How To Include Licenses and Certifications on Your Resume

In today’s job market, licenses and certifications can give you an outsized advantage by proving you meet recognized standards and are committed to staying current in your profession. Whether you work in healthcare, technology, finance, education, skilled trades, or creative fields, the right credential can validate your expertise and nudge your resume to the top of the stack. This guide expands on best practices for choosing, placing, and formatting credentials so recruiters can immediately see why you’re a strong match. Along the way, you’ll find industry examples, common mistakes to avoid, and answers to the questions job seekers ask most.

Why Licenses and Certifications Matter

Licenses and certifications demonstrate your knowledge, compliance, and initiative. For many employers, a relevant license or certification will do the following:

• Confirm you meet minimum legal or industry standards.
• Reflect your commitment to your profession and continued learning.
• Distinguish you from other job applicants with similar experience.
• Reduce risk for the employer by signaling you can operate safely and ethically.

In fact, adding the right credential can be the deciding factor in whether you get an interview. In regulated fields (nursing, accounting, aviation), the credential is a must-have. In less regulated fields (marketing, product, design), certifications show specialized skill and initiative that help you stand out.

Tailor Your Licenses and Certifications to the Job

Your resume should always align with the job posting. Read the description carefully and identify credentials that are required, preferred, or clearly relevant. Prioritize quality over quantity. If you’re unsure whether something belongs, ask: “Would an employer see this and feel more confident hiring me?” If the answer is no, move it to your LinkedIn or portfolio. Also consider recency and validity. If a certification has lapsed or is out of date, either renew it or remove it. You can include credentials in progress when the completion date is near: “Candidate: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) — expected November 2025.” When in doubt, mirror the employer’s language and acronyms from the posting to help with keyword alignment for ATS systems. For more guidance on tailoring the entire document, browse role-specific samples in our resume examples.

Where To List Licenses and Certifications on Your Resume

The best placement depends on how pertinent the credential is to the job you’re applying for and how many you have.

1. As a separate section

Create a dedicated “Licenses and Certifications” section (often below Education). Order items by relevance or alphabetically if they carry equal weight.

When this section is substantial (four or more items), consider grouping by theme (“Cloud,” “Security,” “Teaching,” “Safety”). This helps recruiters scan quickly and spot what they value most.

2. In the education section

If you have just one or two credentials, it’s efficient to fold them into Education. Update the header to “Education and Certifications” or “Education and Professional Development.”

3. In your professional summary

If a credential is essential to the role, lead with it in the first two lines of your summary so screeners never miss it.

How To Format Your Licenses and Certifications

Consistency and clarity are key when listing credentials. Include:

• Full name of the license or certification (use the official title; add acronyms in parentheses only if widely recognized).
• Issuing organization or authority.
• Optional: Date earned and/or expiration date (“valid through 2027”) if recency matters or renewal is required.
• Optional: License or certification number when it’s relevant for verification or compliance.

Show Impact, Not Just Initials

Credentials open doors, but accomplishments win offers. Pair key certifications with achievements in your experience bullets so employers see business impact, not just coursework. For example:

• “Implemented PMI-aligned project cadence (PMP) to deliver a $2.1M platform migration on time and 8% under budget.”
• “Applied CISSP best practices to redesign access controls, reducing high-risk findings by 62% in 12 months.”
• “Leveraged LEED AP expertise to guide material selection that improved building energy performance by 18%.”

If you’re refining your summary and bullets, see our curated resume summary examples and role-specific resume examples for phrasing ideas.

ATS and Keyword Tips for Credentials

Applicant tracking systems scan for exact terms and common variants. To help your resume pass initial filters:

• Use the credential’s full official name once, then the common acronym (e.g., “Project Management Professional (PMP)”).
• Mirror wording from the job description (“CompTIA Security+” vs. “Security Plus”).
• Add closely related terms if appropriate (e.g., “Scrum,” “Agile,” “Sprint Planning” alongside CSM).
• Place mission-critical licenses in both your summary and the dedicated section for redundancy.

For overall structure and keyword placement, review our guide to resume format and template options on resume templates.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Listing everything you’ve ever earned. Focus on relevance and recency.
• Using unofficial names or inconsistent acronyms (write the full title first).
• Forgetting renewal status or listing expired credentials without context.
• Hiding key licenses below the fold—if it’s a must-have, place it high.
• Omitting the issuing organization, which undermines credibility.
• Treating certifications as a substitute for impact—always connect them to outcomes in your experience section.

