How to List Certifications on Your Resume (Guide + Examples)

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Table of contents

Why Include Certifications on a Resume
Where to Put Certifications on a Resume
How to List Certifications on Your Resume (With Examples)
How to Find Certifications to Pursue in Your Industry
Common In-Demand Certifications for Various Industries
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help With Your Job Search

A candidate who is constantly improving and looking for ways to grow is a diamond in the rough. Show employers that you are that diamond by creating a resume that showcases your professional certifications. Not sure how? Don't worry! Our guide will walk you through how to list certifications on your resume so that your expertise can shine.

Our guide will cover:

Why certifications are helpful for a resume
Where to put certifications on a resume
How to list certifications on a resume
How to find certifications to pursue for your resume

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Why Include Certifications on a Resume

Before you start looking into how to put certifications on your resume, you might ask yourself, "Does my resume need certifications?" The answer is: no, not always. While some roles actually require certifications — a sports coach, for example, may need a CPR certification to be considered for a role — including optional certifications can definitely help improve your resume and give you a chance to stand out.

In a competitive job market, obtaining professional certifications shows that you are committed to advancing your skills and keeping your finger on the pulse of your industry.

This is helpful for any candidate, but it can significantly boost a resume that might be lacking experience or transitioning between fields. Certifications can prove that you know what you're doing even when your experience or education isn't completely able to back you up.

Even when you've worked in your field for a long time, if you've been in the same role for years, then certifications can help demonstrate that you're up to date with developments in your industry and that you're ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

Where to Put Certifications on a Resume

Now that you know why certifications belong on your resume, let's look at where to put them. Depending on the structure of your resume and the number of certifications you intend to list, you can place them either within your education section or under their own section.

If you have one or two certifications, then it may make sense to list them alongside your education.
If you have more than two certifications, then you should create a "Certifications" section to list them under.

How to List Certifications on Your Resume (With Examples)

When you list certifications on your resume, you should start with the name of the certification followed by the organization that issues it. This will allow the employer to verify that the certification is the real deal. After that, include the date that you obtained the certification.

Finally, if you choose to, you may include information about the skills that the certification represents. This is a good way to beef up your resume skills if they are lacking, but it isn't necessary if these skills are covered elsewhere on your resume.

Sample certification section for a resume:

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute (PMI), 2024
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance, 2022
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) – International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC), 2022

Sample certification section for a resume including skills:

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) | PMI | 2025
Expertise in project lifecycle management, including initiation, planning, execution, and closure.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) | (ISC)² | 2023
Skills in comprehensive cybersecurity, risk management, and information security practices.
Certified Data Professional (CDP) | Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals | 2020
Advanced abilities in data management, analytics, and decision-making processes.

Sample certification section for a resume including skills:

Education

Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

May 2024

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Amazon Web Services (In Progress)
Expected: March 2025
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) – The Linux Foundation, August 2024

Pro tip

If you're working on a certification that isn't finished yet, don't let that stop you from elevating your resume. List it as "In Progress" for now and include the expected date of your certification. Once you earn it, go back and update your resume to reflect your achievement.

How to Find Certifications to Pursue in Your Industry

Putting certifications on your resume is a good idea, but how do you know which certifications to pursue? Employ one of these strategies to find in-demand certifications in your field:

Join an industry-specific professional network: Join a community of professionals in your field to develop your understanding of current industry standards. This has the added bonus of providing you with a network of contacts to use as references or to help you identify new opportunities.
Talk to recruiters: Nobody knows what employers are looking for better than a recruiter. Ask the recruiters in your network for their top recommendations for industry-specific certifications. If you're already on the job hunt, be open to feedback if and when you receive rejections.
Look at job listings: Job boards are powerful research tools! Look at job openings in your field and read through the required and preferred qualifications for the kinds of roles you're looking for.
Try a certification search tool: The US Department of Labor's Career OneStop Certification Finder is a handy tool for finding in-demand certifications by industry, organization, or keyword. It even provides information on the certification's demand level and accreditation. Other certification search tools are available online as well.
Give ChatGPT a try: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become a staple of the job search with both job-seekers and employers using its capabilities to streamline the hiring process. Make the most of AI by using it as your personal assistant. ChatGPT can provide you with a list of common certifications in your field and can even help you study for them. Just be sure to fact-check the information it provides.

Common In-Demand Certifications for Various Industries

Looking for a place to start on your certification journey? Here are some common certifications from a variety of industries and fields that may help uplift your resume:

Construction

Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Certified Safety Manager (CSM)
Certified Associate Constructor (CAC)
LEED Green Associate

Cybersecurity

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
CompTIA Security+
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

Finance

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Certified Fund Specialist (CFS)

Information technology

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Graphic design

Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
Certified Graphic Designer (CGD)
User Experience (UX) Certification

Human resources

Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
Association for Talent Development (ATD)

Manufacturing

Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)
Certified Production Technician (CPT)
Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)

Project management

Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
PRINCE2 Practitioner

Software engineering

AWS Certified Developer
Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP)
Google Professional Cloud Developer
Oracle Certified Java Programmer (OCJP)
Certified Scrum Developer (CSD)

Key Takeaways

Use certifications to show expertise and growth
Some roles require certain certifications, but even when they're just extra, a certification goes a long way toward setting you apart from the competition and showing your commitment to learning new skills in your field.
Put certifications in their own section or alongside your education
Depending on how many certifications you have and how you want your resume to look, you may list them in their own section or include them under your education section.
List skills if needed
If your certifications are helping uplift a resume that's lacking in relevant technical skills, then you can describe the specific skills that it represents to help legitimize your expertise.
Use your professional network and digital tools to find certifications to pursue
To decide which certifications to pursue, listen to your professional network's recommendations and consider using AI search tools or online certification databases to search for options.