Quick answer
You add a certificate on LinkedIn under Licenses & Certifications on your profile. Go to your profile, then click Add profile section → Recommended → Licenses & Certifications to start. Next, fill in the certificate name, issuing organization, dates, Credential ID, and the Credential URL from your issuer. When finished, click save. This flow is documented by LinkedIn’s Help Center.
If your issuer provides an Add to profile link, use it. It opens LinkedIn with fields prefilled for faster and more accurate posting. LinkedIn publishes the certification add-to-profile specification for issuers.
Introduction to digital badges
Digital badges are transforming the way we recognize and showcase skills and achievements in the digital age. Unlike traditional paper certificates, digital badges are online representations of your accomplishments that can be easily displayed on LinkedIn profiles, social media platforms, and digital resumes. Each badge is embedded with metadata that verifies your skills and credentials, making it simple for potential employers to confirm your achievements at a glance. As continuous learning and professional development become increasingly important, digital badges offer a flexible and effective way to highlight your skills and achievements. By adding digital badges to your LinkedIn profile, you not only showcase your commitment to growth but also make your credentials more visible and verifiable across social media and professional networks. This modern approach to recognition helps you stand out and opens doors to new career advancement opportunities.
Why adding certificates and badges matters on LinkedIn
Certificates and linkedin badges improve discovery and trust. They help demonstrate an individual’s skills and a person’s skills to recruiters and employers, making your profile stand out. When you include a public Credential URL, viewers can click to verify your achievement, which increases credibility in recruiter workflows. Be sure to list the specific skills gained from certifications or badges to clearly show your expertise. Platforms like Sertifier also provide one-click share options to post a digital badge on LinkedIn to your profile or feed.
Step by step: how to add certificate in LinkedIn
To begin, log into your LinkedIn account. For tips on how to respond to a recruiter on LinkedIn, check out this guide.
- Open your profile
Click the Me icon (your profile picture/avatar) and select View Profile. (LinkedIn) - Add the right section
Choose Add profile section → Recommended → Licenses & Certifications. (LinkedIn) - Complete the details
Fill in all required details for your certificate or badge:
- Name: the exact certificate title.
- Issuing organization: the official issuer name.
- Issuance date (issue date) and optional Expiration.
- Credential ID: if provided.
- Credential URL: the public verification link to your certificate or badge. This is what turns a static entry into a verifiable one.
4. Save
Your credential will appear under Licenses & Certifications on your LinkedIn profile.
Following this process ensures your certificate is properly added, includes all necessary details, and is verifiable. If you need to create certificates, follow these steps for the best results.
If your credential is from LinkedIn Learning, use its dedicated flow to add Certificates of Completion and related skills directly to your profile.
How to add digital badges to LinkedIn
You can add online badges to LinkedIn in two reliable ways, making it easy to showcase your online badges and digital credentials:
A) Add as a License & Certification
When adding badges, follow the steps above and paste the badge’s verification URL as the Credential URL. This is the simplest path for most linkedin digital badge or linkedin certification badge entries.
B) Use your issuer’s “Add to profile” button
Issuers can create an Add to profile link that prepopulates LinkedIn’s form with the certification name, issuer, date, license number, and an external URL. If your issuer provides it, this is the most accurate method for adding badges, especially for a linkedin digital badge.
Some platforms send a badge email containing your badge image and a verification link. You can use these to add your badge to LinkedIn and share your achievement.
LinkedIn digital badges are modern, verifiable credentials that can be added to your profile to highlight your skills and achievements.
Where each achievement belongs
- Certificate from a course or program → add under Licenses & Certifications, include the Credential URL. Certificates earned from completing courses or training programs should be listed here.
- Certification with renewals → also Licenses & Certifications, set Expiration and include Credential ID when applicable.
- Digital badge issued by a certificate provider or credential platform → add as above using the badge’s verification URL or the issuer’s Add to profile link. Badges are awarded upon completing courses, programs, or training, and serve as evidence of ongoing learning and skills acquisition. A structured process for issuing badges by the certificate provider is important to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud.
