how to get a project management certification

I am a new mom, with 2 children, working full time, and trying to balance and juggle it all. Make a study plan based on your personal pace and stick to it. Anything is possible, and how long it takes to get you there is of no importance, as long as you put in the work. Marie Ange Haas, PMP

Sticking to your plan is easier if you have friends, colleagues and family to support you. Let everyone know what you are doing and why. It will help them understand why you are preoccupied with your tablet and headphones! Generally, people appreciate that taking on the prep for any exam is a huge undertaking, and they will support you in your goals.

However, remember to schedule in breaks. You can’t study all the time and you don’t want to burn out before you get to the exam!

This section has just touched on the benefits of a study plan as the best way to prepare for the exam. Read our complete guide to creating your own PMP study plan for even more tips.

Step 3: Join PMI

Trust us, it’s worth becoming a member of PMI during the year you plan to take the PMP exam.

It makes financial sense because as a PMI member you will receive a free PDF version of the PMBOK® Guide and a substantial discount on the PMP® exam entry fee. In fact, the discount is bigger than the membership fee! So even if you don't want to stay a PMI member for life, becoming a member in your first year will save you money.

Becoming a member of your local PMI Chapter can also make sense because most chapters offer PMP prep workshops. Again, as a member you usually receive a discount that is greater than the membership fee.

Find your local PMI Chapter on the PMI website

Your local chapter is also a great resource for PMP information. You can attend your chapter's dinner meetings and speak in-person with new and seasoned PMPs about the exam. They will be very happy to answer your questions and help you.

Another advantage of being a PMI member is that many chapters have study groups. These give you the opportunity to meet other people on their journey to becoming a PMP like you. Studying together is more fun and increases your chance of passing.

Step 4: Apply for the PMP Exam

"I want to become a PMP" is a good plan. But "I want to become a PMP and my exam date is in X months" is a much better plan because we all work a lot better when we have a deadline.

Once you become a PMI member, go ahead and sign up for the PMP exam. Go to www.certification.pmi.org/ to register.

On that webpage, you’ll be asked to fill in your PMP Credential Application and submit it to PMI for approval. The application process asks for basic information about you, and specific information about your eligibility for the PMP exam such as proof of your 35 contact hours and project management experience.

Once PMI has checked over your application and verified that you are eligible for the exam, they will issue you with a confirmation number.

How to Book Your PMP Exam

Once you have that confirmation number you can then schedule to take the exam on the Pearson VUE Website at www.pearsonvue.com .

This separate scheduling is necessary because PMI doesn't perform the test themselves — instead they use Pearson VUE, a testing company with testing centers around the world. Depending on where you live you may have to travel quite far to take the exam. As a result, you definitely want to schedule this well in advance.

Step 5: Download the PMBOK® Guide 6 th Edition PDF

The PMBOK® Guide is the primary reference used to inform the questions on the PMP exam. In other words, you really need to know the material in the PMBOK® Guide because you’ll be tested on it during the exam. Most trainers estimate that the correct answer for roughly 75 percent of the questions on the PMP Exam can be found in the PMBOK® Guide.

You need to get hold of a copy. The PMBOK® Guide is available in two formats; PDF and printed. If you are a PMI member, you can download the PMBOK® Guide 6 th edition PDF for free at www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok .

If you are like many students who like to flip pages, highlight, and make notes in the margins, then you’d work best with a print copy. You can get a print copy from www.pm-prepcast.com/pmbok .

It’s so important to get hold of the PMBOK® Guide and read it thoroughly. It’s a hugely valuable resource and the key to feeling confident about passing the exam.

Step 6: Get Your PMP Exam Prep Training

You have the PMBOK® Guide and a study plan in place. By now, you’ve probably realized that the PMBOK® Guide isn’t written to be read straight through and understood. In fact, many students tell us that the book is difficult to understand. Training guides in other formats help you understand the material in the PMBOK® Guide and how you can apply it in your day job to be a better project manager.

There are lots of different ways that you can boost your learning through training including:

How to Decide on PMP Training Options

In the past, classroom or in-person PMP certification training bootcamps would have been the only way to build your knowledge around project management and get you ready to pass the exam. That isn’t the case any longer.

