by In today's competitive job market, a well-crafted application is essential for standing out to potential employers. One key component that can significantly enhance your document is the inclusion of relevant certifications on your resume.
A resume with certifications not only demonstrates your commitment to professional development but also showcases specialized skills and knowledge that set you apart from other candidates.
In this article, we’ll explore how to list certifications on the resume, including practical examples and valuable tips to help you present your qualifications effectively.
What are certifications on a resume?
Resume certifications are qualifications or credentials awarded by professional organizations that validate specific skills, knowledge, or expertise in a particular field.
Adding certifications to your resume can enhance your qualifications and potentially make you a more attractive candidate to employers.
Types of certification on resumes
| Type | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Professional | Validate expertise in a specific profession and often require passing an exam and meeting certain experience or education requirements. |
| Technical | Focus on technical skills or knowledge related to particular tools or technologies. |
| Industry-Specific | Tailored to concrete industries and demonstrate expertise or adherence to industry standards. |
| Management | Focus on management practices, leadership skills, and organizational behavior. |
| Educational | Related to academic qualifications and may involve specific teaching methods or educational practices. |
| Skill-Based | Validate skills or competencies that are not necessarily tied to a particular job or profession. |
| Regulatory | Demonstrate compliance with specific regulations or standards. |
| Accreditation | Awarded by professional bodies and often include a rigorous process of evaluation. |
How to list certifications on a resume?
Review the job description to identify any keywords, specific qualifications mentioned or implied. Prioritize these certifications in your list.
For example, if the job emphasizes cloud technologies, highlight any related certifications like AWS or Microsoft Azure.
If you have multiple resume certifications, focus on those most important to the position. If you're applying for a cybersecurity role, emphasize certifications like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) over less relevant ones.
- Where to put certifications on my resume?
Dedicated section
If you have multiple credentials, create a separate resume certifications section titled "Certifications" or "Professional Certifications". Place this information in a prominent spot near the top of your resume.
Certifications on resume examples:
Education section
If the certifications are part of your educational background or are academic in nature, you might include them in this part of your resume, especially if they're closely tied to your degree or coursework.
Certification on resume education example:
- How to put certifications on a resume?
When listing certifications on your resume, include the following details:
- Certification name. Use the official name of the certification.
- Issuing organization. The name of the organization that issued the credential.
- Date obtained. Add the month and year you received it.
- Expiration date (if applicable). Mention if there is an expiration date or renewal requirement.
- Certification number (if relevant). Some certifications also have a number.
Use bullet points for clarity and easy readability. Maintain a consistent format for each entry.
Keeping certifications current
Maintaining up-to-date certifications on your resume is essential to demonstrate your commitment to professional development and ensure your skills are relevant.
Keep a list of all your resume certifications along with their expiry dates. Use a spreadsheet or a digital calendar to set reminders for renewal dates well in advance.
Certifying bodies often update their requirements or course content. Subscribe to their newsletters or follow them on social media to stay informed about changes that may affect your certifications.
Many certifications demand continuing education units (CEUs) or professional development units (PDUs) to stay valid. Plan to complete these criteria regularly.
Example:
To maintain your PMP certification, you need to earn 60 PDUs every three years. Schedule courses, webinars, or workshops to meet these requirements on time.
Each time you renew or earn a new certification, update your resume. Highlight the most relevant and recent certifications closer to the top of the page.
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Certifications to put on your resume
Below you'll find resume examples with certifications for different spheres.
Information technology (IT)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Focus: Information security
- Issued by: (ISC)²
- Requirements: 5 years of cumulative, paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the CISSP CBK (Common Body of Knowledge).
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
- Focus: Basic understanding of Microsoft Azure services
- Issued by: Microsoft
- Requirements: Foundational knowledge of cloud services and how they are provided with Microsoft Azure.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Focus: Networking fundamentals
- Issued by: Cisco
- Requirements: Passing the CCNA exam (200-301).
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Focus: Designing distributed systems on AWS
- Issued by: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Requirements: Experience in AWS technology, hands-on experience with AWS deployment and management services.
CompTIA A+
- Focus: Entry-level IT skills
- Issued by: CompTIA
- Requirements: Passing two exams (Core 1 and 2).
