Certifications serve as validators of your skills and knowledge in a competitive job market. They offer tangible proof to employers that you have mastered a specific subject, tool, or methodology. Knowing how to present these qualifications on your resume can capture the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager, compelling them to look closer at your application. Properly showcasing your credentials ensures they are understood as valuable assets you bring to a potential role.
Where to List Certifications on Your Resume
Deciding where to place your certifications on a resume is a strategic choice that depends on the relevance of the credential and your overall experience. For certifications that are required for a position, the best placement is at the top. You can include the abbreviation next to your name in the header, such as “Priya Anand, RN,” or mention it within the first sentence of your resume summary. This ensures the hiring manager sees your most important qualification immediately.
A dedicated “Certifications” section is the most common and organized method, especially when you hold multiple credentials. This section typically sits after your work experience but before your education. It allows you to group all your relevant qualifications in one easy-to-scan area, creating a clear and professional presentation. This approach prevents your credentials from getting lost in other sections and makes it simple for a recruiter to assess your specialized skills.
Alternatively, you can integrate your certifications into your education section, which can be renamed “Education & Certifications” for clarity. This works well when a certification is a direct extension of your academic work or when you are an entry-level candidate with limited professional experience. Placing a certification here can create a more cohesive narrative between your formal education and your practical, skill-based training.
What Information to Include
When listing a certification, clarity and completeness are important to ensure its credibility. Always start with the full, official name of the certification, as this avoids any confusion. For instance, instead of just “PMP,” write out “Project Management Professional (PMP)”.
Following the name, you must include the issuing organization that granted the credential. This allows employers to verify the legitimacy of your qualification. After the issuing body, provide the date you obtained the certification. If the certification has an expiration date, it is important to include that as well to show it is current. For example, you might list “June 2023 – Expires June 2026”.
While optional, including a certification number or ID can add another layer of verification for interested employers. Similarly, adding a location can be useful if the certification is region-specific, but it is often not necessary. The goal is to provide enough information for a recruiter to understand the nature and validity of your credential without cluttering the resume.
How to Format Your Certifications
The way you format your certifications should prioritize readability and consistency. A clean, straightforward presentation ensures that a hiring manager can quickly absorb the information. When listing multiple certifications, arrange them in reverse-chronological order, placing the most recently obtained credential first. This highlights your most current skills and knowledge.
A common and effective approach is a multi-line format that gives each piece of information its own space. This enhances readability and keeps the section looking organized. For example:
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Issued May 2022, Expires May 2025
For a more condensed approach, a single-line format can save space while still conveying the necessary details. This style is efficient if you are trying to fit multiple certifications without creating a lengthy section. An example of this format would be:
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance, Issued Jan 2023
You can use bolding or italics on the certification name to make it stand out, especially if it is a primary qualification for the job you are targeting. Whichever format you choose, apply it consistently across all entries in the section to maintain a professional and polished look for your entire resume.
Handling Special Cases
Certifications in Progress
It is perfectly acceptable to list certifications you are currently working toward, as it demonstrates your commitment to professional development. To do this, simply add “In Progress” next to the certification name. It is also helpful to include your expected completion date to give employers a clear timeline. For instance, you could write: “Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) (In Progress, Expected December 2025)”.
Expired or Obsolete Certifications
Deciding whether to include an expired certification depends on its relevance. If the skills gained from the certification are still pertinent to the job and the credential was a significant achievement, you may choose to list it. In such cases, you should clearly note its expired status to be transparent. However, if a certification is for a technology or methodology that is now obsolete, it is best to remove it from your resume to avoid looking outdated.
Tips for Highlighting Relevant Certifications
To make your resume as effective as possible, tailor it to each specific job application. Carefully read the job description to identify any required or preferred certifications. If you hold those credentials, feature them prominently.
Using the full name of the certification as well as its common acronym is a useful strategy for optimizing your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems. Many companies use ATS to scan resumes for keywords before they are seen by a human recruiter. Including both the full name and the acronym, such as “Project Management Professional (PMP),” increases the chances that your resume will be flagged as a match and move on to the next stage of the hiring process.