What’s The Best SCORM Compliant LMS in 2024? [+ Checklist]
16 minutes
Here you are, ready to deliver your online courses to learners. You’re likely to know you need a SCORM-compliant learning management system (LMS), but which platform is the best fit? And what does SCORM-compliant mean?
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through some SCORM technical refinements and give you a checklist for making a smart choice in a SCORM-compliant LMS. We’ll also provide a quick overview of the best SCORM compliant learning management systems for corporate eLearning to make your selection process easier.
SCORM Explained
SCORM stands for The Shareable Content Object Reference Model. It is a set of standards for eLearning software. Thanks to this, a SCORM-compliant LMS runs any SCORM course just like a DVD player will play any DVD disc. So, if a company uses this format and decides to switch to another online learning platform, there’s no need to worry about losing any content, as any other SCORM compliant LMS will recognize it too.
Also read → 21 Best SCORM Authoring Tools and Other SCORM Software
What Is a SCORM-Compliant LMS?
A SCORM-compliant LMS is an online platform that adheres to SCORM standards. There are three levels of SCORM compliance:
- SCORM compliant
- SCORM conformant
- or SCORM certified
The difference lies in the number of CMI elements supported, which are commands the SCORM LMS can follow and the types of data it collects.
Three levels of SCORM compliance
Generally, a SCORM-compliant LMS supports basic interaction between courses and the platform, including commands for communication initialization, progress saving, and completion. These solutions meet the needs of most users.
What is “SCORM-conformant”?
SCORM-conformant LMSs support a wider set of CMI elements, allowing a more detailed analysis of the data gathered. For example, assessments published in SCORM 1.2/2004 allow you to obtain detailed question-answer level results. At the same time, not all learning management systems enable this level of support, but this doesn’t mean that they are non-compliant.
Both conformant and compliant mean that an online learning management system supports SCORM standards. It wasn’t confirmed by a third-party certification, but the vendor has most likely performed its own tests.
What is “SCORM-certified”?
SCORM-certified learning management systems provide you with the maximum level of SCORM support. Their compliance is verified by Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL), a third-party organization. Its engineers use special testing tools that allow them to check almost every possible use case for an eLearning course.
Automate corporate training and improve employee performance.
The 9 Best SCORM Compliant LMSs
With so many online learning platforms available in the market, it might be difficult to choose an appropriate SCORM compliant LMS. To make life easier for you, we’ve prepared a short list of the best SCORM-compliant learning management systems.
Have a look at this comparison chart of the best corporate LMSs for a quick overview. Read on to get the details about each platform.
Editor’s Choice
Before presenting you with the entire list of programs and courses, we’d like to focus your attention on the three we liked the most.
iSpring Learn
A reliable LMS to onboard, upskill, and certify your teams.
Skilljar
A robust LMS that helps businesses train everyone they deal with.
Litmos
A handy LMS for companies that prioritize employee training and development.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
iSpring Learn is a single training solution for companies of any size, from small and medium businesses to an extended enterprise. It’s an intuitive LMS that has everything you need to train employees effectively and make a business impact: support of various kinds of SCORM compliant content, learning paths, automated training distribution, strong analytics, gamification features, social learning, localization features, and more — all in one system. It’s perfectly suited for various types of learning programs, including blended learning as it also lets you host virtual classes and track the attendance of classroom training.
But its main benefit is that it allows you to go beyond content delivery to achieve training success. For example, with its built-in course creation tool, you can create courses and quizzes in a snap. With a built-in newsfeed, you can keep all employees up to date on company news and product releases. And with the 360-degree performance appraisal module, you can always have a clear picture of your employees’ competencies. All features are easy to use thanks to an extremely intuitive user interface.
Also, the LMS integrates with iSpring Suite, a powerful authoring toolkit that allows you to design your own SCORM courses with advanced quizzes, interactions, role-play simulations, and video tutorials.
Take a look at this demo course created with iSpring Suite:
Outstanding features:
- A built-in tool with an AI Assistant for creating courses and quizzes
- Integrated authoring tool for building versatile learning content
- Supervisor dashboard
- Social learning features (a newsfeed, learner cards, interactive organization chart, gamification, leaderboards, etc.)
- 360-degree feedback assessment
- Observation checklists for on-the-job training
- Integration with Zoom, MS Teams, Salesforce, Bitrix24, BambooHR, PeopleWeek, Shopify, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and other popular services
- A library of ready-made courses
- A native mobile app
Pricing: Pricing plans vary based on the total number of users, starting at $5.27 per user/month for a total of 100 active users.
Get a free trial of iSpring Learn →
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
Skilljar is a SCORM-compliant LMS that helps businesses train everyone they deal with, including their customers and partners. It provides you with all eLearning tools you need to onboard, engage, and retain customers and partners at scale. It supports different types of learning content, SCORM, and AICC packages as well. This LMS also allows you to assess learners by creating quizzes right on the platform and issuing certificates after they complete a training.
