diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/card.svelte b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/card.svelte
index 15ada2eb..2d423ac6 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/card.svelte
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/card.svelte
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
   import {
     getStudentCourseComplianceDate,
     getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey,
-    getStudentCourseComplianceStatusVariant
+    getStudentCourseComplianceStatusVariant,
+    shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge
   } from '$features/course/utils/compliance-utils';
   import CardDropdown from './card-dropdown.svelte';
   import CoursePublishBadge from './course-publish-badge.svelte';
@@ -195,6 +196,11 @@
       ? getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey(course as UserEnrolledCourses[number])
       : null
   );
+  const showComplianceStatusBadge = $derived(
+    isLMS && type === 'COMPLIANCE' && !isExplore
+      ? shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(course as UserEnrolledCourses[number])
+      : false
+  );
   const complianceStatusVariant = $derived(
     isLMS && type === 'COMPLIANCE' && !isExplore
       ? getStudentCourseComplianceStatusVariant(course as UserEnrolledCourses[number])
@@ -300,7 +306,7 @@
 
               {#if type === 'COMPLIANCE'}
                 <div class="mt-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-                  {#if complianceStatusKey}
+                  {#if showComplianceStatusBadge && complianceStatusKey}
                     <Badge variant={complianceStatusVariant}>
                       {$t(complianceStatusKey)}
                     </Badge>
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/certificate-deadline-required-dialog.svelte b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/certificate-deadline-required-dialog.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f7f5f386
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/certificate-deadline-required-dialog.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { Button } from '@cio/ui/base/button';
+  import * as Dialog from '@cio/ui/base/dialog';
+  import { t } from '$lib/utils/functions/translations';
+
+  interface Props {
+    open?: boolean;
+    onGoToDeadline: () => void;
+  }
+
+  let { open = $bindable(false), onGoToDeadline }: Props = $props();
+</script>
+
+<Dialog.Root bind:open>
+  <Dialog.Content class="max-w-md" onCloseAutoFocus={(e) => e.preventDefault()}>
+    <Dialog.Header>
+      <Dialog.Title>{$t('course.navItem.settings.certificate_deadline_required')}</Dialog.Title>
+      <Dialog.Description>
+        {$t('course.navItem.settings.certificate_deadline_required_description')}
+      </Dialog.Description>
+    </Dialog.Header>
+    <Dialog.Footer>
+      <Button variant="outline" onclick={() => (open = false)}>
+        {$t('cancel')}
+      </Button>
+      <Button onclick={onGoToDeadline}>
+        {$t('course.navItem.settings.go_to_completion_deadline')}
+      </Button>
+    </Dialog.Footer>
+  </Dialog.Content>
+</Dialog.Root>
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/view-course-site-unpublished-modal.svelte b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/view-course-site-unpublished-modal.svelte
index 81b45306..6832090f 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/view-course-site-unpublished-modal.svelte
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/components/view-course-site-unpublished-modal.svelte
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+  import { tick } from 'svelte';
   import { Button } from '@cio/ui/base/button';
   import * as Dialog from '@cio/ui/base/dialog';
   import { courseApi } from '$features/course/api';
   import { publishCourse } from '$features/course/utils/publish-course';
   import { openCoursePreview } from '$features/course/utils/course-preview';
+  import { goToCourseCompletionDeadline } from '$features/course/utils/compliance-deadline';
   import { t } from '$lib/utils/functions/translations';
+  import CertificateDeadlineRequiredDialog from './certificate-deadline-required-dialog.svelte';
 
   interface Props {
     open?: boolean;
@@ -14,6 +17,7 @@
   let { open = $bindable(false), currentOrgDomain = '' }: Props = $props();
 
   let isPublishing = $state(false);
+  let openDeadlineDialog = $state(false);
 
   async function handlePublishCourse() {
     const course = courseApi.course;
@@ -23,10 +27,17 @@
 
     isPublishing = true;
 
-    const published = await publishCourse(course);
+    const result = await publishCourse(course);
     isPublishing = false;
 
-    if (!published) {
+    if (!result.ok && result.reason === 'missing_deadline') {
+      open = false;
+      await tick();
+      openDeadlineDialog = true;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!result.ok) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -38,6 +49,18 @@
       currentOrgDomain
     });
   }
+
+  async function goToCompletionDeadline() {
+    const courseId = courseApi.course?.id;
+    openDeadlineDialog = false;
+
+    if (!courseId) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    await tick();
+    goToCourseCompletionDeadline(courseId);
+  }
 </script>
 