There are pros and cons to all kinds of training. Ultimately, you need to decide yourself which is the best training approach for you based on how you like to learn and how much time and money you have to invest.

A trend in project management training is that more and more students are choosing to use online materials either as their main learning tool or a major part of the learning. As fewer employers pay for training, PMP aspirants are choosing cost-effective online solutions that don’t require time away from work, because they know it’s important to invest in their careers.

The PM PrepCast is one online option that you can take anywhere. The lessons make the dry language of the PMBOK® Guide come alive and can even be downloaded to your mobile device. Have a long commute? Waiting for an appointment? Have time at lunch to study? Just watch or listen to the PM PrepCast lesson that corresponds with the PMBOK® Guide chapter you are studying. Seeing or listening to lessons can help make the information “stick” for test day.

Get a PMP Exam Prep Book

Purchasing a PMP prep book is another option beyond in-person on online PMP training. A PMP exam prep book can help to clarify the contents of the PMBOK® Guide .

Using a PMP Prep Book can help you gain the knowledge you need to pass the PMP exam by exploring the topics within the PMBOK® Guide from a different perspective.

Look for a PMP prep book that corresponds with the current PMBOK® Guide and exam version – choose one that has been published recently and contains up-to-date content. While older books can still be useful to generally explain project management concepts, if you want to pass the exam, you’ll maximize your study potential if you are using the most recent versions.

Two good options can be found at www.pm-prepcast.com/mulcahy and www.pm-prepcast.com/crowe .

For more tips about the essential PMP exam study materials you'll need, watch this short video:

Step 7: Buy a Simulator for PMP Exam Questions

Getting the PMBOK® Guide , taking an online or in-person training course, and investing in a good PMP prep book will all help you on your path to PMP exam success.

But to truly test your knowledge, you need to get an online PMP exam simulator.

What is a PMP Exam Simulator?

The PMP exam is a complex exam. The exam is multiple hours long and it’s not often these days that we need to concentrate in an exam setting for that long. In fact, when was the last time you took an exam? Often, our most recent experience of exams was at school or college. It’s easy to feel out of the habit of operating in an exam setting.

That’s where a simulator comes in. An exam simulator gives you access to PMP exam questions – lots of them. Typically, a simulator comes with access to a number of PMP practice exams. These are tests that mimic the questions and formatting you’ll see in the real exam.

With the PMP exam getting increasingly more complex a simulator is practically a must in order to be as prepared as possible on exam day.

Many online training providers also offer access to an online simulator. You may be able to get access to a simulator as part of your PMP training package

Look for simulators that offer several full-length exams and that can replicate the online environment that you will be in on exam day. Make sure that you check that the PMP questions are written to PMP standards – some online question banks have simple questions designed to test your understanding of what you have learned in a particular section of a training course. These aren’t PMP question; they are review questions. Questions in a PMP exam simulator should have been written by a PMP.

There are free exam simulators on the market. But when it comes to free, you get what you pay for. Questions in free simulators may not accurately reflect the complexity and type of question you will be asked on exam day – but those in a reputable online PMP exam simulator will give you the "real" experience.

A good quality exam simulator will provide you with the realistic experience of a 4-hour exam, and the option to take several exams.

As with the PMP prep book, make sure the simulator you select corresponds with the current PMBOK® Guide and exam version. One quality option can be found at www.pm-exam-simulator.com .

Step 8: Study Hard!

You have your plan in place and the materials you need. Now is the time to start the process of studying hard for your PMP exam success. Here are some study tips.

I studied the 49 processes and focused on how they are organized and connect via the Process Groups. The Knowledge Areas are great to help you put it into perspective but the test will test you more on the process in the process group. Steve Richards, PMP

Work Through Your Study Plan

All you have to do – although it is a big ‘all’ – is to work through your study plan. It won’t all be easy. Be prepared for ups and downs during your studies.

Some sections of the PMBOK® Guide will feel straightforward for you and you’ll feel great about them. Then there will be those sections that are more difficult because you don't have the corresponding experience. Don't despair. Don't think that you are never going to understand this. Thousands of people have passed the exam before you and you can pass it too! Stay positive at all times. You will achieve your goal of becoming a PMP.

