If your dashboard suddenly shows many more Pending trainees than usual, something has usually changed that affects everyone at once. Here's how to see what's changed, and the most common causes.
See why each person is Pending
On your Dashboard, click See all pending trainees. The Trainee List shows the reason beside each person's name (for example, "Trainee has not stated whether they will (or will not) be working with children in their role").
Click a person's name to open their profile. The status box at the top explains what's outstanding.
Scroll down to the History Log to see when their status changed and why.
If many people show the same reason, that usually points to the cause.
Common causes
A new requirement was added
When a screening requirement is added, everyone who hasn't done it yet becomes Pending. This can happen when your church changes its Organisation Settings, or when Safe Ministry Check updates a requirement (for example, the background and self-disclosure questions in August 2026). Each person needs to log in and complete the new item from their profile. If automatic reminder emails are turned on in your Organisation Settings, they'll be prompted to do this.
Training is due for renewal
Your Organisation Settings set how often people re-do their training (for example, every 24 months). If a lot of people trained around the same time, they'll all become due around the same time.
Working With Children Check verification
If you've turned on automatic WWCC verification, check that your state portal login details are saved in your Screening Options. Without them, checks can't be verified and people stay Pending. Switching between manual and automatic verification can also reset people to Pending, so choose one method and keep it. See Troubleshooting: WWCC validation issues for more.
Changes from Elvanto or Planning Center syncing
If a person's details don't match exactly between the two systems, a new profile can be created for them. Check Trainees > Duplicate Trainees and combine any duplicates.
People who aren't in a synced group or list may be archived, and people who are added to one will appear as new trainees.
If you archive someone in Safe Ministry Check but they're still in a synced Elvanto group, the sync can create a new profile for them. Remove them from the Elvanto group as well.
Only connect one church management system at a time. If both Elvanto and Planning Center are connected, they can overwrite each other.
Lots of people show Error, but their WWCCs are valid
Please contact us before chasing individual trainees. Email [email protected] with a few of the names affected and we'll check whether it's a verification issue on our side.
Still not sure?
Email [email protected] with your church's name and two or three of the people affected, and we'll take a look.