Use Elsevier’s Reviewer Hub: sign in, match your Editorial Manager email, then download each journal’s Recognized Reviewer certificate as a PDF.
You finished a careful review for an Elsevier medical title and now you want the proof. This guide lays out a clear path to get a Reviewer Certificate from Elsevier medical journals, avoid common snags, and present the document on your CV, profiles, and grant files. You will also find quick fixes for missing certificates and practical tips to keep your reviewer record tidy across journals.
What The Elsevier Reviewer Certificate Is
Elsevier issues a “Recognized Reviewer” certificate per journal and per completed review. It shows your name, the journal, and the date range tied to that activity. You download it as a PDF in the platform built for reviewers, the Reviewer Hub. Think of it as your official receipt for service, formatted for academic files and easy to share with departments.
| Where It Lives | When It Appears | How You Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewer Hub → Certificates | After the journal records your review as completed | Sign in, open the journal card, download the PDF |
| Editorial Manager journal site | While you submit and finalize your review | Finish the report; the Hub pulls the record from here |
| Reviewer Hub → Reports | Any time | Generate a dated review history report to accompany PDFs |
Steps For Getting Reviewer Certificate From Elsevier
Follow these steps in order. The process runs smoothly when your accounts match and your review shows as complete.
1) Create Or Confirm Your Reviewer Hub Access
Open the Hub and log in with your Elsevier Profile. If you are new to it, register once, then return to the Hub. The Hub connects to almost all journals that run on Editorial Manager and centralizes your certificates, reports, and volunteer settings.
2) Use The Same Email You Used For The Review
Your certificate appears only when the system can match your completed review to your profile. Use the email that received the invitation. If you hold multiple Editorial Manager accounts across journals, merge them so your review history rolls up to one profile. That prevents split records and missing PDFs.
3) Connect Your Scopus And ORCID IDs
In Reviewer Hub you can connect your Scopus profile. You can also add ORCID on journal sites. Consistent IDs across systems improve matching and help editors see your field when they search for reviewers.
4) Submit The Review In Editorial Manager
Certificates are only issued for submitted reviews. Make sure you clicked the final submit button for your recommendation and uploaded files both to authors and to the editor. Then check the journal site to confirm the status shows “completed.”
5) Give The System Time To Sync
After submission, the record flows from the journal site to the Hub. Many certificates appear soon. Some titles release them after an internal check. If yours is missing after a reasonable wait, use the quick fixes below.
6) Download The Certificate From Reviewer Hub
In the Certificates tab you will see one card per journal. Pick the medical journal you reviewed and click Download. The PDF carries your name with the journal branding. Save a local copy and back it up to cloud storage.
7) Check Names, Dates, And Journal Title
Open the PDF and verify your name, the journal, and the dates. If anything looks off, compare with your review history report in the Hub. Most mismatches trace to duplicate accounts, an alternate email, or minor profile differences like a missing hyphen in your last name.
8) Place The Document Where Committees Expect It
Save the file in your service folder, then add entries to your CV, ORCID, and internal systems. Keep the PDF with the review history report so you can respond fast when a promotion or grant file asks for proof.
Taking An Elsevier Reviewer Certificate The Smart Way
This section covers quick fixes that prevent headaches. Each tip removes one common blocker.
Use One Email Across All Elsevier Systems
Pick a single professional address and use it for the Hub, Editorial Manager, Scopus, and ORCID. If older reviews sit under a personal address, update those records and request a merge. Unifying logins keeps certificates in one place.
Know Which Journal Site Handled The Review
Elsevier medical titles run on Editorial Manager. The link in your invitation takes you to the right site every time. When in doubt, search your inbox for the invitation or decision message and follow those links to confirm status.
Confirm Submission Status On The Journal Site
If a review still shows “in progress” or only “accepted invitation,” the certificate will not appear. Finish any open tasks and resubmit if needed. Then return to the Hub and refresh the Certificates page.
Match The Name Format Across Profiles
Be consistent with accents, hyphens, and middle initials. Small style changes can split profiles. Update once, copy the format everywhere, and regenerate the PDF if you adjusted your profile name.
Contact Support When A Merge Is Needed
If a certificate still fails to appear, reach out through Elsevier’s Publishing Support. Provide your name, all emails used in Editorial Manager, and the journal. Ask for a merge so past reviews map to your Hub profile. You can also reference the support page on claiming certificates if you need a quick pointer for staff.
