Where Do You List Certifications on a Resume? (2026 Guide)

Quick answer: List certifications in a dedicated "Certifications" section placed after work experience and before education. Move it near the top if you're entry-level, changing careers, or the job requires the credential. For each one, include the full name, issuing organization, and date earned (or "In Progress, Expected Month Year"). Put a required license after your name, too.

You studied for weeks, passed the exam, and paid the fee. The least your resume can do is show that certification where a recruiter will actually see it.

The good news: where to put certifications on a resume isn't complicated once you know the rules. This guide covers exactly where certifications go, how to format each entry, what to do with in-progress or expired credentials, and copy-ready examples.

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Certification vs. License vs. Certificate: What's the Difference?

These three words get mixed up constantly, and using the right one makes you look more credible.

• Certification – a standardized professional credential, usually earned by passing an exam and meeting education or experience requirements. Often has to be renewed. Examples: PMP, CompTIA Security+, SHRM-CP, AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
• License – a credential required by a government or regulatory body to legally practice a job. Examples: RN license, CPA, commercial driver's license (CDL), real estate license.
• Certificate – usually education-based, awarded for completing a course or program. It shows you learned something but isn't always a standardized credential. Examples: a university certificate in data analytics, an online course certificate.

All three can go on your resume. The difference mostly affects what you call the section and how prominently you place it.

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When Should You Include Certifications on a Resume?

Include a certification when:

1. The job requires or prefers it. Always list it, and make it easy to find.
2. It's directly relevant to the role. A CompTIA A+ on an IT support resume is a clear yes.
3. You're light on experience. Certifications can prove skills you haven't used in a paid job yet.
4. You're changing careers. A new credential signals commitment to the new field. See our career change resume guide.
5. It's rare or impressive in your field. Prestigious credentials are worth showing even if they aren't required.

Leave a certification off when it's unrelated to the job, outdated, or expired with no plans to renew. The CPR certification from your summer as a camp counselor is a nice memory, but probably not helpful on a financial analyst application.

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Where Do You List Certifications on a Resume? 5 Options

1. In a dedicated certifications section (most common)

This is the default for most people. Use a clear heading such as:

• Certifications
• Licenses & Certifications
• Professional Certifications
• Certifications & Training

Where it goes: For most resumes, place it after work experience and before education. If you're entry-level, a career changer, or the credential is a hard requirement, move it higher, right below your summary. For more layout options, see our guide to resume sections order.

2. After your name in the header

For a key license or credential that defines your profession, add the abbreviation right after your name.

Only do this for credentials that are central to the job. "Jordan Smith, Excel Certified" doesn't have quite the same ring.

3. In your resume summary

If the certification is required or a major selling point, mention it in the first lines of your resume so both recruiters and ATS software spot it immediately.

Our resume summary guide has more examples.

4. In your education section

Recent graduates, or anyone with only one or two education-based certificates, can combine them into an "Education & Certifications" section. This keeps your resume compact.

5. In your work experience bullets

When a certification directly led to results, connect the two.

This shows employers that your credential isn't just a line on paper.

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How to List Certifications on a Resume (Format)

For each certification, include:

1. Full name of the certification (add the abbreviation in parentheses)
2. Issuing organization
3. Date earned (month and year, or just year)
4. Expiration date (if it expires)
5. Optional: license or credential ID, state or location (for licenses), or a verification link

Basic format:

Single certification example

Multiple certifications example

List them in reverse chronological order (newest first), or put the most relevant first if they're similar in age.

Licenses and certifications example

Include license numbers only when the employer asks for them or when they're standard in your field.

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How to List In-Progress Certifications

You can list a certification you're actively working toward. It shows initiative and tells employers the skill is coming soon. Just be clear about the status.

Only list it if you've genuinely started (enrolled, studying, or scheduled the exam). "Thinking about the PMP" is a lovely goal, but it is not a resume entry.

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What About Expired Certifications?

