Add a certification through the Licenses & Certifications section

LinkedIn has a dedicated section for certifications that appears on your profile below your experience and education. To add one, click the Add profile section button (the plus icon near the top of your profile), select Licenses & Certifications, and fill in the certification name, issuing organization, issue date, and expiration date if applicable. LinkedIn will then display it prominently so recruiters and connections can see your credentials.

The process takes about two minutes. You do not need to upload a document or provide proof — LinkedIn trusts you to enter accurate information. However, many certifications come with credential IDs or URLs that you can include, which makes your certification verifiable and more credible to viewers.

If you already have a Licenses & Certifications section on your profile, you can add another certification by clicking the pencil icon next to that section and selecting Add certification. This is faster than starting from scratch.

Key Takeaways

  • The Licenses & Certifications section sits below your work experience on your profile and is visible to anyone viewing your account.
  • You can add the credential ID or URL from your issuing organization, which allows viewers to verify your certification directly.
  • LinkedIn does not require you to upload proof of your certification when you add it.
  • You can add multiple certifications, and they appear in the order you choose — drag them to reorder if needed.
  • Certifications with expiration dates will show a countdown, so update or remove them before they expire if you want to keep your profile current.

How to include a credential ID or URL

When you fill in a certification, LinkedIn offers optional fields for Credential ID and Credential URL. The credential ID is a unique number or code issued by the certifying body — for example, CompTIA issues ID numbers for Security+ certifications, and Google includes them with their career certificates. The credential URL is a link to a page where someone can verify your certification is real.

Adding either of these makes your certification more trustworthy. A recruiter can click the link or search the ID on the issuing organization's website to confirm you actually earned it. Most major certifications (CompTIA, AWS, Google, Microsoft, Coursera) provide both. Check your certificate or the issuing organization's website to find them.

If your certification does not come with an ID or URL, you can leave those fields blank. LinkedIn will still display the certification on your profile.

Make your certification visible to your network

By default, certifications appear on your public profile and are visible to anyone on LinkedIn. However, you can control who sees specific certifications by adjusting your profile visibility settings. Click the Settings & Privacy option in your profile menu, then go to Visibility and choose who can see your profile and its sections.

You can also hide individual certifications from your profile without deleting them. Click the pencil icon next to the Licenses & Certifications section, find the certification you want to hide, and toggle the visibility option. This is useful if you have a certification that is no longer relevant but you want to keep it on record.

Update or remove a certification

To edit a certification you have already added, click the pencil icon next to the Licenses & Certifications section on your profile. Find the certification in the list, click the pencil icon next to it, and update any field — the name, organization, dates, credential ID, or URL. Save your changes when you are done.

To remove a certification entirely, open the same menu, find the certification, and click the trash icon. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm the deletion. Removing a certification does not affect your other credentials or your employment history.

Certifications that LinkedIn recognizes and highlights

LinkedIn has partnerships with certain organizations and will highlight their certifications with a badge or special formatting on your profile. These include Google Career Certificates, Microsoft certifications, AWS certifications, Coursera certificates, and several others. When you add one of these recognized certifications, LinkedIn may automatically pull in the organization name and format it correctly.

Even if your certification is not from a recognized partner, you can still add it to your profile. It will appear in the same section, just without special highlighting. The value of adding any certification — recognized or not — is that it tells your network and potential employers what skills you have demonstrated.

What happens if your certification expires

If you include an expiration date when you add a certification, LinkedIn will display a countdown on your profile showing how much time remains. When the certification expires, LinkedIn will not automatically remove it, but the expiration date will be visible to anyone viewing your profile. You should update or remove expired certifications to keep your profile accurate.

Some certifications require renewal or recertification — for example, CPR certifications expire after two or three years, and many professional licenses require continuing education. If you renew a certification, you can update the expiration date in the same section. If you let it expire and do not plan to renew, delete it from your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a certification I am currently working toward?

Yes. When you add a certification, you can leave the issue date blank or set it to a future date. Many people add certifications they are pursuing so their network knows they are working on them. Just make sure to update the section once you actually earn the credential.

Does LinkedIn verify that my certification is real?

LinkedIn does not verify certifications for you. It relies on the credential ID and URL you provide — if you include those, viewers can verify the certification themselves through the issuing organization. If you do not include them, viewers have to trust that you earned it. Always include verification information if it is available.

Can I add a certification from an online course I completed?

Yes. Certificates from Coursera, Udemy, edX, and other online learning platforms can be added to the Licenses & Certifications section. Include the credential URL if the platform provides one, so viewers can see proof of completion.

What if I do not remember the exact date I earned my certification?

You can leave the issue date blank or enter an approximate month and year. LinkedIn does not require an exact day. If you have your certificate document, the date is usually printed on it.

Will adding certifications help me get found by recruiters?

Yes. Recruiters often search for specific certifications when looking for candidates. Adding certifications to your profile makes you searchable for those keywords and shows employers you have formal training in a skill. The more details you include — especially credential IDs and URLs — the more credible your profile appears.