Add certifications directly in the Licenses & Certifications section

LinkedIn has a dedicated Licenses & Certifications section on your profile where you can list credentials you have earned. To add one, go to your profile, click the pencil icon next to "Licenses & Certifications," and select "Add a license or certification." You will enter the certification name, the issuing organisation, the issue date, and optionally an expiration date and credential URL.

The credential URL is useful because it lets people click through to verify your certification on the issuer's website. If your certification has a credential ID number, you can include that too. LinkedIn will save the entry and display it on your public profile when ready.

You can add as many certifications as you have earned. They appear in the order you add them, though you can rearrange them by dragging and dropping if you want the most relevant ones at the top.

Key Takeaways

  • The Licenses & Certifications section is a separate area from your work experience and education, so recruiters looking at your profile will see it clearly.
  • Including a credential URL or ID number makes your certification verifiable and more credible to people viewing your profile.
  • You can list certifications that are currently active or expired; LinkedIn does not remove them when they expire unless you delete them.
  • Certifications appear on your profile in the order you arrange them, so put the most relevant or recent ones first.

What information LinkedIn requires versus what is optional

LinkedIn requires only the certification name and the issuing organisation. Everything else—issue date, expiration date, credential URL, and credential ID—is optional. However, adding these details makes your certification stronger and more trustworthy.

The issue date and expiration date help people understand whether the certification is current. Some certifications, like CPR or security clearances, expire and need renewal. Others, like a degree or a one-time professional credential, do not. If your certification has no expiration, you can leave that field blank.

The credential URL is the most valuable optional field. It should point directly to a page where someone can verify that you hold the certification—usually on the issuer's website or a third-party verification platform. This is especially important for certifications that are less well-known or that carry weight in your industry.

How to find the credential URL for your certification

The credential URL is usually provided to you when you complete the certification. Check your confirmation email, your digital badge, or the issuer's website. Many certification bodies now issue digital badges through platforms like Credly, Badgr, or the issuer's own portal. These badges come with a shareable URL that proves you earned the credential.

If you cannot find a URL, search the issuer's website for "verify credentials" or "credential lookup." Many organisations have a public database where you can search by name or credential ID. Copy that URL and paste it into the LinkedIn field.

If the issuer does not offer a public verification page, you can leave the URL blank. LinkedIn will still display the certification on your profile, but people will have to take your word for it rather than verify it themselves.

Certifications that belong in this section versus elsewhere on your profile

Use the Licenses & Certifications section for credentials that are distinct from your formal education. This includes professional certifications (Project Management Professional, Certified Public Accountant), technical certifications (AWS Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Associate), industry-specific licenses (real estate license, nursing license), and online course completions from platforms like Coursera or Udacity.

Do not put your college degree or graduate degree here. Those belong in the Education section of your profile. Similarly, if you completed a bootcamp or intensive training program that awarded a degree or diploma, that usually goes in Education rather than Licenses & Certifications, though some bootcamps issue certificates that fit better in this section.

If you are unsure, ask yourself: Is this a credential that proves I can do a specific job or task, separate from my formal schooling? If yes, it belongs in Licenses & Certifications. If it is a degree or diploma from an accredited school, it belongs in Education.

Why recruiters and employers look at this section

Recruiters search LinkedIn for people with specific certifications. If you are looking for work in cloud computing, for example, a recruiter might search for "AWS Certified Solutions Architect" and filter by location and industry. If your certification is on your profile, you show up in those results.

Employers also use this section to verify that candidates have the credentials required for a role. A hiring manager reviewing your profile can see at a glance whether you hold the certifications listed in the job description. This is especially true for regulated fields like accounting, law, healthcare, and engineering, where certain licenses are legally required.

Adding certifications also signals that you invest in your own learning and professional development. This matters to employers even if the specific certification is not required for the role.

How to update or remove a certification

To edit a certification you have already added, click the pencil icon next to the certification name and update any of the fields. You can change the issue date, add an expiration date, add a credential URL, or update the organisation name if you made a typo.

To remove a certification, click the pencil icon, then click the trash icon at the bottom of the entry. The certification will disappear from your profile when ready. You can always add it back later if you change your mind.

If a certification expires and you want to keep it on your profile for historical reasons, you do not have to delete it. Many people leave expired certifications visible because they show the breadth of training you have received, even if you are not currently certified. The choice is yours.

Making your certifications visible to recruiters and connections

By default, certifications you add to your profile are visible to everyone—your connections, recruiters, and anyone who views your public profile. You cannot hide individual certifications from certain people the way you can with some other profile sections.

If you want to keep a certification private, do not add it to LinkedIn. Instead, mention it in your headline, summary, or work experience descriptions if it is relevant to a role you held.

Your profile visibility settings control whether people can see your profile at all, but they do not control which sections are visible once someone is looking at your profile. If your profile is public, all sections including Licenses & Certifications are visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a certification I am currently working toward?

LinkedIn does not have a separate field for "in progress" certifications. You should only add certifications you have already completed and earned. If you want to signal that you are studying for a certification, mention it in your headline or summary instead.

What if my certification issuer is not in LinkedIn's dropdown list?

Type the organisation name into the field and LinkedIn will search for it. If it does not exist in the system, you can type the name manually. LinkedIn will create a new organisation entry if needed. This is common for smaller or newer certification bodies.

Do I need to add a credential ID if I have a credential URL?

No. If your credential URL points to a page that verifies your certification, the ID is redundant. Add the ID only if the issuer requires it for verification or if it helps someone find your credential in their database.

Will LinkedIn remove my certification when it expires?

No. LinkedIn does not automatically remove expired certifications. You can leave them on your profile or delete them manually. Many people keep expired certifications visible to show their training history.

Can I link my digital badge from Credly or another platform to LinkedIn?

Not directly. LinkedIn does not embed badges from external platforms. However, you can use the shareable URL from your Credly badge as the credential URL in the Licenses & Certifications section. This lets people click through to see your badge.