Use Certifications to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Examples of common certifications:

• Certified public accountant (CPA) certification
• Udemy certifications or other online certifications
• CPR certification or First Aid certification
• IT certification
• Marketing certification
• Project management professional (PMP) certification
• Registered nurse certification
• Microsoft Excel certification

How to List Certifications on a Resume

Where you place certifications on your resume depends on what resume format you choose. If you do not have any certifications that are relevant to the job, it is not necessary to include a certifications section. You may choose to include only a skills section. If you do include certifications, you can add them to your skills section or education section. If you have enough of them, you can create a separate section for them. Where this section sits in your resume will depend on your resume format:

• Chronological resume
  Certifications are listed at the bottom of this resume format. This format presents work experience first, in reverse chronological order. Then, skills and certifications are listed further down the page.
• Functional resume
  Certifications may be near at the top of your resume beneath your contact information and the header. A functional resume focuses on skills, certifications, and special training.
• Combination resume
  As skills are usually listed first in this format, certifications may be listed right under your skills.

You may also choose to reference an important certification in your resume summary or resume objective. For example, a resume summary for a group fitness instructor may say:

CPR certified group fitness instructor with 15 years of experience seeking full-time position at XYZ gym. Increased membership sign up rate by 30% at [former job] by introducing new class format.

Formatting

Listing certifications on your resume can be made easy by using a resume template or resume builder. The certification section of your resume should feature:

• The name of the certification or certification course
• The awarding organization
• The date the certification was awarded, or the expected completion date
• If applicable, also include the date of expiration or renewal
• A summary of the skills or techniques the certificate is given for

Example of a certification listing on a resume:

CPR Certification, American Red Cross New York
Issued May 2021, Expires May 2024

• Rescue breathing
• Two person CPR Techniques
• AED and ventilation devices

When using an abbreviation or acronyms, write out the full description if the meaning of the acronym is not common knowledge. For example, PMP certification should be written as “Project Management Professional (PMP) certification”.