Industry-Specific Examples (National/International)

Use these widely recognized credentials as inspiration; replace with your exact titles and authorities.

Step‑by‑Step: Decide What To Include and Where

• Start with the job posting. Highlight any “required,” “preferred,” or strongly implied credentials.
• List your current, valid credentials that match the posting; flag those in progress with realistic completion dates.
• Remove out-of-date or low-value items. If something is niche but not a fit for this role, move it to LinkedIn.
• Choose placement: summary (if essential), “Licenses and Certifications” section (if you have several), or “Education and Certifications.”
• Standardize formatting (title, issuer, date/valid through).
• Tie at least two credentials to impact bullets in your Experience section.
• Double-check acronyms and match the job ad’s terminology for ATS alignment.
• Proofread for consistency and accuracy; then select a layout that showcases credentials clearly. If you need a clean, ATS-friendly layout, browse our resume templates; if you want role-specific language to pair with your credentials, scan related resume examples.

Examples You Can Copy and Adapt

Frequently Asked Questions: Including Licenses and Certifications on Your Resume

Should I include certifications that don’t pertain to the job?

Generally, no. Stick to credentials that strengthen your case for this specific role. The main exceptions are widely respected certifications that show valuable transferable skills (e.g., PMP for leadership/operations roles).

Can I include a license or certification that’s still in progress?

Yes. Use “Candidate,” “In Progress,” or “Expected [Month Year].” Only list in‑progress credentials if you’ve started the program and can provide a realistic completion date.

Do I need to include license or certificate numbers?

Only if required for verification or compliance. Many health, finance, and public safety roles expect a number or ID; most corporate certifications don’t.

What if I have lots of relevant certifications?

Group by category (e.g., “Cloud,” “Security,” “Teaching,” “Safety”). Show the top 4–8 on your resume and place the rest on your LinkedIn or portfolio. If you’re reorganizing sections to fit everything cleanly, consult our resume format guide.

Should I include dates?

Include dates when they signal recency or when the credential expires (“valid through 2027”). If a credential does not expire and dates are old, leaving them off can keep the focus on relevance rather than age.

What about expired certifications?

Avoid listing expired items unless the credential is prestigious and directly relevant. If you include one, mark it clearly as “Former” or note the year so it isn’t mistaken for active status.

Where else should I showcase credentials?

Add them to your LinkedIn, portfolio, and email signature (for notable credentials). Linking to digital badges can help. For a cohesive narrative, match your resume’s phrasing to your profile; start with our LinkedIn profile tips.

Can certifications replace work experience?

They enhance your profile but rarely replace hands‑on experience. Use your Experience section to show how you applied certified skills to deliver outcomes. If you need help with phrasing impact bullets, scan our role‑specific resume examples.

How should I handle international credentials?

Use the globally recognized title from the issuing body, add the local equivalent in parentheses if helpful, and ensure your summary clarifies eligibility to work where you’re applying.

Do micro‑credentials and short courses belong?

Yes—when they are relevant and recognized (e.g., Agile, data analytics, AI tooling). Place them under “Certifications” or “Professional Development,” and avoid flooding the section with too many short badges.

Kara Dennison

Head of Career Advising

Kara Dennison, SPHR, CPRW, EC is an Executive Career and Leadership Coach, Organizational Strategy Consultant, and CEO of Optimized Career Solutions. With certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and Encouragement Consultant (EC), Kara brings a unique blend of strategic insight, behavioral science, and personal development to her work. Her career began in corporate recruiting and HR leadership, where she partnered with C-suite executives to hire top performers and reviewed more than 500,000 resumes. That experience ignited her passion for helping high-achieving professionals clarify their path, tell their story with impact, and advance into roles they love.

Today, Kara coaches executives and consults with organizations on culture, communication, and leadership development. She’s been named a Top 101 Global Employee Engagement Influencer by Inspiring Workplaces for 2023, 2024, and 2025, and contributes regularly to Forbes on topics like career growth, leadership trends, and the evolving workplace. Her work has appeared in Fast Company, LifeHacker, Thrive Global, and other leading outlets. Through one-on-one coaching, brand strategy, and organizational consulting, Kara’s mission is simple: empower professionals and leaders to live impactful lives, showing up with clarity and confidence so they and their teams can thrive.