diff --git a/classes/certificate.php b/classes/certificate.php
index 918c188..84afcbd 100644
--- a/classes/certificate.php
+++ b/classes/certificate.php
@@ -421,6 +421,27 @@ class certificate {
         return $DB->get_records_sql($sql, array('userid' => $userid), $limitfrom, $limitnum);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Issues a certificate to a user.
+     *
+     * @param int $certificateid The ID of the certificate
+     * @param int $userid The ID of the user to issue the certificate to
+     * @return int The ID of the issue
+     */
+    public static function issue_certificate($certificateid, $userid) {
+        global $DB;
+
+        $issue = new \stdClass();
+        $issue->userid = $userid;
+        $issue->customcertid = $certificateid;
+        $issue->code = self::generate_code();
+        $issue->emailed = 0;
+        $issue->timecreated = time();
+
+        // Insert the record into the database.
+        return $DB->insert_record('customcert_issues', $issue);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Generates a 10-digit code of random letters and numbers.
      *
diff --git a/classes/task/email_certificate_task.php b/classes/task/email_certificate_task.php
index 3a305a8..88fe7a6 100644
--- a/classes/task/email_certificate_task.php
+++ b/classes/task/email_certificate_task.php
@@ -130,15 +130,7 @@ class email_certificate_task extends \core\task\scheduled_task {
                         array('userid' => $enroluser->id, 'customcertid' => $customcert->id));
                     if (empty($issueid)) {
                         // Ok, issue them the certificate.
-                        $customcertissue = new \stdClass();
-                        $customcertissue->customcertid = $customcert->id;
-                        $customcertissue->userid = $enroluser->id;
-                        $customcertissue->code = \mod_customcert\certificate::generate_code();
-                        $customcertissue->emailed = 0;
-                        $customcertissue->timecreated = time();
-
-                        // Insert the record into the database.
-                        $issueid = $DB->insert_record('customcert_issues', $customcertissue);
+                        $issueid = \mod_customcert\certificate::issue_certificate($customcert->id, $enroluser->id);
                     }
 
                     // Add them to the array so we email them.
diff --git a/tests/email_certificate_task_test.php b/tests/email_certificate_task_test.php
index 972baec..b05f7f1 100644
--- a/tests/email_certificate_task_test.php
+++ b/tests/email_certificate_task_test.php
@@ -71,15 +71,7 @@ class mod_customcert_task_email_certificate_task_testcase extends advanced_testc
             'emailstudents' => 1));
 
         // Ok, now issue this to one user.
-        $customcertissue = new stdClass();
-        $customcertissue->customcertid = $customcert->id;
-        $customcertissue->userid = $user1->id;
-        $customcertissue->code = \mod_customcert\certificate::generate_code();
-        $customcertissue->timecreated = time();
-        $customcertissue->emailed = 0;
-
-        // Insert the record into the database.
-        $DB->insert_record('customcert_issues', $customcertissue);
+        \mod_customcert\certificate::issue_certificate($customcert->id, $user1->id);
 
         // Confirm there is only one entry in this table.
         $this->assertEquals(1, $DB->count_records('customcert_issues'));
diff --git a/view.php b/view.php
index 5d09752..4a99839 100644
--- a/view.php
+++ b/view.php
@@ -121,13 +121,7 @@ if (empty($action)) {
 } else { // Output to pdf.
     // Create new customcert issue record if one does not already exist.
     if (!$DB->record_exists('customcert_issues', array('userid' => $USER->id, 'customcertid' => $customcert->id))) {
-        $customcertissue = new stdClass();
-        $customcertissue->customcertid = $customcert->id;
-        $customcertissue->userid = $USER->id;
-        $customcertissue->code = \mod_customcert\certificate::generate_code();
-        $customcertissue->timecreated = time();
-        // Insert the record into the database.
-        $DB->insert_record('customcert_issues', $customcertissue);
+        \mod_customcert\certificate::issue_certificate($customcert->id, $USER->id);
     }
 
     // Set the custom certificate as viewed.