is a knowledge check?

A knowledge check is a short quiz after each video lesson in a Mercor Academy course. It is untimed, and you get 3 attempts. Knowledge checks do not show feedback on individual questions.

## What is the capstone?

The capstone is the last unit of a Mercor Academy course. You do not upload anything. You complete the activity described in the capstone instructions, then talk through your work in short AI interviews, sharing your entire screen.

<Warning>
  Never share real confidential information in the capstone. If your work is confidential, or you are not working right now, use a past role, a side or volunteer project, or a realistic example from your field, with made-up or public data only.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why is the button grayed out when I return to a Mercor Academy lesson?">
    When you return to a lesson, Mercor Academy shows a pop-up that asks you to agree to the code of conduct. Check the agreement box and the **Resume** button turns on.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why are my Mercor Academy lessons locked?">
    Mercor Academy lessons unlock in order. Finish the current lesson and click **Mark complete & continue** to open the next one.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What do I do if a lesson video shows a black screen or won't load?">
    If a Mercor Academy video shows a black screen or the message "We couldn't load the video," your network may be blocking Vimeo, which hosts the videos. To fix it:

    1. In Chrome, go to **Settings > Privacy and security > Security**.
    2. Turn on **Use secure DNS** and choose **Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)** or **Google (8.8.8.8)**.
    3. Turn off ad blockers for work.mercor.com, and make sure no VPN is on.
    4. Reload the lesson. If it still does not play, try another network, such as a mobile hotspot.

    If none of this works, contact [support@mercor.com](mailto:support@mercor.com) and tell us which browser and device you are using.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I watch a Mercor Academy video on vimeo.com instead?">
    No. Progress in a Mercor Academy lesson only counts when you watch the video inside the lesson page.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can't I complete a lesson after watching its video?">
    Watch the video to the end without skipping. The **Mark complete** button turns on once the video has played to the end inside the lesson page.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if a lesson won't mark complete after I watched the whole video?">
    If Mercor Academy shows "Couldn't mark lesson complete" after you watched the whole video, wait a minute and click **Mark complete** again. You do not need to watch the video again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why did my knowledge check restart with new questions?">
    Take each Mercor Academy knowledge check in one sitting and stay on it until you finish. If it restarts, answer the new questions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my capstone interview was interrupted and now shows 'Completed'?">
    If your connection dropped, your computer restarted, or the interview was closed by accident, contact [support@mercor.com](mailto:support@mercor.com) and tell us which course and interview it was. We can reset it.

    The reset link is single-use and expires after 1 hour. Use it right away and relaunch the interview from the capstone lesson, in Chrome on your computer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I see 'Could not start the interview' in the capstone?">
    Contact [support@mercor.com](mailto:support@mercor.com) and tell us which course and interview it was, so we can reset it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I fix screen sharing in a Mercor Academy capstone interview?">
    Use Chrome on a computer and share your **entire screen**. On a Mac, allow screen recording for Chrome in **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording**, then restart Chrome. For other screen sharing problems, see [AI interview](/support/ai-interview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can't I find my Mercor Academy interviews in the Assessments tab?">
    Mercor Academy interviews are not listed in the Assessments tab. They only open from the capstone lesson inside the course.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Is Mercor Academy paid, and can I log Academy time on my project timer?">
    No. Mercor Academy courses are free and unpaid, so do not log Academy time on a project timer. [Getting started](/working/getting-started) explains what to log on your timer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does a Mercor Academy course take?">
    Each course card in the **Learn** tab shows the course's number of lessons and its estimated time. There is no deadline, so you can take it at your own pace.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a deadline for Mercor Academy courses?">
    No, Mercor Academy courses have no deadline. Your progress is saved, so you can stop and continue later.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is Mercor Academy the same as a work trial or my project's training?">
    No. Mercor Academy is the free learning area in the **Learn** tab. Work trials and project trainings are separate and have their own rules.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I see which knowledge check answers I got wrong?">
    No. Mercor Academy knowledge checks do not show feedback on individual questions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need to pay for ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI tool?">
    No. The free versions of ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools are enough for Mercor Academy, and Mercor does not require you to buy anything.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="When do I get my Mercor Academy certificate?">
    When you finish the last capstone interview of a course, click **Claim certificate**. After that, the course page shows **View certificate**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I share my Mercor Academy certificate on LinkedIn or my resume?">
    Yes. Use the share button to post your Mercor Academy certificate on LinkedIn or X, or share its verification link. Do not share course content or questions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I change the name on my Mercor Academy certificate?">
    Your Mercor Academy certificate shows the name on your Mercor profile. If that name is wrong, contact [support@mercor.com](mailto:support@mercor.com).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will a Mercor Academy certificate get me projects?">
    Your Mercor Academy certificate appears on your Mercor profile, where teams at Mercor can see it. It can lead to new project opportunities, but it does not guarantee a project, an offer, or a pay change.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related pages

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Take Assessments" icon="clipboard-list" href="/how-to/assessments">
    How the Assessments page works, and how it helps you qualify for opportunities.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Interview" icon="robot" href="/support/ai-interview">
    How to prepare for an AI interview, and what to do when one needs a reset.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Getting Started" icon="compass" href="/working/getting-started">
    Your first day on a Mercor project: onboarding, tools, time tracking, and access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Get in Touch" icon="headset" href="/support/get-in-touch">
    How to contact Mercor support about your account, payments, or interviews.
  </Card>
</Columns>