diff --git a/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/hvac-community-events.php b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/hvac-community-events.php
index 5219d275..6db32114 100644
--- a/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/hvac-community-events.php
+++ b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/hvac-community-events.php
@@ -466,6 +466,25 @@ function hvac_community_events_init() {
 }
 add_action('plugins_loaded', 'hvac_community_events_init');
 
+// Initialize certificate URL handler very early to catch URLs before 404
+function hvac_init_certificate_url_handler() {
+    // Load the certificate URL handler class if not already loaded
+    if (!class_exists('HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler')) {
+        $handler_file = HVAC_CE_PLUGIN_DIR . 'includes/certificates/class-certificate-url-handler.php';
+        if (file_exists($handler_file)) {
+            require_once $handler_file;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    // Initialize the handler if class exists
+    if (class_exists('HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler')) {
+        HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler::instance();
+    }
+}
+// Hook very early - before WordPress decides it's a 404
+add_action('muplugins_loaded', 'hvac_init_certificate_url_handler', 1);
+add_action('plugins_loaded', 'hvac_init_certificate_url_handler', 1);
+
 
 /**
  * Include custom template for single event summary page.
diff --git a/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/certificates/class-certificate-url-handler.php b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/certificates/class-certificate-url-handler.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..13f3b9d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/certificates/class-certificate-url-handler.php
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Certificate URL Handler Class
+ *
+ * Handles certificate URL routing without relying on rewrite rules
+ *
+ * @package HVAC_Community_Events
+ * @subpackage Certificates
+ */
+
+// Exit if accessed directly
+if (!defined('ABSPATH')) {
+    exit;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Certificate URL Handler class.
+ *
+ * @since 1.0.0
+ */
+class HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler {
+
+    /**
+     * The single instance of the class.
+     *
+     * @var HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler
+     */
+    protected static $_instance = null;
+
+    /**
+     * Main HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler Instance.
+     */
+    public static function instance() {
+        if (is_null(self::$_instance)) {
+            self::$_instance = new self();
+        }
+        return self::$_instance;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor.
+     */
+    public function __construct() {
+        // Hook very early to catch certificate URLs - before WordPress parses the request
+        add_action('plugins_loaded', array($this, 'catch_certificate_urls'), 1);
+        add_action('init', array($this, 'catch_certificate_urls'), 1);
+        
+        // Also try parse_request as a fallback
+        add_action('parse_request', array($this, 'parse_certificate_request'), 1);
+        
+        // Log initialization
+        if (class_exists('HVAC_Logger')) {
+            HVAC_Logger::info('Certificate URL Handler initialized', 'Certificates');
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Catch certificate URLs and handle them directly
+     */
+    public function catch_certificate_urls() {
+        // Only process on frontend
+        if (is_admin()) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Get the request URI
+        $request_uri = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
+        $parsed_url = parse_url($request_uri);
+        $path = $parsed_url['path'] ?? '';
+        
+        // Remove any trailing slash for consistency
+        $path = rtrim($path, '/');
+        
+        // Check if this is a certificate URL
+        if (preg_match('#^/hvac-certificate/([a-zA-Z0-9]{32})$#', $path, $matches)) {
+            $token = $matches[1];
+            
+            // Log the request
+            if (class_exists('HVAC_Logger')) {
+                HVAC_Logger::info("Certificate URL detected - Token: $token", 'Certificates');
+            }
+            
+            // Handle the certificate download
+            $this->handle_certificate_download($token);
+            exit; // Stop WordPress from processing further
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handle certificate download
+     */
+    protected function handle_certificate_download($token) {
+        // Validate the token
+        $certificate_data = $this->validate_download_token($token);
+        
+        if (!$certificate_data) {
+            if (class_exists('HVAC_Logger')) {
+                HVAC_Logger::error("Invalid or expired certificate token: $token", 'Certificates');
+            }
+            wp_die(__('Invalid or expired certificate download link.', 'hvac-community-events'), 'Certificate Error', array('response' => 404));
+        }
+        
+        // Get file path
+        $file_path = $this->get_certificate_file_path($certificate_data);
+        
+        if (!$file_path || !file_exists($file_path)) {
+            if (class_exists('HVAC_Logger')) {
+                HVAC_Logger::error("Certificate file not found for token: $token", 'Certificates');
+            }
+            wp_die(__('Certificate file not found.', 'hvac-community-events'), 'Certificate Error', array('response' => 404));
+        }
+        
+        // Log successful access
+        if (class_exists('HVAC_Logger')) {
+            HVAC_Logger::info("Serving certificate file: $file_path", 'Certificates');
+        }
+        
+        // Serve the file
+        $this->serve_certificate_file($file_path, $certificate_data);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Validate a certificate download token.
+     */
+    protected function validate_download_token($token) {
+        // Check if token exists in transients
+        $certificate_data = get_transient('hvac_certificate_token_' . $token);
+        
+        if (!$certificate_data) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        
+        // Delete the transient to prevent reuse
+        delete_transient('hvac_certificate_token_' . $token);
+        
+        return $certificate_data;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the full file path for a certificate.
