LinkedIn Skill Assessments: Why They're Gone and What to Do Instead

People still search for them because old guides and job advice keep recommending them. If you've been hunting for the Skill Assessments button in your profile, that's why you can't find it.

Here's what LinkedIn said in its help centre, why it made the change, and what to do instead if you want your skills to count with recruiters.

What were LinkedIn Skill Assessments?

They were short online tests you could take to prove a skill, such as a piece of software or a technical topic. Pass one and you'd get a badge on your profile next to that skill. They were popular with job seekers who wanted something extra to show recruiters, and lots of career advice from a few years ago still tells people to take them, which is why the question keeps coming up.

What LinkedIn says now

Question	LinkedIn's answer
Can I still take an assessment?	No. Skill Assessments are no longer available
What happened to my badges?	Badges from completed assessments were to be removed from profiles in 2024
What about my results?	All data associated with assessments and badges is removed at the same time
Are they still used in jobs?	LinkedIn is discontinuing them in its jobs products

Some of LinkedIn's older help pages about Skill Assessments are still online, but they carry the same notice that the feature is no longer available.

Why LinkedIn dropped them

LinkedIn's explanation is simple and quite useful for anyone job hunting. Hirers told LinkedIn that examples of how a candidate applied their skills are increasingly valuable for judging fit. A test score says you can answer questions. A project, a job or a credential shows you've used the skill for real.

So rather than a quiz badge, LinkedIn now lets you tag skills to your credentials and connect your skills to specific jobs, projects or education on your profile.

What to do instead

Here's how I'd replace an old assessment badge, in order of impact:

1. Add the skill to your Skills section, using the words a recruiter would search for.
2. Connect that skill to the job, project or course where you used it.
3. Add any certificate you hold and tag the relevant skill to it.
4. Add a project that shows the skill in action, with a line on the outcome.
5. Ask someone you've worked with for a recommendation that mentions the skill.

I've got step-by-step guides for each of these: adding skills on LinkedIn, adding certifications to LinkedIn and adding projects to your LinkedIn profile.

Badge vs evidence

	Old assessment badge	Skill linked to real work
What it proved	You passed a test	You've used the skill in a job, project or course
Still on LinkedIn?	No	Yes
What hirers said they value	Less so	More, according to LinkedIn
Effort	One quiz	A few minutes per skill

If you still see a badge somewhere

LinkedIn's help centre says the badges were due to be removed in 2024. If an old screenshot, a CV or a third-party site still shows one, it's out of date. I'd take any mention of a LinkedIn assessment badge off your CV, because a recruiter can't check it any more, and it can look like you haven't updated things in a while.

What about other skills tests?

If you like the idea of proving a skill with a test, plenty of software companies and course providers offer their own certifications. Those you can still add to your profile under Licenses and certifications and tag to the right skill. That gives you the badge-style proof, with the added benefit that it's linked to something a recruiter can look up.

A quick profile check for job hunters

If you were relying on assessment badges to stand out, here's a five-minute check that does more:

• Your headline says what you do, not only your current job title.
• Your top skills match the words used in the job adverts you're applying for.
• Each recent role has two or three skills attached.
• At least one project or certificate backs up your most important skill.
• Your About section explains the kind of work you want next.

None of these need a test. They need ten minutes and a bit of honesty about what you're best at.

Making your skills easy to find

Recruiters search LinkedIn by skill, so the words matter. Use the names of tools and methods the way job adverts write them, not internal team jargon. And don't add every skill you've ever touched. A focused list, each tied to real experience, reads better than a long one nobody believes.

If an employer asks for an assessment

You might still see job adverts or application forms that mention LinkedIn skill assessments, especially older listings that haven't been updated. If that happens, don't panic. Explain that LinkedIn no longer offers them and point to the evidence instead: the project, the certificate or the role where you used that skill. Offering a short work sample or a link to something you've built usually goes down far better than a badge ever did.

My advice

Stop looking for the quiz. Spend that time connecting your top five skills to the jobs, projects and certificates where you used them. It's what LinkedIn says hirers trust, and it makes your profile read like evidence rather than a list of claims.

If you want the full set, start at the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Are LinkedIn Skill Assessments still available?

No. LinkedIn says Skill Assessments are no longer available and it's discontinuing them in its jobs products.

What happened to my LinkedIn skill assessment badges?

LinkedIn said badges from completed Skill Assessments would be removed from member profiles in 2024, along with all associated data.

Why did LinkedIn remove skill assessments?

Hirers said examples of how a candidate applied their skills are increasingly valuable to assess fit, so LinkedIn moved to skills linked to real experience.

How do I show my skills on LinkedIn now?

Tag skills to your credentials and connect them to specific jobs, projects or education on your profile.

Should I list a LinkedIn assessment badge on my CV?

I wouldn't. The badges were removed from profiles, so a recruiter can't verify one any more.