Updated September 26, 2026.
In short: list certifications in a section called "Certifications" (or "Licenses & Certifications") with, for each one, the full certification name, the issuing organization and the month and year you earned it — plus the expiration date or license number when the employer needs it. Put the section near the top if the job requires the certification, and below education otherwise. Also mention a required certification in your summary so a skimming reader and a keyword search both find it.
How do you list certifications on a resume?
Use one line per certification, in this order:
Certification name (acronym), Issuing organization — Month Year
Examples:
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute — March 2025
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, Amazon Web Services — June 2026
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), State of Ohio — License No. 12345 — 2023
- Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association — Expires May 2027
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Training, OSHA Outreach Training Program — 2024
The license number above is a placeholder. Write the full name once with the acronym in parentheses: recruiters search for "PMP," while some applicant tracking systems match the full phrase, so including both covers either search.
Where should certifications go on a resume?
| Situation | Where to put them |
|---|---|
| The job requires the certification (RN, CPA, CDL, PMP for some roles) | Near the top, right after the summary — and name it in the summary |
| Certifications are a plus, not a requirement | Separate section after education |
| One or two minor certifications | Combine into "Education & Certifications" |
| Many technical certifications (IT, cloud) | Own section, most relevant first; drop superseded ones |
| Career changer whose new-field credential is the main qualification | Near the top, above older unrelated experience |
How do you list a certification in progress?
Show it with an expected date, so it is clear you have not finished yet:
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Institute of Management Accountants — Expected December 2026
- CompTIA Security+ — In progress; exam scheduled November 2026
Only list it if you are actively working toward it — enrolled, studying, or with an exam date. If you have passed one part of a multi-part exam, you can say so: "CPA candidate — passed AUD and FAR."
Should you include expired certifications?
Usually not, unless the knowledge is still relevant and you say it is inactive. For a credential that must be current to do the job — a nursing license, CPR, a commercial driver's license — an expired one does not qualify you, so leave it off or renew it first. For knowledge-based certificates, "Six Sigma Green Belt (2019)" can stay if it supports the application.
What is the difference between a license, a certification and a certificate?
- License: legal permission to practice, issued by a government body (RN license, CPA license, CDL). Often required by law.
- Certification: awarded by a professional body after you pass an exam, often with renewal requirements (PMP, CompTIA A+).
- Certificate: shows you completed a course or program (a university certificate, a Coursera course). Useful, but usually listed under education or professional development.
On the resume, you can group all three under "Licenses & Certifications" and put course certificates in a separate "Professional Development" section if the list is long.
What do certification sections look like by field?
These examples are illustrations; list your own credentials with the exact names issuers use.
Nursing
- Registered Nurse (RN), California Board of Registered Nursing — License No. [number], expires 2028
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association — 2026
IT and cloud
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate — 2025
- CompTIA Network+ — 2024
Finance
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level II Candidate — CFA Institute
- Series 7 and Series 63, FINRA — 2025
Trades and logistics
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class A with Hazmat endorsement — Texas
- Certified Forklift Operator — 2026
Do certifications count as skills?
They prove skills, so connect them. Put the certification in its section, then mention the skill it certifies in your skills list or bullets — for example, "Built and secured AWS VPCs (AWS Certified Solutions Architect)." Our hard skills guide lists the skills most often paired with certifications, and the resume builder has a dedicated certifications section with fields for the name, issuer and date.
Frequently asked questions
Should certifications go before or after education?
After education by default; before education (or near the top) if the job requires the certification or it is more relevant than your degree.
How many certifications should I list?
Every current certification that relates to the job. Leave out unrelated, very old or superseded ones — list only the higher level when you hold two tiers of the same credential.
Should I include online course certificates?
Include ones that are relevant and recent, ideally in a "Professional Development" section. A long list of short course certificates can look like padding.
Do I need to include the certification number?
Only when employers need to verify it — typically licenses in healthcare, finance, education and trades. Otherwise the name, issuer and date are enough.
Can I put certifications in my resume headline?
Yes, when they're central: "Registered Nurse, BSN, CCRN" or "PMP-Certified Project Manager." See our guide to resume headlines.