Add a certification directly from your profile's Licenses & Certifications section

Open LinkedIn and go to your profile. Scroll down to the Licenses & Certifications section. If you don't see this section yet, click the Add profile section button, select Licenses & Certifications, and click Add. Once the section appears on your profile, click the + icon next to the section title.

A form will open with fields for the certification name, issuing organization, issue date, and expiration date. Fill in each field as it appears on your certificate. The certification name should match exactly what the issuing body calls it—for example, "Google Analytics Certification" rather than "Analytics Cert." The issuing organization is the body that granted the certification, such as Google, CompTIA, or the Project Management Institute.

You can add the month and year you earned the certification, or just the year if you don't remember the exact month. If your certification doesn't expire, leave the expiration date blank or toggle off the This credential does not expire option. When all fields are complete, click Save.

Key Takeaways

  • The Licenses & Certifications section lives on your profile below your experience and education, and you can add it if it is not already visible.
  • Enter the certification name exactly as the issuing organization lists it, along with the organization name and the month and year you earned it.
  • You can add a credential URL if the issuing body provides a public link to verify your certification.
  • LinkedIn does not verify certifications automatically, so the information you enter is your responsibility to keep current and accurate.
  • Certifications appear on your profile when ready after you save them and are visible to anyone who views your profile unless you change your privacy settings.

Add a credential URL so others can verify your certification

Many certification bodies issue a public URL or credential ID that allows others to verify you earned the certification. When you fill out the certification form, scroll down to find the Credential URL field. Paste the full web address provided by the issuing organization—this might be a link to your badge, a verification page, or a credential database entry.

Adding a credential URL is optional, but it strengthens your profile because viewers can confirm the certification is real without asking you for proof. Some organizations, like Google and Coursera, automatically generate these links when you complete a course. Others, like CompTIA, issue a credential ID number that you can use to build a verification URL on their website. Check your certification email or the issuing organization's website to find the URL or ID.

Edit or remove a certification you have already added

To change a certification after you have saved it, go to your profile and find the Licenses & Certifications section. Hover over the certification you want to edit and click the pencil icon. You can now change any field—the name, organization, dates, or credential URL. Click Save when you are done.

To remove a certification entirely, hover over it and click the trash icon. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the certification is removed from your profile when ready and is no longer visible to other users.

Understand what information is visible to your network

By default, certifications you add to your profile are visible to anyone who views your profile—your connections, recruiters, and people searching LinkedIn. The certification name, issuing organization, issue date, and credential URL (if you added one) all appear publicly. Your expiration date also shows, which means viewers can see if a time-sensitive certification has lapsed.

If you want to limit who sees your certifications, you can adjust your profile privacy settings. Go to Settings & Privacy, select Visibility, and choose who can see your profile. Keep in mind that hiding your entire profile also hides your certifications, so this is an all-or-nothing choice. LinkedIn does not offer a way to hide individual certifications while keeping the rest of your profile public.

Add certifications from online learning platforms like Coursera or Udemy

Some online learning platforms let you add certifications to LinkedIn directly from their site without typing them in manually. If you completed a course on Coursera, Udacity, or similar platforms, look for a Share to LinkedIn button on your certificate or in your course completion page. Clicking this button will open LinkedIn and pre-fill the certification form with the course name and issuing organization.

Review the pre-filled information to make sure it is correct before you save. Sometimes the platform name appears instead of the specific course name, so you may need to edit the certification name to be more specific. For example, Coursera might fill in "Coursera" as the organization, but you should change it to "Coursera / [University Name]" to show which institution offered the course.

Keep your certifications current and remove expired ones

Certifications with expiration dates—such as security clearances, CPR training, or professional licenses—should be updated or removed once they expire. LinkedIn does not automatically remove expired certifications, so it is your responsibility to keep your profile accurate. Check your certifications every few months, especially if you hold time-sensitive credentials.

If you renew a certification, you can edit the existing entry to update the expiration date, or you can add a new entry for the renewed certification and remove the old one. Adding a new entry is clearer because it shows the timeline of your credentials, but editing the existing entry is faster if you only need to update the date. Either approach is acceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does LinkedIn verify that I actually have the certification I listed?

No. LinkedIn does not verify certifications automatically. The information you enter is your responsibility. If you add a credential URL, viewers can click it to verify the certification with the issuing organization, but LinkedIn itself does not check. Misrepresenting certifications on your profile can damage your professional reputation and may violate LinkedIn's terms of service.

Can I add a certification I am currently working toward?

You can add a certification with a future issue date, but this is not recommended. Most people add certifications only after they have earned and received them. If you are in progress, consider waiting until you have completed the certification before adding it to your profile, or note in your headline or summary that you are pursuing the credential.

What if the issuing organization is not in LinkedIn's dropdown list?

You can type the organization name directly into the field instead of selecting from the dropdown. LinkedIn will accept any text you enter. Type the official name of the organization as it appears on your certificate to keep your profile consistent and searchable.

Do I need to add certifications if I already listed them in my job description?

Adding them to the Licenses & Certifications section is separate and more visible. Recruiters and profile viewers often look at this dedicated section first, so adding certifications here makes them easier to find. You can mention them in your job description as well, but the dedicated section is the standard place to list them.

Can I add certifications from years ago?

Yes. You can add certifications from any point in your career. If the certification has an expiration date and it has already passed, you can still add it with the expired date, but consider whether an expired credential adds value to your profile. If the certification is no longer relevant or has lapsed, you may choose not to list it.