CV Qualifications: How And Where To Add Professional or Vocational Qualifications

Not sure how – or where – to include your CV qualifications? We’re here to help and walk you through the options, because there is more than one way of doing it.

The number of vocational and other qualification certificates awarded in 2022-23 increased by 3.1% compared to 2021-22, reaching 5.1 million, according to government statistics.

Professional qualifications can significantly boost your CV and therefore, career prospects. 

These certifications demonstrate expertise in a particular field and can set you apart from other job candidates. Long-term, they often also increase your earning potential.

But when you’re applying for jobs, it’s no good having a qualification if you don’t get the point across on the CV!

Things to consider though include how much space to set aside for your qualifications and detail to go into when describing them. Also – how high up, or low down, the CV should you put them?

These are the questions we’ll answer in this article covering all the key qualifications on CV guidelines.

Before we begin – in this guide we will cover how to include professional and vocational qualifications on your CV. For your degree, A-levels, GCSEs and so on we have a separate guide focusing on the CV education section.

That said, the education section is a good place to start in this guide. It’s a popular location for professional and vocational qualification details.

You may think of the education section as the place where you cover those school or university days – the degree, A levels, GCSEs… But of course, professional and vocational qualifications are forms of education too.

Where to add your professional and vocational qualifications

When including your professional or vocational qualifications in the education section: 

• Make sure this section has an appropriate title. For example, call it – Qualifications and Education
• List everything in reverse chronological order (unless there’s a good reason not to), with the most recent qualification at the top of your list

Now of course if your education section is on the first page of your CV – e.g. because it’s a graduate CV or perhaps an academic CV… it’s a no-brainer to put qualifications here.

But for many candidates, especially if they’ve already had a few years in the world of work, the education section appears on page 2 of the CV after the work history section.

That means that anyone reading your CV will only find out about your qualifications towards the end, or if they only look at page 1, they won’t see them at all. In this scenario, let’s assume that you haven’t mentioned a qualification anywhere else on the CV (i.e. its sole appearance is on page 2).

Is this wise? In short, it’s fine for the qualification to be ‘relegated’ to page 2 of the CV if:

• It’s a standard qualification that almost all other candidates have as well, it’s a given that you have it, there’s no need to shout about it, etc.
• In other words, everything else on page 1 of your CV is arguably more important, relevant and interesting than this particular qualification

Crucially, if it’s a particularly impressive qualification, also mention it on page 1.

The more impressive, or rare, or in-demand, the qualification is then the higher up it should be. It could go in your personal statement or a key skills section, for example.

How to mention the qualifications

Going back to your Qualifications and Education section, when including the details there are three essential pieces of information to include:

• Qualification name
• Qualification provider
• Date achieved

Let’s take a look at some examples:

• Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management, CIPD, 2024
• Senior Professional Assessment (SPA), RICS, 2024
• AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting, Association of Accounting Technicians, 2024

In other words, the most common layout is – Name, Provider, Date.

While we’re on the subject of accounting, here’s How to Become an Accountant (UK) – our guide to the qualifications and careers path. Also, here are some accounting CV examples.

Other details to consider including, if relevant, are:

• Duration
• Location
• Description or a list of modules
• Types of examination
• Results or achievements

Some of these may be worth considering especially if you’re including them as part of a career change CV, where the reader may be unfamiliar with the qualification. For more details, read our guide on a career change at 40 and how to write a career change cover letter.

If you’re mentioning a qualification in passing on page 1 – for example, as one of your most impressive achievements in the personal statement – keep it brief.

For example, up-and-coming journalists might mention their “Gold standard NCTJ Diploma in Journalism” in their personal statement. But in their Qualifications and Education section, they might provide more detail – e.g.: “Level 5 Diploma in Journalism, NCTJ, 2024, Gold standard with 100wpm shorthand”.

And of course, for qualified journalists seeking their next role, we have you covered too. Check out our journalism CV guide.

Other ideas: CV qualifications

When writing your CV qualifications, it’s important to tailor your application to the specific requirements listed in the job advert and to clearly state the job title you are applying for.

• Begin with a compelling personal statement that highlights your most relevant skills and experience. In your employment history and work history sections, use concise bullet points to showcase your achievements and responsibilities, making sure to address the essential criteria outlined by the employer.
• Include a professional training section to demonstrate any professional training or online courses you’ve completed, especially those that have improved your technical skills.
• Remember that applicant tracking systems often scan CVs for keywords, so align your language with the job description to increase your chances of being noticed during your job search.
• Present your qualifications in a way that appeals to hiring managers, emphasising both your experience and your commitment to ongoing development.
• A good CV is essential when preparing for a job interview, as it forms the foundation of your job application and helps you stand out during recruitment processes.
• When writing a CV, ensure your contact details are clearly visible at the top and that you tailor your content to the specific job rol you’re targeting.
• The education section should list your university degrees and any recent qualifications, demonstrating your commitment to professional development.
• Including relevant keywords from the job description will help your CV pass through applicant tracking systems and appeal to employers.
• Additionally, a strong understanding of employment law can be beneficial, especially for roles where compliance is important.

With these CV tips, you could increase your chances of progressing through the recruitment process and succeeding in your next job interview.

Final thoughts: Professional or vocational qualifications on CV guidelines

When including your professional or vocational qualifications on a CV, think about how much of a differentiator they could be to your application.

• If they’re rare or in-demand, you want the reader to see them quickly. Consider putting them very high up on page 1.
• But if you have a full page of more relevant or impressive information to include ahead of a specific qualification… It’s fine to only mention it once on page 2!

Recently, we were thrilled to announce a new qualification for professional CV writers. It’s called the Certified Professional CV Writer (CCVW) certification. Find out more about how experts become a certified professional CV writer.

Not sure about the best way to include your qualifications on a CV? Or struggling to put together an outstanding CV in general?

Only the best CV is the right CV for you. So the PurpleCV team is happy to help if you’d like us to write one for you. Our expert writers know how to create CVs that showcase your skills and get noticed by potential employers.

Check out our CV writing service or if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us.