How to add certifications to a resume for an IT job:
Project management
Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Focus: Project management principles
- Issued by: Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Requirements: 4,500 hours of project management experience and 35 hours of education.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Focus: Scrum framework
- Issued by: Scrum Alliance
- Requirements: Two-day CSM course and passing the CSM exam.
PRINCE2 Foundation/Practitioner
- Focus: PRojects IN Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) -Issued by: AXELOS
- Requirements: Foundation exam for basic understanding. Practitioner exam for applied knowledge.
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
- Focus: Agile practices -Issued by: PMI
- Requirements: 2,000 hours of general project experience, 1,500 hours working on agile project teams, 21 contact hours of training in agile practices.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- Focus: Project management fundamentals
- Issued by: PMI
- Requirements: 23 hours of project management education.
Healthcare
Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Focus: CPR and basic emergency procedures
- Issued by: American Heart Association or Red Cross
- Requirements: Completing a BLS course and passing a skills test.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Focus: Basic patient care
- Issued by: State-specific boards
- Requirements: Completing a state-approved education program and passing a competency exam.
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
- Focus: Managing patient health information
- Issued by: American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
- Requirements: Completing an accredited HIM program and passing the RHIT exam.
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Focus: Clinical and administrative tasks
- Issued by: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Requirements: Graduation from an accredited medical assisting program and passing the CMA exam.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Focus: Clinical procedures and patient interaction
- Issued by: National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Requirements: Completing a medical assistant training program or having relevant work experience and passing the CCMA exam.
How to list certifications on healthcare resumes:
Finance and accounting
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Focus: Accounting and auditing
- Issued by: State boards of accountancy
- Requirements: Meeting education and experience requirements and passing the CPA exam.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Focus: Investment management
- Issued by: CFA Institute
- Requirements: Passing three levels of exams, having relevant work experience.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Focus: Accounting and financial management
- Issued by: Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
- Requirements: Bachelor's degree, two years of relevant experience, and passing the CMA exam.
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Focus: Internal auditing
- Issued by: Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
- Requirements: Bachelor's degree, two years of internal auditing experience, and passing the CIA exam.
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
- Focus: Financial planning
- Issued by: CFP Board
- Requirements: Bachelor's degree, completion of a CFP Board-registered education program, relevant work experience, and passing the CFP exam.
How to show certifications on a resume for the financial sphere:
Human resources
Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
- Focus: Operational HR management
- Issued by: HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Requirements: Relevant work experience and passing the PHR exam.
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
- Focus: Strategic HR management
- Issued by: HRCI
- Requirements: More extensive experience compared to PHR and passing the SPHR exam.
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
- Focus: HR competency and knowledge
- Issued by: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Requirements: Relevant HR experience and passing the SHRM-CP exam.
SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Focus: Advanced HR strategies
- Issued by: SHRM
- Requirements: Senior-level HR experience and passing the SHRM-SCP exam.
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
- Focus: Compensation design and administration
- Issued by: WorldatWork
- Requirements: Passing nine exams covering various aspects of compensation.
Marketing
Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ)
- Focus: Google Analytics skills
- Issued by: Google
- Requirements: Passing the GAIQ exam.
HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
- Focus: Content marketing strategies
- Issued by: HubSpot Academy
- Requirements: Completing the course and passing the exam.
Facebook Blueprint Certification
- Focus: Facebook advertising and marketing
- Issued by: Facebook
- Requirements: Completing relevant courses and passing the exams.
Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification
- Focus: Social media marketing
- Issued by: Hootsuite
- Requirements: Completing the course and passing the exam.
Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP)
- Focus: Comprehensive digital marketing skills
- Issued by: Digital Marketing Institute (DMI)
- Requirements: Completing the course and passing the exam.
How to list certifications on marketing resume sample:
Education
Certified Teacher (State-specific)
- Focus: Teaching certification for specific states
- Issued by: State education boards
- Requirements: Completing an accredited education program, student teaching, and passing state exams.
- Focus: Teaching English to speakers of other languages
- Issued by: Various organizations
- Requirements: Completing a TESOL/TEFL course.
National Board Certification (NBC)
- Focus: Advanced teaching standards
- Issued by: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
- Requirements: Completing a portfolio and passing assessment exams.
Reading Specialist Certification
- Focus: Literacy and reading education
- Issued by: State education boards
- Requirements: Advanced coursework in reading education and passing relevant exams.