+     */
+    protected function get_certificate_file_path($certificate_data) {
+        if (empty($certificate_data['file_path'])) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        
+        $upload_dir = wp_upload_dir();
+        $file_path = $upload_dir['basedir'] . '/' . $certificate_data['file_path'];
+        
+        if (file_exists($file_path)) {
+            return $file_path;
+        }
+        
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Serve a certificate file for download.
+     */
+    protected function serve_certificate_file($file_path, $certificate_data) {
+        // Get file information
+        $file_name = basename($file_path);
+        $file_size = filesize($file_path);
+        $file_ext = pathinfo($file_path, PATHINFO_EXTENSION);
+        
+        // Set download filename
+        $event_name = sanitize_title($certificate_data['event_name'] ?? 'event');
+        $attendee_name = sanitize_title($certificate_data['attendee_name'] ?? 'attendee');
+        $download_filename = "certificate-{$event_name}-{$attendee_name}.{$file_ext}";
+        
+        // Send headers
+        nocache_headers();
+        header('Content-Type: application/pdf');
+        header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="' . $download_filename . '"');
+        header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');
+        header('Content-Length: ' . $file_size);
+        
+        // Disable output buffering
+        if (ob_get_level()) {
+            ob_end_clean();
+        }
+        
+        // Output the file
+        readfile($file_path);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Parse request fallback method
+     */
+    public function parse_certificate_request($wp) {
+        // Get the request URI
+        $request_uri = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
+        $parsed_url = parse_url($request_uri);
+        $path = $parsed_url['path'] ?? '';
+        
+        // Remove any trailing slash for consistency
+        $path = rtrim($path, '/');
+        
+        // Check if this is a certificate URL
+        if (preg_match('#^/hvac-certificate/([a-zA-Z0-9]{32})$#', $path, $matches)) {
+            $token = $matches[1];
+            
+            // Log the request
+            if (class_exists('HVAC_Logger')) {
+                HVAC_Logger::info("Certificate URL detected via parse_request - Token: $token", 'Certificates');
+            }
+            
+            // Handle the certificate download
+            $this->handle_certificate_download($token);
+            exit; // Stop WordPress from processing further
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/class-hvac-community-events.php b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/class-hvac-community-events.php
index 6160c5a4..89b73572 100644
--- a/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/class-hvac-community-events.php
+++ b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/includes/class-hvac-community-events.php
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class HVAC_Community_Events {
 	        'certificates/class-certificate-settings.php',   // Certificate settings
 	        'certificates/class-certificate-template.php',   // Certificate template
 	        'certificates/class-certificate-security.php',   // Certificate security
+	        'certificates/class-certificate-url-handler.php', // Certificate URL handler
 	        'certificates/class-certificate-ajax-handler.php', // Certificate AJAX handling
 	        'certificates/class-certificate-fix.php',        // Certificate diagnostic/fix tool
 	        'community/class-email-debug.php',    // Email debugging tools
@@ -209,6 +210,11 @@ class HVAC_Community_Events {
 			HVAC_Certificate_Security::instance();
 		}
 		
+		// Initialize certificate URL handler
+		if (class_exists('HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler')) {
+			HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler::instance();
+		}
+		
 		// Add manual flush rewrite rules for admins (debugging)
 		if (is_admin() && current_user_can('manage_options') && isset($_GET['hvac_flush_rewrite']) && $_GET['hvac_flush_rewrite'] === '1') {
 			flush_rewrite_rules();
diff --git a/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/test-certificate-url.php b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/test-certificate-url.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..34e757f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wordpress-dev/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/hvac-community-events/test-certificate-url.php
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Test Certificate URL System
+ * 
+ * Run this to test if certificate URLs are working properly
+ */
+
+// Load WordPress
+require_once __DIR__ . '/../../../wp-load.php';
+
+// Check if user is admin
+if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
+    wp_die('Access denied');
+}
+
+echo "<h1>Certificate URL System Test</h1>";
+echo "<pre>";
+
+// 1. Check if URL handler is loaded
+echo "=== URL HANDLER CHECK ===\n";
+if (class_exists('HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler')) {
+    echo "✅ HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler class exists\n";
+    $handler = HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler::instance();
