LinkedIn Learning

What is LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning is a professional development platform offering thousands of online courses in business, technology, and creative skills. Originally launched as Lynda.com in 1995 and acquired by LinkedIn in 2015, the platform combines comprehensive skill training with LinkedIn’s professional network, making completed courses visible on user profiles. With over 21,000 courses taught by industry experts, LinkedIn Learning serves professionals seeking career advancement, companies training employees, and individuals developing new skills.

What distinguishes LinkedIn Learning is its integration with the world’s largest professional network. Course completions display on LinkedIn profiles as certificates, demonstrating skills to recruiters and employers. The platform analyzes your profile and career goals to recommend relevant courses, creating personalized learning paths. This career-focused approach makes LinkedIn Learning particularly valuable for professionals actively managing their career development.

LinkedIn Learning serves individual subscribers, enterprises deploying learning programs, and educational institutions supplementing curricula. The platform covers technical skills like programming and data analysis, business skills like project management and leadership, and creative skills like graphic design and video production. This breadth, combined with professional credentialing integration, positions LinkedIn Learning as a comprehensive solution for workforce development.

Key Features

• Extensive Course Library: Over 21,000 courses covering business, technology, and creative topics from expert instructors.
• LinkedIn Integration: Course completions display on LinkedIn profiles with shareable certificates.
• Personalized Recommendations: AI-powered suggestions based on career goals, skills gaps, and profile analysis.
• Learning Paths: Curated course sequences for mastering specific roles or skills comprehensively.
• Exercise Files: Downloadable practice files for hands-on learning in technical courses.
• Certificates: Completion certificates for each course shareable on LinkedIn and resumes.
• Offline Viewing: Download courses for learning without internet connection.
• Mobile Apps: Full-featured iOS and Android apps for learning on the go.
• Q&A and Notes: Ask questions and take timestamped notes during courses.
• Skill Assessments: Tests validating proficiency levels displayed on LinkedIn profiles.

Recent Updates and Improvements

LinkedIn Learning continues evolving with AI features and expanded content.

• AI-Powered Learning: Enhanced recommendations using LinkedIn’s AI for more relevant course suggestions.
• Coaching Features: New AI coaching capabilities providing personalized guidance.
• Skills Path: Improved role-based learning paths for career transitions.
• Content Expansion: Continuous addition of courses covering emerging technologies and skills.
• Interactive Learning: More hands-on exercises and practical projects in courses.
• Improved Mobile: Enhanced mobile app experience with better offline features.
• Enterprise Features: Advanced analytics and integration for organizational learning programs.
• Accessibility: Improved closed captions and accessibility features across content.

System Requirements

iOS

• iOS 14.0 or later
• iPhone, iPad compatible
• Approximately 150 MB storage

Android

• Android 8.0 or later
• Approximately 100 MB storage

Web

• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• JavaScript enabled
• Stable internet connection

How to Get Started with LinkedIn Learning

Subscription Options

1. Visit linkedin.com/learning or access through LinkedIn Premium
2. Sign in with LinkedIn account
3. Choose subscription (included with Premium Career/Business or standalone)
4. Complete skill assessment for personalized recommendations
5. Browse courses or follow recommended learning path

Getting Started

First Steps:
1. Sign in with LinkedIn account
2. Complete initial skills assessment
3. Set career goals and interests
4. Review personalized course recommendations
5. Start with recommended learning path
6. Download mobile app for offline access
7. Enable course completion sharing to profile
8. Take skill assessments to validate learning

Pros and Cons

Pros

• LinkedIn Integration: Certificates display on profile, visible to recruiters and employers.
• Comprehensive Library: 21,000+ courses cover most professional skill needs.
• Career Focus: Content specifically designed for professional development and career advancement.
• Quality Production: Professionally produced courses with consistent quality standards.
• Exercise Files: Hands-on practice materials for technical courses.
• Skill Assessments: Validate and display proficiency levels on LinkedIn.
• Enterprise Features: Robust organizational learning management capabilities.

