Choose from a wide range of NEWCV resume templates and customize your NEWCV design with a single click.
Use ATS-optimised Resume and resume templates that pass applicant tracking systems. Our Resume builder helps recruiters read, scan, and shortlist your Resume faster.
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact Resume rules employers look for.
Create Resume
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact Resume rules employers look for.
Create ResumeIf you’re applying to Costco in the U.S., certifications are not usually required for entry-level roles—but they can significantly improve your chances of getting hired. Costco prioritizes safety, efficiency, and customer experience, so candidates with certifications in food safety, OSHA, warehouse operations, or customer service stand out immediately—especially in competitive locations.
The most impactful certifications depend on the department you’re targeting. For example, a Food Handler certification helps in food court roles, while OSHA 10 or forklift training gives you an edge in warehouse or distribution jobs. For pharmacy or optical roles, state-specific certifications may be mandatory.
This guide breaks down exactly which certifications matter, which are optional but powerful, and how to position them correctly on your resume to get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.
Costco doesn’t hire based on certifications alone—but they absolutely influence hiring decisions in three key ways:
Risk reduction: Certifications show you understand safety protocols, which is critical in warehouse, food, and fuel environments
Training cost savings: Certified candidates require less onboarding, making you more attractive to hiring managers
Department fit: Certifications signal you’re serious about a specific role (food, pharmacy, logistics, etc.)
From a recruiter’s perspective, certifications act as proof of readiness, especially when experience is limited.
These are the most relevant certifications across Costco roles in the U.S., based on hiring patterns and department needs.
Food Handler Certification
ServSafe Food Handler
OSHA 10 General Industry
First Aid/CPR Certification
Customer Service Certification
These are broadly applicable and immediately increase your credibility.
If you're targeting warehouse, stocker, or distribution center roles, safety and equipment handling certifications carry real weight.
OSHA 10 General Industry
Forklift Certification / Powered Industrial Truck Training
Warehouse Safety Training
Manual Handling / Safe Lifting Training
Hazard Communication (HazCom) Training
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Training
Inventory Management Training
Warehouse roles involve physical risk, equipment operation, and inventory accuracy. Hiring managers prioritize candidates who:
Understand workplace safety standards
Can operate equipment safely
Reduce liability for the company
Candidates without experience but with OSHA or forklift certification often get shortlisted over those with general retail experience but no safety training.
Cashier and front-end roles are customer-facing, so certifications that show service and transaction accuracy are valuable.
Customer Service Certification
Retail Sales Certification
POS (Point of Sale) System Training
Cash Handling Training
Ability to manage high-volume customer flow
Accuracy in transactions
Conflict resolution skills
Even a basic online customer service certification can help you stand out in a crowded applicant pool.
These roles have stricter compliance requirements due to food safety regulations.
Food Handler Certification (often required by state/local law)
ServSafe Food Handler
ServSafe Manager (for supervisory roles)
Food Safety & Sanitation Training
Food safety violations are high-risk. Costco prefers candidates who:
Understand hygiene standards
Can pass inspections
Require minimal compliance training
If you’re applying to food-related roles and don’t list a Food Handler certification, you’re often filtered out early—especially in regulated states.
Pharmacy roles are not entry-level in the same sense—they require compliance with healthcare regulations.
Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCB or state equivalent)
State Pharmacy Registration (varies by state)
HIPAA Training
Legal eligibility to work in a pharmacy
Understanding of patient privacy laws
Readiness for a regulated environment
Without the required certification or registration, your application will not move forward for pharmacy roles.
Optical roles require specialized training depending on the position.
Optical Assistant Training
ABO Certification (American Board of Opticianry, for advanced roles)
Basic understanding of eyewear and prescriptions
Customer interaction skills
Accuracy in assisting optical services
These roles involve physical work and safety-sensitive tasks.
Tire Service Safety Training
Basic Automotive Service Certification
OSHA Safety Training
Knowledge of tire installation and maintenance
Awareness of workplace hazards
Ability to follow safety procedures
Fuel stations require strict adherence to safety protocols.
Fuel Safety Training
Hazard Communication Training
OSHA 10
These roles involve flammable materials and environmental risk. Certified candidates are viewed as safer hires.
To simplify your strategy, here’s how certifications align with specific Costco roles:
OSHA 10
Forklift Certification
Warehouse Safety Training
Customer Service Certification
POS Training
Cash Handling
Food Handler Certification
ServSafe
Sanitation Training
Pharmacy Technician Certification
HIPAA Training
Tire Safety Training
Basic Automotive Knowledge
Forklift Certification
Logistics & Inventory Training
OSHA Safety Training
Short answer: No—but they give you a real advantage.
Costco hires many entry-level candidates without certifications. However, in competitive markets, certifications can be the deciding factor between:
Getting an interview vs getting ignored
Being placed in a preferred department vs general pool
Faster hiring vs delayed callbacks
This is where most candidates fail—not in having certifications, but in presenting them poorly.
Place them in a dedicated section:
Certifications
Certification name
Issuing organization
Completion date (or expiration if applicable)
Certifications
OSHA 10 General Industry – Completed 2025
Forklift Operator Certification – Certified 2024
Food Handler Certification – Valid through 2027
Certifications
OSHA
Forklift
Food safety
Why this fails:
Too vague, no credibility, no proof of completion.
Most Costco applications go through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Certifications help in two ways:
ATS scans for terms like:
OSHA
Food Handler
Forklift
Customer Service
If your resume includes these, your ranking improves.
Recruiters spend 5 to 10 seconds initially. Certifications:
Catch attention quickly
Signal job readiness
Reduce perceived hiring risk
Example: Adding IT certifications when applying for a warehouse role
Too many unrelated certifications dilute your profile
Applying to food court roles without food safety certification
Expired certifications can work against you
Here’s how hiring managers weigh them:
Experience + No Certification → Good
Certification + No Experience → Still competitive
Neither → Low priority
For entry-level Costco roles, certifications can partially compensate for lack of experience.
If you’re applying soon, focus on certifications you can complete quickly:
Food Handler Certification (often same-day)
OSHA 10 (1–2 days online)
Customer Service Certification (few hours to 1 day)
These provide immediate ROI for your application.
Certifications help—but they are part of a bigger equation.
You get hired faster when you combine:
Relevant certification
Clean, targeted resume
Availability (especially weekends and evenings)
Strong reliability signals
From a hiring manager perspective, the ideal candidate is:
Safe
Trainable
Customer-focused
Available
Certifications strengthen all four.
Upload Resume
Import from Linkedin