Generally, leave expired certifications off, especially if the job requires a current one. If you're in the process of renewing, list it as "Renewal in progress" with an expected date. If an expired credential still shows relevant knowledge (for example, an older version of a technical cert you've since moved beyond), you can mention the skill in your skills section instead.

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Online Course Certificates: Do They Count?

Yes, with judgment. Certificates from platforms like Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, Google, or HubSpot Academy can be worth listing when they're relevant and recent, especially for entry-level candidates or career changers.

A few tips:

• Label them accurately. Call it a "Certificate" or "Professional Certificate," not a certification, unless it truly is one.
• Pick quality over quantity. One substantial program beats twelve one-hour badges.
• Consider a separate heading such as "Professional Development" or "Training" if you have several short courses.

If you have no work experience yet, our guide to writing a resume with no experience shows how to use certificates and projects together.

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How Many Certifications Should You List?

For most tailored resumes, three to five relevant certifications is plenty. List more only if each one adds something the employer cares about. If you've collected a lot of credentials over your career (no judgment, some of us just like exams), keep a master list and pick the best matches for each application.

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Popular Certifications by Industry

Some widely recognized certifications to consider listing (if you have them) or pursuing:

• Project management: PMP, CAPM, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), PRINCE2
• IT and cloud: CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Cisco CCNA
• Cybersecurity: CISSP, CISM, CEH
• HR: SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR
• Finance and accounting: CPA, CFA, CMA, Enrolled Agent
• Healthcare: RN, BLS, ACLS, PALS, CNA, Certified Medical Assistant
• Marketing: Google Ads, Google Analytics, HubSpot Inbound Marketing
• Operations and quality: Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt, Black Belt)
• Trades: OSHA 10/30, EPA 608, forklift certification, CDL

Certifications are strong proof of specialized skills, so list the matching skill in your skills section too. That way you match keywords for both the credential and the skill itself.

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Common Mistakes When Listing Certifications

• Burying a required license at the bottom of page two.
• Using only acronyms. Write "Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)" at least once so ATS software matches either version.
• Listing irrelevant or expired credentials that dilute the important ones.
• Calling a course certificate a "certification." Accuracy matters, and interviewers notice.
• Putting certifications in graphics, logos, or text boxes, which many ATS tools can't read.
• Forgetting LinkedIn. Add your certifications to LinkedIn's Licenses & Certifications section so they match your resume.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do certifications go before or after education on a resume?

Usually after work experience and before education. If you're entry-level, a career changer, or the certification is required for the job, place it higher, just below your summary. Recent graduates can also combine both into an "Education & Certifications" section.

How do I list a certification that's still in progress?

Write the full certification name and issuer, then add "In Progress" and an expected completion date, such as "Expected June 2027." Only include it if you've actually started working toward it, such as enrolling or scheduling the exam.

Should I include expired certifications on my resume?

Generally no, especially if the job requires a current credential. If you're renewing, note "Renewal in progress." Otherwise, mention the related skill in your skills section instead.

Should I put certifications next to my name?

Only for key professional credentials that are central to the job, such as RN, CPA, PMP, or PE. For most other certifications, a dedicated section is enough.

Do online course certificates count as certifications on a resume?

They can be listed, but label them accurately as certificates rather than certifications. Include them when they're relevant to the job and reasonably recent, and consider a "Training" or "Professional Development" heading if you have several.

Should I include certification ID numbers?

Only if the employer asks, if it's standard in your field (common for licenses), or if you want to make verification easy. Many people use a verification link instead, especially for digital badges.

Do certifications help with ATS screening?

Yes, when the job posting mentions them. Use the exact certification name and its abbreviation, place it in a standard text section, and mention required credentials in your summary too.

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Make Your Certifications Work for You

You earned those credentials, so make sure they're seen. Our Resume Builder helps you add a clean, ATS-friendly certifications section, decide where it should go for each job, and connect your credentials to the skills and results recruiters are looking for.