Adding a Certificate to LinkedIn Takes Three Steps

To add a certificate to your LinkedIn profile, go to your profile, click the Add profile section button, select Licenses & certifications, and fill in the certificate name, issuing organization, issue date, and expiration date if there is one. LinkedIn will then display the certificate on your profile where recruiters and connections can see it. The whole process takes about two minutes.

You do not need to upload a document or image of the certificate itself — LinkedIn stores the information as text. However, you can add a credential URL (a link to the certificate on the issuer's website) so people can verify it directly. This is optional but useful if the certificate is from a well-known organization like Google, Coursera, or the Project Management Institute.

Key Takeaways

  • You add certificates through the Licenses & certifications section of your profile, not through a separate upload tool.
  • LinkedIn displays the certificate name, issuer, and dates on your profile, and you can add a URL so viewers can verify it.
  • You can add certificates from any organization — there is no official list, so you control what appears on your profile.
  • If you earned the certificate years ago but it has no expiration date, you can still add it with the original issue date.

Finding the Licenses & Certifications Section

Open LinkedIn and go to your profile by clicking your photo in the top right corner and selecting View profile. Scroll down past your headline, about section, and experience until you see the Add profile section button (it looks like a plus sign in a circle). Click it and a menu will appear with options including Licenses & certifications. Click that option.

If you already have one or more certificates on your profile, you will see a Licenses & certifications section already displayed. In that case, click the pencil icon in the top right corner of that section, then click the plus sign to add another certificate. Either way, you will land on the form where you enter the details.

Filling in the Certificate Details

The form has five fields. Certification name is required — type the exact name of the certificate as it appears on the document or the issuer's website. For example, "Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer" or "Certified ScrumMaster." LinkedIn will sometimes suggest matches as you type, which can help you find the right name if you are unsure.

Issuing organization is also required. Type the name of the organization that issued the certificate — for instance, "Google Cloud," "Scrum Alliance," or "CompTIA." LinkedIn will show you suggestions as you type. Selecting from the suggestions helps because it links your certificate to the organization's official LinkedIn page, which adds credibility.

Issue date is required. Click the date field and select the month and year the certificate was issued. Expiration date is optional — only fill it in if the certificate actually expires. Many certificates do not expire, so leave this blank if yours does not. The Credential URL field is also optional but worth using if the issuer provides a link to verify the certificate online.

Adding a Credential URL for Verification

A credential URL is a direct link to your certificate on the issuer's website or platform. If you earned the certificate through Coursera, Udemy, Google, or another platform, you can usually find a shareable link in your account. For example, Coursera lets you generate a public link to your course completion certificate, and Google Cloud provides a URL for each certification you pass.

To find your credential URL, log into the platform where you earned the certificate and look for a "Share," "View certificate," or "Get credential" button. Copy the full URL and paste it into the Credential URL field on LinkedIn. When you save the certificate, LinkedIn will display a small link icon next to it, and people viewing your profile can click through to verify it is real.

If the issuer does not provide a shareable link, you can leave this field blank — the certificate will still appear on your profile. LinkedIn does not require verification, so the URL is a bonus that builds trust rather than a necessary step.

Saving and Displaying Your Certificate

Once you have filled in the required fields (name, organization, and issue date), click the Save button at the bottom of the form. LinkedIn will add the certificate to your profile when ready. It will appear in the Licenses & certifications section, usually in reverse chronological order — the most recent certificate at the top.

Your certificate is visible to anyone who views your profile, including recruiters, connections, and people searching LinkedIn. You cannot make a certificate private or visible only to certain people — if it is on your profile, it is public. If you later want to remove a certificate, click the pencil icon on the section, find the certificate, and click the trash icon next to it.

What Happens If You Cannot Find the Issuing Organization

If you earned a certificate from a smaller organization or a local training provider that does not appear in LinkedIn's suggestions, type the organization name exactly as it appears on your certificate and press Enter or Tab. LinkedIn will accept it even if it does not match a known organization. The certificate will still display on your profile.

If the organization name is very obscure or you are unsure of the exact spelling, search for it online first to confirm the official name. Using the correct name makes it easier for people viewing your profile to understand where the certificate came from. You can always edit the certificate later if you need to correct the organization name.

Editing or Removing a Certificate

To change any information on a certificate you have already added, click the pencil icon on the Licenses & certifications section, find the certificate in the list, and click the pencil icon next to it. You can then edit the name, organization, dates, or credential URL. Click Save when you are done.

To remove a certificate entirely, follow the same steps but click the trash icon instead of the pencil. The certificate will disappear from your profile when ready. You can add it back later if you change your mind — LinkedIn does not delete the information permanently, it just hides it from your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to upload a PDF or image of my certificate?

No. LinkedIn stores certificates as text information only — the name, issuer, and dates. You do not upload files. If you want people to verify the certificate is real, add a credential URL so they can click through to the issuer's website.

Can I add a certificate I earned years ago if it does not have an expiration date?

Yes. Enter the month and year you earned it in the Issue date field and leave the Expiration date blank. LinkedIn will display it with only the issue date, which is correct for certificates that do not expire.

What if the certificate issuer is not in LinkedIn's dropdown list?

Type the organization name exactly as it appears on your certificate and press Enter. LinkedIn will accept it even if it does not match a known organization. The certificate will still appear on your profile.

Can I make a certificate private or hide it from certain people?

No. Any certificate on your profile is visible to everyone — recruiters, connections, and anyone searching LinkedIn. If you do not want a certificate to be public, do not add it to your profile.

How long does it take for a certificate to appear on my profile after I add it?

It appears when ready after you click Save. You do not need to wait for LinkedIn to review or approve it.