Not all certifications are created equal. An active CPA license is a legal requirement for certain accounting roles. A "HubSpot Content Marketing Certificate" that took two hours to complete is nice, but it won't be the reason you get hired.

How and where you list your certifications depends entirely on how important they are to the specific job you are applying for.

In this guide
  1. Where to put certifications
  2. How to format a certification
  3. Which certifications to include (and exclude)
  4. How to list in-progress certifications

Where to put certifications on a resume

You have three options for where to place certifications, depending on their weight:

1. Next to your name (for required licenses)

If the certification is a strict requirement for the job (like CPA, RN, PMP, or MD), put the acronym directly after your name at the very top of your resume.

Jane Doe, CPA
jane.doe@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | New York, NY

2. In a dedicated "Certifications" section

If you have multiple highly relevant, rigorous certifications (common in IT, cybersecurity, and project management), create a dedicated section. Place this section either right above or right below your Education section.

3. Inside your "Education" or "Skills" section

If you only have one or two minor certifications (like a Google Analytics cert or a Coursera bootcamp), don't waste space creating a whole new section. Just add a bullet point under your Education or at the bottom of your Skills list.

How to format a certification

When listing a certification, you need to provide enough detail so the recruiter can verify it if necessary. Include these four elements:

  1. Name of the certification
  2. Issuing organization
  3. Date earned (and expiration date, if applicable)
  4. Credential ID (optional, but good for highly technical certs)

Example formatting:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Issued: Aug 2024 | Expires: Aug 2027

Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute | May 2023

Which certifications to include (and exclude)

A common mistake is treating the certifications section like a trophy case for every online course you've ever clicked through. More is not better. Relevance is better.

Include these:

  • Industry-standard technical certs: AWS, Cisco, CompTIA, Salesforce, Salesforce Trailhead.
  • Professional licenses: CPA, CFA, PE, RN, Bar admission.
  • Methodology certs: PMP, Scrum Master, Six Sigma, ITIL.
  • Safety/Compliance (if relevant to the job): OSHA, CPR, First Aid.

Exclude these:

  • Expired certifications: Unless you explicitly note that it is expired, but generally, leave them off.
  • Basic software courses: A "Microsoft Word Mastery" certificate from 2018 is assumed knowledge for corporate roles.
  • Irrelevant certs: If you are applying to be a Financial Analyst, your 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate is a fun fact for an interview, not a resume bullet.

How to list in-progress certifications

If you are actively studying for a major certification and are scheduled to take the exam soon, you can list it to show initiative and keyword-match for ATS. Just be completely transparent that it is in progress.

CFA Level I Candidate
CFA Institute | Exam scheduled: November 2026

CompTIA Security+ (In Progress)
Expected completion: August 2026

Never list a certification as complete if you haven't passed the exam. Background checks will catch it, and you will lose the offer.