diff --git a/cms/static/js/certificates/views/certificates_list.js b/cms/static/js/certificates/views/certificates_list.js
index 32832b806e..c6871ac00f 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/certificates/views/certificates_list.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/certificates/views/certificates_list.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ function (gettext, ListView, CertificateItemView) {
         // Translators: this refers to a collection of certificates.
         itemCategoryDisplayName: gettext('certificate'),
 
+        newItemMessage: gettext('Set up your certificate'),
+
         // Translators: This line refers to the initial state of the form when no data has been inserted
         emptyMessage: gettext('You have not created any certificates yet.'),
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/content_group_list.js b/cms/static/js/views/content_group_list.js
index d4b6242e18..8f5e420a96 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/content_group_list.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/content_group_list.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ define([
         // Translators: This refers to a content group that can be linked to a student cohort.
         itemCategoryDisplayName: gettext('content group'),
 
+        newItemMessage: gettext('Add your first content group'),
+
         emptyMessage: gettext('You have not created any content groups yet.'),
 
         createItemView: function(options) {
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/group_configurations_list.js b/cms/static/js/views/group_configurations_list.js
index e40af573e9..a1996430c4 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/group_configurations_list.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/group_configurations_list.js
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ define([
         // Translators: this refers to a collection of groups.
         itemCategoryDisplayName: gettext('group configuration'),
 
+        newItemMessage: gettext('Add your first group configuration'),
+
         emptyMessage: gettext('You have not created any group configurations yet.'),
 
         createItemView: function(options) {
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/list.js b/cms/static/js/views/list.js
index e3c0cddd07..e7bbc5e19d 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/list.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/list.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ define([
         render: function(model) {
             this.$el.html(this.template({
                 itemCategoryDisplayName: this.itemCategoryDisplayName,
+                newItemMessage: this.newItemMessage,
                 emptyMessage: this.emptyMessage,
                 length: this.collection.length,
                 isEditing: model && model.get('editing'),
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/list.underscore b/cms/templates/js/list.underscore
index 409c4eabb6..c1314e0930 100644
--- a/cms/templates/js/list.underscore
+++ b/cms/templates/js/list.underscore
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
             <%- emptyMessage %>
             <a href="#" class="button new-button"><i class="icon fa fa-plus"></i>
             <%= interpolate(
-                gettext("Add your first %(item_type)s"), {item_type: itemCategoryDisplayName}, true
+                gettext("%(new_item_message)s"), {new_item_message: newItemMessage}, true
             ) %></a>
         </p>
     </div>
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/pages/studio/settings_certificates.py b/common/test/acceptance/pages/studio/settings_certificates.py
index 8cec6c7ac3..adce19fd69 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/pages/studio/settings_certificates.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/pages/studio/settings_certificates.py
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ class CertificatesPage(CoursePage):
         """
         return self.q(css='.wrapper-content ' + self.certficate_css + ' .no-content').text[0]
 
+    @property
+    def new_certificate_link_text(self):
+        """
+        Returns text of new-button link .
+        """
+        return self.q(css='.wrapper-content ' + self.certficate_css + ' .no-content a.new-button').text[0]
+
     ################
     # Wait Actions
     ################
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_settings_certificates.py b/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_settings_certificates.py
index 77d5857859..eff3531a89 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_settings_certificates.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_settings_certificates.py
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ class CertificatesTest(StudioCourseTest):
             shown when no certificate exist.
         Given I have a course without certificates
         When I go to the Certificates page in Studio
-        Then I see "You have not created any certificates yet." message
+        Then I see "You have not created any certificates yet." message and
+        a link with text "Set up your certificate"
         """
         self.certificates_page.visit()
         self.assertTrue(self.certificates_page.no_certificates_message_shown)
@@ -78,6 +79,10 @@ class CertificatesTest(StudioCourseTest):
             "You have not created any certificates yet.",
             self.certificates_page.no_certificates_message_text
         )
+        self.assertIn(
+            "Set up your certificate",
+            self.certificates_page.new_certificate_link_text
+        )
 
     def test_can_create_and_edit_certficate(self):
         """