How to List Certifications on a CV (UK): Where, How, and What Order

Certifications are often listed poorly on CVs — buried at the bottom, formatted inconsistently, or included without context. Done well, they strengthen your CV by adding credibility to claimed skills, signalling continuous learning, and hitting ATS keyword requirements.

Where to put certifications on your CV

The answer depends on how central the certification is to the role.

High-relevance certifications: near the top

If the certification is a core requirement of the role — SIA licence for security, RGN for nursing, CIMA for accountancy, 18th Edition for electrical engineering — place it prominently: in your personal statement, in a dedicated qualifications section near the top, or directly after your education section.

Supporting certifications: education or skills section

Certifications that support but do not define your application belong in your education section (if formally accredited) or your skills section (if tool-based or shorter-form).

Many certifications: dedicated section

If you have four or more certifications relevant to the role, create a standalone "Certifications" or "Professional Development" section. This keeps your education section clean and allows the certs to be scanned quickly.

How to format a certification entry

The standard format:

[Certification Name] | [Issuing Body] | [Month Year]

Examples:

PRINCE2 Practitioner | AXELOS | July 2023

Google Ads Search Certification | Google Skillshop | October 2024 (expires October 2025)

Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering | Highfield | March 2024

18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) | City & Guilds | September 2022

For certifications that expire, always include the expiry date — particularly for First Aid, SIA, and medical certifications where an expired cert signals a compliance gap.

What order to list certifications

Primary rule: most relevant to this role first.

Do not list in the order you achieved them. Reorder based on what the job description prioritises. If the JD mentions Google Analytics and Semrush, lead with your GA4 certification even if your PRINCE2 came first chronologically.

Secondary rule: most credible first.

Chartered or professional body certifications (CIMA, ACCA, CIPD, ICE, IET, RCN) outrank online course completions. List your formal qualifications before self-study certifications.

Expired certifications: include or exclude?

Include if:

• The cert is your primary professional qualification and you intend to renew
• The issuing body confirms it remains valid for employment purposes despite expiry
• The cert demonstrates expertise even if it is not current (e.g. an expired CFA Level I shows you sat and passed a rigorous exam)

Exclude if:

• The cert is legally required to be current for the role (e.g. SIA licence, NMC registration, DBS for regulated roles)
• The cert is a compliance requirement (First Aid, Manual Handling) and it is significantly out of date — recruit managers will notice and it may raise questions about your commitment to CPD

Format for a lapsed cert you are renewing:

First Aid at Work | St John Ambulance | Expired March 2023 — renewal booked May 2024

Online certifications: are they credible?

Yes — with caveats. The credibility depends on the issuing body and the industry:

High credibility online certs:

• Google Skillshop (Ads, Analytics) — directly employer-tested
• HubSpot Academy — widely recognised in marketing
• Microsoft Learn (Azure, Power BI) — employer-relevant, technically rigorous
• Coursera / edX courses from accredited universities (state the university, not just the platform)
• NEBOSH (online option) — rigorous and industry-recognised in H&S
• CIPD online qualifications — fully accredited

Lower credibility online certs:

• Short Udemy or Skillshare courses without formal assessment
• Certificates of completion with no exam component
• Certifications from obscure providers that cannot be verified

For lower-credibility certs: include them if they are relevant and you can discuss the content — but do not lead with them or give them equal prominence to professionally accredited qualifications.

Professional body memberships vs certifications

These are different things:

Professional body membership (CIPD, IET, ICE, CIMA, ACCA, RICS, Law Society) — ongoing membership that demonstrates engagement with your professional community. List in the format: "Member, CIPD — Level 7" or "IET Student Member."

Certification from a professional body (PRINCE2 Practitioner from AXELOS, PMP from PMI) — a specific qualification awarded after assessment. List with the date and level.

Both belong on your CV. Neither replaces the other.

Frequently asked questions

Should I list every certification I have ever completed?

No — list certifications relevant to the role. A cybersecurity analyst does not need to list their Level 2 Food Safety certificate. Filter for relevance first, then format.

How do I list a certification I am currently working toward?

CFA Level I | CFA Institute | Sitting June 2025

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting | CIMA | In progress — expected completion September 2025

State "in progress" and include an expected date — it shows active commitment without misrepresenting your current status.

Are Google and LinkedIn Learning certifications worth including?

Google Skillshop certifications (Google Ads, Analytics) are directly valuable for marketing and digital roles. LinkedIn Learning completion certificates are generally not worth listing — the completion threshold is low and recruiters know it. The exception is if you used LinkedIn Learning to complete a specific skills programme from an accredited partner.