How to List Certifications on The Resume: 101+ Resume Certification Examples for Any Profession

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Last update:
01/01/2024
How to List Certifications on The Resume: 101+ Resume Certification Examples for Any Profession

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In distinguishing an average resume from a job-winning one, Licenses & Certifications on a resume play a major role.

Licenses & Certifications are credentials issued by relevant public and private administrative authorities in the completion of standard examinations or assignments – these credentials are proofs of the candidate acquiring certain skills, knowledge, or competencies to perform a specific job.

This guide is for those who are planning to upgrade their resumes to land the highest-paid positions in any industry.

This ultimate guide includes:

  • Where to list certifications on a resume
  • How to list certifications in each section: the right way
  • Example licenses & certifications for many professions

Plus, Pro Tips to list certifications on a resume.

If you’re looking to make a modern resume for your next job, try out our resume builder to make it as quick as 10 minutes.


certifications on the resume

Difference Between a Course, Class, and a Certification

The classes you attend and the online courses you complete shouldn’t go under the certifications section of your resume. A proper certification should be issued by an authorized professional body or an organization – it could be private or public.

Here’re some examples of English language courses, classes, and certifications:

Classes:

LSI English language class

English for advanced users - British Council


Courses:

English language for beginners - Udemy

English for career development - Coursera


Certificates:

TOEFL

IELTS


How to List Certifications on Your Resume Masterfully

If you possess multiple certifications, use a consistent format to list them in your resume. It is advisable to list them under a separate section – these sections are called additional sections on a resume which come after the main headings.

If the job you apply for requires you to have licenses, you may list them in the same section – in which case, name the section as Licenses & Certifications.

You could write this section in reverse chronological order in which the certifications would be listed starting with the most recent ones.

However, we suggest you list them based on their perceived value for the position you apply for – your job critical certifications and most relevant licenses should come first.

Here’s the format we suggest to write certifications:

Pro Tip:

Use acronyms for certificates whenever applicable. Most recruiters use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to shortlist resumes – ATS frequently uses acronyms. In fact, most certifications are generally named by the acronym.

If you’re looking for a modern resume template to add certifications and upgrade your resume to enter the increasingly challenging job market, check out our ready-to-fill resume templates.

Where to List Certifications on a Resume?

Some certifications could make you a high potential candidate for certain jobs – some jobs have mandatory license requirements – in both cases, it’s advisable to write your certifications in multiple sections for more visibility.

Here’re the sections in which you should include your certifications and licenses:

  • Header
  • Professional summary
  • Education
  • Additional sections
  • Cover letter

Where you write the certifications on your resume will depend upon your candidate profile, the type of certifications & licenses you possess, and the job you are applying for.

1. Header

The header generally includes the candidate name and contact information. If you hold a license or a certificate that you can use after your name – and that adds value to your profile, you should state it.

Here’re some examples:

CORRECT

Charles Livio, CPA

James Kennedy, DVM


Having a highly employable certification just after your name would make your resume stand out – the hiring manager doesn’t have to crawl through the whole resume to know that you’ve got the most important qualification to do the job.

2. Professional Summary

In your professional summary or resume summary, you may state the most relevant certification or the license for the job you’re applying for. Your resume would become keyword-heavy by including this naturally.

The professional summary is about introducing the candidate and their key achievements to the hiring managers – show them that you’re a perfect fit for the job by including a couple of most relevant certifications.

Eg:

INCORRECT

INCORRECT

A passionate truck driver with over 7 years of experience seeks to join DTX Logistics


CORRECT

CORRECT

Class B, CDL truck driver with over 7 years of experience in inter-provincial truck driving seeks to join DTX Logistics to serve with my expertise. Having an accident free driving record for my entire license time.


3. Education

If you possess an education certificate that is very much related to the job, you may include it under the education section.


certifications on the resume

Do not hesitate to list your certifications ahead of your Master's degree if it is more valuable for the job. However, we suggest you include a separate section to list the certifications and licenses.

4. Additional Sections

Additional sections are a great way to showcase your licenses and certifications in a way that gets more attention from the hiring manager.

You may name this section “Licenses & Certifications”. This pretty much depends on the number of licenses and certifications you own.

Eg:
Licenses & Certifications

Amazon AWS certified big data analyst (2021)


A resume is not the place for you to dump everything about your life – it's not your biography. Therefore, make sure you do not include irrelevant certificates in this section.

Pro Tip: If you own a certification that is irrelevant to your job, but you still think that would add some value to your profile or represent your personality, you could add it under the “Interests” section.


Eg:


Interests

Volunteer for Red Cross - CPR Certification (2019)


5. Cover Letter

Though the cover letter is a separate document from your resume, it’s important to provide some space for your certifications on your cover letter.

The cover letter is considered the sales pitch to the recruiter or the employer. There you specifically mention your skills and expertise to carry out the particular job, your passion to apply for the company, and how you would solve their most troubling problems.

Therefore, your most relevant certificates should be included in your cover letter. Mention certifications at the beginning of the letter to draw attention of the reader.

Check out our resume builder for perfect cover letter templates.

How to Find Relevant Resume Certifications for Your Candidacy

This absolute guide would be a bookmark-worth article as this contains relevant certifications for many professions.

Before starting working on any certification course, create a list of at least 5 prestigious certifications and professional licenses that would amaze the hiring managers – it would depend on your career objectives and the jobs you’re planning to apply for.

In addition, you can check with your local professional bodies for relevant certifications and licenses for your profession along with the procedure to acquire them. They would provide you with information about the online certification programs, new certification courses, and Continuing Professional Development Certifications (CPD) for the earlier acquired certifications.