+    echo "✅ URL Handler instance created\n";
+} else {
+    echo "❌ HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler class NOT found!\n";
+}
+
+// 2. Check if security class is loaded
+echo "\n=== SECURITY CLASS CHECK ===\n";
+if (class_exists('HVAC_Certificate_Security')) {
+    echo "✅ HVAC_Certificate_Security class exists\n";
+    $security = HVAC_Certificate_Security::instance();
+    echo "✅ Security instance created\n";
+} else {
+    echo "❌ HVAC_Certificate_Security class NOT found!\n";
+}
+
+// 3. Create a test token
+echo "\n=== TOKEN GENERATION TEST ===\n";
+if (isset($security)) {
+    $test_data = array(
+        'file_path' => 'test/certificate.pdf',
+        'event_name' => 'Test Event',
+        'attendee_name' => 'Test Attendee',
+        'certificate_id' => 999
+    );
+    
+    $test_url = $security->generate_download_token(999, $test_data, 300); // 5 minute expiry
+    echo "Generated test URL: $test_url\n";
+    
+    // Extract token
+    if (preg_match('/hvac-certificate\/([^\/]+)/', $test_url, $matches)) {
+        $token = $matches[1];
+        echo "Token: $token\n";
+        
+        // Verify token exists in database
+        $transient = get_transient('hvac_certificate_token_' . $token);
+        if ($transient) {
+            echo "✅ Token transient exists\n";
+            echo "Token data:\n";
+            print_r($transient);
+            
+            // Test direct access URL
+            echo "\n=== DIRECT ACCESS TEST ===\n";
+            echo "Test this URL in your browser: $test_url\n";
+            echo "(Should show 'Certificate file not found' since we're using a test file path)\n";
+        } else {
+            echo "❌ Token transient NOT found!\n";
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// 4. Check hooks
+echo "\n=== HOOK REGISTRATION CHECK ===\n";
+$init_callbacks = $GLOBALS['wp_filter']['init'] ?? array();
+$found_url_handler = false;
+
+foreach ($init_callbacks as $priority => $callbacks) {
+    foreach ($callbacks as $callback) {
+        if (is_array($callback['function']) && 
+            is_object($callback['function'][0]) && 
+            get_class($callback['function'][0]) === 'HVAC_Certificate_URL_Handler') {
+            $found_url_handler = true;
+            echo "✅ URL Handler init hook found at priority: $priority\n";
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+if (!$found_url_handler) {
+    echo "❌ URL Handler init hook NOT found!\n";
+}
+
+// 5. List recent certificate tokens
+echo "\n=== RECENT CERTIFICATE TOKENS ===\n";
+global $wpdb;
+$recent_tokens = $wpdb->get_results(
+    "SELECT option_name, option_value 
+     FROM {$wpdb->options} 
+     WHERE option_name LIKE '_transient_hvac_certificate_token_%' 
+     ORDER BY option_id DESC 
+     LIMIT 5"
+);
+
+if (empty($recent_tokens)) {
+    echo "No recent certificate tokens found\n";
+} else {
+    foreach ($recent_tokens as $token_row) {
+        $token_key = str_replace('_transient_hvac_certificate_token_', '', $token_row->option_name);
+        echo "\nToken: $token_key\n";
+        $data = maybe_unserialize($token_row->option_value);
+        if (is_array($data)) {
+            echo "  URL: " . home_url('hvac-certificate/' . $token_key) . "\n";
+            echo "  Event: " . ($data['event_name'] ?? 'N/A') . "\n";
+            echo "  Attendee: " . ($data['attendee_name'] ?? 'N/A') . "\n";
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// 6. Test a real certificate if available
+echo "\n=== REAL CERTIFICATE TEST ===\n";
+require_once HVAC_CE_PLUGIN_DIR . 'includes/certificates/class-certificate-manager.php';
+$cert_manager = HVAC_Certificate_Manager::instance();
+
+// Get a recent certificate
+$recent_cert = $wpdb->get_row(
+    "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}hvac_certificates 
+     WHERE file_path IS NOT NULL AND file_path != '' 
+     ORDER BY certificate_id DESC 
+     LIMIT 1"
+);
+
+if ($recent_cert) {
+    echo "Found certificate ID: {$recent_cert->certificate_id}\n";
+    echo "File path: {$recent_cert->file_path}\n";
+    
+    // Check if file exists
+    $upload_dir = wp_upload_dir();
+    $full_path = $upload_dir['basedir'] . '/' . $recent_cert->file_path;
+    
+    if (file_exists($full_path)) {
+        echo "✅ Certificate file exists at: $full_path\n";
+        
+        // Generate download URL
+        $cert_data = array(
+            'certificate_id' => $recent_cert->certificate_id,
+            'file_path' => $recent_cert->file_path,
+            'event_name' => 'Test Event',
+            'attendee_name' => 'Test Attendee'
+        );
+        
+        $download_url = $security->generate_download_token($recent_cert->certificate_id, $cert_data, 300);
+        echo "\nGenerated download URL: $download_url\n";
+        echo "✅ Test this URL in your browser - it should download the certificate!\n";
+    } else {
+        echo "❌ Certificate file NOT found at: $full_path\n";
+    }
+} else {
+    echo "No certificates with file paths found in database\n";
+}
+
+echo "\n=== SUMMARY ===\n";
+echo "Certificate URL system should now be working.\n";
+echo "URLs in format: " . home_url('hvac-certificate/[token]') . " will be handled directly.\n";
+echo "No rewrite rules needed!\n";
+
+echo "</pre>";
\ No newline at end of file