diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_create_rerun.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_create_rerun.py
index a7c5df8bc7..4db95d3bed 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_create_rerun.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_create_rerun.py
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 """
 Test view handler for rerun (and eventually create)
 """
+import ddt
+
 from django.test.client import RequestFactory
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore import ModuleStoreEnum
+from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 from student.roles import CourseInstructorRole, CourseStaffRole
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
 from contentstore.tests.utils import AjaxEnabledTestClient, parse_json
@@ -13,6 +17,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from xmodule.course_module import CourseFields
 
 
+@ddt.ddt
 class TestCourseListing(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Unit tests for getting the list of courses for a logged in user
@@ -64,3 +69,21 @@ class TestCourseListing(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(dest_course_key.run, 'copy')
         dest_course = self.store.get_course(dest_course_key)
         self.assertEqual(dest_course.start, CourseFields.start.default)
+
+    @ddt.data(ModuleStoreEnum.Type.mongo, ModuleStoreEnum.Type.split)
+    def test_newly_created_course_has_web_certs_enabled(self, store):
+        """
+        Tests newly created course has web certs enabled by default.
+        """
+        with modulestore().default_store(store):
+            response = self.client.ajax_post('/course/', {
+                'org': 'orgX',
+                'number': 'CS101',
+                'display_name': 'Course with web certs enabled',
+                'run': '2015_T2'
+            })
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+            data = parse_json(response)
+            new_course_key = CourseKey.from_string(data['course_key'])
+            course = self.store.get_course(new_course_key)
+            self.assertTrue(course.cert_html_view_enabled)
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
index 6d4dba3649..80d65cc3ff 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
@@ -741,8 +741,11 @@ def create_new_course_in_store(store, user, org, number, run, fields):
     Separated out b/c command line course creation uses this as well as the web interface.
     """
 
-    # Set default language from settings
-    fields.update({'language': getattr(settings, 'DEFAULT_COURSE_LANGUAGE', 'en')})
+    # Set default language from settings and enable web certs
+    fields.update({
+        'language': getattr(settings, 'DEFAULT_COURSE_LANGUAGE', 'en'),
+        'cert_html_view_enabled': True,
+    })
 
     with modulestore().default_store(store):
         # Creating the course raises DuplicateCourseError if an existing course with this org/name is found