Outstanding features:
- Personalized learning paths
- Automatic progress tracking and insightful analytics
- a Built-in tool for creating quizzes
- Instructor-led training due to integration with Zoom and Webex
- Certificates and certifications
- Integration with Salesforce for selling online courses
- Fully mobile responsive and brandable
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
Litmos is a handy SCORM-compliant LMS for companies that prioritize employee training and development. It has all essential features, allows you to create internal training materials and your own courses right on the platform and offers a large library of off-the-shelf courses for compliance training, leadership training, soft skills development, and more. With Litmos, you can easily integrate with the rest of your ecosystem by choosing out-of-the-box connectors or by building your own with open APIs.
Outstanding features:
- A built-in drag-and-drop content authoring tool
- Engagement tools (gamification, certificates, leaderboards, interactive hotspots, social sharing, and discussion forums)
- Gen AI learning assistant
- A tool for creating AI video assessments
- A library of over 80,000 off-the-shelf training courses
- Instructor-led training (ILT/vILT)
- Integration with HRIS, CRM, Experience Cloud, Shopify, MS Teams, and more
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
LearnUpon is another SCORM LMS that boasts rich functionality in a single system. In addition to the common features, like delivering eLearning courses and tracking learners’ results, you can also create online storefronts to sell your eLearning content. But its most distinctive feature is its “learning portals,” or in other words, multiple LMSs that you can create for training different audiences, but all controlled in one place.
Outstanding features:
- AI-powered tools for creating courses and assessments
- A robust reporting and analytics dashboard
- Custom learning portals for separate audiences (multitenancy)
- Course credits and certificates
- A learner-facing mobile app
- Interactive smart coach that can be used as a personal guide
- Integration with a wide range of services
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
CYPHER Learning is an AI-powered platform that revolutionizes how educational content is created, delivered, and managed. It combines a Learning Management System (LMS), a Learning Experience Platform (LXP), and course development tools into a single platform. CYPHER adapts to the needs of businesses and academic institutions of any size, making learning accessible and cost-effective. The platform supports a variety of content formats and offers extensive customization options, including white labelling.
Outstanding features:
- A built-in content authoring tool and integration with LTI-based educational tools
- An AI-[powered tool for building assessments
- Skills assessment and development tool
- Content recommendation engine
- Real-time analytics and reports
- Customization and branding
- Certificates and certifications
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
Docebo presents itself as a learning suite or a single cloud-based LMS platform to support your entire online learning process – from content creation to delivery. It enables you to create eLearning content or choose ready-made online courses and assign them to your learners. Unlike other platforms, Docebo uses AI technologies such as virtual coaching, auto-tagging, and course content suggestions that do some of the hard work for you.
Outstanding features:
- AI powered (virtual coaching, auto-tagging, and content suggestions)
- AI-based upskilling and reskilling
- A built-in content creation tool
- Social learning and content curation
- A library of 30,000+ ready-made courses
- A native mobile app and Docebo Mobile App Publisher
- 35+ native integrations, including HRIS, CRM, e-commerce, and content authoring tools
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
Absorb is another AI-powered learning management system designed to enhance learner performance and engagement through interactive and social learning tools. Absorb uses artificial intelligence to ensure learners find the most relevant content exactly when they need it. It also offers comprehensive reporting and analytics tools that allow organizations to make data-driven decisions. For administrators, the system includes powerful automation features that streamline the management of learning content.
Outstanding features:
- AI Assistant that allows admins to manage day-to-day tasks easily
- Efficient automated administration
- Robust reporting and analytics
- Observation checklists for on-the-job training
- Social learning features i(leaderboards, discussion forums, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative assignments)
- eCommerce portal for selling online courses
- A native mobile app
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
Tovuti LMS presents itself as a fast and simple way to create courses, engage learners, and train teams. Like other learning platforms, it is an all-in-one system that streamlines delivery of training content, user management, and analysis of training results. The LMS comes with a built-in course builder empowered with AI that allows you to generate entire courses, quizzes, and lessons in just a few clicks.
Outstanding features:
- AI-generated content creation
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Team lead dashboard
- Guided learning paths
- Assignment scheduling and virtual classroom meetings
- Built-in CMS and blog
- Integration with BambooHR, Workday, Salesforce, and other tools through Zapier
Pricing: Available upon request.
SCORM support: SCORM 1.2; SCORM 2004
eFront is a powerful learning management system designed for enterprises. It offers robust tools for creating, delivering, and managing online training programs. With eFront, you can customize the platform to fit your organization’s needs. The system provides detailed analytics to track learner progress and performance. eFront also integrates seamlessly with other business systems. Overall, eFront LMS helps organizations deliver effective and secure training solutions.
Outstanding features:
- AI-powered course generator
- Native mobile app
- Sub-portals for separate audiences (multitenancy)
- White labelling
- Website builder and plugin builder
- eCommerce tools for selling online courses
- Integration with hundreds of third-party applications
Pricing: From $1,200/month for 1,000 registered users.