Licenses and certifications: what counts and where to add them
When building your LinkedIn profile, it’s important to know which achievements belong in the Licenses & Certifications section. This dedicated area is designed for professional credentials such as digital badges, certificates, and licenses that validate your skills and expertise. To add a digital badge, simply follow the step by step guide: enter the certification name, issuing organization, issue date, expiration date (if applicable), and the credential URL that allows others to verify your achievement. Including all required information ensures your credentials are credible and easily accessible to potential employers. By adding relevant badges to the certifications section, you not only enhance your profile’s authority but also increase your chances of being discovered for new opportunities. Remember, the more complete and verifiable your credentials, the more value they add to your LinkedIn profile.
Avoid confusion: profile badges vs digital badges
LinkedIn also uses the term verification badge for identity or employment verification labels on profiles. These are different from skills linkedin badges that represent learning or certification. If you see verification labels related to identity, recruiter status, or organization pages, those come from LinkedIn’s verification programs, not your learning badges.
If you use any LinkedIn brand assets outside your profile, follow LinkedIn’s public badge and program usage rules.
Make your credential entry stand out
- Use the exact official title and issuer name.
- Always include a Credential URL so viewers can verify it and easily access your credentials.
- Prefer the issuer’s Add to profile flow when available for accuracy and speed. Provide a quick overview of your achievements in your profile summary or description to help viewers rapidly assess your skills.
- After you add a badge to LinkedIn, share a short post announcing it. Issuer platforms like Credly document how to share to profile and feed.
Using a badge on LinkedIn: practical tips
A digital badge on LinkedIn is more than just a symbol, it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase achievements and skills to your network and beyond. To make the most of your badge, start by adding it to the licenses and certifications section of your LinkedIn profile, ensuring it’s prominently displayed for anyone viewing your credentials. Next, use the badge as a conversation starter: add a brief description or create a LinkedIn post explaining what the badge represents and the skills or achievements it validates. Sharing your badge on your LinkedIn feed can boost visibility, spark engagement, and demonstrate your commitment to professional growth. Additionally, connect with others who hold similar badges to expand your network and discover new opportunities for collaboration or learning. By actively showcasing your digital badge, you reinforce your skills and achievements, making your profile stand out in a competitive landscape.
LinkedIn badge example and style cues
For inspiration on how a linkedin badge example should look in context, review Sertifier’s explainer on digital badges on LinkedIn and our long-form guide to modern digital credentials. For a step-by-step process, check out our detailed blog post that walks you through how to add badges or certificates to LinkedIn. They highlight what information a viewer expects to see and why verifiability matters.
Troubleshooting
- Can’t find Licenses & Certifications
Add it from Add profile section → Recommended. - Issuer name looks wrong
Use the exact verified company page name or use the issuer’s Add to profile link so it prepopulates correctly. - Only have a PDF
If your issuer does not provide a public verification page, host the file in a stable public location and paste that link as the Credential URL. When possible, request a verifiable URL from your issuer for best results. - LinkedIn Learning entry
Add via the Learning flow to attach skills and completion metadata.
How Sertifier makes this faster
Sertifier issues verifiable digital certificates and badges with unique, public verification links that drop directly into LinkedIn’s Licenses & Certifications. Recipients can also receive one-click share options for smoother posting to profile and feed. For best practices, see Sertifier’s articles on adding certificates to LinkedIn and what LinkedIn certification means in practice.
FAQ
How do I add a certificate in LinkedIn if I do not see the section?
Add Licenses & Certifications via Add profile section → Recommended.
Can I add a badge to LinkedIn from any issuer?
Yes, as long as you have the verification URL. If your issuer offers an Add to profile button, use it to prefill all fields.
What is the difference between a verification badge and a digital badge on LinkedIn?
Verification badges confirm things like identity or employment. Digital badges represent learning or certifications that you add under Licenses & Certifications.
Conclusion
Digital badges have become a powerful tool for showcasing skills and achievements on your LinkedIn profile in today’s digital age. By understanding what digital badges are, how to add them, and how to use them effectively, you can enhance your professional development and increase your visibility to potential employers. Whether you’re aiming for career advancement, skill development, or simply want to highlight your achievements, digital badges offer a modern, verifiable way to do so. As online learning and professional growth continue to evolve, embracing digital badges ensures you stay ahead and make the most of every opportunity to showcase your skills and achievements on LinkedIn.