 <Dialog.Root
@@ -48,7 +71,7 @@
     }
   }}
 >
-  <Dialog.Content class="w-[calc(100%-2rem)] max-w-md! p-4">
+  <Dialog.Content class="w-[calc(100%-2rem)] max-w-md! p-4" onCloseAutoFocus={(e) => e.preventDefault()}>
     <Dialog.Header>
       <Dialog.Title>{$t('course.view_course_site.unpublished_title')}</Dialog.Title>
       <Dialog.Description>{$t('course.view_course_site.unpublished_description')}</Dialog.Description>
@@ -64,3 +87,5 @@
     </Dialog.Footer>
   </Dialog.Content>
 </Dialog.Root>
+
+<CertificateDeadlineRequiredDialog bind:open={openDeadlineDialog} onGoToDeadline={goToCompletionDeadline} />
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/pages/settings.svelte b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/pages/settings.svelte
index 953e6510..ebf2720f 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/pages/settings.svelte
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/pages/settings.svelte
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
   import { Switch } from '@cio/ui/base/switch';
   import * as RadioGroup from '@cio/ui/base/radio-group';
   import * as Select from '@cio/ui/base/select';
-  import * as Dialog from '@cio/ui/base/dialog';
   import RotateCcwIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/rotate-ccw';
   import ArrowUpRightIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/arrow-up-right';
   import XIcon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/x';
 
   import ReorderMaterialTabs from '$features/course/components/reorder-material-tabs.svelte';
+  import CertificateDeadlineRequiredDialog from '$features/course/components/certificate-deadline-required-dialog.svelte';
   import { CourseTagPicker } from '$features/course/components';
   import { IconButton } from '@cio/ui/custom/icon-button';
   import { TextareaField } from '@cio/ui/custom/textarea-field';
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
   import { handleOpenWidget } from '$features/ui/course-landing-page/store';
   import { currentOrgDomain, currentOrgPath, isFreePlan } from '$lib/utils/store/org';
   import { page } from '$app/stores';
+  import { ROUTE_NAME, ROUTE_SECTIONS } from '$lib/routing/routes';
 
   interface Props {
     hasUnsavedChanges?: boolean;
@@ -519,24 +520,7 @@
 
 <DeleteModal onDelete={handleDeleteCourse} bind:open={openDeleteModal} />
 
-<Dialog.Root bind:open={openCertificateDeadlineDialog}>
-  <Dialog.Content class="max-w-md">
-    <Dialog.Header>
-      <Dialog.Title>{$t('course.navItem.settings.certificate_deadline_required')}</Dialog.Title>
-      <Dialog.Description>
-        {$t('course.navItem.settings.certificate_deadline_required_description')}
-      </Dialog.Description>
-    </Dialog.Header>
-    <Dialog.Footer>
-      <Button variant="outline" onclick={() => (openCertificateDeadlineDialog = false)}>
-        {$t('cancel')}
-      </Button>
-      <Button onclick={goToCompletionDeadline}>
-        {$t('course.navItem.settings.go_to_completion_deadline')}
-      </Button>
-    </Dialog.Footer>
-  </Dialog.Content>
-</Dialog.Root>
+<CertificateDeadlineRequiredDialog bind:open={openCertificateDeadlineDialog} onGoToDeadline={goToCompletionDeadline} />
 
 <Field.Group class="w-full max-w-md! px-2">
   <Field.Set>
@@ -705,7 +689,10 @@
     {/if}
 
     <Field.Group class="mt-3">
-      <AttentionHighlight id="course-completion-deadline" trigger={completionDeadlineTrigger}>
+      <AttentionHighlight
+        id={ROUTE_SECTIONS[ROUTE_NAME.COURSE_SETTINGS].COMPLETION_DEADLINE}
+        trigger={completionDeadlineTrigger}
+      >
         <Field.Field>
           <Field.Label>
             {$t('course.navItem.settings.completion_deadline_label')}
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-deadline.ts b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-deadline.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8277f9e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-deadline.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { isPublishedComplianceMissingDeadline } from '@cio/utils/functions';
+import { goAndHighlight } from '$lib/routing/go-and-highlight';
+import { ROUTE_NAME, ROUTE_SECTIONS } from '$lib/routing/routes';
+import type { Course } from './types';
+
+type CourseDeadlineSource = Pick<Course, 'type'> & {
+  certificate?: { deadline?: string | null } | null;
+};
+
+export function isCourseMissingComplianceDeadline(course: CourseDeadlineSource): boolean {
+  return isPublishedComplianceMissingDeadline({
+    type: course.type,
+    isPublished: true,
+    deadline: course.certificate?.deadline
+  });
+}
+
+export function goToCourseCompletionDeadline(courseId: string) {
+  goAndHighlight(ROUTE_NAME.COURSE_SETTINGS, ROUTE_SECTIONS[ROUTE_NAME.COURSE_SETTINGS].COMPLETION_DEADLINE, {
+    id: courseId
+  });
+}
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.test.ts b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a4fef9b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge, getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey } from './compliance-utils';
+
+function makeCourse(overrides: { type?: string; complianceStatus?: string | null }) {
+  return {
+    type: overrides.type ?? 'COMPLIANCE',
+    complianceStatus: overrides.complianceStatus
+  } as Parameters<typeof shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge>[0];
+}
+
+describe('shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge', () => {
+  it('hides the in-progress badge on learner course cards', () => {
+    const course = makeCourse({ complianceStatus: 'in_progress' });
+
+    expect(shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(course)).toBe(false);
+    expect(getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey(course)).toBe('course.navItem.compliance.status.in_progress');
+  });
+
+  it('still shows overdue and expiring statuses', () => {
+    expect(shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(makeCourse({ complianceStatus: 'non_compliant' }))).toBe(true);
+    expect(shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(makeCourse({ complianceStatus: 'expiring_soon' }))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('is hidden for non-compliance courses', () => {
+    expect(
+      shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(makeCourse({ type: 'SELF_PACED', complianceStatus: 'in_progress' }))
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.ts b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.ts
index 4b0bb3bf..afcc5d37 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.ts
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/compliance-utils.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,12 @@ export function getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey(course: StudentEnrolledCours
   return complianceStatus ? `course.navItem.compliance.status.${complianceStatus}` : null;
 }
 
