Add a certification through the Licenses & Certifications section

Open LinkedIn and go to your profile. Click the Edit public profile button (the pencil icon in the top right). Scroll down to the Licenses & Certifications section and click the plus sign to add a new entry.

Fill in the certification name exactly as it appears on your credential. Add the issuing organization — the body that awarded the certificate. If the certification has an expiration date, enter it; if it doesn't expire, leave that field blank or toggle off the expiration option. LinkedIn will then ask for a credential ID (the reference number on your certificate) and a credential URL (a link where someone can verify it). Both are optional, but adding them makes your certification more credible.

Click Save when you're done. The certification will appear on your profile when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show up in search results or when others view your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to your profile, click Edit, and find the Licenses & Certifications section to add a new entry.
  • Enter the exact certification name, the organization that issued it, and the expiration date if one exists.
  • Adding a credential ID and verification URL makes your certification more trustworthy to people viewing your profile.
  • You can add multiple certifications, and they appear in the order you add them — reorder them by dragging if needed.
  • LinkedIn will suggest certifications as you type the name, which can help you match the official title.

Use the credential ID and URL to prove the certification is real

The credential ID is a reference number printed on your certificate. It's usually a string of letters and numbers that the issuing organization uses to track your credential. Adding it tells viewers they can contact the organization to confirm you actually earned the certification.

The credential URL is a link to a page where your certification can be verified — often a digital badge, a certificate page on the issuer's website, or a third-party verification platform like Credly or Coursera. If your certification came with a digital badge or a verification link, paste it here. This is the strongest proof you can offer, because someone can click the link and see your name and the date you earned it.

If you don't have either, that's okay — many older certifications don't come with these. But if you do have them, adding them takes 30 seconds and makes your profile stronger.

Reorder certifications so the most relevant ones appear first

LinkedIn shows certifications in the order you add them, with the newest at the top. If you want a different order — for example, putting your most job-relevant certification first — you can rearrange them. Go back to your profile edit screen, find the Licenses & Certifications section, and hover over any certification. A six-dot handle will appear on the left side. Click and drag the certification up or down to move it.

This matters because most people viewing your profile will see only the first two or three certifications before they have to click to expand the section. Put the ones that matter most to your industry or the jobs you're targeting at the top.

Edit or remove a certification anytime

To change the details of a certification you've already added, go to your profile edit screen, find the certification in the Licenses & Certifications section, and click the pencil icon next to it. You can update the name, issuer, dates, credential ID, or URL. Click Save when you're done.

To remove a certification entirely, click the trash icon next to it. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the certification disappears from your profile when ready.

Add certifications from platforms like Coursera or Google directly

Some online learning platforms — including Coursera, Google Career Certificates, and others — have built-in buttons to send your completed certification straight to LinkedIn. When you finish a course on these platforms, look for a button that says "Add to profile" or "Share on LinkedIn." Click it, and you'll be taken to LinkedIn's add-certification screen with some fields already filled in.

This saves time because the platform has already entered the correct name and issuer. You still need to review the information and add any credential ID or URL before saving. Not every platform offers this feature, so if you don't see the button, you can always add the certification manually using the steps above.

Know what certifications to include and what to skip

Add any certification that is relevant to the work you do or the jobs you're looking for. This includes professional licenses (like a real estate license or nursing credential), industry certifications (like CompTIA Security+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or Project Management Professional), and course completions from recognized platforms (like Google, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning).

You can also add certifications that show you're developing skills in a new area, even if they're not directly related to your current job. For example, if you're a marketer learning data analysis, adding a Google Analytics certification signals that you're expanding your skillset.

Skip certifications that are outdated, no longer relevant to your career, or from organizations no one in your field recognizes. If you earned a certification years ago and it's no longer current in your industry, it's better to leave it off. LinkedIn doesn't penalize you for having fewer certifications — it penalizes you for having ones that don't add credibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a certification that's still in progress?

Yes. You can add a certification before you've completed it by toggling off the expiration date or leaving the completion date blank. However, it's better to add it only after you've finished and earned the credential, because viewers will assume you already have it. If you want to show you're working toward something, mention it in your headline or about section instead.

What if I don't have a credential URL or ID?

Both fields are optional. You can add a certification with just the name and issuing organization. However, adding a URL or ID makes your certification more credible, so if your certificate came with either one, it's worth taking the time to include it.

Do certifications expire on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn doesn't automatically remove expired certifications from your profile. You need to manually delete them or update the expiration date. It's a good idea to review your certifications once a year and remove any that have expired, because viewers may assume an expired certification is still current.

Can employers see my certifications?

Yes. Certifications appear on your public profile, so anyone who views your profile — including recruiters and hiring managers — can see them. This is why it's important to include only certifications you actually earned and that are relevant to the jobs you're targeting.

How many certifications should I add?

There's no limit, but quality matters more than quantity. Add every certification that strengthens your profile for the roles you want. If you have 20 certifications but only 5 are relevant to your field, include just the 5. A focused profile is more credible than a long list of unrelated credentials.