If you suffer a study set back, simply look at your plan, work out what you can do to get back on track and start again. This is exactly what you would do on a real project, and planning your PMP studies is no different. Use the project management skills you already have to motivate yourself, revise your plans and get going again!

Step 9: Practice PMP Exam Questions

You can practice sample PMP exam questions a few different ways. It’s a good thing to approach PMP questions in as many ways as possible. It’s all good practice!

Work through exam questions by topic, for example, answering a set of questions on risk management. This will test your knowledge of a particular area of project management.

It’s also important to take full exams. These will give you the experience of answering a lot of questions over a sustained period, on all topics. You’ll be surprised at how much confidence you’ll gain from having worked through a number of test exams. When you face the real thing, it will feel a lot more familiar, and will help you manage nerves on the day.

It was the PrepCast exam test simulator that probably made the biggest impact on getting me prepped for actual exam questions and for the exam experience. I highly recommend it! Judy Patterson, PMP

How to Find PMP Questions

One tip, as we saw above, is to answer questions that you find in your study guides. Your PMP prep book will likely contain some practice questions and you may even be able to find a book of practice questions at your local bookstore. Questions in books are often arranged by knowledge area, so they are good for testing your understanding of certain topics.

However, book-based questions won’t give you the same experience as taking the exam. They can test your knowledge, but they won’t prepare you for the online experience of answering questions on a computer.

Another way to practice sample PMP exam questions is to locate free sample questions. As you make your way through all the free samples you find online two things will happen:

The reason for this is that free questions are often poor quality, and perhaps are phrased badly. By disagreeing and then opening up your study materials to review what you think the answer should be, you will learn even more. Even the worst exam sample question you find can help you in its unique way to pass the exam. It's all a matter of your personal attitude and knowing that even a bad question can take you further.

Finally, use the simulator you bought in Step 7. The simulator will provide you with the full test experience by utilizing similar type questions as those on the real exam and by limiting you to four hours to complete the exam. Block out the time to do a complete exam. Find a quiet spot where you will not be disturbed, and that will increase the realistic nature of using a simulator. It’s excellent preparation for what you will face on exam day.

How to Know When You Are Ready

One last but important thing about sample questions: keep track of your score. As time goes by you will notice you are more and more able to answer questions correctly.

Keeping track of your score will let you track your progress and compare your test exam results over time. You can see where you are in your preparation and get a feel for how much more preparation you need to do.

Here is rule of thumb for you: if you consistently answer 85 percent of the questions correctly the first time you answer them, then you are ready to take the exam.

Step 10: Take the Exam

After all that hard work, taking the exam almost sounds like the easy part. But there are a few things to consider that will help you to make this a positive and successful experience.

Try and get a good night's sleep the night before the exam. Being refreshed and having slept enough is important. There is no need for you to stay up until 3am to study the night before the exam. You have studied long and hard and you are now ready for this — so get some sleep. A lot of people choose to take the day of the actual exam off from work. You can sleep in, eat a good breakfast, go for a walk, and relax. That way you won’t be too nervous when you get to the testing center.

It is a good idea to take a test drive to the testing center a week beforehand so that you know where it is. You may also want to try and arrive one hour early just in case you miss the bus or have car problems.

Here is what you should bring with you to the testing center:

Before the exam starts there is a short tutorial that explains how to use the computer and software. Don't skip it. There is important information in the tutorial. If you take the tutorial, then you can be sure that you understand everything and don't make any mistakes because you made assumptions.

A Note on Notes

My entire exam time got consumed when I was reviewing my last marked question. A blank screen appeared first, then the survey appeared which I finished in couple of mins and then for a long time, the blank screen appeared again. Then the message 'congratulations'! I was overjoyed.! Sachin Vehale, PMP

You will be given scratch paper/note boards when you enter the testing room. These are for you to use to make notes during the exam. However, you cannot start writing anything before you click ‘Start’.

You are not allowed to make any notes or write out your ‘ brain dump ’ during the 15-minute tutorial period.

