How do you put certifications on a resume?
Put certifications in their own section, titled Certifications or Licenses and Certifications. Give each credential one line with the same details in the same order.
Use this format:
Certification Name (Acronym), Issuing Organization, Month Year Earned
Here is what each part does:
| Element | Include it? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Full name of the credential | Always | Project Management Professional |
| Acronym | When one is common | (PMP) |
| Issuing organization | Always | Project Management Institute |
| Date earned | Recommended | Jun 2024 |
| Expiration date | If it expires | Expires Jun 2027 |
| State | For licenses | Ohio |
| License or credential number | Rarely | Only if the posting asks for it |
Spell out the full name at least once. A recruiter may search for “Project Management Professional” while a hiring system looks for “PMP,” and the full line covers both.
Include expiration dates for credentials that expire, especially in healthcare, IT and safety roles. CompTIA A+, for example, is good for three years from the date you pass and can be renewed through CompTIA’s continuing education program, according to CompTIA.
What is the difference between a license, a certification and a certificate?
These words get mixed up, but they mean different things on a resume.
| Type | What it is | Who issues it | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | Legal permission to work in a regulated job | A state or government agency | Registered nurse license, CPA license, commercial driver’s license, cosmetology license |
| Certification | Proof you passed an exam that tests professional knowledge | An industry or professional body | PMP, CompTIA Security+, SHRM-CP |
| Certificate | Proof you completed a course or training program | A school, company or training provider | Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, a college certificate program |
Some credentials do not fit the label people give them. OSHA says its 10-hour and 30-hour Outreach cards are not considered a certification or license, according to the OSHA Outreach Training Program FAQ. On a resume, write “OSHA 30-Hour Construction Outreach Training” instead of “OSHA certified.”
Licenses and certifications section examples
Every person and credential date below is fictional. The credential names and issuing organizations are real.
Example 1: IT support specialist
Certifications
CompTIA Security+, CompTIA, Feb 2026
CompTIA A+, CompTIA, May 2025
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Amazon Web Services, Nov 2025
Example 2: Registered nurse
Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse (RN), Ohio Board of Nursing, active
Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider, American Heart Association, expires Mar 2027
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider, American Heart Association, expires Mar 2027
For a full nursing layout, see the registered nurse resume example.
Example 3: HVAC technician and driver
Licenses and Certifications
EPA Section 608 Universal Technician Certification
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Class A, Texas
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach Training, completed Aug 2025
The EPA notes that it does not administer Section 608 tests or issue the cards itself. Approved certifying organizations do, according to the EPA. The EPA groups the credential into Type I, Type II, Type III and Universal, so name the type you hold.
Example 4: Combined education and certifications for an entry-level applicant
Education and Certifications
Associate of Applied Science, Business Administration, Columbus State Community College, 2025
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps), Microsoft, 2025
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, Google, 2026
When you only have one or two credentials, combining them with education saves space.
How do you list a certification in progress?
List a certification in progress only if you are actively working toward it, such as enrolled in the course or scheduled for the exam. Make it clear you have not earned it yet.
Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, exam scheduled Mar 2027
CompTIA Security+, CompTIA, in progress, expected Jan 2027
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), state training program completed, exam expected Dec 2026
Do not list a credential you plan to start “someday.” If a hiring manager asks, you should be able to name your course, your progress and your test date.
Where should certifications go on a resume?
The right place depends on whether the credential is required for the job.
| Industry | Where to put certifications | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | After your name and in a section near the top | Licenses are required to practice, so reviewers check them first |
| Skilled trades and transportation | Near the top, below your summary | A CDL, EPA 608 or trade license often decides who gets a call |
| IT and cybersecurity | Near the top or right after your summary | Many postings list specific certifications as requirements |
| Accounting and finance | After your name (CPA) and in a section | The CPA license is a key qualification |
| Project management and HR | After your name (PMP, SHRM-CP) and in a section | Recognized credentials signal experience level |
| Education | Near the top with your teaching license | Licensure is required for most public school roles |
| Office, retail and customer service | Near the bottom, after education | Helpful but rarely required |
If a credential is standard in your field, add it after your name in your header, such as “Maria Santos, BSN, RN.” Our resume header guide shows the format. The esthetician resume example shows how a state license fits into a service role resume.
You can also mention one key certification in your summary and list related tools in your skills section. Just avoid repeating the full list in three places.
Which certifications matter to employers?
The certifications that matter are the ones named in the postings for your target job. Start there, then use this list of widely recognized credentials as a reference.
| Field | Credential | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Project management | Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) | Project Management Institute |
| IT support and security | CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+ | CompTIA |
| Cloud | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | Amazon Web Services |
| Human resources | SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) | Society for Human Resource Management |
| Healthcare | BLS Provider, ACLS Provider | American Heart Association |
| Food service | ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification | National Restaurant Association |
| HVAC | EPA Section 608 Technician Certification | EPA-approved certifying organizations |
| Office | Microsoft Office Specialist | Microsoft |
| Data | Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate |
Licenses work differently because each state sets its own rules. Registered nurses, CPAs, cosmetologists, public school teachers, electricians and commercial truck drivers generally need a license from a state or local agency or board, and the requirements vary by state.
Two free Department of Labor tools help you research credentials for your field:
- Certification Finder on CareerOneStop lets you search certifications by keyword or occupation and flags those that appear often in online job postings.
- License Finder on CareerOneStop shows which occupational licenses a state requires and which agency issues them.
If you are weighing a credential as a way into a better-paying field, our list of high-paying jobs without a degree shows where licenses and certifications often take the place of a four-year degree.
Common mistakes with certifications on a resume
- Using only acronyms. Write the full name once so both people and software recognize it.
- Leaving off the issuing organization. Some credential names are used by more than one body.
- Listing expired credentials as current. Check every date before you apply.
- Calling a training card a certification. Use the exact name of what you earned.
- Listing a credential you have not earned. Employers can verify licenses and many certifications, and a false claim can cost you the job.
- Burying a required license. If the job cannot be done without it, it belongs near the top.
- Padding the section with unrelated courses. A list of short online classes can distract from the credentials that matter. See how the data analyst resume example keeps its credentials short and relevant.