LinkedIn Learning is LinkedIn’s vast online library of over 16,000 courses on business, technology, and creative skills. With LinkedIn Learning, professionals can develop in-demand skills through expert-led course videos. But to access LinkedIn Learning’s full course catalog, do you need a paid LinkedIn Premium subscription? Let’s take a closer look.
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as Lynda.com) is LinkedIn’s e-learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry experts. Courses span a wide range of professional topics like leadership and management, software development, design, marketing, HR, and more.
Some key things to know about LinkedIn Learning:
– Over 16,000 courses across business, creative, and technology topics
– Taught by industry experts
– Courses include video lessons, practice files, assessments, etc.
– Available on desktop, mobile apps, or VR headsets
– New courses added weekly
– Personalized course recommendations
– Download courses for offline viewing
– Earn certificates of completion
LinkedIn Learning aims to help professionals develop new skills for career advancement and increased productivity. Its extensive course catalog caters to all levels, from beginners to seasoned experts.
LinkedIn Learning Access with Free Accounts
With a free basic LinkedIn account, you can access a limited selection of LinkedIn Learning courses. This includes over 15,000 free video courses across topics like:
– Leadership and management
– Marketing
– Entrepreneurship
– Technology and developer skills
– Design
– Project management
– Data and analytics
– Human resources
– Communications
So with just a free LinkedIn account, you can explore LinkedIn Learning and take a wide variety of courses to develop useful business, creative, and technology skills.
However, free members have restricted access. You can only preview certain portions of LinkedIn Learning courses with a free account. To take a course in its entirety, complete assessments, and earn a certificate, you need to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Full LinkedIn Learning Access with Premium
To unlock LinkedIn Learning’s full course catalog and features, you need a paid Premium subscription.
With LinkedIn Premium, you get:
– Full access to over 16,000 courses
– Download and watch courses offline
– Earn certificates of completion for courses
– Access exclusive Premium courses
– Get personalized course recommendations
– Watch entire course videos ad-free
So a Premium account removes restrictions and allows you to fully utilize LinkedIn Learning. You can take any course and earn proofs of completion to showcase on your LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn Premium includes two tiers:
Premium Career – $29.99/month
– Full LinkedIn Learning access
– See who viewed your profile
– Get expert profile feedback
– Additional Premium features
Premium Business – $59.99/month
– Full LinkedIn Learning access
– Talent Insights to find qualified candidates
– Business messaging capabilities
– Additional Premium features
Both Premium options provide full access to LinkedIn Learning. The Business tier unlocks more capabilities suited for corporate use.
LinkedIn Learning Compared to Other Learning Platforms
How does LinkedIn Learning compare to other popular online learning platforms like Udemy or Coursera when it comes to pricing?
Udemy
– Courses open for enrollment – access with $12.99/month subscription
– Purchase lifetime access to a course from $9.99 – $199.99
Coursera
– Limited selection of free courses to audit
– Unlimited free courses for 7 days with free trial
– Unlimited access with Coursera Plus subscription – $399/year
– Or purchase access to individual courses
LinkedIn Learning with Premium
– Full course access with Premium monthly subscription
– No need to purchase access to individual courses
So a LinkedIn Premium subscription provides a simple all-access pass to LinkedIn Learning. Other platforms like Udemy require course purchases or short-term subscriptions to take courses.
Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
Is paying for LinkedIn Premium worth it just for access to LinkedIn Learning? Here are some key benefits that can make Premium a wise investment:
Build new skills – With Premium, you can take courses to gain skills that make you more productive, valuable, and competitive. Investing in skill development can boost your career.
Bolster your resume – The certificates you earn from completing courses are tangible proof of your new skills and knowledge. Share them on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Learn anytime, anywhere – Download courses to watch offline during your commute, on a plane, or anywhere without internet. Convenient access helps you learn on your schedule.
Stay on top of industry trends – LinkedIn Learning has new courses added every week on the latest software, tech, tools, and processes. Stay current in your industry.
Discover your strengths – LinkedIn Learning’s library has courses on thousands of topics to potentially uncover hidden talents and interests.
Depending on your learning and career goals, a Premium subscription can certainly be a smart investment. Of course, you can also get some value from LinkedIn Learning’s free courses too.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn Learning offers free access to some courses, a Premium paid subscription is required to unlock the full learning experience with unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses. Investing in a Premium account makes sense if you want to maximize LinkedIn Learning for skill development and career advancement. But you can also explore a wide variety of free courses with a basic free account as well. Ultimately, your access needs will depend on your learning and career goals.