Faculty and Staff

ECERT: How to Certify an Effort Report

Last updated August 30, 2009 4:42:27 PM PDT
Give more feedback

Learn to certify an effort report using the Electronic Certification of Effort and Reporting Tool (ECERT).

Note: The steps below show an overview of the complete process. If you need more detailed ECERT training, see ECERT Job Aids, or attend the Effort Reporting class.

Expand all

1. Access the ECERT system.

If you don't have a Single Sign-On account, contact your Departmental Security Administrator (DSA) or self-register.

2. Locate the effort report you want to certify.

  • Click the down arrow down arrow located at the top left of the screen, and choose the Manage Saved Searches option from the menu.
  • Select the desired search, then select the appropriate report.

3. If the effort report requires one certification, certify the entire report.

  • Review the values in the Adjusted Payroll % column, then:
    • If you agree that the values are a reasonable reflection of the percent of time the employee allocated to each activity, click Certify Effort Report.
    • If you do not agree with the values in the Adjusted Payroll % column, or if you have any questions about the effort report, contact your fund manager or effort report preparer for corrections. Do not click Certify Effort Report.

4. If the effort report requires multiple certifications, certify the project line(s) on the report.

  • Verify that the Report Requires Multiple Certifications checkbox is checked.
  • Review the values in the Adjusted Payroll % column, then:
    • If you agree that the value(s) are a reasonable reflection of the percent of time the employee allocated to your project activity:
      • Click the checkbox in the Line Certified column next to the appropriated Sponsored Project line(s).
      • Read the ERS Alert box, and click OK to certify.
      • Click Save.
    • If you do not agree with the value(s) in the Adjusted Payroll % column, or if you have any questions about the effort report, contact your fund manager or effort report preparer for corrections. Do not click any checkbox in the Line Certified column.

5. Certify the next effort report.

  • After you complete certifying one effort report, the system will automatically display the next effort report. You can now choose one of the following options:
    1. Certify this report.
    2. Return to the MyProjects list, and click on the next employee's effort report to review and certify.

6. Sign out of the ECERT system.

  • When you have completed your certifications, click Sign Out in the upper right corner of the screen.

Expand all

Need help? Submit a request to ECERT help with one of the following requests as the subject line:
  • Create permission and roles
  • Add additional employees to the database
  • Edit the Cannot Certify list
  • Update the employee PI indicator
  • Update effort report status