Abstract: A method for credentialing visitors to an access-controlled environment includes providing a smart-phone based credentialing platform, providing an electronic badge having electronically controlled indicia thereon, enrolling a visitor by entering visitor information based on requirements of an administrator, approving the requirements of the step of enrolling are met, requesting, by a visitor, a location for which access is desired, and approving the request. The method further includes the steps of checking in on the smart-phone to establish check-in data, communicating between the smart-phone and the badge indicia data for forming a display image on the display of the badge, recording geo-location data of the visitor, checking out of the system, recording check-in data and check-out data and removing the indicia from the badge display.