ACROBAT | 4-MINUTE READ
How to list certifications on a resume.
Explore how to list certifications to enhance your professional success and overcome obstacles.
https://main--dc--adobecom.hlx.page/dc-shared/fragments/seo-articles/seo-caas-collection
#fff
When it comes to making your resume stand out and be competitive for recruiters, highlighting any certifications you may have is key. Obtaining a certification showcases your dedication and serves as proof of your specialized knowledge and abilities.
Highlighting your certifications on your resume can help distinguish your application, making it more appealing to employers and giving you a competitive edge. If you have acquired one or more certifications, it’s important to understand the best ways and times to incorporate them into your job application.
This article will walk you through the importance and process of listing your certifications so you can show your skills and qualifications on your job applications.
What are certifications on a resume?
Professional certifications are a way to validate your skills and knowledge in a particular area. They can be helpful when you’re looking for a job or trying to move up in your current company. There are many different types of certifications, but some of the most common ones are:
- Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP)
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
Depending on your field, there are many other certifications that could potentially benefit your career. Adding a list of your certifications to your resume can be a great way to validate that you’re qualified for a raise or a prospective new job.
Including certifications on your resume is a powerful way to validate your expertise and stand out in competitive fields. Different industries will have different types of certifications, which translate to different skills. are examples of valuable certifications across several key industries:
1. Healthcare
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Registered Nurse (RN) License
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
2. Information Technology (IT)
• CompTIA Security+
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
3. Education
• TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• National Board Certification
• Google Certified Educator
• Child Development Associate (CDA)
4. Marketing
• Google Analytics IQ Certification
• HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
• Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate
• Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification
When you consider including certifications on a resume, the length of the resume becomes a consideration. Should a resume be one page? This is a question that many candidates ask. While brevity is nice, it's more important to effectively showcase your qualifications and impress potential employers.
How to list certifications on a resume.
Now that you know the importance and unique value of certifications, you can read about the steps and must-knows about listing your certifications on a resume below.
1. List the title of the certification on your resume.
Be sure to spell out what the certification initials stand for. Don’t just put “CPP,” for example — spell out “Certified Protection Professional” as well. Also, list the sponsoring organization for each certification. If you work in the events and meeting industry, for instance, your list might look like this:
- Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP), International Live Events Association (ILEA)
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Events Industry Council
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Scrum Alliance
2. Specify the certifying institution.
It’s always recommended to include the name of the organization or association that awarded your certification. This information will help recruiters and prospective employers when they’re trying to verify and confirm your achievements.
Remember to include the date you renewed your certification if required. Also, don’t forget to check for any spelling errors.
3. Add the date of the certification on your resume.
Include the dates you obtained and renewed your certifications. This can help recruiters and employers learn more about how long it has been since you were certified.
If your certification has an expiration date that hasn’t yet arrived, you should consider including this date as well. Avoid including an expiration date for the certification if this certification has expired.
4. Add the completion date in the resume certification section.
If you’re in the process of completing a certification, you can still list it in your resume, just like you would with an educational degree. Include the date you expect to complete the certification and how far into the process you already are. This can be helpful for recruiters to see how proficient you are with the skills you’re learning.
5. Highlight relevant skills on your resume.
It’s always a good idea to include — as long as you have room for it — the skills and abilities that are tied to the certifications you’ve listed. This is especially important for recruiters who may be unfamiliar with your certifications.
Describing the skills you learned helps them better understand what you know and are proficient with, as well as how you can best fit the role requirements. If you need help writing about your skills succinctly, you can reach out to a peer or use a resume AI tool like AI Assistant to improve this section.
Where to put certifications on a resume.
If your certifications are highly relevant to the job you’re applying for, you might choose to highlight them in your resume summary or headline. This approach is particularly useful if the certification is a key qualification for the role, as it immediately catches the employer’s attention. For example, if you’re applying for a project management position and hold a PMP certification, listing it prominently near the top of your resume can reinforce your qualifications at first glance.
Additionally, if a certification is closely tied to a specific job experience, you can include it in the relevant work experience entry. For example, if you earned a specialized IT certification while working at a previous company, mentioning it within that job description can provide context for how you applied those skills in a professional setting.
Outside of these options, candidates generally list certifications at the bottom of their resumes, right below work experience but above education. Regardless of where you place them, ensure your certifications are up to date and relevant to your target role to maximize their impact.
Why add certifications on a resume.
Adding professional certifications to your resume is a good idea for a few reasons:
- It shows that you are committed to your profession.
