# Control lesson access

> Access Policy controls who can see a lesson, when it unlocks, password locks, and when scores become visible. Policies can target all learners, a cohort, a group, or specific students.

Source: https://www.curacourse.com/help/access-policy-visibility-locking-and-grade-release

## At a glance

**Access Policy** controls who can see a lesson, when it unlocks, password locks, and when scores become visible. Policies can target all learners, a cohort, a group, or specific students.

## Prerequisites

- Lesson open in view mode → **Access Policy** in the right sidebar.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![CuraCourse screenshot: Access Policy: visibility, locking, and grade release](https://www.curacourse.com/help/featurebase/c43218607791dac7bbf3.png)

## Steps

1. Open **Access Policy** and click **Add** (or **Edit** on an existing card).
2. Set **Policy will affect** to **All Learners**, **Cohort**, **Group**, or **Specific Students**, then pick the target when required.
3. Configure:
   
   
   
   - **Visible at** — Schedule when the lesson becomes visible; clear to leave **Not visible**.
   - **Locked** — When on, set optional **Password** (**Generate** available), **Unlock at**, and **Relock at**.
   - **Show scores at** — When learners may see grades for this policy target.
4. Click **Create** or **Save**.
5. Add additional policies for different cohorts or students; reorder cohort-specific policies if the list allows drag-order.

The **All Learners** policy cannot be deleted; you can edit it.

## Common gotchas

- **Not visible** means learners don’t see the lesson in the outline until **Visible at** is in the past (or you clear scheduling appropriately).
- Group policies require groups on that lesson (enable group work and an assignment group first).
- Due date, late submission, and time-limit fields may appear on stored policies even when not shown in the current form—check the policy card summary.

## Next steps

- [Preview as a learner: use Learner List](https://www.curacourse.com/help/view-lesson-as-a-learner-use-learner-list)
- [Common access issues](https://www.curacourse.com/help/common-access-issues-cant-see-a-lesson-wrong-view)