# Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access

> Learn how to manually grant or revoke course access in GHL Customer Care Communities and use Private Courses for exclusive, admin-controlled learning experiences.

- Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/communities-private-course-member-specific-course-access
- Section: Memberships & Communities / Communities
- Reading time: 3 min
- Images: 12, each explained below

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Member-Specific Course Access in Communities allows admins to manually grant or revoke course access for individual members directly from the Members tab. This feature also introduces Private Courses, which are accessible only when an admin grants access. This article shows how to create private courses and grant or revoke course access for specific members.

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**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

-   [What is Member-Specific Course Access and Private Course?](#what-is-member-specific-course-access-and-private-course)[](#key-benefits-of-member-specific-course-access-and-private-course)
-   [Key Benefits of Member-Specific Course Access and Private Course](#key-benefits-of-member-specific-course-access-and-private-course)[](#private-course-visibility)
-   [Private Course Visibility](#private-course-visibility)[](#how-to-add-a-private-course-to-the-learning-tab)
-   [How to Add a Private Course to the Learning Tab](#how-to-add-a-private-course-to-the-learning-tab)[](#how-to-grant-course-access-to-a-member)
-   [How to Grant Course Access to a Member](#how-to-grant-course-access-to-a-member)[](#how-to-revoke-course-access-for-a-member)
-   [How to Revoke Course Access for a Member](#how-to-revoke-course-access-for-a-member)[](#frequently-asked-questions)
-   [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions)[](#related-articles)
-   [Related Articles](#related-articles)

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# **What is Member-Specific Course Access and Private Course?**

Member-Specific Course Access enables community admins to control exactly who can access specific courses inside a community. Instead of relying only on automatic unlock criteria (such as level-based, time-based, paid, or public access), admins can now manually grant or revoke access for individual members. Private Courses extend this control by ensuring that access is only possible through direct admin approval.

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## **Key Benefits of Member-Specific Course Access and Private Course**

-   **Manual Control:** Grant or revoke access to any course for a specific member at any time.
-   **Private Course Type:** Create courses that cannot be unlocked automatically and require admin approval.
-   **Instant Access:** Unlock courses immediately without changing level, payment, or time-based rules.
-   **Preserves Existing Logic:** Automatic unlock criteria remain intact and cannot be overridden improperly.

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## **Private Course Visibility**

Private Courses are designed for exclusive or controlled learning environments. When a course is set to Private, members cannot unlock it automatically through level progression, purchase, or time delays. Access is granted only by an admin.

Private Courses are ideal for:

-   VIP or premium content
    
-   Internal team training
    
-   Invite-only programs
    

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## **How to Add a Private Course to the Learning Tab**

To use Private access, the course must first be added to the Community Learning tab with Private visibility. This ensures the course appears as locked until manually granted.

1.  Click on **Memberships** from your sub-account.
2.  Go to **Communities**.
3.  Click on **Groups** from the dropdown.
    
    
![Step 3 of 9: Click on Groups from the dropdown](https://jumpshare.com/share/F7VQklFSnqf9q7s8Sp8l+/Screenshot+2026-02-10+at+12.45.46%E2%80%AFAM.png)

**Step 3 of 9: Click on Groups from the dropdown**

This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 9 in the "How to Add a Private Course to the Learning Tab" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click on Groups from the dropdown. For context, this section explains: To use Private access, the course must first be added to the Community Learning tab with Private visibility. This ensures the course appears as locked until manually granted. The next step is to open/Login to your Group.
- What to choose: Click on Groups from the dropdown.
- Controls: Groups, Memberships, Communities, Open/Login, ., Learning, Add Course, Course Visibility, Private – Access granted by admin only
- Next: Open/Login to your Group.

Full procedure:

1. Click on Memberships from your sub-account.
2. Go to Communities.
3. Click on Groups from the dropdown.  <- this image
4. Open/Login to your Group.
5. Click the Learning tab.
6. Click Add Course.
7. Select an existing course.
8. Under Course Visibility, choose Private – Access granted by admin only.
9. Click Add Course.

