Are LinkedIn Learning (Lynda) Courses Accredited & Recognized?

You might be looking to buy LinkedIn Learning (aka Lynda) courses but you might be wondering if its online courses are accredited and recognized.

At the outset, let me say that LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) courses are not accredited. Its certificates are not endorsed or recognized by any University or Institution. The courses are not meant for students or fresh graduates who are actively seeking their first job.

In my opinion, non-accreditation to any educational body is the biggest disadvantage of LinkedIn Learning but there is a lot more to this platform than just recognition. LinkedIn Learning provides various benefits to the learners. At the time of writing this article, it was offering 18000+ courses in 7 different languages on various career oriented subjects.

A LinkedIn Learning course and certificates can prove to be highly valuable in your career since it is offered by the biggest professional networking company in the world. They are suitable for working professionals who want to upgrade their knowledge or learn a new skill.

I have written this article to enumerate the benefits and advantages provided by LinkedIn Learning that negate the disadvantage of non-accreditation. I would suggest you to create a LinkedIn Learning account by taking its free one month trial. It will help you in understanding the benefits of LinkedIn Learning platform.

Note: This article is focused accreditation/recognition of Lynda courses and value of its certificates. You can read my other article on top courses on Linkedin Learning to find courses that are suitable for your needs. If you are looking to pass a professional certification then you can look into ExamLabs.

Are LinkedIn Learning Courses Accredited/Recognized?

Accreditation is an official, formal, and independent verification of a training course or institution. It is done to ascertain that the course and institution meets established standards of quality. It authorizes the institute to impart knowledge, assess students and issue certificate of completion.

We already know that LinkedIn Learning is not an accredited company. Its courses are not authorized by any educational institution or university and its certificates are not recognized.

Pursuing an online LinkedIn course may not be a good choice for students and people who are seeking their first job. They can look at Coursera or eDX for accredited courses. They can find authorized certificate, diploma, and degree courses on these platforms. You can read my articles on Coursera review and eDX review to learn more about their advantages and disadvantages.

However, LinkedIn Learning hold immense value for working professionals who already hold a formal degree and certificate. Its courses can be used to upgrade the knowledge and acquire new skills.

Advantages of LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

There are a number of reasons why LinkedIn Learning is a good for career-oriented professionals. Let’s look at top 4 reasons.

I. Job Oriented Courses and Learning Paths

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that works on a subscription model. After buying its subscription, you can enroll into any of its courses and learn multiple subjects in one go.

LinkedIn Learning provides a multitude of job-oriented professional courses, which are broadly categorized under three heads viz. business, technology, and creative.

At the time of writing this article, LinkedIn Learning was offering 18000+ courses. It continuously adds new courses. Some of these courses are available in foreign languages such as French and German.

In addition to an individual course, LinkedIn Learning provides a feature called Learning Path. A LinkedIn Learning Path provide a sequence of courses, which help you learn a subject completely.

II. Certificate of Completion

LinkedIn.com is the world’s biggest recruitment platform. It is also the biggest professional social network. You can impress employers and recruiters by upgrading your skills and showcasing your achievements on your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn Learning is offered by LinkedIn.com. You can easily showcase your LinkedIn Learning certificate and write course description on LinkedIn.com and other social media platforms.

I think this is the biggest and most unique advantage of LinkedIn Learning. It can help you in getting new job offers.

III. Professional Certification Exams

In addition to regular courses, LinkedIn Learning also offers prep courses for in-demand professional certifications. These certifications can be pursued by professionals like project managers, network administrators, and business analysts.

You will find various courses for attaining professional certificates such as – Certified Analytics Professional, Certified Scrum Master, Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Expert, and certificates from Project Management Institute (PMI).

LinkedIn Learning is also a PMI ATP (Authorized Training Partner). You can take its online course for achieving a globally renowned PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. In addition, you can use more than 100 courses to get over 200 PDUs (Professional Development Units), which can help you to maintain your PMI credentials.

IV. Recognition from Employers

We have already seen that LinkedIn Learning provides regular and professional certificate courses. It is one of the best platforms to upgrade your skills but its value goes much beyond this.

In the fast-changing world, skills have to be constantly upgraded. Good employers recognize this and take LinkedIn Learning subscription for their employees.

As an individual, you can take the first step and proudly display your course completion certificates on your LinkedIn profile. You can also check what kind of skills recruiters in your industry are looking for.

LinkedIn Learning Certificate Value

LinkedIn Learning certificates offer a good value. There are a lot of benefits for the learners. Here is a brief list of its advantages:

1. The subscription cost of Linkedin Learning is very low.
2. You can learn multiple things under a single subscription.
3. You can directly interact with the instructor and other students using LinkedIn Learning’s forum.
4. You can learn a new topic by looking at multiple courses from different authors.
5. You can learn new things from any place at a time convenient to you.
6. The platform gives you personalized course recommendations based on your profile.
7. You can learn a variety of new topics like Google Analytics, Business Analysis, Critical Thinking, Customer Service, Human Resources, Digital Marketing, and Data Science.

You can also read my detailed article on LinkedIn Learning review to understand its advantages and disadvantages.

Summary

Keeping aside the fact that LinkedIn Learning offers non-accredited courses you can learn valuable things. These will make you ready for your job. Many employers recognize the courses offered by LinkedIn Learning and value your certificates even though they are not accredited.

I would suggest that you should take a free trial of LinkedIn Learning to understand its value.