How to List Certifications on a Resume (Examples & Expert Tips)

In This Guide

Certifications can strengthen a resume, but their value depends on their relevance. The right certification can quickly demonstrate specialized knowledge or technical skills that may not be obvious from your degree or work history, especially when you’re changing careers, pursuing a promotion, or applying without a traditional four-year degree.

The key is knowing which credentials to include, where to put them, and how to present them clearly. In this guide, we’ll explain how to list certifications on a resume, including where to display them, what details to include, and how to format them for recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Certification, License, or Certificate: What’s the Difference?

Certifications, licenses, and certificates of completion aren’t interchangeable. A certification validates professional skills or knowledge, a license grants legal permission to practice a regulated profession, and a certificate shows that you finished an educational program.

Using the correct label helps you present your credentials accurately and professionally:

Certifications

A certification is a credential that demonstrates knowledge or skills in a specific field. A professional organization, industry association, or technology provider typically awards it after an exam, assessment, or other eligibility requirements.

Examples include:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

Certifications can help demonstrate technical skills or specialized expertise, particularly when a job posting specifically requests or prefers a particular credential.

Licenses

A license is a credential issued by a government agency that allows someone to legally practice a regulated profession. Requirements vary by state and profession and may include education, examinations, supervised experience, or continuing education.

Examples include professional licenses and regulated credentials, such as:

• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Professional Educator License

If a job requires a license, make that credential easy to find on your resume.

Certificates

A certificate generally confirms that you completed a course, training program, or educational series. Unlike many professional certifications, it doesn’t necessarily mean you passed an industry-standard exam or hold a regulated credential.

Examples include:

• Google Career Certificate
• Coursera course certificate
• LinkedIn Learning certificate of completion
• University or college certificate programs
• Coding bootcamp certificates

Tip!

Tip!

When you list a credential on your resume, use its official name and issuing organization, not an upgraded title. For example, list a course completion certificate as a certificate rather than calling it a certification. This keeps your resume accurate and prevents you from implying that an educational course is a formal industry credential or professional license.

When Should You Include Certifications on a Resume?

Include certifications on your resume when they directly support the role you want, especially when a job description lists them as required or preferred qualifications. Leave off outdated or irrelevant credentials that distract from the qualifications most important to the employer.

When to Include Certifications

Include certifications on your resume when they demonstrate skills or qualifications that are relevant to the job. Prioritize credentials that:

• Are listed as required or preferred in the job description
• Demonstrate skills relevant to the position
• Help bridge a career change or employment gap
• Show proficiency with a new technology, software, or technical skill
• Add evidence of job-related skills when your education doesn’t fully match the role’s requirements

When to Leave Certifications Off

Leave certifications off your resume when they’re outdated, irrelevant to the job, or unlikely to strengthen your qualifications. Removing low-value credentials reduces clutter and keeps attention on the experience, skills, and credentials most relevant to the position.

Consider leaving off certifications that are:

• Outdated or no longer relevant, such as a certification for deprecated software
• Unrelated to the position, such as a food handler permit on an accounting resume
• Low-value or unaccredited micro-courses that don’t demonstrate job-related skills
• Expired certifications that are no longer relevant or valuable to the position

Tip!

Tip!

Keep a separate master document with every certification, license, and certificate you’ve earned. When you tailor a resume for a new job, aim to include three to five of your most relevant credentials in the final version. There’s no hard limit, but this is a good starting point to keep your resume focused and easier to update as you earn new credentials.

Where to Put Certifications on a Resume: 5 Placement Strategies

Certifications can appear in several places on a resume, and the best location depends on how important the credential is to the job.

Put prominent licenses or essential credentials near your name, while less central certifications may fit better in your summary, experience, education, or a dedicated section.

Here’s a breakdown of where to add certifications on a resume:

1. Directly After Your Name

Put a certification directly after your name when it’s a required license or a widely recognized credential that’s central to your profession. This placement gives the credential immediate visibility and helps recruiters quickly confirm you meet a key qualification.

This approach works particularly well for credentials such as RN, CPA, or PE, where the designation is closely tied to the role and legal ability to practice.

Here’s an example:

2. In Your Professional Summary

Include a certification in your professional summary when it directly supports your qualifications for the target role and helps establish relevant expertise early on. This works well when the credential is important to your candidacy but doesn’t need to appear directly after your name.

Here’s an example:

3. In Your Work Experience Section

Mention a certification within your work experience section when you can show how you’ve applied the knowledge or skills it represents. This approach is especially useful for certifications that show methods, technical knowledge, or professional skills you use on the job.

Here’s an example:

Tip!

Tip!

Connecting your credential to a measurable accomplishment gives employers evidence of practical experience and results rather than simply stating that you hold the certification.

