By Quick answer: Which certifications look best on a resume?
- Instantly recognised — AWS, PMP, Security+, CISSP.
- Analyst — PL-300, Google Data Analytics.
- Specialist — Salesforce, CCNA, AZ-104.
- Any role — Google AI Essentials.
Key takeaways
- Recognisable names pass ATS keyword filters.
- Write the exact name, issuer and year.
- Relevant beats many.
A certification helps your resume most when a recruiter recognises it in two seconds and an applicant tracking system matches it to the job. These ten are widely recognised.
Ten resume-friendly certifications
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members2 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 3 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store3 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | Free test |
| 4 | CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalISC2 | See ISC2 page4 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 5 | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Microsoft | Exam priced by country5 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 6 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan6 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 7 | Salesforce Certified AdministratorSalesforce | Exam fee on Trailhead7 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 8 | Cisco CCNACisco | Check the official page8 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 9 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country9 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 10 | Google AI EssentialsGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan10 | Under 10 hours (per course page) | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- PMP Practice ExamPractise for PMP – Project Management Professional before you pay.Start free test →
- CompTIA Security+ Practice TestPractise for CompTIA Security+ before you pay.Start free test →
- CISSP Practice TestPractise for CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and the resume it strengthens
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateTech resumes$150
- PMIPMP – Project Management ProfessionalProject resumes$425 PMI members / $675 non-members
- CompTIACompTIA Security+Security resumesVoucher price on the CompTIA store
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
'AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate'. AWS's associate exam tests designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-aware systems on AWS. It's 130 minutes with 65 questions and costs $150, and it's the cloud credential most often named in job posts.
Best fortech resumes
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members2
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
'Project Management Professional (PMP)'. PMI's Project Management Professional is a 240-minute, 180-question exam covering predictive, agile and hybrid approaches. It needs 3–5 years leading projects plus 35 hours of training and costs $425 for PMI members or $675.
Best forproject resumes
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store3
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
'CompTIA Security+'. CompTIA's vendor-neutral security exam covers threats, architecture, operations and governance, and the new version adds AI-related risk. It's listed in ANAB's ISO/IEC 17024 directory; voucher prices vary by country.
Best forsecurity resumes
CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Cost
- See ISC2 page4
- Entry
- 5 years of paid security work experience
'CISSP — ISC2'. ISC2's senior credential covers eight broad security domains and requires five years of paid security experience. It's ANAB-accredited, and US holders averaged $168,060 in Skillsoft's 2025 survey, the highest of any IT certification there.
Best forsenior security
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country5
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
'Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate'. Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst exam proves you can prepare, model and visualise data and share reports securely. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, with free Microsoft Learn training and free online renewal every 12 months.
Best foranalyst resumes
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan6
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
'Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate'. Google's professional certificate teaches spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and R through case studies and ends with a portfolio capstone. It's designed for beginners, takes about six months at ten hours a week and offers financial aid on Coursera.
Best forentry analyst
Salesforce Certified Administrator
- Cost
- Exam fee on Trailhead7
'Salesforce Certified Administrator'. Salesforce's Certified Administrator proves you can configure, secure and maintain a Salesforce org. Training is free on Trailhead and the exam fee is listed there, making it a common route into CRM and RevOps careers.
Best forCRM resumes
Cisco CCNA
- Cost
- Check the official page8
'Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)'. Cisco's associate credential covers network fundamentals, access, IP connectivity, services, security and automation. It's ANAB-accredited and widely recognised for network engineer roles; check Cisco's page for the fee.
Best fornetwork resumes
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country9
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
'Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate'. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can manage Azure identity, storage, compute and networking. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, and renews free online every 12 months, which keeps long-term cost low.
Best forMicrosoft resumes
Google AI Essentials
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan10
- Time
- Under 10 hours (per course page)
'Google AI Essentials'. Google's short course teaches practical generative AI for everyday work: drafting, research, analysis and using AI responsibly. It needs no technical background and takes under ten hours, so it suits almost any professional who wants to use AI tools with more confidence.
Best forany resume
How to list certifications
- Exact name — as the issuer writes it.
- Issuer and year — 'AWS, 2027'.
- Credential link — where verifiable.
- Relevance — put job-matched ones first.
How we ranked these picks
We chose widely recognised certifications and the exact names to use. Details from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where do certifications go on a resume?
In a Certifications section, or near the top if highly relevant.
Should I list free certificates?
If relevant to the job.
How many certifications should I list?
Only relevant ones.
Do recruiters check certifications?
Many verify; include credential links.
Can I add Science of Apps certificates?
Yes; they're verifiable, though not accredited. Science of Apps offers 1,200+ free tests.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISC2 — CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Salesforce — Salesforce Certified Administrator, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Cisco — Cisco CCNA, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google AI Essentials, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Certifications by Career Goal: 2027 Planner — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in Canada for 2027: recognised credentials for Canadian employersThe top 10 online certifications in Canada for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, CCNA, Salesforce and AI Essentials.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in Australia for 2027: what Australian employers recogniseThe top 10 online certifications in Australia for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, ITIL 4, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, Salesforce and AI.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in the UK for 2027: what British employers recogniseThe top 10 online certifications in the UK for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, ITIL 4, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, Salesforce and AI.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The certifications employers value most in 2027: ten respected across industriesThe 10 certifications employers value most in 2027: PMP, CISSP, AWS SAA, Security+, CISA, CISM, CFA, AZ-104, CCNA and PL-300, with survey pay where available.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in India for 2027: what Indian employers and IT services hire forThe top 10 online certifications in India for 2027: AWS, Azure, Salesforce, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, Security+, CCNA, PMP, Python and AI Essentials.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications for freshers in 2027: picks that help you land your first jobThe top 10 online certifications for freshers in 2027: Google Data Analytics, PL-300, AWS, Azure, Security+, CCNA, Salesforce, Python, AI and more.
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Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
Start with the free AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice Exam. 1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.