Where to list certificates on your resume

Put certificates in their own section, separate from your work history and education. Place this section after your education or at the end of your resume, depending on how recent and relevant the certificates are. If you earned a certificate within the last year or it directly matches the job you are explore for, move it higher — sometimes even above your work experience.

The exact placement depends on what matters most to the employer. A cybersecurity certificate on a resume for a security analyst role should sit near the top. A certificate in project management for a general office job can go lower. Read the job posting to see what skills they emphasize, then arrange your resume to lead with what they are looking for.

Do not bury certificates in a skills section or mention them only in your cover letter. Recruiters scan resumes quickly, and a dedicated certificates section makes it clear you have formal training, not just on-the-job experience.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a separate "Certificates" or "Professional Certifications" section on your resume, placed after education or at the end depending on relevance.
  • List the certificate name, the organization that issued it, and the month and year you earned it — omit expiration dates unless the certificate expires soon.
  • Include only certificates that are current, relevant to the job, or demonstrate skills the employer values.
  • Use the exact name of the certificate as it appears on your official document, not a shortened or casual version.
  • If you are still working toward a certificate, write "In Progress" with the expected completion date instead of a past date.

What information to include for each certificate

List four pieces of information for each certificate: the certificate name, the issuing organization, the date earned, and optionally a brief description of what it covers. Start with the certificate name exactly as it appears on your official document. If the official name is "Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer Certification," use that — not "Google Cloud Certification" or "Cloud Engineer Badge."

Add the organization that issued the certificate on the next line or the same line. For example: "AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate | Amazon Web Services | March 2023." The date should be the month and year you earned it, not when you started the course. If the certificate expires and you are still within the valid period, you can include the expiration date, but only if it is more than six months away. If it expires soon, either renew it before listing it or leave it off your resume.

A one-line description of the certificate's focus is optional but useful if the name alone does not tell the story. For example: "Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | State of California | June 2022 | Verified patient care and medical safety protocols." Keep the description short — one phrase, not a sentence.

How to format your certificates section

Use the same formatting style you use for your education and work history sections. If your resume uses bold for titles and regular text for details, explore that same pattern to certificates. A straightforward format looks like this:

Certificates Google Analytics Certification | Google | November 2023 HubSpot Content Marketing Certification | HubSpot Academy | August 2023 Certified Professional Coder (CPC) | American Academy of Professional Coders | January 2023

Alternatively, you can use a bullet-point format if your resume already uses bullets for other sections:

Certificates • Google Analytics Certification, Google, November 2023 • HubSpot Content Marketing Certification, HubSpot Academy, August 2023 • Certified Professional Coder (CPC), American Academy of Professional Coders, January 2023

Whichever format you choose, keep it consistent with the rest of your resume. Do not mix styles — if your work experience uses bold titles with dates on the right, use the same layout for certificates.

Which certificates are worth listing

Include only certificates that are current, relevant to the job, or demonstrate skills the employer values. A certificate in a field you no longer work in or one that expired more than a year ago should be removed. If you have many certificates, prioritize the ones that match the job description or show progression in your field.

Industry-recognized certificates carry more weight than completion certificates from online courses. A CompTIA Security+ certificate matters more to a cybersecurity employer than a certificate for completing a two-hour online course on password management. That said, if the job posting mentions a specific skill or tool, even a short course certificate in that tool is worth listing.

Do not list every certificate you have ever earned. A resume with fifteen certificates looks unfocused. Choose the five to eight most relevant ones, or fewer if you have strong work experience. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

How to handle certificates still in progress

If you are working toward a certificate and expect to finish soon, you can list it on your resume with "In Progress" and the expected completion date. Write it like this: "AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional | Amazon Web Services | Expected: May 2024." This tells the employer you are actively building skills and shows commitment to professional development.

Only list a certificate as "In Progress" if you are genuinely on track to finish within the next few months. If you started a course six months ago and have not touched it since, do not list it. Employers may ask about certificates during an interview, and you do not want to admit you abandoned a course you claimed to be pursuing.

Certificates versus licenses: what goes where

Certificates and licenses are different and should be listed separately. A license is a legal credential issued by a government body — a nursing license, a real estate license, a driver's license. A certificate is a credential issued by a private organization, school, or online platform to show you completed training.

If you have both, create two sections: "Licenses" at the top (because licenses are legally required for certain jobs) and "Certificates" below it. For example, a nurse would list her RN license first, then any specialty certificates like ACLS or PALS below it. If you have only one or two licenses, you can combine them into a single "Licenses and Certifications" section, but keep licenses listed first.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not use informal or shortened names for certificates. Write "Google Analytics Certification," not "Google Analytics Badge" or "GA Cert." Employers and recruiters search for specific credential names, and using the wrong name makes your resume harder to find and less credible.

Do not include certificates that have nothing to do with the job. A certificate in dog grooming is not relevant to a software engineering role, even if you earned it. Irrelevant certificates clutter your resume and distract from your actual qualifications.

Do not list certificates without dates. A certificate with no date raises questions about when you earned it and whether it is current. Always include at least the month and year, even if you earned it years ago.

Do not forget to verify the exact name and issuing organization before you list a certificate. Check your official certificate document or your account on the issuing platform. Misspelling a certificate name or getting the organization wrong looks careless and can hurt your credibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include the certificate ID or verification code on my resume?

No. Your resume should not include certificate IDs or verification codes. If an employer wants to verify a certificate, they will ask you for it during the hiring process. You can provide the verification code or a link to your credential profile at that time. Keep your resume clean and focused on what the certificate is, not how to verify it.

What if I earned a certificate years ago but it is still relevant?

List it with the date you earned it. Employers can see how long you have held the credential, and that can actually work in your favor — it shows you have maintained knowledge in that area for years. Do not hide the date or pretend it is recent. If the certificate has expired and you have not renewed it, remove it from your resume.

Can I list certificates I earned through my employer's training program?

Yes, if the certificate is from a recognized organization or platform. If your employer ran an internal training program and issued you a certificate, you can list it, but include your employer's name as the issuing organization. For example: "Project Management Fundamentals | Acme Corp Training Program | September 2023." Internal certificates carry less weight than industry-recognized ones, but they still show you completed formal training.

How many certificates should I list on my resume?

List between three and eight certificates, depending on your experience level and how relevant they are. If you are early in your career, certificates can make up for limited work experience, so include more. If you have ten years of work experience, include only the most relevant ones. Never list more than ten certificates — it makes your resume look unfocused.

Should I list certificates on my LinkedIn profile too?

Yes. LinkedIn has a dedicated section for licenses and certifications, and listing them there increases your visibility in recruiter searches. Use the same information you put on your resume — the certificate name, issuing organization, and date earned. LinkedIn also lets you add a URL to verify the certificate, which adds credibility.