How To Obtain Elsevier Medical Journal Reviewer Certificate Faster
Here are ways to speed up the path from review to PDF and to pick up new invitations that lead to more certificates over time.
Volunteer For Journals That Match Your Scope
In the Hub you can volunteer for titles that align with your training. Select the fields you cover and connect your Scopus ID. Editors filter by these signals when they look for reviewers, so clear entries lead to more relevant invitations.
Take The Certified Peer Reviewer Course
Elsevier Researcher Academy offers a free Certified Peer Reviewer course. It walks through the full review cycle and ends with an assessment. After you pass, you receive a certificate of completion you can cite on profiles, and editors can see this when you volunteer in the Hub. Here is the course page: Certified Peer Reviewer course.
Deliver Reports On Time
Send a clear, readable review by the agreed date. Editors remember reviewers who keep time and give actionable notes. That earns more invitations and keeps your certificate stream steady.
Set Reviewer Preferences To Match Your Schedule
In the Hub, open Reviewer Preferences. Set availability windows and a cap on concurrent invitations. That keeps requests aligned with your workload and prevents missed deadlines.
| Action | Where To Do It | Outcome You Want |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer to review | Reviewer Hub → Volunteer | Invitations from matching medical journals |
| Finish Certified Peer Reviewer course | Researcher Academy | Visible training; better, faster reports |
| Set availability and limits | Reviewer Hub → Preferences | Steady flow of doable assignments |
Where To Use Your Elsevier Reviewer Certificate
Add the PDF and the review dates to your CV under Service. On ORCID, list the entry under “Peer review” with the journal title and date. Many departments accept the file in annual review systems as evidence of service. You can also store certificates and the review history report in a cloud folder so they are handy when a grant or promotion file opens.
Example Entries You Can Copy
Use these short, neutral templates for common records. Edit fields to fit your system.
CV Or Resume
Recognized Reviewer Certificate — Journal: [Journal Name], Publisher: Elsevier, Field: [Discipline], Review submitted: [Month Year]. PDF on file.
ORCID
Peer review — Journal: [Journal Name], Review date: [Month Year]; Type: single-anonymized/double-anonymized; Evidence: Recognized Reviewer certificate (PDF).
Volunteer experience — Reviewer, [Journal Name] (Elsevier). Completed a full report on [topic or method], invited by the editorial office. Certificate available on request.
Mini Timeline: From Invite To Certificate
Day 0–2: Invitation arrives, you accept on the journal site. Day 3–14: You read the manuscript, draft the report, and submit on Editorial Manager. Soon after: The review record pushes to the Hub. Once visible: Download the Recognized Reviewer PDF, verify details, and file it with your records. This rhythm keeps your profile current and your documents ready for committees that ask for verification.
Fixing Certificates That Do Not Match Your Details
If a PDF shows the wrong name or dates, check three places. First, your Hub profile. Next, the journal site where you submitted the review. Last, any older Editorial Manager accounts tied to other emails. Align the details, regenerate the PDF, and save the corrected file. If the mismatch remains, message support through the Hub and list the journal, the manuscript number if you have it, and all email addresses you have used with Elsevier.
Edge Cases For Elsevier Medical Titles
Multiple reviews in one journal: Each completed review can generate its own certificate card. Second-round reviews: When the journal assigns a revision and you submit a fresh report, the system records another completed review. Co-review with a trainee: Some editors record a named co-reviewer when asked; contact the office before submission so the record reflects both contributors. Older reviews: If work predates your Hub setup, support can merge profiles so earlier activity appears in your list.
File Naming And Storage Tips
Name files with a simple pattern so future you can find them fast: Elsevier_[Journal]_[YYYY]_[YourSurname]_ReviewerCertificate.pdf. Keep a mirror copy in cloud storage and a local folder tied to your annual review. When you submit a promotion file, drop both the certificate and the matching line from your Hub review report into the packet. That level of documentation answers nearly every “proof of service” request on first pass.
Quick Checklist For Busy Clinicians
- Log into Reviewer Hub with the email used for the review.
- Open Certificates and look for the journal card.
- If missing, confirm “completed” status on the journal site.
- Merge duplicate Editorial Manager profiles if you find them.
- Download the PDF and store it in a backed-up folder.
- Add entries to CV, ORCID, and internal systems.
- Volunteer in the Hub for new journals that match your scope.
Useful Official Links
For quick reference, see the Reviewer Hub overview, the support page on claiming reviewer certificates, and the Certified Peer Reviewer course for structured training.