Take the tutorial, and when the exam clock has started ticking, write out anything you wish to have to hand.

You’ve started your exam. Good luck!

Congratulations! You have achieved your goal of becoming a certified project manager! You've got that PMP behind your name as soon as you pass the exam. There is no waiting period. As soon as you see "Congratulations" on the screen you hold the PMP certification. Go home and send an email to all your friends and colleagues and tell them that you are now a PMP. Celebrate!

However, you are not a PMP for life! Read on…

Step 11: (Bonus Step) How to Recertify as a PMP

Every three years you will need to collect and claim Professional Development Units (PDUs) to keep your certification active. This shows your commitment to professional development and continuous learning. It’s a way of demonstrating that you are still active in the project management world and you keep your skills fresh. After all, would you want to hire someone who passed their PMP exam 20 years ago but hasn’t managed any projects since? Recertification demonstrates to employers and colleagues that you continue to be committed to your project management career.

You will need 60 PDUs every three years to recertify. All the details are explained in PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Handbook . You log your PDUs in the Continuing Certification Requirements System , which also has a handy tracker to show you how many PDUs you still need to collect and your deadlines for achieving them.

How to Earn PDUs

You can earn PDUs by attending local PMI Chapter dinner meetings, by volunteering for PMI, or by attending seminars offered by a trusted and experienced education provider. There are lots of ways to earn PDUs so you are bound to find something that you can do.

The good news is that there are many ways to earn free PDUs.

Our favorite way is podcasts! And among podcasts there is no better than The Project Management Podcast which will give you a total of 60 Free PDUs.

Another way to earn PDUs is to start preparing for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) ® exam which is becoming a natural next step for any PMP. To learn how to both prepare for the PMI-ACP exam and earn PDUs towards your PMP certification check out www.agileprepcast.com/pdu .

This complete guide to becoming a PMP® has covered the 10 essential steps for planning your journey to passing the PMP exam. Hopefully it has explained everything you needed to know to take your next step. In summary:

You now have a complete roadmap to passing the PMP laid out for you. What’s your first step going to be?

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 35,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com/pmprepcast and The PMP Exam Simulator at http://www.pm-prepcast.com/simulator .

From fundamentals to exam prep boot camps, Educate 360 partners with your team to meet your organization's training needs across Project Management, Agile, Business Analysis, Business Management, and Leadership skills development.

PMP Certification Requirements

Earning Project Management Institute (PMI)'s Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is an important step in your project management career. It is a challenging process, but having a PMP certification can open career opportunities leading to increased earning potential.

PMI manages the PMP certification exam as part of global standards for the profession of project management. PMI produces A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), a global standard for all things project management and a foundation for the PMP certification.

Project Management Academy has everything you need to understand the PMP exam requirements and the process for applying for the PMP Certification so that you can start advancing your career today!

Ultimate Guide to PMP Certification

Get this complete roadmap and successfully navigate the PMP Certification process.

PMP Certification

Project Management Institute (PMI) maintains the global standard of project management best practices, processes, methodologies, and professional ethics through the certification process. PMI administers multiple project manager skill certifications. The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is the most well-recognized. With a PMP certification, a Project Manager has the distinction of a globally recognized professional credential, and the verifiable knowledge to manage projects more efficiently.

To earn your PMP certification, you must:

Once you have PMP certification, you will need to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) each year to maintain your PMP credential.

PMP Certification Eligibility Requirements

Project Management Institute requires that you meet initial requirements before you are eligible to sit for the PMP certification exam. The PMP certification application requires experience leading projects and a minimum number of professional development units (PDUs). The PMI will review your application. If you fulfill the requirements, PMI will notify you that you can take the PMP certification exam.

The information below provides an overview of the various education levels PMI accepts for PMP certification applications with non-overlapping professional project management experience requirements. For the PMP certification application, all project management experience submitted must have occurred within the last eight years.

