The latest major Totara release is here so keep reading to learn what you can find in the newest version (plus what extras you’ll get with BuildEmpire).
Every year, Totara releases a new major release. These are often followed by a few minor releases throughout the year.
In 2026. Totara v20 was released, with a new focus on AI tools and reporting.
Keep reading to learn about the new tools you can access if you switch Totara partner.
Multi-year recertification pathways
Totara is adept at managing certification for complex organisations. But now it’s even easier thanks to this major upgrade.
A single certification can now manage multiple paths, expiry rules and reinstatement behaviours.
These recertification cycles gives you more control over how your statutory training is structured, delivered and maintained year on year.
Compliance certification reporting block
You can see a snapshot of certification compliance status without the need to make a new report every time.
This block can be added easily to drill down insights for a quick visual overview of compliance over a number of teams.
Learner self-enrolment
In prior versions of Totara, learners had to request access for programs and certifications, but now they can enrol (and withdraw) themselves.
This helps to encourage better self-directed learning, even if your main LMS requirement is compliance.
In order to do this, admins will need to enable the functionality. In the long term, this will save considerable admin time as they will no longer need to manually assign individuals or accept requests for learning.
New AI features
AI has been on the lips of every L&D leaders for the past few years and consistently shows up as a key L&D trend.
In Totara 20, you can expect 4 new AI-powered plugins that will support content creation. Originally launched in v19.1, they’re now available to all users in V20.
These AI plugins are:
- AI writing assistant: to refine, summarise and even create content
- AI image generation: create images for your course content to simplify the process
- AI knowledge check-in: use AI to create informal quizzes based on existing resources
- AI SMART goal assistant: create structured SMART goals to aid personal development
Multi-factor authentication rules
Tighten security to your LMS with the new multi-factor authentication rules.
You can define specific rules that will prompt users to set up multi-factor authentication.
You can set this to just apply to specific user groups.
New reporting options
There’s been a terminology change in Totara 20. Now, competencies are known as skills to reflect the language used by the industry.
Alongside this are a number of features that make it easier for you to develop skill growth:
Team skills proficiency block
This block allows managers a clear view of their team’s current skills levels so they can spot skill gaps and efficiently rate their team where needed.
No need for custom reporting, this block can be added directly to their ‘My Team’ dashboard.
Skills rating by audience
This is a feature that those in the healthcare sector will love. You can allow flexible on-the-job assessments of skills, where a supervisor can observe staff completing tasks and then mark them as competent.
Admins can add audiences to observe and rate competencies – effectively allowing you to assign this task to anyone you choose.
New audience type
You can now group learners by skill proficiency. this allows smarter enrolments and targeted next-step learning as you can create more personalised learner journeys based on current skill assessments.
Digital attendance check-ins
With this new option, you can move away from roll calls and learners can now mark their own attendance via a secure link or QR code either online or in person.
This allows trainers to spend more time on learning, and allows you to be more flexible based on where the learner is learning from for greater accessibility.
Extra capabilities
Alongside all of the above, there are some smaller, but still powerful updates including:
- Smarter partial word matching on search in the catalogue
- Improved audience rules layout
- User status visibility on user profile
- Capability to export reports in the background
- New offline syncing options for the mobile app
And what about BuildEmpire?
Well, to coincide with V20 of Totara, we’re also releasing V3 of our BuildEmpire Edition This is where we offer all the core functions of the latest Totara, as well as a range of features and plugins you’ll only find with us.
Previous releases have seen new course formats, gamification and eCommerce be added onto our platform.
In this latest release, you can find a range of new tweaks and changes for even better Totara platforms.
Check out our roadmap here.
