You worked hard for them. Where can you put certifications on a resume?

Whether you're crafting a brand-new resume or polishing an older one, it's important to make sure it’s organized, detailed, and up-to-date. Contact information at the top, professional summary, work experience, education — you’ve got that covered. But what about certifications? 

You need to include them, of course, but where? They’re not exactly education details or job experience. Finding the right way to list your certifications and the best place to list them on your résumé isn’t complicated; it just requires a little thought.  Obtaining career-related certifications took time and effort — make sure you show them off in the best light!

In this article, we’ll discuss the best way to place certifications on your resume, including

• What are certifications, and why might you need them?

• How and when do you list certifications on a resume?

• Examples of resume certifications

What are certifications?

Certification is different from a college-level degree. It's a standardized professional credential, which means that everyone getting the certification has to meet the same standards and criteria, and they’re issued by companies, accredited professional associations, or boards. You often need to take courses or seminars, pass exams and have particular experience prerequisites. 

For example, to obtain a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, one must have at least one to two years of experience in a human resources position and a Bachelor's degree or higher and take a two-hour, 115-question exam. To remain certified, one would need to earn 60 HR professional development credits over the next three years or retake the exam.

Gaining certification is not to be confused with being granted a license, which is generally issued by a state government or regulatory organization and is required by law before you can perform a job. For example, to be a public school teacher in Illinois, you need an Illinois state teaching license, which includes obtaining an education degree or state-approved certification program, getting background checks, and passing both content-area and general skills exams. Plus, a certain number of ongoing professional development credits are required to keep a license current, as it expires every four years. Other professions that require licenses are nurses, lawyers, medical professionals, and accountants.

And remember, online courses and online certificates are not the same as a certification. Those are not standardized or issued by a professional association, and are generally education-oriented. Certificates are used to demonstrate that you completed a series of courses, or that you completed specific online courses for educational purposes. They're still valuable, however, and can be placed under the "Education" section of your resume.

Why you should include your certifications on your resume (and when you should leave them off)

Some positions require certification of all candidates (such as medical professionals or CPAs), but even when it’s not required, there are several important reasons to include your certifications on your resume, including

• To demonstrate your experience

• To show your skills over and above the basic job requirements

• To make up for having less practical experience

• To pass the ATS (Automated Tracking System) scan

• To establish credibility

However, you should leave certifications off your resume if:

• They’re not relevant to the job you’re pursuing

• It’s a short, online course

• Your certification is expired and you have no plans to renew

Tips for listing certifications on your resume

Obviously, if you have a certification that is relevant to the position you’re applying for, it should be featured on your resume. For example, if you’re applying for an HR position, you would feature your SHRM-CP certification, but it wouldn’t be relevant if you were changing careers and getting started as a social worker.

Align your resume to the job you’re seeking, and keep in mind how it would look to a prospective employer and what skills it implies. For example, a Scrum master certification shows the hiring manager that you have solid coaching, teaching, and organizational skills, and can facilitate streamlined work processes, which might make you stand out from the pool of candidates.

Remember, certifications should only be included on your resume if they increase your value as a candidate. Certifications that don’t apply to the job you want might cause hiring managers to think you’re not serious about the job or that you applied by mistake. So unless you’re applying for a healthcare job, for example, you can leave off your First Aid certification if you’re looking for a job as an accountant.

Where to list your certifications

Fortunately, you have some flexibility as to how you list your certifications on your resume. You can mention them in your professional summary, create a separate "Professional Certifications" section on your resume, or place them in your "Education" section (although you might want to rename it "Education and Certifications" so that it doesn't get overlooked). Depending on the template you’re using, certifications (and licenses) should go at the bottom of your resume, above your education but after your job history. However, if you’re new to the workforce or a fresh grad, you might want to place your education/certifications at the top.

How to format your certifications on your resume

You have a few options on where to place your certifications on your resume, from “Education and Certifications,” to a separate “Certification” portion, or even placing them under an “Other” heading. However, as to what information you should include when listing your certification, it is pretty straightforward, and should include the following:

• Full title of the certification (if there’s a common abbreviation, include it in parentheses)

• The Issuing association or organization

• Date of certification

• Certification expiration date

• Location, if applicable

• Any additional details about the certification, if space allows.

To avoid any confusion, if you haven't completed all the requirements for certification yet, put the words "in progress" next to the certification name, as well as your expected completion date.

You can also highlight your main certification/license by placing it in your professional summary, or after your name in the contact section, such as “Maria Lopez, CPA” or “Robert Kai, LSW.” You’ll still need to list the details in the certification section, though.

Examples of a certification listing

Certifications can indicate your skill level, emphasize your qualifications, and help your resume stand out. Listing them in the proper place will make sure they get noticed, increase your chances of getting an interview, and demonstrate the value you bring to a potential employer.

Key takeaways

1. A certification is a standardized professional credential, which means that everyone getting the certification has to meet the same standards and criteria, issued by companies, accredited professional associations, or boards.

2. Align your resume to the job you’re seeking, and keep in mind how your certification would look to a prospective employer and what skills it implies.

3. Unsure where to place certifications on your resume? Depending on the format, you can mention them in your professional summary, create a separate "Professional Certification" section on your resume, or place them in your "Education" section.

4. When listing your certification, be sure to include the full title of the certification, the Issuing association or organization, the date of certification, the certification expiration date, the location, if applicable, and any additional details about the certification.