diff --git a/client/utils/build-challenges.js b/client/utils/build-challenges.js
index 3d2033fe2d..94b496154c 100644
--- a/client/utils/build-challenges.js
+++ b/client/utils/build-challenges.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const envData = require('../../config/env.json');
 const {
   getChallengesForLang,
   createChallenge,
+  createCertification,
   challengesDir,
   getChallengesDirForLang
 } = require('../../curriculum/getChallenges');
@@ -25,13 +26,11 @@ exports.replaceChallengeNode = () => {
       `../../curriculum/challenges/_meta/${blockName}/meta.json`
     );
     delete require.cache[require.resolve(metaPath)];
+    const isCert = path.extname(filePath) === '.yml';
     const meta = require(metaPath);
-    return await createChallenge(
-      challengesDir,
-      filePath,
-      curriculumLocale,
-      meta
-    );
+    return isCert
+      ? await createCertification(challengesDir, filePath, curriculumLocale)
+      : await createChallenge(challengesDir, filePath, curriculumLocale, meta);
   };
 };
 
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/back-end-development-and-apis-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/back-end-development-and-apis-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 63b443cac4..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/back-end-development-and-apis-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Back End Development and APIs Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "back-end-development-and-apis-certification",
-  "order": 5,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561add10cb82ac38a17523bc",
-      "Back End Development and APIs Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/data-analysis-with-python-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/data-analysis-with-python-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 40115e90e5..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/data-analysis-with-python-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Data Analysis with Python Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "data-analysis-with-python-v7-certification",
-  "order": 8,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "5e46fc95ac417301a38fb934",
-      "Data Analysis with Python Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/data-visualization-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/data-visualization-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index f0409e9820..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/data-visualization-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Data Visualization Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "data-visualization-certification",
-  "order": 3,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "5a553ca864b52e1d8bceea14",
-      "Data Visualization Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/front-end-development-libraries-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/front-end-development-libraries-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 51e84b888a..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/front-end-development-libraries-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Front End Development Libraries Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "front-end-development-libraries-certification",
-  "order": 2,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561acd10cb82ac38a17513bc",
-      "Front End Development Libraries Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/information-security-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/information-security-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 373cd684f4..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/information-security-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Information Security Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "information-security-v7-certification",
-  "order": 9,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "5e6021435ac9d0ecd8b94b00",
-      "Information Security Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index b1d44b2bad..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures-certification",
-  "order": 1,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561abd10cb81ac38a17513bc",
-      "JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-back-end-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-back-end-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 13c338b71e..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-back-end-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Legacy Back End Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "legacy-back-end-certification",
-  "order": 12,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "660add10cb82ac38a17513be",
-      "Legacy Back End Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-data-visualization-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-data-visualization-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 00c00f4d86..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-data-visualization-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Legacy Data Visualization Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "legacy-data-visualization-certification",
-  "order": 13,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561add10cb82ac39a17513bc",
-      "Legacy Data Visualization Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-front-end-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-front-end-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index ef90e1dd2b..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-front-end-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Legacy Front End Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "legacy-front-end-certification",
-  "order": 11,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561add10cb82ac38a17513be",
-      "Legacy Front End Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-full-stack-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-full-stack-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index a48b623cf0..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-full-stack-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Legacy Full Stack Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "full-stack-certification",
-  "order": 15,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561add10cb82ac38a17213bd",
-      "Legacy Full Stack Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-information-security-and-quality-assurance-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-information-security-and-quality-assurance-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index da9dfef236..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/legacy-information-security-and-quality-assurance-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Legacy Information Security and Quality Assurance Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "information-security-and-quality-assurance-certification",
-  "order": 14,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561add10cb82ac38a17213bc",
-      "Legacy Information Security and Quality Assurance Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/machine-learning-with-python-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/machine-learning-with-python-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index d98ced6c7d..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/machine-learning-with-python-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Machine Learning with Python Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "machine-learning-with-python-v7-certification",
-  "order": 10,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "5e46fc95ac417301a38fb935",
-      "Machine Learning with Python Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/quality-assurance-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/quality-assurance-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index dd0c2a596a..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/quality-assurance-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Quality Assurance Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "quality-assurance-v7-certification",
-  "order": 6,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "5e611829481575a52dc59c0e",
-      "Quality Assurance Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/relational-databases-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/relational-databases-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index f90c3e25a8..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/relational-databases-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Relational Databases Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": true,
-  "dashedName": "relational-databases-v8-certification",
-  "order": 4,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "606243f50267e718b1e755f4",
-      "Relational Databases Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/responsive-web-design-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/responsive-web-design-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 2c43b392c1..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/responsive-web-design-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Responsive Web Design Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "responsive-web-design-certification",
-  "order": 0,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "561add10cb82ac38a17513bc",
-      "Responsive Web Design Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/scientific-computing-with-python-certification/meta.json b/curriculum/challenges/_meta/scientific-computing-with-python-certification/meta.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 3fd0a8d515..0000000000
--- a/curriculum/challenges/_meta/scientific-computing-with-python-certification/meta.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "Scientific Computing with Python Certification",
-  "isUpcomingChange": false,
-  "dashedName": "scientific-computing-with-python-v7-certification",
-  "order": 7,
-  "time": "",
-  "template": "",
-  "required": [],
-  "superBlock": "certifications",
-  "challengeOrder": [
-    [
-      "5e44431b903586ffb414c951",
-      "Scientific Computing with Python Certification"
-    ]
-  ],
-  "isPrivate": true
-}
diff --git a/curriculum/getChallenges.js b/curriculum/getChallenges.js
index bc8a48da37..0ce7a378ba 100644
--- a/curriculum/getChallenges.js
+++ b/curriculum/getChallenges.js
@@ -172,6 +172,13 @@ exports.getChallengesForLang = async function getChallengesForLang(lang) {
 };
 