Cons

• Subscription Cost: $29.99/month standalone or requires LinkedIn Premium subscription.
• Variable Depth: Some courses provide overview rather than comprehensive training.
• No Live Instruction: All content is pre-recorded without live interaction.
• Certificates Not Accredited: Certificates show completion but aren’t professional certifications.
• LinkedIn Required: Requires LinkedIn account for full benefit of integration.

LinkedIn Learning vs Alternatives

Who Should Use LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning is ideal for:

• Career Advancers: Professionals wanting to demonstrate continuous learning to employers.
• Job Seekers: Those building profiles to attract recruiters with verified skills.
• Skill Builders: People needing to develop specific professional competencies.
• Organizations: Companies deploying learning programs with tracking and analytics.
• Career Changers: Those transitioning roles and needing to build new skill sets.
• LinkedIn Premium Users: Those with Premium subscriptions get Learning included.

LinkedIn Learning may not be ideal for:

• Credential Seekers: Those needing accredited certifications should explore Coursera or official certification programs.
• Deep Technical Training: Developers wanting comprehensive programming depth may prefer Pluralsight or specialized platforms.
• Budget-Conscious: Those seeking free or per-course pricing have alternatives.
• Non-LinkedIn Users: Full value requires active LinkedIn profile and engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LinkedIn Learning included with LinkedIn Premium?

Yes, LinkedIn Learning is included with LinkedIn Premium Career ($29.99/month) and Premium Business ($59.99/month) subscriptions. It’s also available as a standalone subscription at $29.99/month or $239.88/year. Organizations can purchase LinkedIn Learning Hub for enterprise deployment. Many libraries and universities also provide free access to members/students.

Are LinkedIn Learning certificates valuable?

LinkedIn Learning certificates demonstrate commitment to learning and appear on your profile where recruiters can see them. However, they’re completion certificates, not professional certifications. They show you watched content but don’t verify skill mastery like certified credentials (PMP, AWS certifications, etc.). They’re valuable for profile building but shouldn’t replace industry certifications when those matter for specific roles.

How does LinkedIn Learning compare to free alternatives?

LinkedIn Learning offers consistent quality, career integration, and curated content worth the subscription for active professional development. Free alternatives like YouTube have extensive content but inconsistent quality and no career integration. freeCodeCamp offers excellent free coding education. For career-focused professionals, LinkedIn Learning’s integration with profiles and skill assessments provides unique value free platforms cannot match.

Can employers see my LinkedIn Learning activity?

Employers see completed courses you choose to display on your profile and skill assessments you’ve passed. Your learning activity (courses in progress, time spent) remains private. You control what appears on your public profile. Organizations using LinkedIn Learning Hub can see employee learning activity within their enterprise account.

Does LinkedIn Learning offer certification prep?

LinkedIn Learning offers courses preparing for various certifications (PMP, AWS, Microsoft, etc.) but doesn’t provide the actual certifications. These prep courses help you study for official certification exams administered by certifying bodies. Completing a LinkedIn Learning certification prep course doesn’t grant the certification—you must pass the official exam from the certifying organization.

Final Verdict

LinkedIn Learning succeeds by combining professional skill development with career visibility in ways competitors cannot match. The integration with LinkedIn profiles transforms course completion from private achievement to public demonstration of continuous learning. For professionals actively managing careers and wanting to signal commitment to development, this visibility creates unique value.

The platform’s comprehensive library covers most professional skill needs adequately, though not always deeply. Business, technology, and creative courses provide practical instruction from industry practitioners. The consistent quality and professional production standards ensure reliable learning experiences across the catalog.

For professionals invested in their LinkedIn presence and career advancement, LinkedIn Learning offers compelling value, especially for those with Premium subscriptions where it’s included. Those seeking deep technical training, accredited credentials, or budget-friendly options have alternatives worth exploring. But for career-focused professional development with tangible profile benefits, LinkedIn Learning delivers a unique proposition in the online learning landscape.