How to add Credly badge to LinkedIn — Step-by-step

Want to show a Credly certification on your LinkedIn profile fast and correctly? Adding a Credly badge to LinkedIn is one of the easiest ways to boost your professional credibility, get seen by recruiters, and turn a certification into tangible social proof. In this guide you'll find a clear, actionable walkthrough for both the automatic Credly-to-LinkedIn flow and a manual upload method, plus profile copy examples, sharing ideas, and troubleshooting tips that save you time.

Why add a Credly badge to LinkedIn (and when it matters)

Credly badges are verified, shareable digital credentials that prove skills and achievements. When added to LinkedIn they:

• Increase visibility — LinkedIn rewards profile updates and verified credentials with more profile impressions.
• Build trust — A verified badge signals authenticity to recruiters, clients, and peers.
• Support your personal brand — Certifications become content moments: announce them, explain what you learned, and link to outcomes.

Quick stat: profiles with detailed certifications and media get up to 10-15% more views in many LinkedIn analyses. Displaying a Credly badge is low-effort and high-impact.

Overview: Two ways to add a Credly badge to LinkedIn

There are two reliable methods to add a Credly badge to your profile. Choose the method that fits your workflow:

1. Connect and share from Credly (recommended) — Credly has a direct option to add the badge to your LinkedIn Certifications section.
2. Manual upload / link — Download the badge image or add the badge URL in LinkedIn's Licenses & Certifications section when you need a manual route.

Method 1 — Add Credly badge to LinkedIn automatically (fastest)

This is the recommended flow because Credly creates a verified link and pre-fills the certification details. Follow these steps (5 minutes):

1. Open your Credly account — Log in at Credly.
2. Find the badge — Go to your Earned Badges or My Badges area and select the badge you want to share.
3. Choose Share or Copy Link — Click the Share or Share badge button and select Share to LinkedIn or copy the certified URL.
4. Share to Profile — When you choose Share to LinkedIn, Credly usually offers two options: post an update (share a feed post) or add to your profile. Select Add to Profile (or Add to LinkedIn Profile).
5. Confirm fields in LinkedIn — Credly will open LinkedIn with the Licenses & Certifications form pre-filled (name, issuing organization, issue date, and credential URL). Confirm and click Save.

Tip: ensure the Credential URL is present — this is the verified link that proves authenticity. If it’s missing, copy the badge URL from Credly and paste it into the Credential URL field before saving.

When to use this method

Use the automatic method whenever possible — it creates a verified link and minimizes manual errors.

Method 2 — Manual add (downloaded badge image or URL)

Use this method if you can't use the Credly share flow (company firewalls, browser blocks, or you prefer manual control).

1. Download the badge image or copy the badge URL from Credly.
2. Open LinkedIn and go to your profile > Add profile section > Background > Licenses & certifications.
3. Fill in required fields — Name the certification exactly, set the issuing organization to the badge issuer (e.g., a training provider), set the issue date, and paste the Credential URL if available.
4. Attach media (optional) — LinkedIn's Licenses & Certifications area usually doesn't accept images directly; instead, add the badge image to your Featured section or in a post. Add a short post with the badge image linking to your Credly URL for more context.

Where to add images

• Add the badge image to your Featured section for long-term visibility.
• Share a feed post with the image and the Credly URL for immediate engagement.

Checklist: What to include when you publish your badge

• Credential name — Exact badge title as on Credly.
• Issuing organization — Who awarded the badge.
• Issue date — Month and year.
• Credential ID / URL — Always include the Credly verified link.
• Short post or description — Explain why it matters in 1–2 sentences.

Example LinkedIn post copy (ready-to-use)

Use this template to announce the badge and start conversations:

Just earned the [Badge Name] from [Issuer]! Grateful for the learning journey — I learned [one-sentence outcome]. If you're curious about the course, check it out: [Credly URL]

Tip: add a short call-to-action like “DM me if you want course notes” to generate replies and meaningful connections.

Quick comparison: Credly auto-share vs manual

Troubleshooting common issues

Credly share button not working

Try a different browser or disable extensions. If the button still fails, copy the badge link from Credly and use LinkedIn's Licenses & Certifications form manually.

Credential URL is missing after save

Edit the certification and paste the Credly link into the Credential URL field. A verified URL is critical for authenticity.

Badge shows but no image

LinkedIn sometimes doesn’t display images in the Licenses section. Add the badge image to your Featured section and link the credential for visual proof.

Use the badge to grow your personal brand (what to post afterwards)

Adding a badge is step one. Turn it into momentum:

• Publish a story — Explain one real result from applying the skill.
• Share a micro-post series — 3 posts over two weeks on what you learned.
• Repurpose for longer content — Create a LinkedIn article or carousel summarizing the certificate’s key takeaways.

If you want to automate this follow-up content and match your authentic voice, try Linkesy’s AI content generation and 30-day auto-scheduling to turn a single certification into a month of strategic posts. See how it works: Try Linkesy free or See our plans.

Security and verification — what recruiters see

The Credential URL links straight to the Credly verification page, which shows the issuer, issue date, and metadata. Recruiters clicking your badge can validate your credential instantly. For compliance-heavy sectors, always include the URL so the credential is traceable.

“A verified credential with an accessible URL is far more persuasive than text-only claims on a resume.” — Talent acquisition data

Related reading (Linkesy resources)

• Pillar: LinkedIn Growth & Personal Branding
• How to optimize your LinkedIn profile (step-by-step)
• AI content automation for LinkedIn: Save 5–10 hours/week
• How to generate a 30-day LinkedIn content calendar

FAQs

Can I add multiple Credly badges to LinkedIn?

Yes. Add each badge as a separate entry in Licenses & Certifications. Use your Featured section to group visuals and link to multiple Credly URLs.

Will adding a badge notify my network?

LinkedIn often surfaces profile updates to your network. You can also create a dedicated post to actively announce and control the message.

Does Credly automatically update LinkedIn when credentials expire?

No. If a certification expires or changes, update or remove the LinkedIn entry manually. Credly will show status on its verification page if the issuer updates it.

Why is the Credly share option missing?

Possible reasons: browser extensions blocking popups, corporate firewall, or Credly temporarily down. Copy the badge URL from Credly and add it manually in LinkedIn’s Credential URL field as a workaround.

Can I display badges in my LinkedIn headline or summary?

You can reference key credentials in your headline or About section, but use the Licenses & Certifications and Featured sections for the actual badge and verification link.

Conclusion & next steps

Adding a Credly badge to LinkedIn is quick, verifiable, and effective for building trust. Use the Credly auto-share when possible for speed and verification, and always include the Credential URL. Then, transform the badge into content — announce it, explain what you learned, and turn momentum into new connections.

If you want to automate the announcement and follow-up content in your own voice, Linkesy can create a 30-day content calendar and auto-schedule posts that highlight new credentials without the busywork. Try Linkesy free or Schedule a demo to see how it fits your brand.

External sources: Credly, LinkedIn Help: Add licenses & certifications.