SCORM 1.2 vs SCORM 2004: Which Should You Use?
When you export a course from Articulate, Captivate, or iSpring, you'll be asked to choose a SCORM version. For modern platforms, the answer is usually SCORM 2004. Here's why — and when SCORM 1.2 might still make sense.
The quick answer
Use SCORM 2004 (specifically the 3rd or 4th Edition) for new training content. Though it has "2004" in its name, it remains the modern standard, supporting vastly larger data storage for learner progress and providing the granular tracking required by today's compliance programs.
What's actually different between them
Both versions perform the same fundamental job — they allow a training course to report completion, scores, and time spent back to the delivery platform. The primary differences lie in capacity and precision:
| Feature | SCORM 1.2 | SCORM 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Completion tracking | Combined lesson_status (blends completion and pass/fail) |
Separate completion_status and success_status |
| Score precision | 0–100 integer score | 0.0–1.0 scaled score (high precision decimal) |
| Suspend data limit | 4,096 characters (causes freezes in long courses) | 64,000 characters |
| Progress tracking | None | progress_measure field (0.0–1.0 tracking) |
Why suspend data matters (The 4K Limit)
The biggest practical difference between the two is the suspend_data limitation. When a learner closes a course halfway through, the course saves their place using suspend data.
According to the SCORM 1.2 specification, this save file is limited to 4,096 characters. In older platforms, when a highly interactive course exceeds this limit, it stops saving progress entirely — meaning the employee loses their place. SCORM 2004 expanded this official limit to 64,000 characters to fix this issue. While many modern platforms (including Ethica) can safely store data beyond the 1.2 limit anyway, SCORM 2004 remains the safer choice to guarantee compatibility.
When to use SCORM 2004
- Your delivery platform is Ethica or any modern LMS
- Your course is over 30 minutes long or contains complex interactive elements
- You want clean separation between "Did they finish?" and "Did they pass?"
- You need to track granular progress percentages (e.g., "50% complete")
When SCORM 1.2 still makes sense
- You are delivering training to older legacy LMS platforms (often found in highly regulated or self-hosted enterprise environments)
- You're converting existing legacy training and just need to maintain the status quo
What Ethica supports
Ethica natively supports both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions).
Our recommendation
Export as SCORM 2004 (4th Edition). It provides robust tracking, eliminates suspend data errors by design, and represents the absolute best version of the SCORM standard. In 2026, compatibility with SCORM 2004 is universally standard across modern platforms.
Once you've exported your package, see how to check it before distributing: How to test a SCORM package before you upload it.