Adding Custom Registration Fields to LearnDash with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

Why Custom Registration Fields Matter for Course Providers

Elevate your course experience by unlocking powerful student insights with custom registration fields. Using the information collected by custom registration fields, you can match students to the right level courses, adjust your course content and materials to align with their specific objectives, and accommodate different learning requirements and preferences.

Remember: Only ask for information you'll actually use to improve your courses or student experience. Each field should have a clear purpose!

The guide below will walk you through the process of creating and implementing custom fields to collect the information you need to increase engagement and streamline learning experiences.

Getting Started

1. You’ll need an active LearnDash Registration Form on your website. This form must already exist so you can insert your custom fields. Learn more about setting up a default LearnDash Registration Form here.
2. Next, download your choice of either the free version, or the paid premium version ZIP plugin file from the Advanced Custom Fields website. Note that for the purposes of this tutorial, you just need the free version!
   1. Once you are there, you’ll see a “Download” button with the most current software version number. Click on that to download the latest version for your installation
   2. Now you should have an advanced-custom-fields ZIP file in your Downloads folder. Note that some browsers (specifically Safari) automatically unzip ZIP files upon download. If you see a folder instead of a ZIP file, you’ll need to ZIP that folder before proceeding.
   3. Next, upload the ZIP file to your WordPress website. To do this, navigate in your WordPress admin to “Plugins > Add New Plugin”. From there click on “Choose File”. That will open your computer’s file system for you to find the ZIP file you previously downloaded. Choose that and click the Install Now button.

Creating Your Custom Fields

Once you’ve activated Advanced Custom Fields and have your registration form ready, go to ACF > Custom Fields in your WordPress dashboard. Click "Add New" to create a Fields Group and name the Fields Group so you can identify it as part of your registration system. For example: “Extra Registration Fields”

Then, determine your field type to start adding your custom fields:

• Field Type: Select the appropriate field type for each custom field. Various field types are available, including text areas, radio buttons, check boxes, etc.
• Field Label: Provide a label for each field.
• Additional Options: You can make fields required, set character limits, and add placeholder text.

Set Location Rules

To ensure your custom fields appear on the LearnDash Registration Form, you'll need to set up Location Rules:

1. Create a New Rule: In the location rules section, create a rule to display the fields on the user form.
2. Set User Form to "All": Ensure the rule is set to "User Form is equal to All".
3. Save Changes: Click "Save Changes" to apply your new settings.

The new custom registration fields created with ACF will magically appear on the LearnDash Registration Form. Nothing else needed!

Viewing Custom Field Data in WordPress User Profile

Custom fields are visible in two places: on the registration form itself, and on the User Profile Page once the user registers. Administrators can view and edit these fields from the WordPress admin dashboard. The fields will also populate any values that the students have entered while submitting the LearnDash Registration Form.

• User Profile Page: Users will see the additional fields on their profile page.
• Admin Dashboard: Administrators can view and edit custom field data by navigating to the "All Users" section and editing a specific user.

By adding custom fields to your LearnDash registration form, you’re not just collecting data—you’re creating a richer, more personalized learning experience for your students. With the insights gathered, you’ll be able to fine-tune your courses, offer more relevant content, and make data-driven decisions that can lead to higher engagement and satisfaction. With this guide, you’ve got all the tools you need to make that happen—now it’s time to put them into action and elevate your LearnDash courses to the next level!