How to Add Certifications on a Resume

By Kellie Hanna, CPRW, Career Advice Expert •Last Updated: July 30, 2024

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Certifications validate your expertise and demonstrate your proactive approach to staying current in your field. They provide concrete evidence of your commitment to mastering new skills and industry standards, which can bolster your credibility as a candidate.

In this guide, we will walk you through:

Why you should put certifications on your resume.
Where to put certifications on a resume.
How to list certifications on a resume.
How to format certifications on a resume.

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Why certifications matter on a resume

Certifications demonstrate a candidate's specialized expertise and commitment to professional standards, enhancing their credibility and appeal to potential employers. They provide tangible proof of skills and knowledge beyond basic qualifications, reflecting a proactive approach to ongoing education and skill development.

Certifications can distinguish a candidate in competitive job markets, show adherence to industry best practices, and indicate readiness to handle specific responsibilities or advanced techniques relevant to the role. Ultimately, they signal to employers that the candidate is well-equipped to contribute effectively and uphold high standards in their field.

Read our guide, "How to Write a Resume," for tips on adding certifications to your resume.

Where to list certifications on your resume

When crafting a resume, deciding where to list your certifications is crucial for effectively showcasing your qualifications. You can present your certifications can be presented in different sections, depending on their relevance and how many you have.

Each approach to displaying your resume certifications has its advantages. Listing them in a separate section helps emphasize their importance and ensures they are easily noticeable by recruiters. Alternatively, integrating certifications within your resume's education section or employment history can provide context and illustrate their practical application. Tailoring the placement of certifications on your resume can significantly impact how potential employers perceive your skills and qualifications.

Use this resume example as inspiration to start or update your resume, or browse our collection of resume examples for more ideas on how to list your degree.

In a separate section

If you have multiple certifications, emphasize them in a separate section to highlight them prominently. Doing so will make finding them easy for recruiters and hiring managers.

Pro tip: Use a resume template to ensure your certifications are displayed professionally.

Here’s an example of how to list multiple certifications in a separate section of your resume:

Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Issuing Organization: Project Management Institute
- Date Obtained: March 2023
- Expiration Date: March 2026

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Issuing Organization: Scrum Alliance
- Date Obtained: June 2022
- Expiration Date: June 2024

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Issuing Organization: Cisco
- Date Obtained: January 2021
- Expiration Date: January 2024

Under education

Education and certifications on a resume go hand-in-hand. Including certifications under the education section of your resume is ideal when they directly relate to your degree or field of study, as they provide context for your academic achievements.

Putting your certifications within your education section helps employers see the connection between your academic background and professional qualifications, making your resume more cohesive and compelling.

Here is an example of how to showcase certifications in the education section of your resume:

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

University: XYZ University
Graduation Date: May 2022

Certifications

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Issuing Organization: American Institute of CPAs
- Date Obtained: July 2022

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University: ABC University
Graduation Date: May 2018

Certifications

AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- Issuing Organization: Amazon Web Services
- Date Obtained: September 2019
- Expiration Date: September 2022

Read our guide, "How to List a Degree on a Resume" for more tips on adding certifications in the education section of your resume.

Within your employment history

Integrating certifications within your work accomplishments demonstrates how you have applied them in previous positions and adds depth to your professional experience. Highlight specific projects or achievements where your certifications were crucial to show hiring managers concrete examples of your expertise. Your resume will be more dynamic and impressive.

For example:

Professional Experience

Senior Project Manager
ABC Corporation - New York, NY
June 2019 – Present

Led a cross-functional team to deliver a $2 million IT infrastructure project on time and within budget.
- Certification applied: Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Detail: Utilized PMP methodologies to implement Agile practices, resulting in a 20% increase in project efficiency.

Spearheaded the transition to cloud-based services, enhancing system reliability and scalability.
- Certification applied: AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- Detail: Architected and deployed AWS solutions, reducing operational costs by 15% and improving service uptime by 25%.

How to format headings on a resume

Formatting certifications correctly on your resume is important to ensure they are easily read, ATS-friendly, and effectively display your qualifications.

Here’s how to format your certifications for maximum clarity and effectiveness:

Certification name and issuing organization

Display the full name of the certification and the organization that issued it, starting with the most recent.

For example:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Issuing organization: (ISC)²

Date obtained

Under the name of the issuing organization, include the date you obtained each certification.

For example:

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Issuing organization: Project Management Institute
Date obtained: March 2023

Expiration date

If your certification expires, display it under the date you obtained it so employers know it is up to date. Never list expired certificates on your resume.

For example:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect

Issuing organization: Amazon Web Services
Date obtained: September 2021
Expiration date: September 2025

Examples of certifications on a resume

Industry-specific examples

Industry-specific certifications enhance your professional credentials and demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills. Whether in health care, finance, IT or another industry, certifications validate your expertise and commitment to your profession.

Employers often look for certifications as indicators of competency and readiness to handle industry-specific challenges.

Here, we list certifications across various industries that can bolster your resume and career prospects.

