A certification can lose most of its value on a resume if it's not presented correctly. This article covers practical rules for where, how, and when to include certifications.
1. Where Should a Certification Go?
That depends on how critical it is:
- A certification directly required for the role (e.g., CISSP for a security specialist position): Right under your name/contact info, in its own "Certifications" section near the top of the resume.
- A supporting but non-mandatory certification: Under the education section, or in its own section toward the end of the resume.
- An in-progress certification: State it clearly as in progress β "CFA Level II β in progress, expected completion 2027" β never present it as complete.
2. What Details Should You Include?
A certification line should ideally include: the certification's full name (with its abbreviation), the issuing body, the date earned (and expiration/renewal date if applicable). Example: "AWS Certified Solutions Architect β Associate, Amazon Web Services, March 2025 (valid through March 2028)."
3. How Should You Handle Expired Certifications?
Some certifications (especially in cloud/tech) require periodic renewal. Presenting an expired certification as still valid is misleading and surfaces during verification. There are two honest options: (1) leave the certification with a clear note, like "2022 (renewal pending)," or (2) remove it from the resume entirely if it's no longer relevant to your field.
4. Prune Outdated or Irrelevant Certifications
Not every certification deserves to stay on a resume forever. A certification earned 10 years ago that has nothing to do with your current work (say, one tied to a now-obsolete software version) distracts more than it strengthens the resume. The rule: a certification should either directly support the role you're applying for, or prove a foundational, industry-recognized qualification in your field.
5. How Should You Treat Free/Short Online Course Certificates?
Short course certificates from platforms like Coursera or Udemy shouldn't carry the same weight as accredited certifications (PMP, CFA, AWS, and similar). Rather than mixing all of these under one "Certifications" heading, be selective and include only the genuinely valuable, completed ones β listing too many low-value course certificates can actually undermine how seriously the resume is taken.
6. Verification Links
If you have a digitally verifiable credential (a Credly badge, a LinkedIn Learning badge, or the issuer's own verification page), including that link speeds up an HR team's verification process β especially valuable for remote or international applications β and adds credibility.