High School Diploma, Associate's Degree, or Global Equivalent

Bachelor's Degree (Four-year Degree) or Global Equivalent

Minimum of 36 months of unique non-overlapping professional project management experience

Bachelor's Degree or Post-Graduate Degree from a GAC accredited program (Bachelor's Degree or Master's or Global Equivalent)

Minimum of 24 months of unique non-overlapping professional project management experience

How to Get a PMP Certification

PMI administers the PMP certification exam. To apply to take the exam, you must first create a PMI account to use for logging into the PMI website. Next, submit your completed PMP certification exam application with the required documentation on the PMI website. After PMI approves your application, you will receive the information to schedule your exam.

To prepare, review the PMP Exam Content Outline and familiarize yourself with the PMP certification exam format. We offer a number of study materials and practice exams in our PMP Certification Training course to help you get ready.

The application process for the PMP certification exam is as follows:

Step 1: Register to become a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) ® .

Step 2: Take our PMP Certification Training course to satisfy the required 35 hours of education requirement.

Step 3: Submit your PMP application online.

Step 4: Schedule your exam with Pearson VUE.

Step 5: Take and Pass the PMP Certification Exam

PMP Certification Process Resources

These articles provides more information on the value of a PMP certification:

For additional information, you may refer to PMI directly:

What is the fee for the PMP Certification exam?

The cost to take the PMP certification exam is $544 total ($149 to join PMI and $405 for the exam fees). You can pay for the exam without joining PMI, at a cost of $555. Since joining PMI saves you $11 on exam fees and you also receive PMI member benefits, we recommend becoming a PMI member before applying to take the exam.

How many contact hours do I need to be eligible for a PMP Certification?

PMI requires 35 contact hours to sit for the PMP exam. Project Management Academy's PMP exam prep course has been approved by PMI to issue the 35 contact hours. Upon completing the required PMI Post-Class Survey (instructions are provided in-class and in your PMA Learning Portal), your 35 hours will also populate in your PMI profile to streamline your application process for the PMP Certification. For extra assurance, we will provide you with a certificate of completion at the end of the course that you can submit to PMI if you get audited.

Can I apply for the exam prior to attending a course?

You can apply for the PMP exam before attending the course, provided you have already completed the required 35 hours of PM training needed to sit for the exam. Most students wait until the live course is completed, at which time they will have earned the necessary 35 hours to apply for the exam, and that's what we generally advise students to do. However, circumstances sometimes require students to get certified within a short timeframe.

As a word of caution, we generally do not recommend taking the PMP certification exam immediately after completing the course. While it certainly can be done, it requires extra preparation prior to the live course. We recommend allowing yourself at least 1 week of study after the live course to ensure that you are fully prepared.

How many PDUs are required to maintain a PMP Certification?

How much does it cost to renew your pmp certification.

For Non-PMI Members, the cost to renew your PMP Certification is $150 per 3 year cycle. For PMI members, the cost is discounted to $60.

What is the average salary of a project manager with a PMP Certification?

From an annual project manager survey report, PMI collected self-reported data from 32,000 Project Managers across 42 countries. Data showed that those with a PMP® certification earn 22% more than those without it. The PMI states that in the USA. , the median salary for Project Managers is $ 116,000.

How can I maintain my PMP Certification?

Once you have earned the Project Management Professional certification, you must maintain a specific number of PDUs in PMI-determined categories and pay the renewal cycle fee to remain certified. PMI PDU requirements are in the PMI CCR Handbook . Submit your PDU claims via the PMI CCR online portal with the best practice of submitting as soon as possible after completing an activity.

How long does it take to get PMP certification?

The entire PMP certification process includes the time to complete the application, the 5 business days the PMI uses to review your application, the exam prep work, and taking the exam. Generally speaking, starting the application process to receiving your certification can take about 6 months.

In a survey of 100 PMP certification holders asked how long they studied for their exams, the answers ranged from a week to 6 months ! The conclusion was that for most project managers, it takes about 2 months of 2 - 3 hours of daily study to prepare for the PMP certification exam. To plan your PMP certification prep, keep in mind that you will need time to complete your application and you need time to study, before you actually take the exam.