    
4.  **Open/Login** to your Group**.**  
    **
    
    
![Step 4 of 9: Open/Login to your Group](https://jumpshare.com/share/E57Y9g9gMoqiDrCtMJPT+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-10+at+12.49.05+AM.png)

**Step 4 of 9: Open/Login to your Group**

This screenshot accompanies step 4 of 9 in the "How to Add a Private Course to the Learning Tab" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you open/Login to your Group. For context, this section explains: To use Private access, the course must first be added to the Community Learning tab with Private visibility. This ensures the course appears as locked until manually granted. The next step is to click the Learning tab.
- Where to go: Open/Login to your Group.
- Controls: Open/Login, ., Memberships, Communities, Groups, Learning, Add Course, Course Visibility, Private – Access granted by admin only
- Next: Click the Learning tab.

Full procedure:

1. Click on Memberships from your sub-account.
2. Go to Communities.
3. Click on Groups from the dropdown.
4. Open/Login to your Group.  <- this image
5. Click the Learning tab.
6. Click Add Course.
7. Select an existing course.
8. Under Course Visibility, choose Private – Access granted by admin only.
9. Click Add Course.

    
    **
5.  Click the **Learning** tab.  
    
    
![Step 5 of 9: Click the Learning tab](https://jumpshare.com/share/MCTFvms6R8SiYDqEHUMC+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.19.49.png)

**Step 5 of 9: Click the Learning tab**

This screenshot accompanies step 5 of 9 in the "How to Add a Private Course to the Learning Tab" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click the Learning tab. For context, this section explains: To use Private access, the course must first be added to the Community Learning tab with Private visibility. This ensures the course appears as locked until manually granted. The next step is to click Add Course.
- What to click: Click the Learning tab.
- Controls: Learning, Memberships, Communities, Groups, Open/Login, ., Add Course, Course Visibility, Private – Access granted by admin only
- Next: Click Add Course.

Full procedure:

1. Click on Memberships from your sub-account.
2. Go to Communities.
3. Click on Groups from the dropdown.
4. Open/Login to your Group.
5. Click the Learning tab.  <- this image
6. Click Add Course.
7. Select an existing course.
8. Under Course Visibility, choose Private – Access granted by admin only.
9. Click Add Course.

    
      
    
6.  Click **Add Course**.  
      
    
7.  Select an existing course.  
      
    
8.  Under **Course Visibility**, choose **Private – Access granted by admin only**.  
      
    
9.  Click **Add Course**.  
    
    
![Step 9 of 9: Click Add Course](https://jumpshare.com/share/DeaC2N6gyPD9N2WDxpKh+/GIF+Recording+2026-02-23+at+18.21.16.gif)

**Step 9 of 9: Click Add Course**

This animation accompanies step 9 of 9 in the "How to Add a Private Course to the Learning Tab" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click Add Course. For context, this section explains: To use Private access, the course must first be added to the Community Learning tab with Private visibility. This ensures the course appears as locked until manually granted.
- What to click: Click Add Course.
- Controls: Add Course, Memberships, Communities, Groups, Open/Login, ., Learning, Course Visibility, Private – Access granted by admin only

Full procedure:

1. Click on Memberships from your sub-account.
2. Go to Communities.
3. Click on Groups from the dropdown.
4. Open/Login to your Group.
5. Click the Learning tab.
6. Click Add Course.
7. Select an existing course.
8. Under Course Visibility, choose Private – Access granted by admin only.
9. Click Add Course.  <- this image

    

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## **How to Grant Course Access to a Member**

Admins can grant access to any course directly from the Members tab inside a Community. This provides flexibility without modifying the course’s unlock configuration. Members receive an email notification when a course is unlocked.

