How to List Certifications on a Resume.

What to include for each certification

• The full name, followed by the abbreviation in brackets.
• The organisation that issued it.
• The year you earned it, and the expiry date if it has one.
• A credential ID or verification link, where employers check them.

Where the section goes

• Required for the job (nursing licence, accounting qualification, security clearance): near the top, right after the summary.
• Helpful but not required: after Experience and Education.
• A must-have credential can also go in your headline ("Registered Nurse, BSN") so nobody misses it.
• One or two minor certificates: fold them into Education instead of creating a section.

Certifications in progress

You can list one you're working towards, as long as you say so. Write "in progress" and the date you expect to finish. Don't list it as if you already hold it.

Expired certifications and online courses

• Expired and required for the job: renew it, or state clearly that it has lapsed.
• Expired and not required: leave it out.
• Short online courses: list them under "Courses" or "Training", and only the ones relevant to the job.
• Put the newest or most relevant first, and keep the list to about five.

Keep it consistent with the rest of the page

If your summary says "PMP-certified project manager", the certification has to appear in the list, with a year. A credential mentioned in one place and missing from another is one of the contradictions recruiters notice.