+export function shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(course: StudentEnrolledCourse) {
+  const complianceStatus = getStudentCourseComplianceStatus(course);
+
+  return !!complianceStatus && complianceStatus !== 'in_progress';
+}
+
 export function getStudentCourseComplianceStatusVariant(course: StudentEnrolledCourse) {
   const complianceStatus = getStudentCourseComplianceStatus(course);
   if (!complianceStatus) {
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/publish-course.ts b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/publish-course.ts
index aba34016..689fc3c4 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/publish-course.ts
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/course/utils/publish-course.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,17 @@ import { generateSlug } from '@cio/utils/functions';
 import { isObject } from '$lib/utils/functions/isObject';
 import { courseApi } from '$features/course/api';
 import type { Course } from '$features/course/utils/types';
+import { isCourseMissingComplianceDeadline } from './compliance-deadline';
 
-export async function publishCourse(course: Course): Promise<boolean> {
+export type PublishCourseResult = { ok: true } | { ok: false; reason: 'missing_deadline' | 'failed' };
+
+export async function publishCourse(course: Course): Promise<PublishCourseResult> {
   if (!course?.id) {
-    return false;
+    return { ok: false, reason: 'failed' };
+  }
+
+  if (isCourseMissingComplianceDeadline(course)) {
+    return { ok: false, reason: 'missing_deadline' };
   }
 
   let slug = course.slug?.trim() ? course.slug : undefined;
@@ -28,5 +35,13 @@ export async function publishCourse(course: Course): Promise<boolean> {
     { showSuccessToast: true }
   );
 
-  return !!result;
+  if (!result) {
+    if (courseApi.errors['certificate.deadline']) {
+      return { ok: false, reason: 'missing_deadline' };
+    }
+
+    return { ok: false, reason: 'failed' };
+  }
+
+  return { ok: true };
 }
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/lms/components/learning.svelte b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/lms/components/learning.svelte
index 88a17bd6..ad4d2697 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/lms/components/learning.svelte
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/lms/components/learning.svelte
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
     getStudentCourseComplianceDate,
     getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey,
     getStudentCourseComplianceStatusVariant,
-    getStudentCourseProgressPercent
+    getStudentCourseProgressPercent,
+    shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge
   } from '$features/course/utils/compliance-utils';
   import { getStudentCourseContinuePath } from '$features/course/utils/student-course-navigation';
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@
   >
     {#if highlightedCourses.length > 0}
       <div class="flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-start overflow-y-auto">
-        {#each highlightedCourses as course}
+        {#each highlightedCourses as course (course.id)}
           <div class="p-5">
             <span class="flex flex-col items-start gap-3 pb-5 lg:flex-row">
               <img
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@
                   {@const complianceStatusKey = getStudentCourseComplianceStatusKey(course)}
                   {@const complianceDate = getStudentCourseComplianceDate(course)}
                   <div class="mt-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-                    {#if complianceStatusKey}
+                    {#if shouldShowStudentCourseComplianceStatusBadge(course) && complianceStatusKey}
                       <Badge variant={getStudentCourseComplianceStatusVariant(course)}>
                         {$t(complianceStatusKey)}
                       </Badge>
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/ui/attention-highlight.svelte b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/ui/attention-highlight.svelte
index 2bf92bed..4aaa445e 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/ui/attention-highlight.svelte
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/features/ui/attention-highlight.svelte
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+  import { afterNavigate, replaceState } from '$app/navigation';
   import { page } from '$app/state';
-  import { replaceState } from '$app/navigation';
   import { resolve } from '$app/paths';
-  import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
+  import { onMount, tick, type Snippet } from 'svelte';
 
   interface Props {
     id: string;
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@
     children?: Snippet;
   }
 
