TopClass

What TopClass Is

TopClass is a learning management system for associations, built to run continuing education, certification programs and paid courses for members. The homepage calls it "the all-in-one association learning management system (LMS)" and the company's "flagship platform." It is made by WBT Systems Limited of Dublin, Ireland, which the footer describes as an affiliate of Advanced Solutions International, Inc. (ASI) of Alexandria, Virginia; an author note on the TopClass blog describes ASI as the developer of the iMIS association management system. The association page says TopClass is trusted by associations in 23+ countries and that "for 25+ years" it has helped hundreds of associations build and improve their education and certification programs; a company blog post puts the platform's history at nearly 30 years.

The solutions menu lists trade and professional associations, unions, real estate associations and certification bodies as the organizations it serves. Because associations sell much of this education to members and outside learners alike, TopClass also works as a customer education platform: the same catalog, checkout and certificate tools apply to anyone who buys a course.

The Learner Experience

TopClass gives each learner a dashboard showing relevant courses and current enrollments in one place, and a visual course catalog they can search and filter to find and buy what they need. The homepage says the interface is "aligned with your website's branding," and one client quoted on the site says the look and feel "is far more modern than our previous LMS."

Content can be delivered in many formats. The homepage lists blended learning, live events, microlearning, social learning, self-study, assessments and instructor-led training, and the association page names videos, documents, live training and assessments. An interactive video feature houses recordings and speaker presentations alongside interactive polls and questions, which suits associations turning conference sessions into on-demand courses.

Learning pathways let an association design several series of mandatory and elective courses that guide learners toward skills or certifications, and the FAQ describes personalized sequences based on a member's industry, role or career stage. The FAQ also says TopClass was built "from the ground up to be responsive to any device" and works on iPhones, Android, tablets and PCs.

Community and Social Learning

Community is a named feature rather than an add-on. The homepage promises "integrated discussion forums, peer-to-peer social sharing, and dedicated learning groups." The association page FAQ says members can share insights and recommend content to peers through built-in social sharing tools, and that associations can create cohort-based classes in which members move through scheduled learning pathways together, with shared deadlines and discussions.

Certification and CE Tracking

TopClass tracks and manages competencies and certification rules, "all types of continuing education (CE) credits, and Maintenance of Certification (MOC)." Members can see their complete certification history, including completion and expiration dates, which takes routine status questions off staff. Administrators can configure professional certificate programs, credentials, digital badges and micro-credentials, and the association page says the platform "streamlines the submission and review process" for them. Certification bodies are a separate solution on the menu, and the site offers an "Ultimate Guide to Online Certification" among its resources.

Selling Courses

Revenue is central to the pitch. The association page promises "secure, global eCommerce," and the feature list describes payment options that support multiple currencies, discounts, promotional bundles and coupons. The FAQ adds that TopClass provides e-commerce and checkout capabilities and can be connected to an association's AMS "to process payments within your current ecosystem." Learners who come in through an integration get single sign-on and automatic account creation, so they can buy and start a course without staff stepping in.

The site states the results in round numbers: $220 Million saved in staff and IT costs, $95 Million delivered in incremental revenue, and $4 for every $1 invested in TopClass. A company blog post adds that organizations have experienced a 64% increase in revenue and a 90% decrease in support calls. These are the company's own figures, presented as totals across its clients.

Integrations, Standards and Reporting

The platform integrates with CRM and AMS systems, naming iMIS and Salesforce, and the homepage promises "a single point of support for all integrations." The FAQ says the integrations sync user achievements and CE credits in real time, and that TopClass has "an extensive REST API" plus "many canned integrations with leading AMSs." One Director of Information Technology quoted on the site says the "real-time automation of the integration between TopClass LMS and iMIS means we can create reports and manage information exactly the way we need to."

Content can be built in TopClass or imported using SCORM and Tin Can (xAPI), which the FAQ positions as the route for moving courses over from an old LMS. The reporting engine generates personalized, real-time reports on a schedule the association sets, and the homepage says advanced reporting "can query any data stored in TopClass LMS." The menu also lists an AI Intelligence section pitched as a way to "speed up your workflows."

On languages, the homepage says TopClass includes five languages out of the box and can be translated into many more, while its FAQ says the LMS "comes with 20 languages out of the box." Either way, an association serving members in several countries can localize its content.

Pricing, Implementation and Support

The site publishes no prices; buyers request a demo, and the company says it will "set up a call to learn more and show a tailored demo." There is also a form to submit an RFP. One client quote speaks to the commercial side: "They understand the association market and worked with us to put a flexible pricing model. They also pulled out all the stops to meet our 6 month implementation timeline." Another, from an executive director, says TopClass has "enabled us to reduce costs and provide online access to educational material that complements the value of conference attendance for members." For existing customers there is a support portal, a help site and API documentation.

The site also lists industry recognition, including a place among the top 10 Learning Systems Award winners named by Talented Learning.

Who It Suits

TopClass fits professional and trade associations, unions, real estate associations and certification bodies that sell education, track CE credits or MOC, and want the LMS tied closely to their AMS, particularly iMIS, given the company's affiliation with its maker. Associations with a large back catalog in SCORM or xAPI, members in several countries, or an active community they want to bring into their learning program will find the relevant tools in place. With no public price list and an implementation measured in months by at least one client, it is a platform for organizations planning a full education program rather than a quick, low-cost course launch.