How to list certifications on a resume: where they go and the exact format.
A certification can be a hard requirement or a tiebreaker. Either way the reader needs to find it fast and see that it is current, with the issuing body named exactly.
List certifications in a 'Certifications' section (or 'Licenses and certifications') with the full name, the issuing organization and the date earned or the expiry date. If a posting requires a certification you hold, also mention it in your summary. Mark certifications you are still working on as 'in progress' with an expected date, and never list one you don't hold.
Illustrative examples to adapt
Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.
Certifications section
When to use: Any resume with credentials.
CERTIFICATIONS [Full certification name], [Issuing organization] | [Month Year] (expires [Month Year]) [Full certification name], [Issuing organization] | In progress, expected [Month Year] LICENSES [License type], [State or licensing board], License no. [number if the posting asks for it] | Valid through [Month Year]
Summary mention
When to use: When the posting requires the credential.
[Job title] holding [required certification or license] with [number] years of [type of work].
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Where to put it
| Situation | Placement |
|---|---|
| Certification required by the posting | Summary and Certifications section |
| Several certifications | Dedicated section after Experience or Education |
| One certification, nice to have | Under Education or Skills |
| Certification in progress | Certifications section, marked 'in progress' |
| Expired certification | Leave it off unless the posting asks about it |
The same line, rewritten
Illustrative example with placeholders.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Certified in project management. |
| Strong | [Full certification name], [Issuing organization] | [Month Year] |
Why it matters: The reader needs the exact credential and issuer to check whether it meets the requirement. Vague wording can look like an overstatement.
Mistakes to avoid
- Listing a course completion as a certification.
- Leaving out the issuing organization.
- Listing a license or certification you don't currently hold.
- Using abbreviations without the full name at least once.
- Forgetting expiry dates for credentials that must be renewed.
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Questions people ask
Where do certifications go on a resume?
Can I list a certification I'm still working on?
Is a license the same as a certification?
Should I list online course certificates?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample uses a fictional person marked '(illustrative)' or a 'Your name' placeholder, and every employer, school, date and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details.
- What a specific employer screens for: always read the posting.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never copy a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no resume, letter or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.