- Having relevant certifications can make you more attractive to potential employers if they show you have the skills and knowledge necessary to do a particular job.
- Certifications can help you stand out from the competition and may give you an edge in getting hired.
While certifications offer targeted proof of expertise in specific tools or practices, they differ from other qualifications in scope and depth. Here are some of the most significant differences between certifications and other types of qualifications:
1. Degrees - these typically represent broader academic achievement and foundational knowledge, often required for entry into certain professions.
2. Licenses - these are legally mandated credentials for regulated fields like healthcare, law, or education, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
3. Work experience - showcases practical, hands-on skills developed over time, often valued for its real-world application.
Certifications complement these qualifications by signaling up-to-date knowledge and specialized training, especially useful in fast-evolving industries like IT, marketing, and healthcare.
How to update certifications on a resume?
It’s best to add your list of professional certifications to your resume when you’re first creating it, but sometimes things change. If you earn another relevant certification, you can edit PDFs even after converting a Word document to PDF for your resume.
Updating certifications on your resume is a simple but impactful way to showcase your evolving skill set. Follow these steps to ensure your updates are clear and professional:
-
Identify the right section: most resumes include a “Certifications” or “Professional Development” section. If yours doesn’t, consider adding one beneath your education or skills.
-
Add or update certifications clearly: include the full name of the certification, the issuing organization, and the date earned. For example: Google Analytics IQ – Google, October 2025.
-
Prioritize relevance: Highlight certifications that align with your target role or industry. Add the new ones to the top if they are more relevant.
-
Use AI resume tools: AI-powered assistants such as Acrobat AI Assistant can help you write about certifications more clearly and professionally. For example, after adding a new certification, you can ask the tool to generate a concise description of its relevance to your role or industry. Simply upload your resume PDF into Acrobat, highlight the section you want to improve, and prompt the assistant with something like: “Rewrite this to emphasize how my Google Analytics certification supports my SEO work.” The AI will offer suggestions that you can accept or tweak. These tools are especially useful for tailoring your resume to specific job applications, ensuring your certifications are framed in a way that aligns with employer expectations.
-
Keep it updated: Set a reminder to revisit your resume quarterly or after completing any new training or certification.
By keeping your resume current with relevant certifications, you signal to employers that you're proactive and committed to continuous learning.
Example of certifications on a resume.
Certifications will vary depending on industry and a person's experience in that field. Professional certifications don’t have to be expensive. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your skill set, there are plenty of free or low-cost options available across industries. These programs offer valuable credentials without the financial burden, making them ideal for professionals on a budget.
Marketing
• Google Skillshop: free certifications in Google Ads, Analytics, and Digital Marketing.
• HubSpot Academy: free courses in Content Marketing, Email Marketing, and Inbound Sales.
• Meta Blueprint: free training and certifications in social media marketing.
Information Technology (IT)
• Cisco Networking Academy: free foundational courses in networking and cybersecurity.
• Microsoft Learn: free modules and certifications in Azure, Power Platform, and more.
• IBM SkillsBuild: free training in AI, cloud computing, and data science.
Education
• Coursera & edX: affordable courses from top universities, with optional certification.
• Google for Education: free training for educators, including Google Certified Educator levels.
• Khan Academy: free professional development resources for teachers.
Healthcare
• CDC TRAIN: free public health training and certifications.
• Medline University: free continuing education for nurses and healthcare professionals.
• American Heart Association: low-cost CPR and First Aid certifications.
Here are some examples of certifications on a resume of a Product Manager:
- General Product Management Certifications:
Certified Product Manager (CPM) – Association of International Product Marketing & Management (AIPMM), Issued: 2023
Pragmatic Institute Certifications (PMC-I, PMC-II, etc.) – Pragmatic Institute, Issued: 2022 (No Expiration)
Product Management Certificate – General Assembly, Issued: 2024
Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO I, II, III) – Scrum.org, Issued: 2023 (No Expiration)
- Agile & Project Management Certifications:
Certified Scrum Master (CSM) – Scrum Alliance, Issued: 2023, Expires: 2025
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) – Project Management Institute (PMI), Issued: 2022, Expires: 2025
Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute (PMI), Issued: 2021, Expires: 2027
Keep exploring
title
How to list certifications on a resume.
cardImageAltText
A man in an office uses a laptop to list his certifications on his resume.
cardImage
Tags
caas:topic/edit-pdf,caas:content-type/article,caas:business-unit/document-cloud,caas:products/acrobat,caas:topic/resume-ai,caas:topic/students