1.  Go to the **Members** tab in your group.  
    
    
![Step 1 of 6: Go to the Members tab in your group](https://jumpshare.com/share/DnV9szq6hILXZabUq2LI+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.26.36.png)

**Step 1 of 6: Go to the Members tab in your group**

This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 6 in the "How to Grant Course Access to a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you go to the Members tab in your group. For context, this section explains: Admins can grant access to any course directly from the Members tab inside a Community. This provides flexibility without modifying the course’s unlock configuration. Members receive an email notification when a course is unlocked. The next step is to click the three-dot menu next to the member.
- Where to go: Go to the Members tab in your group.
- Controls: Members, three-dot menu, Manage Courses, Grant Courses, Grant
- Next: Click the three-dot menu next to the member.

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.  <- this image
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.
4. Click Grant Courses button.
5. Select one or more courses.
6. Click Grant.

    
      
    
2.  Click the **three-dot menu** next to the member.  
      
    
3.  Select **Manage Courses**.  
    
    
![Step 3 of 6: Select Manage Courses](https://jumpshare.com/share/mSuBev62B8o9ur70qaQ1+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.28.34.png)

**Step 3 of 6: Select Manage Courses**

This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 6 in the "How to Grant Course Access to a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you select Manage Courses. For context, this section explains: Admins can grant access to any course directly from the Members tab inside a Community. This provides flexibility without modifying the course’s unlock configuration. Members receive an email notification when a course is unlocked. The next step is to click Grant Courses button.
- What to choose: Select Manage Courses.
- Controls: Manage Courses, Members, three-dot menu, Grant Courses, Grant
- Next: Click Grant Courses button.

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.  <- this image
4. Click Grant Courses button.
5. Select one or more courses.
6. Click Grant.

    
      
    
4.  Click **Grant Courses** button.  
    
    
![Step 4 of 6: Click Grant Courses button](https://jumpshare.com/share/d1jh401IapMjLMzRrjE5+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.30.47.png)

**Step 4 of 6: Click Grant Courses button**

This screenshot accompanies step 4 of 6 in the "How to Grant Course Access to a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click Grant Courses button. For context, this section explains: Admins can grant access to any course directly from the Members tab inside a Community. This provides flexibility without modifying the course’s unlock configuration. Members receive an email notification when a course is unlocked. The next step is to select one or more courses.
- What to click: Click Grant Courses button.
- Controls: Grant Courses, Members, three-dot menu, Manage Courses, Grant
- Next: Select one or more courses.

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.
4. Click Grant Courses button.  <- this image
5. Select one or more courses.
6. Click Grant.

    
      
    
5.  Select one or more courses.  
      
    
6.  Click **Grant**.  
    
    
![Step 6 of 6: Click Grant](https://jumpshare.com/share/dwBcR0ADkKmN5ksoXNjk+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.43.29.png)

**Step 6 of 6: Click Grant**

This screenshot accompanies step 6 of 6 in the "How to Grant Course Access to a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click Grant. For context, this section explains: Admins can grant access to any course directly from the Members tab inside a Community. This provides flexibility without modifying the course’s unlock configuration. Members receive an email notification when a course is unlocked.
- What to click: Click Grant.
- Controls: Grant, Members, three-dot menu, Manage Courses, Grant Courses

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.
4. Click Grant Courses button.
5. Select one or more courses.
6. Click Grant.  <- this image

    

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## **How to Revoke Course Access for a Member**

**Note:** Access cannot be revoked if the **member already meets the course’s unlock criteria** (e.g., All Members, Level Unlock, Paid, or Time Unlock).

Course access can be revoked from the same Manage Courses panel, to revoke access:

1.  Go to the **Members** tab in your group.
    
    
![Step 1 of 5: Go to the Members tab in your group](https://jumpshare.com/share/DnV9szq6hILXZabUq2LI+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.26.36.png)

**Step 1 of 5: Go to the Members tab in your group**

This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 5 in the "How to Revoke Course Access for a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you go to the Members tab in your group. For context, this section explains: Note: Access cannot be revoked if the member already meets the course’s unlock criteria (e.g., All Members, Level Unlock, Paid, or Time Unlock). The next step is to click the three-dot menu next to the member.
- Where to go: Go to the Members tab in your group.
- Controls: Members, three-dot menu, Manage Courses, Red, X, Confirm
- Next: Click the three-dot menu next to the member.