Another great source would be job advertisements – what the recruiter is looking for – they would mention the mandatory licenses and certifications required for you to perform the job and the certifications that would put you at an advantage. The same information would be available in the relevant job description.

Make a list of them and try to acquire a couple of important certifications before applying for jobs. You can put it in your resume as soon as you do the official registration. If the certification program is not completed, mention it as “In progress”.

Most industry-leading organizations provide certification programs for their areas of specialization: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and most tech companies have online certifications, especially for IT-related subjects.

Examples of Licenses and Certifications on the Resume for Different Professions

This list of certifications and licenses was carefully picked for different industries and professionals to build up strong portfolios for the highest-paid jobs in the market.

Administrative jobs including secretary, assistant, Human Resource Management

  • Administrative Assistant Certificate by The National Career Certification Board (NCCB)
  • Microsoft Office Specialist Certification (MOS)
  • Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) by The American Society of Administrative Professionals
  • Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) by The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IIAP)
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) by the Project Management Institute
  • HR Certified Professional by The International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR)
  • SHRM-CP (Certified Professional) by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
  • Strategic HR Leadership (SHRL) by the Human Capital Institute
  • Talent Management Practitioner Certificate by the Talent Management Institute

Complete resume examples:

Sample Administrative Assistant Skills Resume
Sample Resume for Secretary
How to Write a Captivating Receptionist Resume

Sales and customer support

  • Certified Professional Sales Person by The National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
  • Certified Professional Sales Leader by NASP
  • Certified Master Sales Professional
  • Certified Sales Executive (CSE) by The Sales and Marketing Executives International
  • Certified Sales Development Representative by The American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP)
  • Customer Service and Sales Certified Specialist by the National Retail Federation

Complete resume examples:


certifications on the resume

Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing, and Digital Advertising

  • Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification
  • CIM by Chartered Institute of Marketing
  • Google Digital Garage: Fundamental of Digital Marketing
  • Google Analytics IQ Certification
  • Google Ads Certification
  • Hubspot Content Marketing Certification
  • Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification
  • Meta Blueprint Certification
  • YouTube Certification
  • American Marketing Association (AMA) Digital Marketing Certification
  • SEMrush SEO Toolkit Course

Complete resume examples:

Financial services, Accounting, and Management

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
  • Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)
  • Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
  • Project Management Professional Certification (PMP)
  • AIPMM Certified Brand Manager
  • Six Sigma Certification by the American Society for Quality (ASQ)

Complete resume examples:

Business Analyst, Data Analyst

  • Entry Certificate in Business Analytics (ECBA)
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
  • Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) by Project Management Institute (PMI)
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
  • Data Science Professional Certificate by IBM
  • AWS Certified Big Data by Amazon
  • Data Analyst Associate Certification by Microsoft
  • Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE)
  • Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification

Complete resume examples:

Healthcare

Certifications For healthcare professionals vary based on the region. Check what’s recognized in your place of work.

  • Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT)
  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
  • Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
  • Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Complete resume examples:

Engineering

  • Engineer in Training Certificate (EIT) by NCEES
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI
  • Petroleum Engineering Certification (PEC) by SPE
  • Certified Chemical Engineer (CCE)
  • Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
  • Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)
  • Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
  • EPA Operators Safety Certification

Complete resume examples:

IT

  • Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
  • Project Management Professional – PMP Certification
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solution Architect
  • AWS Certified Developer
  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
  • Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect
  • Microsoft Certified Solution Expert
  • Oracle Database and MySQL Administration Certification
  • Certified ScrumMaster
  • Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional (CSNP)

Complete resume examples:

Hospitality

  • Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA)
  • Designation Management Certified Professional (DMCP)
  • Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP)
  • Certified Hospitality Revenue Management Executive (CRME)
  • Certified Association Executive (CAE)
  • Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA)
  • Certified Hotel Asset Manager (CHAM)
  • Certificate in Food Service Management
  • Certificate in Media Marketing

Complete resume examples:

Top 10 Free Online Certifications to Enhance Your Resume


certifications on the resume

Free online certifications are a great way to boost your resume for higher-paying jobs. In fact, these free certifications are a good starting point to acquiring more recognized and costly certifications.

  1. Google Digital Garage Certification
  2. Google Ads Search Certification
  3. Advance Google Analytics Certificate
  4. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Certification
  5. Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification
  6. Google IT Automation with Python Certification
  7. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
  8. Google IT Support Professional Certificate
  9. Alison’s Certificate in Supervision Skills
  10. edX Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies Program

certifications on the resume

FAQs

Should I write a separate section for certifications on my resume?

If you possess one or more licenses or certifications that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, you should have a separate section for certifications instead of hiding that information in your education section.

A separate section grabs the eyeballs of the hiring manager. You may name this section as any of the following based on the type of certifications you have:

  • Certifications
  • Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Certifications
  • Skill Certifications

How to write certifications in progress on the resume?

If you’re still reading for certification, you could add it to your resume. Put “(in progress)” in parentheses at the end of the certification name. Include the anticipated finishing date if relevant.

Also, If you have completed part of the certification, you could mention it.

Can I include old or expired certifications on my resume?

Do not include the expired or too old certifications on your resume. Check with the relevant professional bodies as to how you could renew them – most professional certificate programs have Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs to renew the certifications.

However, if you are on a tight schedule and the expired certification is related to specific expertise to apply for the job, you can still include it on your resume provided that you should state the current status of the certificate. Most recruiters would give you a chance on the condition that you renew it in the future.

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