Where to put certifications on your resume

Put certifications in their own section, placed after your work experience and before your education section. This placement signals to a hiring manager that your certifications are current and relevant to the job you are explore for. If you have only one or two certifications, you can add them to your education section instead, but a dedicated section works better when you have three or more.

The section heading should read "Certifications," "Professional Certifications," or "Licenses and Certifications" — whichever matches what you actually hold. Keep the heading straightforward and left-aligned, matching the style of your other section headings on the page.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a separate "Certifications" section on your resume, positioned after work experience and before education.
  • List each certification with the full name, the issuing organization, and the date you earned it or when it expires.
  • Include only certifications that are current or will remain current during your job search, and remove expired ones unless they show relevant informed.
  • Match the formatting and detail level of your certifications to the job description — emphasize those most closely tied to the role.
  • For certifications in progress, write "Expected [Month Year]" instead of a completion date, so employers know the timeline.

What information to include for each certification

For each certification, write the full official name exactly as it appears on your certificate. Do not abbreviate or shorten it. Follow the name with the organization that issued it — for example, "CompTIA A+, CompTIA" or "Certified Public Accountant (CPA), State Board of Accountancy." This tells the employer who verified your skills and makes it straightforward to check your credentials if they want to.

Add the month and year you earned the certification. If your certification expires, include the expiration date as well — write it as "Issued January 2022, Expires January 2025" or use a format like "Valid through January 2025." If the certification is still current, you do not need to list an expiration date unless the employer specifically asks for it.

Do not include the certification ID number or license number on your resume unless the job posting asks for it. Those details are better saved for the process form or for when you are hired and need to provide official documentation.

How to format certifications so they stand out

Use a clean, consistent format that matches the rest of your resume. A straightforward structure is: Certification Name, Issuing Organization — Month Year. If you have many certifications, you can arrange them in a bulleted list or in a straightforward table with columns for the certification name, organization, and date.

Put the most relevant certifications first. If you are explore for a software development role, list your programming certifications before your general IT certifications. If you are explore for a healthcare position, put your clinical certifications ahead of administrative ones. Hiring managers often scan the first few items in a section, so leading with what matters most to the job increases the chance they will notice it.

Keep the description short — one line per certification is the goal. Do not add a paragraph explaining what the certification taught you or what skills it covers. Your work experience section should already show how you use those skills.

When to include certifications that are not yet complete

If you are working toward a certification and expect to finish before the hiring process ends, you can list it on your resume. Write "Expected [Month Year]" next to the certification name so the employer knows when you will have it. For example: "Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer, Google Cloud — Expected May 2024."

Only include certifications in progress if they are directly relevant to the job and you are genuinely on track to finish them. Do not list certifications you are thinking about taking or have only just started. Employers may follow up during an interview to ask when you will complete it, and you need to be able to give them a realistic date.

If you do not finish the certification before the employer makes a hiring decision, you can update your resume later or mention it in a follow-up email if you are offered the job. Most employers understand that certifications take time and will not hold it against you if you complete it shortly after being hired.

Deciding which certifications to include

Include every certification that is current and relevant to the job you are explore for. "Current" means it has not expired or, if it has an expiration date, that date has not passed. "Relevant" means it shows skills or knowledge the employer is looking for — check the job description for clues about which certifications matter most.

If you have an expired certification but it shows informed that is still valuable, you can include it with a note that it is no longer active. Write something like "Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), State Board of Nursing — Issued 2015 (Inactive)" or straightforward list it without a date. This tells the employer you had the training even if you are not currently maintaining the credential.

Remove certifications that are not related to the role or industry you are targeting. If you have a food handler certification but you are explore for an accounting job, leave it off. A long list of unrelated certifications makes your resume harder to read and dilutes the impact of the ones that actually matter.

Handling multiple certifications and credential stacking

If you have more than ten certifications, group them by category or by relevance. For example, you might create subsections like "Cloud Certifications," "Security Certifications," and "General IT Certifications." This organization helps a hiring manager quickly find the credentials most important to the role.

If you hold a license or credential that includes multiple certifications — such as a CPA license that requires passing multiple exams — list the main credential (CPA) rather than each individual exam. The employer cares about the final credential, not the steps you took to earn it. If a specific exam or component is particularly relevant to the job, you can mention it in your cover letter or during an interview.

Do not list certifications you earned as part of a degree program separately from your degree. If you earned a bachelor's degree in accounting, you do not need to list every accounting certification that was embedded in the program. List only the standalone certifications you earned outside of your formal education.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not use abbreviations without explaining them the first time. Write "CompTIA A+" instead of just "A+," and "Certified Public Accountant (CPA)" instead of just "CPA." Many hiring managers and applicant tracking systems will not recognize abbreviations, and you risk your certification being overlooked.

Do not list certifications that you did not actually earn or that you are not actively maintaining. Employers sometimes verify credentials during background checks, and listing a certification you do not have can disqualify you from the job or lead to termination after you are hired.

Do not put certifications in your work experience section or scattered throughout your resume. A dedicated section makes it straightforward for hiring managers to find and assess your credentials at a glance. Burying certifications in job descriptions makes them less visible and harder to evaluate.

Do not include the cost of the certification, the number of hours you spent studying, or the passing score you achieved. These details are not relevant to an employer and take up space that could be used for more important information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I list certifications that expired more than a year ago?

Only if they show informed that is still valuable and you clearly mark them as inactive. If a certification expired recently and you plan to renew it, mention that in your cover letter. If it expired years ago and you have not renewed it, leave it off unless the job description specifically asks about past training.

Where do I put a certification I earned in high school?

If it is relevant to the job and you do not have many other certifications, include it in your certifications section with the date. If you have several professional certifications, leave off high school certifications unless they are unusual or directly required by the job.

Can I list online certifications from platforms like Coursera or Udemy?

Yes, if they are recognized in your industry or directly relevant to the job. List them with the platform name as the issuing organization — for example, "Google Project Management Certificate, Coursera — June 2023." Avoid listing every online course you have taken; focus on those that are substantial and show real skill development.

What if I have a lot of certifications but limited work experience?

Put your certifications section before your work experience section to draw attention to your credentials. This signals that your certifications are a major part of your qualifications. Make sure each certification is current and relevant to the jobs you are targeting.

Do I need to include the certification ID or license number?

Only if the job posting asks for it or if you are explore to a regulated industry like nursing or law where verification is standard. Otherwise, save those details for the process form or for after you are hired. Your resume should focus on what you can do, not on administrative details.