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How to List Certifications on a Resume
Give the full official name, the issuer and the date, and add an expiry date if the certification lapses. Put the ones the job asks for where a recruiter cannot miss them. The formatter writes the lines for you.
- Where certifications go, and when to move them to the top
- What to include, including how to show one in progress
- A formatter with the credential ID and expiry options
Certification formatter
Use the official name, spelled the way the issuer writes it. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
One line
[Certification name] — [Issuer], [Year]
Two lines
[Certification name] [Issuer] · [Year]
Where to put certifications
- A separate “Certifications” section (or “Licenses and Certifications”) after Education or Skills is the default.
- If the posting requires a certification (PMP, CPA, a nursing licence, a security clearance), put it where it is seen first: a short Certifications section directly under your summary, or the credential next to your name in the header.
- With only one or two, you can list them inside Education or Skills instead of giving them their own section.
What to include
- The full official name, exactly as the issuer writes it. Recruiters and ATS search for “AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate”, not “AWS cert”.
- The issuing organisation.
- The date you earned it (a year or month and year).
- The expiry or renewal date if there is one, as “valid through 2028”. A lapsed certification should not be listed as current.
- A credential ID or verification link only if the employer is likely to check it. It is not needed on most resumes.
Certifications in progress
You can list a certification you are working toward, but make it clear: “(in progress, exam scheduled March 2027)” or “(expected 2027)”. Only list it if you are enrolled or have the exam booked, and do not leave out the word “expected”.
Which ones to list
- Those that are relevant to the job and that the employer would recognise.
- Current ones. Drop certifications that expired and that you do not plan to renew, unless the posting asks for them.
- Cap the list at what fits comfortably. Eight short, relevant lines beat twenty course certificates.
Examples
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate — Amazon Web Services, 2025 (valid through 2028) Project Management Professional (PMP) — Project Management Institute, 2023
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) — (ISC)², in progress, exam scheduled March 2027
Various AWS and Google certifications Project management certificate
Frequently asked questions
- Should certifications go on a resume?
- Yes, when they are relevant to the job. For some roles (healthcare, finance, IT, trades, project management) they are close to mandatory; for others a few well-chosen ones support the skills in your experience section.
- Do I include the date and expiry?
- Include the date you earned it. If the certification expires or needs renewing, add “valid through” with the year. An employer who checks will see the expiry anyway.
- Where do I put a certification that is the main requirement for the job?
- Near the top. A short Certifications section directly below your summary, or the credential beside your name in the header (for example, “Jane Doe, PMP”), makes sure it is read.
- Can I list a certification I have not finished yet?
- Yes, as long as it is plainly labelled “in progress” or “expected” and you are really enrolled or have the exam booked. Never list a certification as earned before you hold it.
- Should online course certificates count as certifications?
- Only if they are directly relevant to the job. A professional certification from an industry body carries more weight than a completion certificate from a short course, which is usually better listed under Skills or Education, or left off.
- Do I need the credential ID?
- Usually not. Add it or a verification link if the certification is one employers routinely verify (for example, a professional licence), or if the application asks for it.
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Put your certifications where they get noticed
Pick a Resumade template with a clear Certifications section and download an ATS-safe PDF.
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