How to Choose a SCORM-Compliant LMS — A Checklist
- Which SCORM versions are supported? Is there a preferred edition? It may happen that an LMS supports all editions of SCORM, but works better with a specific edition. For example, an LMS may guarantee the best performance for SCORM 2004 (3rd ed.), despite the fact that all versions of SCORM are supported.
- What level of SCORM Runtime Environment (RTE) does the LMS support? There are some “1st tier” data model elements that are the most important and are recognized as the industry norm. The most commonly used elements are:
There are some “1st tier” data model elements that are the most important and are recognized as the industry norm. The most commonly used elements are:
cmi.completion_status & cmi.success_status cmi.score.scaled
cmi.session_time
cmi.location
cmi.exitThe 2nd tier includes:
interactions
objectives
cmi.progress_measureThere are also some additional data model elements (entry, mode, and credit) that can be referred to as the 3rd tier. Their purpose is to provide learners with the optimal experience.
- Is the LMS certified by ADL? If not, which SCORM API elements are supported?
- How is SCORM compliant content imported? How easy is it? Can you, for instance, upload a SCORM package right from an authoring tool?
- Does the SCORM LMS use Rustici Engine (formerly SCORM Engine)? If not, is there a built-in player for SCORM files? Having a special player with a navigation panel and close button is a good feature for a SCORM LMS. At the same time, many LMSs, even top ones, don’t have this feature.
- How is user data submitted to the LMS while viewing courses? We’d recommend looking for a SCORM player based on JavaScript, because other solutions (say, that connect server-side via PHP) may slow down the course performance. So if a user quickly clicks through the course, the SCORM LMS might not have time to record the progress.
- Does the LMS open e-courses in a new window? Numerous pop-ups slow everything down, and users can get lost. If they can’t quickly find a certain window, it’s a problem (especially if it’s a test with limited time).
- Is there a content scaling feature that makes it convenient for users to take courses on smartphones? If there’s no such feature, the statistics might be incorrect. The courses will send extra data packets when the LMS users seem to be idle, even when they’re not; for example, when they spend a lot of time zooming in and out of a huge non-adaptive slide on their iPhone.
- Does the LMS require installation of any plugins or extensions? Some LMSs require you to set up a VPN, sometimes they ultimately need Flash and Silverlight. It’s better when everything works in plain HTML5 and JavaScript.
- In the event that there are problems on the SCORM LMS side, what debugging mechanism is used? The reason for asking this question is to find out if the vendor has a detailed plan for data loss, emergencies, or any other unexpected problems. If there’s no such feature, the statistics might be incorrect. The courses will send extra data packets when the LMS users seem to be idle, even when they’re not; for example, when they spend a lot of time zooming in and out of a huge non-adaptive slide on their iPhone.
FAQ on SCORM
Here are some questions a learning manager or eLearning content creators may have and answers to them.
Are all LMSs SCORM compliant?
Pretty much. Almost all LMSs support SCORM content, but there may be exceptions. Some LMS platforms only allow for exporting data in SCORM files, but not importing SCORM packages into the system. However, in most cases, if you have SCORM compliant content, it will work in your LMS.
What are the most common versions of SCORM?
SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 4th and 3rd Edition are the most widely used formats to date.
What are the alternatives to SCORM?
SCORM is the predecessor of the newer eLearning standards: xAPI (Experience API, or Tin Can) and сmi5. These formats allow for more convenient work on mobile devices, more responsive design, and provide detailed statistics. Usually, eLearning authoring tools allow you to create courses in several of these formats.
How can I run a SCORM package?
You can open the package in a SCORM LMS that has an inbuilt SCORM player or in your web browser. Or you can unzip the SCORM files and find the one with your learning materials that might be named something like index.html or story_html5.html.
How do I edit SCORM packages?
If you have a source (project) file of a SCORM course, you can open it with a SCORM- compliant authoring tool and make changes to the eLearning content at any time.
Is it possible host a SCORM packages without a SCORM LMS?
Yes, it is possible to host SCORM packages without an LMS. You can use a web server or a cloud-based hosting service to upload and serve the SCORM files. However, without an SCORM compliant LMS, you will not have access to features such as user tracking, reporting, and course management that are typically provided by a SCORM LMS.
The Bottom Line: SCORM and iSpring Learn
As you can see, to make an informed choice of a SCORM-compliant solution, you’ll have to dive deep into the technical nuts and bolts. If you don’t want to get lost, keep in mind three major questions:
- What SCORM version do you use (or plan to use) for your current eLearning content?
- Does your authoring tool really create SCORM-compliant courses?
- What level of SCORM support do you expect from a platform?
iSpring Learn is a SCORM-compliant solution that supports SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004. One of its key benefits in terms of SCORM compliance is a fully-integrated authoring tool. It allows you to easily create SCORM content, upload it right to an LMS in a few clicks, and get extended statistics reports. Feel free to find out how it works by getting a free trial!
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