Licenses & Certifications on a Resume (Sample & Easy Tips)

Certifications on a resume. Do you really need them? The short answer is yes: listing certifications on a resume is the number one way to attract hiring managers. Certifications prove you’re a valuable hire. 

But what if you don’t have certifications? What if your resume certification section is overflowing? How do you even put certifications on a resume? 

Well, this article will tell you:

• How to find online certifications that look good on a resume. 
• How to add certifications on a resume with examples.
• Little-known tips on where to put licenses and certifications on a resume.

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• How to List Education on Resume
• What are Good Skills to Put on Resume
• How to Put Unfinished Education on Resume

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What is a professional certification?

A professional certification is proof that you have the knowledge and skills to do something. To get that proof, a person often has to pass a test or course. 

The authority to grant certifications belongs to third-parties. These include organizations like universities or industry societies.

Don't confuse professional certifications with honors and awards. 

Also, don't confuse training and certification. Sometimes training results in certification, but not always.

And the hardest one:

Don't confuse certification and an online course.

What is the difference between an online course and an online certification course?

Online courses are like university classes. You can learn everything from psychology to physics. And finishing classes can get you credit the same as at a university.

Adding to your education is great. The catch? 

Online classes don’t always translate to skills and certifications.

All you have to do is make sure the certification program is not only a class and that it’s coming from the proper authority.

Let's say you need easy resume certifications - not more college credit. 

In that case, taking an online course titled “Postmodernist Literature” is not going to cut it. Even if you get a certificate when you’re done.

That's why you have to be careful what kind of courses you take online.

When can you put free online certifications on a resume?

You can put free online certifications on a resume when they are relevant to the job for which you’re applying. Don’t see them listed in the job ad? That’s okay. Add them anyway.

Here’s a list of useful certifications for a resume that can boost your career:

• A+ Certification (IT Certification)
• ServSafe (Gastronomy)
• OSHA Certification (Multi-industry / Health & Safety)
• FEMA Certification (Multi-industry / Emergency Management)
• Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification Course (Marketing)
• Language or ESL Certifications (General or Education)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) (Project Management)
• Public Notary (General)
• Six Sigma Belts (Business)
• ISSA Personal Trainer Certification (Personal Trainer)
• Safety and Chemical Engineering Education (SAChE) Certification (Chemical Engineer) 

Almost every profession has certifications you can get. Whether you work for McDonald’s or Google, resume certifications go a long way to prove you’ve got skills and knowledge. 

And don’t forget the many resume certifications that you can get offline. Good examples are CPR certification or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification.

For a list of some more job-specific certifications on a resume, go here.

Pro Tip: Is MOS certification worth it? What about Lynda or Udemy certificates? How do you know which certifications to add to a resume? Relevant certifications are always worth it. Read your job ad. Which skills and certifications are listed? See a skill a quick Lynda certificate could boost? Worth it. 

Did you know that adding hobbies and interests to your resume can help you land the job? Find out how. Read our guide: +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume (5 Tips)

Let’s say you have a lot of licenses and certifications. 

That’s when you need to dedicate a section for relevant certifications on a resume.

Title the section, “Certifications.” If you have licenses as well, you can title the section, “Licenses and Certifications.” It's more than okay to add both to one section.

Under your subheading, list each certification in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent.

Let’s say that your most recent certification is not impressive. You got your impressive certifications early on in your career. In that case, leave the lesser certifications for other extra resume sections. Put your prestigious certifications front and center.

Lesser certifications can go in your education section. You can also create an extra section titled “Training” or "Accomplishments." 

How to List Certifications on a Resume

You’ll want to add:

• Name of Certification
• Name of Certifying Agency or Body 
• Dates of Obtainment 
• Location (If Applicable) 

The location is only important if the certification is state specific. Good examples are teaching and nursing licenses and certifications.

If your certification has an expiration date, you’ll need to add that as well. Don’t list certifications on a resume that have expired.

How to List Certifications in Progress on a Resume

List certifications in progress on your resume by adding "in progress" to the description and the anticipated finishing date.

Should you put every cool certification on a resume if you have it?

Let’s say you’re a certified lifeguard. Cool. 

You’re also CPR certified, and ServSafe certified from that time you worked at McDonald’s in high school. These are not the easiest certifications to get. Congratulations.

But now you’re writing an Administrative Assistant, Accountant, or Ballerina resume. Should you put all your other certifications on the resume? No.

ServSafe isn’t going to boost your ballerina resume.

Only include certifications that are relevant to the job for which you're applying. Always add licenses and certifications that you find listed in the job ad. 

Where do certifications go on a resume?

Well, that depends on how important the certification is for your job. 

Let's say you can’t do the job without the certification. In that case, certifications can go before your education and after your experience. 

The thing not to do is to add your certifications as an afterthought to the end of your resume. Put prestigious, relevant certifications on a resume front and center.

Pro Tip: Be sure to write out acronyms at least once. Don’t only write “PMP Certification.” Check the job ad. See acronyms? Yes? Then you only need to write each acronym out once. The point? It helps Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software read your resume as well as humans.

Want to know more about ATS and how to tailor your resume to land your dream job? Read our guide: “6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Examples)”

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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Have prestigious, professional licenses and certifications? Time to make sure they're the first thing the hiring manager sees. To do that, you’ll need to add your certifications to your resume more than once. 

Let’s say you’re a professional who is unable to do your job without certifications and licenses. Examples are teachers, truck drivers, nurses, and public accountants.

In that case, you’ll want to put your certifications at the top of your resume next to your name.

Where to Place Certifications on a Resume - The Contact Information Section

Let’s say you’re a registered nurse or a public accountant. You must have certificates and licenses. That means it’s best to put these credentials in your contact information section next to your name. 

For example:

Alexandra Rothschild, RN

Gary Nowak, CPA

If you want to get really fancy, you can add them to your email address.

Where to Place Certifications on a Resume -   The Resume Summary or Objective

Let’s say you’re a professional with one important certification. That certification is also listed in the job offer as a necessary qualification for the role. 

In that case, it’s important to draw attention to your certification on your resume right away. You can do that by adding one line in your resume summary or resume objective.

Where to Place Certifications on a Resume -   The Education Section

Let’s say you took your certification courses through your university. 

Or you got certified for your profession after attending high school or college.

You only have the one certificate. In that case, you can add your most recent certification to your education section.

Always list certifications on a resume in reverse-chronological order. Even if you went to an Ivy League school, put your certification first if it was more recent.  

Pro Tip: Is your certification in progress? You’ll need to put the expected date of completion. For example, “Bartending Certification, Anticipated Completion 2018.”

Still not sure about listing certifications on a resume? Want to know what else you can put on your resume? Read our guide: “What to Put on a Resume to Make It Perfect [Tips & Examples]”

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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Key Takeaway

Remember these points:

• When you’re looking for something extra to spice up your resume, licenses and certifications are the thing. The good news is that there are all kinds of things to get certified in. 
• The extra good news is that listing great certifications on a resume isn’t hard. You just have to know which job certification programs are best and how to include certifications on a resume.
• The key is getting your professional certifications front and center. That way, hiring managers know right away that you’re a relevant and valuable hire.

Once they can see that you’ve got all the right qualifications, you’re on track to landing that interview.