4. Integrated Into Your Education Section

Include a certification or certificate within your education section when it directly complements your degree or is part of your recent academic development. This is a practical option for recent graduates with limited professional experience who want to highlight relevant training.

For certificates earned through a university or educational program, this placement can also clarify the relationship between your formal education and additional training.

Here’s an example:

5. In a Dedicated Certifications Section

Use a dedicated “Certifications” or “Certifications & Licenses” section when you have multiple credentials that are relevant to the position or when certifications are a significant part of your qualifications. Keeping them together makes important credentials easy for recruiters and ATS software to find without taking space away from your experience or skills.

A dedicated section is especially useful when you have three or more relevant certifications, but the number isn’t a strict rule. If one certification is critical to the position, it may deserve a more prominent placement elsewhere on your resume.

When you have multiple certifications, list the most relevant credential first—not necessarily the most recently earned one.

Include enough information to identify each credential clearly, such as the certification name, issuing organization, and issue or expiration date when relevant.

Here’s an example:

How to Format Your Certifications (With Examples)

When you list certifications on your resume, include the credential’s official title, issuing organization, date earned, and expiration date (when applicable). Include a common acronym in parentheses when one is widely used, and add a license number or location when needed.

You don’t need to include every detail for every credential. For example, a certification that doesn’t expire doesn’t need an expiration date.

What to Include

Here’s an overview of what you might include when listing your certifications:

• Official certification name: Use the credential’s official title. If the certification is commonly known by an acronym, include it in parentheses, such as Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Issuing organization: Name the professional association, industry organization, technology company, or other credentialing body that awarded the certification.
• Date earned: Include the month and year you received the certification.
• Expiration date: Add the expiration date if the credential expires or requires renewal.
• License number: Include a license number if the profession or employer requires it for verification. Avoid adding sensitive personal identification numbers.
• Location: Include the state or jurisdiction when a license is tied to a specific location, and that information helps establish where you are authorized to practice.

Tip!

Tip!

For an ATS-friendly resume, avoid putting certifications inside graphics, tables, or other design elements that could make the text harder for applicant tracking systems to read. Consistent, plain-text formatting makes credentials easier for machines and recruiters to identify.

Single Certification Example

Here’s how to put certifications on a resume for single credentials:

Multiple Certifications Example

Here’s an example of multiple certifications on a resume:

Certifications & Licenses

Here’s how to list certifications paired with professional licenses:

How to List In-Progress Certifications on a Resume

You can list a certification that you’re actively pursuing if it’s relevant to the job, but clearly label it as in progress or pending. Include the certification name, issuing organization, and expected completion date when known.

When to Include an In-Progress Certification

An in-progress certification can strengthen your resume when it supports your qualifications for the position or shows that you’re developing a skill the employer values. It’s especially useful when the job description lists the certification as preferred or when the credential supports a career change.

Consider including it when:

• You’re actively completing the required coursework or preparation.
• You’ve registered for an upcoming certification exam.
• You have a scheduled exam date or expected completion date.
• The certification is directly relevant to the position.

Avoid listing a certification if you haven’t started working toward it. Simply planning to pursue a credential doesn’t make it an in-progress certification.

How to Format an In-Progress Certification

When listing in-progress certifications, use clear language such as “In Progress, Expected [Month Year],” or “Exam Scheduled: [Month Year]” to show the credential hasn’t been earned yet.

For example:

High-Value Certifications by Industry

There’s no single best certification for every resume—the best certification supports your target role and matches the employer’s requirements or preferred qualifications. Use the examples below as a starting point when deciding which credentials to highlight.

Business, HR, & Finance

Employers in business, HR, and finance value credentials that show specialized knowledge or hard skills and proficiency with widely used business tools and practices.

Credentials can also help show expertise in areas such as accounting, human resources, financial management, and customer relationship management.

Popular certifications and credentials include:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
• Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Healthcare & Nursing

Healthcare employers often prioritize credentials that verify professional qualifications, clinical skills, safety training, or specialized knowledge.

Requirements vary by role and state, so candidates should prioritize the licenses and certifications specifically required or preferred for their target position.

Popular certifications, licenses, and other credentials include:

• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• CPR Certification
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

IT & Cloud Computing

IT employers often expect credentials that demonstrate knowledge of specific technologies or expertise in areas such as networking, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and technical support.

Industry-recognized certifications can be especially useful when they match the technologies and skills listed in a job description.

Popular certifications include:

• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA Security+
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Project Management & Operations

Employers in project management and operations look for credentials that demonstrate knowledge of project planning, process improvement, risk management, and established management methodologies.

Popular certifications include:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• PRINCE2 Foundation
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Tip!

Tip!

Run your updated resume through an ATS Resume Checker to make sure headings, sections, and other key information are being read correctly. A clean, machine-readable structure can help ensure your resume content is parsed as intended.

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.