Add certifications directly in the Licenses & Certifications section

LinkedIn has a dedicated section for licenses and certifications, separate from your work experience and education. To add one, click the Add profile section button (the plus sign) near the top of your profile, then select Licenses & Certifications from the dropdown menu. If you already have this section visible, you can click the plus icon directly within it.

A form will appear asking for the certification name, issuing organization, issue date, and expiration date. Fill in each field as it appears on your actual certificate. The issue date is required; the expiration date is optional, but adding it helps recruiters see at a glance whether your credential is current. LinkedIn will also ask whether you want to display this section publicly on your profile — you can choose to show it to everyone or keep it visible only to you.

Once you save, the certification appears in a timestamped list on your profile. You can add as many certifications as you hold, and you can edit or remove any of them later by clicking the three-dot menu next to each entry.

Key Takeaways

  • The Licenses & Certifications section is a separate profile area you add by clicking the plus icon and selecting that category from the menu.
  • You must enter the certification name and issuing organization; the issue date is required, and expiration date is optional but recommended.
  • LinkedIn allows you to choose whether each certification is visible to everyone or only to you.
  • You can add credentials from professional bodies, online learning platforms, trade associations, and government agencies in the same section.
  • Updating your profile when a certification expires or renews keeps your profile accurate and shows employers your current standing.

What information you need before you start

Gather your certificate or credential document before you open LinkedIn. You will need the exact name of the certification as it appears on the certificate — not a shortened version or nickname. For example, "Certified Public Accountant (CPA)" is different from "CPA" in the eyes of the form, so match the official title.

You also need the name of the organization that issued it. This might be a professional body like the National Association of Social Workers, a testing company like Pearson Vue, a government agency, or an online learning platform like Coursera or CompTIA. Write down the issuing organization's official name as it appears on your certificate.

The issue date (when you earned or received the certification) is required. The expiration date is optional, but if your certification has one, add it — this tells recruiters whether you need to renew soon. Some certifications, like a bachelor's degree or a lifetime credential, do not expire; leave that field blank if yours does not.

How to find the Licenses & Certifications section if it is not visible

If you do not see a Licenses & Certifications section on your profile yet, you need to add it. Scroll to the top of your profile and look for a button labeled Add profile section or a plus icon. Click it, and a menu will appear with options like Education, Experience, Volunteer Work, and Licenses & Certifications.

Select Licenses & Certifications from that menu. LinkedIn will create the section and open the form for you to enter your first credential. Once you have added one, the section will remain on your profile, and you can add more certifications to it anytime by clicking the plus icon within that section.

Choosing visibility and credential URL settings

After you enter your certification details, LinkedIn asks whether you want to show this credential publicly. By default, most new entries are set to public, meaning anyone who views your profile will see it. You can change this to private if you prefer — the certification will still be on your profile but only visible to you.

Some certifications, especially those from major organizations, allow you to add a credential URL. This is a link to a page where someone can verify that you actually hold the credential. If your issuing organization provides a credential URL (often a unique link or ID number), paste it into the URL field. LinkedIn will display a small link icon next to that certification, and visitors can click it to confirm your credential is real.

Not all certifications have a verifiable URL — many smaller or older credentials do not. If your certificate did not come with a URL, leave that field blank. LinkedIn does not require it.

Adding certifications from online learning platforms

If you earned a certificate from Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Google Career Certificates, or another online platform, you can add it the same way. Enter the course or program name as the certification name, and the platform name as the issuing organization. For example: certification name "Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate," issuing organization "Google."

Many online platforms provide a shareable certificate URL or credential ID. If yours does, add it to the credential URL field so recruiters can verify it. Some platforms, like Coursera, let you add your certificate directly to LinkedIn through their platform settings — if you see an "Add to LinkedIn" button on your certificate page, you can use that shortcut instead of entering it manually.

Updating or removing certifications from your profile

If a certification expires and you do not renew it, you should remove it from your profile or update the expiration date to show it is no longer current. To edit a certification, hover over it and click the three-dot menu icon, then select Edit. You can change any field, including the expiration date, or delete the entry entirely by clicking Delete.

If you renew a certification, update the expiration date to reflect the new renewal date. This keeps your profile accurate and shows recruiters that your credential is still valid. You can also add the renewed certification as a separate entry if you want to keep a record of when you first earned it, though most people straightforward update the existing entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a certification that is still in progress or not yet earned?

LinkedIn's form requires an issue date, which means the certification must already be awarded to you. If you are working toward a credential, you can add it to your Experience or About section as a note, but the Licenses & Certifications section is for credentials you already hold. Once you earn it, add it to this section.

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

You can type any organization name into the issuing organization field — LinkedIn does not require you to select from a list. Type the official name of the body that issued your credential, and LinkedIn will save it as you entered it.

Do I need to add a credential URL?

No, the credential URL is optional. Add it if your issuing organization provides one and you want recruiters to verify your credential. If your certificate did not come with a URL or the organization does not offer one, leave the field blank.

Can recruiters see expired certifications on my profile?

Yes, if you leave an expired certification on your profile, recruiters will see it. If a credential has expired and you have not renewed it, consider removing it or updating the expiration date so it is clear the credential is no longer current.

How many certifications can I add to my profile?

LinkedIn does not set a limit on the number of certifications you can add. Add all the licenses and certifications you hold. However, keep your profile focused on credentials relevant to the jobs you are seeking — recruiters may view a very long list as less credible than a curated one.