Special Education Certification
- Focus: Special education teaching
- Issued by: State education boards
- Requirements: Specialized coursework and passing relevant exams.
How to list certifications on resumes for teachers:
Engineering
Professional Engineer (PE)
- Focus: Engineering licensure
- Issued by: State licensing boards
- Requirements: Engineering degree, four years of experience, and passing the PE exam.
Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- Focus: Quality engineering principles
- Issued by: American Society for Quality (ASQ)
- Requirements: Work experience and passing the CQE exam.
Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Focus: Project management principles
- Issued by: PMI
- Requirements: Relevant project management experience and passing the PMP exam.
Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Focus: Safety management
- Issued by: Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
- Requirements: Work experience in safety and passing the CSP exam.
LEED Accredited Professional
- Focus: Green building practices
- Issued by: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Requirements: Knowledge of green building and passing the LEED AP exam.
Examples of certifications on resumes for engineering specialists:
Sales
Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)
- Focus: Sales skills and techniques
- Issued by: National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
- Requirements: Completing the CPSP course and passing the exam.
Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)
- Focus: Inside sales skills -Issued by: American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP)
- Requirements: Completing the CISP training and passing the exam.
HubSpot Sales Certification
- Focus: Inbound sales strategies
- Issued by: HubSpot Academy
- Requirements: Completing the course and passing the exam.
Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP)
- Focus: Sales leadership
- Issued by: Sales Management Association (SMA)
- Requirements: Work experience in sales leadership and passing the exam.
Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant
- Focus: Salesforce Sales Cloud skills
- Issued by: Salesforce
- Requirements: Experience with Salesforce and passing the exam.
Graphic Design
Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
- Focus: Proficiency in Adobe software
- Issued by: Adobe
- Requirements: Passing the ACE exam for specific Adobe applications.
Certified Graphic Designer (CGD)
- Focus: Professional graphic design skills
- Issued by: Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC)
- Requirements: Portfolio review and meeting education/experience criteria.
User Experience (UX) Certification
- Focus: UX design principles
- Issued by: Nielsen Norman Group or other organizations
- Requirements: Completing relevant courses and passing exams.
Certified Web Designer (CWD)
- Focus: Web design skills
- Issued by: Various organizations
- Requirements: Completing a web design course and passing the exam.
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
- Focus: UX design fundamentals
- Issued by: Google
- Requirements: Completing the course series and passing assessments.
How to list certifications on a resume for designers:
Writing and editing
Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC)
- Focus: Technical writing and communication
- Issued by: Society for Technical Communication (STC)
- Requirements: Passing the CPTC exam.
Editor in the Life Sciences (ELS)
- Focus: Editing biomedical and life sciences materials
- Issued by: Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS)
- Requirements: Passing the ELS exam.
Certified Copy Editor (CCE)
- Focus: Copy editing skills
- Issued by: Various organizations
- Requirements: Completing relevant courses and passing exams.
American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Certificate
- Focus: Medical writing
- Issued by: AMWA
- Requirements: Completing AMWA education modules.
Professional Writer Certification (PWC)
- Focus: Professional writing skills
- Issued by: Various organizations
- Requirements: Portfolio review and meeting education/experience criteria.
Real estate
Licensed Real Estate Agent/Broker (State-specific)
- Focus: Real estate sales
- Issued by: State real estate commissions
- Requirements: Completing pre-licensing education and passing the state exam.
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
- Focus: Residential real estate expertise
- Issued by: Residential Real Estate Council
- Requirements: Significant sales experience and completing CRS courses.
Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR)
- Focus: Representing home buyers
- Issued by: Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council (REBAC)
- Requirements: Completing the ABR course and submitting proof of transactions.
Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
- Focus: Commercial real estate investment
- Issued by: CCIM Institute
- Requirements: Completing CCIM courses and passing exams.
Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
- Focus: Real estate services for seniors
- Issued by: National Association of Realtors (NAR)
- Requirements: Completing the SRES course.
How to mention certification in a resume sample:
Conclusion
Listing certifications on your resume can significantly bolster your job application, demonstrating your expertise and commitment to your field.
By following the guidelines and examples of certifications on various resumes provided, you can ensure that your qualifications are presented in a way that highlights their value and relevance.
A well-organized certification section on resume can set you apart from other candidates and open doors to new career opportunities.
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