 async function buildBlocks({ basename: blockName }, curriculum, superBlock) {
+  // TODO: this is a hack to avoid fetching the meta for the certifications.
+  // Instead, the certifications should be moved from the challenges directory
+  // and handled separately.
+  if (superBlock === 'certifications') {
+    curriculum[superBlock].blocks[blockName] = { challenges: [] };
+    return;
+  }
   const metaPath = path.resolve(
     __dirname,
     `./challenges/_meta/${blockName}/meta.json`
@@ -199,10 +206,10 @@ async function buildSuperBlocks({ path, fullPath }, curriculum) {
   return walk(fullPath, curriculum, { depth: 1, type: 'directories' }, cb);
 }
 
-async function buildChallenges({ path }, curriculum, lang) {
+async function buildChallenges({ path: filePath }, curriculum, lang) {
   // path is relative to getChallengesDirForLang(lang)
-  const block = getBlockNameFromPath(path);
-  const { name: superBlock } = superBlockInfoFromPath(path);
+  const block = getBlockNameFromPath(filePath);
+  const { name: superBlock } = superBlockInfoFromPath(filePath);
   let challengeBlock;
 
   // TODO: this try block and process exit can all go once errors terminate the
@@ -219,8 +226,10 @@ async function buildChallenges({ path }, curriculum, lang) {
     process.exit(1);
   }
   const { meta } = challengeBlock;
-
-  const challenge = await createChallenge(challengesDir, path, lang, meta);
+  const isCert = path.extname(filePath) === '.yml';
+  const challenge = isCert
+    ? await createCertification(challengesDir, filePath, lang)
+    : await createChallenge(challengesDir, filePath, lang, meta);
 
   challengeBlock.challenges = [...challengeBlock.challenges, challenge];
 }
@@ -236,6 +245,17 @@ async function parseTranslation(transPath, dict, lang, parse = parseMD) {
     : translatedChal;
 }
 
+async function createCertification(basePath, filePath, lang) {
+  function getFullPath(pathLang) {
+    return path.resolve(__dirname, basePath, pathLang, filePath);
+  }
+  const { name: superBlock } = superBlockInfoFromPath(filePath);
+  const useEnglish = lang === 'english' || !isAuditedCert(lang, superBlock);
+  return useEnglish
+    ? parseCert(getFullPath('english'))
+    : parseCert(getFullPath(lang));
+}
+
 async function createChallenge(basePath, filePath, lang, maybeMeta) {
   function getFullPath(pathLang) {
     return path.resolve(__dirname, basePath, pathLang, filePath);
@@ -264,18 +284,11 @@ ${getFullPath('english')}
   // while the auditing is ongoing, we default to English for un-audited certs
   // once that's complete, we can revert to using isEnglishChallenge(fullPath)
   const useEnglish = lang === 'english' || !isAuditedCert(lang, superBlock);
-  const isCert = path.extname(filePath) === '.yml';
-  let challenge;
 
-  if (isCert) {
-    challenge = await (useEnglish
-      ? parseCert(getFullPath('english'))
-      : parseCert(getFullPath(lang)));
-  } else {
-    challenge = await (useEnglish
-      ? parseMD(getFullPath('english'))
-      : parseTranslation(getFullPath(lang), COMMENT_TRANSLATIONS, lang));
-  }
+  const challenge = await (useEnglish
+    ? parseMD(getFullPath('english'))
+    : parseTranslation(getFullPath(lang), COMMENT_TRANSLATIONS, lang));
+
   const challengeOrder = findIndex(
     meta.challengeOrder,
     ([id]) => id === challenge.id
@@ -363,3 +376,4 @@ function getBlockNameFromPath(filePath) {
 exports.hasEnglishSource = hasEnglishSource;
 exports.parseTranslation = parseTranslation;
 exports.createChallenge = createChallenge;
+exports.createCertification = createCertification;
diff --git a/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js b/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
index 07ea985f1f..a014058772 100644
--- a/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
+++ b/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
@@ -198,7 +198,10 @@ async function setup() {
   const meta = {};
   for (const challenge of challenges) {
     const dashedBlockName = challenge.block;
-    if (!meta[dashedBlockName]) {
+    // certifications do not have dashedBlockName's and don't have metas so
+    // we can skip them.
+    // TODO: omit certifications from the list of challenges
+    if (dashedBlockName && !meta[dashedBlockName]) {
       meta[dashedBlockName] = await getMetaForBlock(dashedBlockName);
     }
   }
@@ -296,6 +299,9 @@ function populateTestsForLang({ lang, challenges, meta }) {
     this.timeout(5000);
     challenges.forEach((challenge, id) => {
       const dashedBlockName = challenge.block;
+      // TODO: once certifications are not included in the list of challenges,
+      // stop returning early here.
+      if (typeof dashedBlockName === 'undefined') return;
       describe(challenge.block || 'No block', function () {
         describe(challenge.title || 'No title', function () {
           // Note: the title in meta.json are purely for human readability and