Popular Courses

PMP Exam Preparation

PMI-ACP Exam Preparation

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training

CBAP Exam Preparation

Corporate Training

Project Management Training

PMI, PMBOK, PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMI-PBA, The PMI TALENT TRIANGLE and the PMI Talent Triangle logo, and the PMI Registered Education Provider logo are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc. | PMI R.E.P Provider ID #3348 ITIL ® is a Registered Trade Mark of AXELOS Limited. The Swirl logo™ is a trade mark of AXELOS Limited. | IIBA ® , BABOK ® Guide and Business Analysis Body of Knowledge ® are registered trademarks owned by International Institute of Business Analysis. CBAP ® and CCBA ® are registered certification marks owned by International Institute of Business Analysis. These trademarks are used with the express permission of International Institute of Business Analysis. | Project Management Academy ® , PMA ® , the most trusted name in project management training ® , and Senior Certified Project Manager ® are registered marks of Educate 360, LLC.

Home / Project Management / PMP / How To Get PMP Certification Guide – 5 Steps to Get PMP!

How To Get PMP Certification Guide – 5 Steps to Get PMP!

Are you a project manager? Or, aspiring to grow in the project management profession? Then, you definitely need PMP! If you are wondering about how to pass the PMP exam on your first attempt, you are at the right place! However, before we answer your question about how to get PMP credentials, let us see what PMP is! Project Management Professional PMP Certification is the globally recognized, needed, and sought-after credential in project management.

Attend our 100% Online & Self-Paced One-Hour Free PMP Training .

how to get a project management certification

The 3 Good Reasons for Getting PMP Certification

If you are asking about getting PMP certification, so you must also have a strong ‘why?’. You need good reasons to enable your journey to find the answer to your getting PMP Certification question. Let’s look at the 3 good reasons for becoming a PMP.

Jobs in project management: Did you know that by 2027, 22 million new jobs in project management would be created? What does that mean to you as an individual? You are looking at a whopping need for 88 million individuals in various project-oriented roles.

Industries that need Project-oriented roles: Which industry sector are you working in? Manufacturing & Construction, Information Services & Publishing, Finance & Insurance, Management & Professional Service, Utilities or Oil & Gas? If you are working in any of these industries, watch out for a spurt in the project management jobs ! Even if you are not in these industries, continue to think about getting PMP certification, so that you can be one step ahead and might also move to these industries. You can read more about PMP jobs .

After helping over 500,000 professionals in more than 180 countries with a 99.6% first attempt pass rate , we have prepared a seven-step PMP study plan. Read this PMP study plan and create your own PMP prep plan accordingly.

PMP Certification Salary Hike: You can become PMP certified and get a salary hike , earning more. But how much salary hike can certified project managers expect? Did you read the PMI salary survey report? If not, here is the answer to your question. 20% growth! Isn’t a 20% increase in your salary a trigger enough to get to the bottom of getting a PMP certificate? You can read more about PMP salary .

Participants who earned Project Management Certification: 36.84% increased their salary by 10% or more and 15.13% increased their salary by 20% or more.

Other good reasons: If these 3 reasons are not good enough, let’s give you some more reasons:

Is your motive getting stronger to become a PMP-certified project manager? Let’s see if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility requirement for PMP certification

Do you have a 4-year bachelor’s degree and 4500 hours of experience directing and managing projects? Do you meet these PMP certification requirements ? If so, the next requirement is attending a 35-hour PMP certification training .

100% FREE PMP® Pack

Let us send you links for our Free PMP Pack. Package includes:

- PMP Question Bank - PMP Flash Cards - PMP Prep Book Sample PDF - Free PMP Overview Training - PMP Cheat Sheets & more

Project Approach for Getting PMP Certification

When you are in the project management arena, what is better than looking at the PMP certification preparation as a project. Therefore, let us apply the project management principles and get to the depth of getting PMP Certification steps.

Step 1: Initiating

Are you now having a concrete justification for taking up this project? Have you assessed the reasons to go for certification and the benefits that you get? Let’s start to explain the major steps of getting PMP certification.

Financial Appraisal: Cost Vs. Benefit

Did you do a financial appraisal on the total PMP Certification cost ( PMP Exam Cost , the cost of 35 hours of project management education, the cost of the resources) versus the PMP benefits ? Is your ROI and payback period (based on PMP Salary ) attractive enough for you to take up the project? So getting PMP certification is determined by your strength of motive too!

