Course authoring tool
A course authoring tool is software used to create e-learning courses, usually exporting them in a standard format like SCORM or xAPI so they run in any LMS. Some LMS platforms include built-in authoring, and some teams use a separate tool. Either way, the job is the same: turn your material into a trackable online course.
What a course authoring tool does
An authoring tool lets you build lessons from text, images, video, and interactions, add quizzes, and then package the result as a course an LMS can play and track.
The output is usually a SCORM or xAPI file, which is what lets the same course run in any compatible system and report completion and scores.
Built-in vs standalone authoring
Some LMS platforms include authoring, so you build and deliver courses in one place. Others expect you to create courses in a separate tool and upload the SCORM or xAPI file.
Built-in authoring is simpler for teams that mainly build from their own material. A standalone tool can offer more advanced design if you produce a lot of custom content.
Do you need a course authoring tool?
Not always. Many training teams start from material they already have, such as policies, slide decks, and PDFs, rather than building courses from scratch.
If your goal is to make existing documents trackable, you may not need a full authoring tool at all. If you want to design rich, custom interactions, one becomes worth it.
Turning existing content into courses
If your material is already a PDF or a slide deck, you can turn it into a trackable course without rebuilding it. Coursy has a free tool that converts a PDF into a SCORM or xAPI package, in the browser, with no upload.
That is often the fastest way to get existing content into an LMS and start tracking who has completed it.
Convert a PDF to SCORM or xAPI
Frequently asked questions
What is a course authoring tool?
Software used to create e-learning courses, usually exporting them as SCORM or xAPI so they run and report results in any compatible LMS.
What are examples of course authoring tools?
There are many dedicated authoring tools, and some LMS platforms include authoring built in. The common factor is that they export a standard format like SCORM or xAPI.
Do I need a separate authoring tool?
Not always. If you mainly build from existing material, built-in authoring or a converter may be enough. A standalone tool is worth it when you design a lot of rich, custom content.
Does an LMS include course authoring?
Some do and some do not. If authoring is built in, you create and deliver courses in one place. If not, you build courses elsewhere and upload the SCORM or xAPI file.
What format do course authoring tools export?
Usually SCORM, and increasingly xAPI. Both are standards that let a course run in any compatible LMS and report completion and scores.
Can I turn a PDF into a course?
Yes. Coursy has a free browser-based tool that converts a PDF into a SCORM or xAPI package, so you can make existing documents trackable without rebuilding them.