Learning how to list certifications on a resume helps you demonstrate your specialized education and dedication to your profession. There are several places in your resume where you can add certifications, including a dedicated section or the contact information section. Furthermore, you need to know exactly what details to add.
This article will teach you when and how to list certifications on a resume. We’ll also talk about specific cases, such as what to do when you’re in the middle of obtaining certification. Finally, we’ll provide examples to show you what your resume should look like once you add your certifications.
Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
Certifications are awarded by regulatory bodies as a validation of an individual’s skills or knowledge.
Knowing how to list certifications on a resume allows you to showcase specialized skills and competencies that can help you get ahead of the other job candidates.
When listing certifications on a resume, you want to include their name, the name of issuing bodies, and dates of issuance and expiration.
You can list certifications in a dedicated section or as part of the education section, and you can mention them in your resume summary or objective.
What Are Certifications?
Certifications are a recognition of specialized knowledge and education. They are awarded by professional organizations and institutions that educate and train professionals and validate their competencies in specific fields.
One of the biggest benefits of certifications over traditional degrees is that they often require less time to obtain and focus on one particular topic or job function. For instance, you can get a certification to operate specialized equipment or technology or to become versed in industry-standard practice.
Knowing how to list certifications on a resume helps you provide concrete proof of your expertise—usually of your hard skills. These credentials show that you’re dedicated to professional development, have been tested to meet specific standards, and possess the necessary abilities to perform the required tasks.
Licenses and certifications on a resume can be optional or mandatory. For instance, if you’re writing a CNA resume, highlighting your certification is a must. On the other hand, an IAPM certification might not be mandatory for a project management role, but having it on your resume can give you a clear advantage over the competition.
When Should You Add Certifications to Your Resume?
There are several occasions when you should add certifications to your resume, so let’s explore them.
#1. When It’s Required in the Job Description
It’s essential to know how to add certifications to a resume when they are required by the job description. In these cases, not having the required certification will most likely result in an immediate rejection, regardless of your skills and qualifications.
That’s why it’s crucial to read the job description and advertisement carefully and even research the company you want to join to determine whether certification is necessary to apply for the job. This is often the case in fields like healthcare or information technologies.
Some of the highest-paying jobs without a degree, such as commercial piloting, product management, sound engineering, and plumbing, also often need certifications.
#2. To Demonstrate Specialized Expertise
Certifications demonstrate specialized expertise and in-demand skills that can help you stand out in highly competitive fields. For example, if you’re writing a data analyst resume, including a Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification will help you demonstrate your ability to prepare, model, visualize, and analyze data.
Employers often look for professionals with highly specialized knowledge in niche areas. As a result, having these certifications on a resume sets you apart from similarly skilled and experienced candidates who don’t have them.
#3. To Show Commitment to Professional Growth
Having certifications shows your commitment to professional growth and continuous learning. Demonstrating your willingness to learn on a resume shows employers that you’re able to keep up with the changes in the industry while maintaining high levels of productivity and work quality.
This is especially important in fast-paced and rapidly evolving fields. Having relevant certifications demonstrates that you’re keeping up with the latest trends and technologies and are likely to keep learning and improving in the future.
#4. When You Lack Work Experience
If you’re an entry-level professional with little to no work experience, leveraging your certifications and education can help you present yourself in the best light possible. Since you don’t have professional accomplishments to validate your skills yet, you should learn how to add certifications to a resume to add credibility to your competence.
Certifications can help you get a head start in the industry. They demonstrate potential and signal to recruiters that you can likely begin contributing to their organization with minimal training.
How to List Certifications on a Resume
The best way to learn how to list certifications on a resume is to understand what information you should include. In most cases, you’ll add certifications in a dedicated resume section, so here’s what that should look like:
Certifications on a Resume Mandatory Details
Name of the section. The “Certification” section is often optional and should typically come after all the mandatory sections of your resume.
Title of the certification. The title of the certification is the most important detail, so you should list it in its entirety. You want to make sure that spelling is impeccable, and you should pay attention to any unique terminology or abbreviation. Furthermore, you should list all your certifications as bullet points for enhanced legibility.
The name of the issuing authority. Adding the name of the organization that awarded you a certificate is crucial and adds credibility to the certification.
The date you were awarded your certification. By highlighting the date you were issued your certification, you emphasize its recency and give recruiters a better insight into your professional development and career progress.
The date your certification expires. Some certifications expire and need to be renewed regularly, in which case you want to include their expiration date.
(Optional) Additional details. If you have enough room on your resume, you can add a brief list of notable skills gained or accomplishments achieved while obtaining or using your certification.
The same rules apply if you want to know how to put an online certificate on a resume. Additionally, you can include a link to your online certificate when submitting a soft copy of your resume.
Where to Add Certifications to Your Resume: 3 Best Spots
Learning how to put certifications on a resume involves knowing where to do it. There are several different places in the document where you can add your certifications, so let’s find out what they are.
#1. Certification Section
Adding your certifications to a dedicated section is the most common method. This ensures they are all neatly displayed and easy to find. Recruiters will be able to spot them quickly and effortlessly, even if they are merely skimming through your resume.
If you’re wondering how many certifications to put on a resume, it’s typically best to include all relevant to the role you’re after. You want to list them in reverse chronological order and include all the relevant details for each certification.
Here’s an example of how to list certifications on a resume in a dedicated section:
#2. Education Section
One of the main reasons to put certifications in the education section of your resume is if they are a must-have for the job and an integral part of your education. For instance, if you’re a certified nursing assistant, you can put your certification next to your degree.
Here’s an example of how to list nursing certifications on a resume when they are mandatory for the job:
You can also include your certification as a bullet point underneath your degree if it has a supplemental role and you obtained it during your academic journey.
#3. Resume Summary or Objective
Finally, you can briefly mention your most important certification in your resume summary or objective. This concise introductory paragraph is meant to grab the recruiter’s attention. As such, you can include your certification to highlight it right off the bat.
Example
For example, your opening sentence can be something along the lines of “A PMP-certified project manager looking for a position at [Company Name].”
How to Put Certification in Progress on Your Resume
Putting certifications in progress on your resume is, in many ways, the same as doing it regularly. Instead of the date of the year you were awarded the certification, you’ll simply put “In progress.”
Here’s what that looks like in an example:
Certification in Progress on Your Resume Example
Certifications
Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) (In progress) IEEE
This is often the case when putting certifications on a resume for freshers and other entry-level professionals. If you’re in the process of obtaining a relevant certification, emphasize that to create a positive impact on the recruiter.
While that’s not the same as actually having the certification, it can demonstrate your proactive approach to learning and improving and showcase your potential.
2 Examples of Resumes With Certifications
Let’s learn how to list certifications on a resume by examining complete examples.
First, here’s how you can list certifications in a dedicated section on an example of a cyber security resume:
Now, here’s a certified nursing assistant resume that has a mandatory certification listed as part of the education section:
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to list credentials on a resume is paramount to successfully demonstrating your competence. It emphasizes that you possess the specialized knowledge required to do the job and that you’re proactive about learning, improving, and progressing your career.
The most important thing in learning how to list certifications on a resume is to remember to include all the relevant details, such as the name of the certification, the institution issuing it, and the date you were awarded. If the certification expires, be sure to note the expiration date. That’ll help you get ahead of the competition and secure a job interview!