Administrative

Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Certified Professional Secretary (CPS)
Certified Management Assistant (CMA)
Project Management Professional (PMP)

Related guides:

Culinary

Certified Executive Chef (CEC)
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
Certified Pastry Culinarian (CPC)
Certified Sous Chef (CSC)
Certified Culinary Educator (CCE)

Related guides:

Education

Certified Teacher (CT)
National Board Certification (NBPTS)
TESOL Certification (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
Child Development Associate (CDA)
Reading Specialist Certification

Related guides:

Finance

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Related guides:

Healthcare support

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT)
EKG Technician Certification (CET)
Phlebotomy Technician Certification (CPT)

Related guides:

Human resources

Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)

Related guides:

Museum

Certified Museum Professional (CMP)
Certificate in Museum Studies
Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG)
Certified Archivist (CA)
Certified Visitor Experience Professional (CVEP)

Related guide:

Museum Resume Examples & Templates

Nursing

Registered Nurse (RN)
Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
Pediatric Nursing Certification (CPN)

Related guides:

Sales

Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)
Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)
Certified Sales Executive (CSE)
HubSpot Sales Certification

Related guides:

Social Services

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)
Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM)
Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW)
Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS)

Related guides

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Certifications for top job titles

Having specialized certifications based on your job title shows hiring managers your expertise in key areas of responsibility. Whether you are a project manager, nurse or IT professional, certifications enhance your credibility and demonstrate your dedication to continuous learning and professional growth.

Here, we highlight essential certifications for various job titles that can elevate your resume and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Project manager

Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
PRINCE2 Practitioner
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

Related guides:

Software engineer

AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE Programmer (OCPJP)

Related guide:

Software Engineer Resume Examples & Templates

Registered nurse

Registered Nurse (RN)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)

Related guides:

Human resources manager

Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)

Related guides:

Marketing specialist

Google Ads Certification
Facebook Blueprint Certification
HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP)
Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification

Financial analyst

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)

Related guides:

Teacher

Certified Teacher (CT)
National Board Certification (NBPTS)
TESOL Certification (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
Certified Reading Specialist
Certified Special Education Teacher

Related guides:

IT support specialist

CompTIA A+
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Related guides:

Legal assistant

Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)
Certified Paralegal (CP)
Certified Legal Secretary (CLS)
Certified eDiscovery Specialist (CEDS)
Certified Contract Manager (CCM)

Related guides:

Sales manager

Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)
Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)
Certified Sales Executive (CSE)
Certified Professional in Sales and Marketing (CPSM)

Related resources:

Tips for highlighting certifications

Consider these expert tips to help you strategically highlight your certifications on your resume and make a great impression on potential employers.

Relevance is vital: To demonstrate your suitability for the role, prioritize certifications most relevant to the job you're applying for.
Place certifications strategically: Consider creating a dedicated "Certifications" section near the top of your resume to ensure they catch the recruiter's attention early on.
Include pertinent details: To provide comprehensive information, clearly state the full name of each certification, the issuing organization, the date obtained and the expiration date, if applicable.
Quantify impact: Whenever possible, quantify the impact of certifications by mentioning specific achievements or projects where you applied certified skills.
Update expiration dates: If certifications have expiration dates, ensure they are current or indicate your intention to renew them.
Use consistent formatting: Your resume should follow a consistent format to present certifications clearly and organized.
Highlight recent certifications: Prioritize listing recently obtained certifications to showcase your current knowledge and skills.
Tailor to job descriptions: Align certifications with the job descriptions of positions you're applying for to emphasize relevant qualifications.
Include in-progress Certifications: If pursuing a certification, mention it on your resume with an expected completion date to show ongoing professional development.
Proofread for accuracy: Double-check all certification details for accuracy and ensure they are correctly spelled and formatted.

Common mistakes to avoid

Neglecting to highlight achievements. Simply listing certifications without demonstrating how they have contributed to your professional achievements can diminish their impact. Use bullet points or brief descriptions to showcase specific projects or responsibilities where your certified skills were instrumental.
Failing to update a certificate’s renewal status. Failing to update or indicate your current status can give the impression of outdated skills. Mention if certifications are active or specify plans for renewal to assure employers of your ongoing commitment to professional development.
Adding irrelevant certifications. Ensure all certifications listed are relevant to your career goals. Outdated certifications may not reflect your current skills or industry standards, potentially detracting from your resume's impact.
Inaccurate details. Precise certification names, issuing organizations, dates obtained and expiration dates (if applicable) are crucial for credibility. Erroneous information can raise doubts about your qualifications and attention to detail among recruiters.
Listing too many certifications. While certifications are valuable, listing too many unrelated certifications can make your resume manageable and dilute the impact of the most relevant ones. Focus on quality over quantity to highlight your most robust qualifications effectively.

Key takeaways

Incorporating certifications effectively strengthens your resume because they showcase specialized skills and commitment to professional growth.
Review your resume to ensure all relevant certifications are highlighted effectively.
Prioritize certifications directly relevant to your career goals and the job you're applying for. Tailoring certifications to match job descriptions enhances your candidacy.
Ensure all certification details, including names, issuing organizations, dates obtained, and expiration dates (if applicable), are accurate.
To emphasize practical application and skills, strategically place certifications on your resume. Consider a dedicated section or integrate them into relevant job descriptions.
Avoid listing outdated or irrelevant certifications, which may detract from your qualifications. Focus on quality over quantity to make a more substantial impact on potential employers.

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Kellie Hanna, CPRW

Career Advice Expert

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Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

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