-  let { id, duration = 3, trigger = 0, children }: Props = $props();
+  let { id, duration = 5, trigger = 0, children }: Props = $props();
 
   let containerRef = $state<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
   let pulsing = $state(false);
-  let handledFor = $state<string | null>(null);
   let lastTrigger = trigger;
   let timeoutId: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+  let retryTimeoutIds: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>[] = [];
 
   function getActiveHighlightId(url: URL): string | null {
     const query = url.searchParams.get('highlight');
@@ -27,15 +27,44 @@
     return hash || null;
   }
 
+  function clearScrollRetries() {
+    for (const retryTimeoutId of retryTimeoutIds) {
+      clearTimeout(retryTimeoutId);
+    }
+
+    retryTimeoutIds = [];
+  }
+
+  function clearTimers() {
+    if (timeoutId) {
+      clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+      timeoutId = null;
+    }
+
+    clearScrollRetries();
+  }
+
+  function scrollToSection() {
+    containerRef?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center' });
+  }
+
   function triggerPulse() {
     pulsing = true;
+    scrollToSection();
 
-    containerRef?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center' });
+    void tick().then(() => {
+      scrollToSection();
+      clearScrollRetries();
+      retryTimeoutIds = [50, 300].map((delayMs) => setTimeout(scrollToSection, delayMs));
+    });
 
     if (timeoutId) clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+
+    const pulseMs = (Number(duration) || 5) * 1000;
     timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
       pulsing = false;
       timeoutId = null;
+      clearScrollRetries();
 
       const url = new URL(page.url);
       const highlightActive = url.searchParams.get('highlight') === id;
@@ -47,21 +76,30 @@
       if (highlightActive || hashActive) {
         replaceState(resolve(`${url.pathname}${url.search}`, {}), page.state);
       }
-    }, duration * 1000);
+    }, pulseMs);
   }
 
-  $effect(() => {
-    const activeHighlightId = getActiveHighlightId(page.url);
+  function pulseIfUrlMatches() {
+    if (getActiveHighlightId(page.url) !== id) return;
 
-    if (activeHighlightId !== id) {
-      handledFor = null;
+    if (pulsing) {
+      scrollToSection();
       return;
     }
 
-    if (handledFor === activeHighlightId) return;
-
-    handledFor = activeHighlightId;
     triggerPulse();
+  }
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    pulseIfUrlMatches();
+
+    return () => {
+      clearTimers();
+    };
+  });
+
+  afterNavigate(() => {
+    pulseIfUrlMatches();
   });
 
   $effect(() => {
@@ -73,15 +111,12 @@
       triggerPulse();
     }
   });
-
-  $effect(() => {
-    return () => {
-      if (timeoutId) clearTimeout(timeoutId);
-    };
-  });
 </script>
 
-<div bind:this={containerRef} class={`rounded-md p-2 ${pulsing ? 'ui:border-primary animate-pulse border' : ''}`}>
+<div
+  bind:this={containerRef}
+  class={`scroll-mt-16 rounded-md p-2 ${pulsing ? 'ui:bg-primary/15 ui:ring-primary ui:ring-4 ui:ring-offset-background ui:ring-offset-2' : ''}`}
+>
   {#if children}
     {@render children()}
   {/if}
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/go-and-highlight.ts b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/go-and-highlight.ts
index f97d5e3c..85aa0277 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/go-and-highlight.ts
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/go-and-highlight.ts
@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@ export function goAndHighlight<R extends ROUTE_NAME>(
   }
 
   query.set('highlight', sectionName);
-  goto(resolve(`${path}?${query.toString()}`, {}));
+  goto(resolve(`${path}?${query.toString()}`, {}), { noScroll: true, keepFocus: true });
 }
diff --git a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/routes.ts b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/routes.ts
index 0890d4e5..bb396a1c 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/routes.ts
+++ b/apps/dashboard/src/lib/routing/routes.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ export const ROUTE_PATHS = {
 
 export const ROUTE_SECTIONS = {
   [ROUTE_NAME.COURSE_SETTINGS]: {
-    PUBLISH: 'publish'
+    PUBLISH: 'publish',
+    COMPLETION_DEADLINE: 'course-completion-deadline'
   },
 
   [ROUTE_NAME.COURSE_CERTIFICATE]: {