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.  <- this image
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.
4. Click the Red X icon next to the course.
5. Click on Confirm.

    
2.  Click the **three-dot menu** next to the member.
3.  Select **Manage Courses**.
    
    
![Step 3 of 5: Select Manage Courses](https://jumpshare.com/share/mSuBev62B8o9ur70qaQ1+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.28.34.png)

**Step 3 of 5: Select Manage Courses**

This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 5 in the "How to Revoke Course Access for a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you select Manage Courses. For context, this section explains: Note: Access cannot be revoked if the member already meets the course’s unlock criteria (e.g., All Members, Level Unlock, Paid, or Time Unlock). The next step is to click the Red X icon next to the course.
- What to choose: Select Manage Courses.
- Controls: Manage Courses, Members, three-dot menu, Red, X, Confirm
- Next: Click the Red X icon next to the course.

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.  <- this image
4. Click the Red X icon next to the course.
5. Click on Confirm.

    
4.  Click the **Red** **X** icon next to the course.  
    
    
![Step 4 of 5: Click the Red X icon next to the course](https://jumpshare.com/share/qNC3dAO7tWUoxpMzZPnr+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.48.20.png)

**Step 4 of 5: Click the Red X icon next to the course**

This screenshot accompanies step 4 of 5 in the "How to Revoke Course Access for a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click the Red X icon next to the course. The next step is to click on Confirm.
- What to click: Click the Red X icon next to the course.
- Controls: Red, X, Members, three-dot menu, Manage Courses, Confirm
- Next: Click on Confirm.

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.
4. Click the Red X icon next to the course.  <- this image
5. Click on Confirm.

    
      
    
5.  Click on **Confirm**.  
    
    
![Step 5 of 5: Click on Confirm](https://jumpshare.com/share/4368EIoABsEheWzIdEy5+/Screen+Shot+2026-02-23+at+18.49.58.png)

**Step 5 of 5: Click on Confirm**

This screenshot accompanies step 5 of 5 in the "How to Revoke Course Access for a Member" section of "Communities - Private Course & Member-Specific Course Access". At this point in the walkthrough you click on Confirm. For context, this section explains: Note: Access cannot be revoked if the member already meets the course’s unlock criteria (e.g., All Members, Level Unlock, Paid, or Time Unlock).
- How to confirm: Click on Confirm.
- Controls: Confirm, Members, three-dot menu, Manage Courses, Red, X

Full procedure:

1. Go to the Members tab in your group.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to the member.
3. Select Manage Courses.
4. Click the Red X icon next to the course.
5. Click on Confirm.  <- this image

    

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## **Frequently Asked Questions**

**Q: Can admins grant access to non-private courses?**  
Yes. Admins can manually grant access to any course type.

**Q: Why can’t I revoke access from a member?  
**If the member already meets the course’s unlock criteria (such as All Members, Level Unlock, Time Unlock, or Paid), access cannot be revoked.

**Q: Do members receive a notification when access is granted?**  
Yes. An email notification is sent when a course is unlocked manually.

**Q: Can Private courses be unlocked automatically?**  
No. Private courses require manual admin approval and cannot be unlocked through automation.

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### **Related Articles**

-   [Getting Started - Launch a Course](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/getting-started-w-ghl-customer-care/commerce/getting-started-launch-a-course)
    
-   [Advanced Course Unlock Options in Communities](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/advanced-course-unlock-options-in-communities) 
    
-   [Paid Courses inside Communities](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/paid-courses-inside-communities) 
    
-   [Private Channel-Based Course Access](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/communities-private-channel-based-course-access)

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Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com