Retraining Schedule (SCORM)
How SCORM training cycles control course resets and retraining cadence
Overview
When courses are delivered using SCORM, retraining is managed through a training cycle tied to each SCORM package. The training cycle determines when a course resets so a learner can retake it and generate a new completion record.
Learners using SCORM dispatch can have only one progress record per course per training cycle. This ensures that when a learner completes a course, a valid completion record is sent back to your LMS or HRIS.
If a learner is reassigned a course within the same training cycle and has not completed it, they will resume where they left off. If the learner has already completed the course, it will continue to appear as complete. This behavior applies regardless of when the assignment is made in your LMS or HRIS.
Important Notes About Changing Retraining Cadence
- If you plan to decrease the retraining duration (for example, from one year to six months), you must contact Support
- If you are increasing the retraining duration, no Support request is required
If changes are made to the retraining schedule, those changes apply only to new learners who have not yet started the course.
- Learners who are In Progress remain tied to the original training cycle
- If no learners are in progress, the updated schedule applies to learners who begin the course after the change
Example:
If a course is set to retrain every year and is later changed to retrain every January, any learner already in progress will remain on the annual cadence.
How Training Cycles Affect Course Resets
Training cycles control when a learner can retake a course and generate a new completion record.
When a training cycle resets:
- The learner’s prior progress is preserved as a historical record
- The learner begins the course again from the start
- A new completion record is generated upon completion
If learners need to retake a course within the same training cycle, contact Support.
Choose the Right SCORM Training Cycle
Use the table below to determine which SCORM training cycle best fits your training needs.
| Training Need | Recommended Training Cycle | Why This Works |
|---|---|---|
| Learners must take a course once every year on the same schedule | Archive annually on a specific calendar date | Keeps retraining aligned to a consistent compliance timeline |
| Learners may need to retake a course multiple times within a year | Archive X days after completion or launch | Offers flexibility while ensuring records reset predictably |
| Course is part of onboarding or orientation | Archive 1 or 2 years after first launch | Bases retraining on when the learner actually starts |
| Course should be taken only once | Archive 1 or 2 years after first launch | Allows sufficient time to complete without forcing retraining |
| Compliance training tied to a specific month or season | Archive annually on a specific calendar date | Simplifies reporting and annual assignment planning |
Retraining Scenarios
The examples below show how learners experience retraining based on the selected training cycle.
Scenario 1: Archive Annually on a Specific Calendar Date
A diversity course is assigned on July 1, 2024. The course is set to archive annually on June 1.
- Andy launches and completes the course on July 30, 2024
- April launches the course on September 15, 2024 but does not complete it
When the next assignment is issued, both learners start the course from the beginning because all progress was archived on June 1.
Scenario 2: Archive X Days After Completion or Launch
A course is assigned on March 1 and set to archive:
-
30 days after completion
-
180 days after launch if incomplete
-
Donna completes the course and her record archives 30 days later
-
Tom launches the course but does not complete it and can continue progress until the 180‑day archive date
After the archive date, Tom must be reassigned and will start the course from the beginning.
Scenario 3: Archive After First Launch
A course is assigned to new hires as part of onboarding.
- Leslie launches and completes the course on October 1, 2024 and becomes eligible to retake it on October 1, 2025
- Ron does not launch the course until November 15, 2024 and becomes eligible to retake it on November 15, 2025
Each learner’s retraining eligibility is based on their first launch date.