What deadline do you have in mind? Is there a constraint from your organization that you need to finish PMP Certification by a specific date? Or, are you driven by a change in PMBOK or other motives? What are the key milestones for this? These are important points to determine how to get PMP Certification.

Did you decide when you want to complete the 35-hour PMP exam training ? This could be a milestone.

If you are looking for PMP training with thousands of PMP practice questions PMP Certification Online Training bundle will be a good option. The most comprehensive PM training bundle of Master of Project Academy is the Project Management Training Online program.

How about submitting your application? Brainstorm and come up with dates for these and more.

Have you a high-level estimate of the components of the cost of PMP certification? This is a crucial thing to consider about getting PMP Certification. Based on the estimate, prepare a budget. You can learn more about PMP certification cost .

Stakeholder

Have you identified who are the stakeholders in your project? Did you do a stakeholder analysis? What criteria are you going to have in place to check that your project is going to be successfully completed?

Step 2: Planning

How to get PMP Certification talks about the approach and methodology for becoming a PMP. Here is a planning guide about how to get PMP Certification.

Create a PMP Study Plan

What is a PMP study plan? In what way is it a component of how to get PMP Certification? You need a study plan to know what to do, when to do and how to do it. This is your project management plan .

Plan to Manage Stakeholders

Right from your boss, your family, and the training provider, there are many stakeholders in this project. Are you clear about what their expectations are? Have you set the expectations with your stakeholders? Because you may need to dedicate specific time for PMP preparation. Therefore, an essential part of how to get PMP Certification is managing your stakeholders. Tell them upfront what help you need from them.

Schedule & Cost

How to get PMP Certification involves risk management. There could be many uncertainties in your PMP journey. Therefore, unless you identify what hurdles or roadblocks you may encounter, you may be delayed in becoming a PMP.

Identify risks and plan: What risks do you foresee in completing the PMP Certification?

Impact on schedule: What if the training provider reschedules your planned training session? How is it impacting your schedule?

Impact on Cost: OR, if the provider does not give you all the resources such as mind maps, cheat sheets, and practice tests? Would you need to increase your budget?

Have you factored in extra time and cost as a contingency?

Risk Management in PMP Certification Process

Procurement

As part of procurement, the resources you want to buy or the training, you need to understand the capabilities of the training provider to have a solid answer for your how to get PMP Certification question.

Source selection criteria for 35-hour training program

Have you made a list of project management PMP training providers? What are the source selection criteria? Here are a few that you can use as a reference:

Your question of how to get PMP Certification is partly addressed in terms of the planning that you need to do. In addition to what we discussed above, check out any resources you need to procure and the 35-hour training program you are going to sign up for.

35% of Master of Project Academy participants who passed their certification exam saw a 10x return within the first year.

Watch the Top 3 Benefits of PMP Online Training

How to Get PMP Certification Step 3&4: Execution, Monitoring & Control

Attend the course.

Are you ready with a selected training provider? This is where you are implementing the plan for how to get PMP Certification. Therefore, start with completing the 35-hour course.

PMP Application Process

The next step in executing the getting PMP Certification plan is to start the application process, part of the PMP certification process and in parallel your exam preparation. You can read more about the PMP application .

Why in parallel? Because, by starting your application process, even if your application is picked for an audit, you have ample time to complete this and take your exam within the timeline you planned. You are implementing a schedule optimization technique by using a start-start relation instead of a finish-to-start:

PMP Exam Prep

Into how many phases have you divided your preparation when you planned how to get PMP Certification?

Make sure you practice with as many PMP sample questions as possible. Practicing several PMP questions is the crucial factor that will affect your PMP success. Enroll in our PMP Exam Simulator to access over 1,400 PMP questions and answers. You can see the demo of the PMP exam simulator here: Free PMP Exam Simulator .

Did you study the PMBOK? If not done, read it in this phase. Did you do a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis? Based on this, focus on overcoming weakness, utilize opportunities such as free tests, and resources and then take a full-length test. Repeat the Study-Test-Revise- Re-test cycle.

Have you set the monitoring and control parameters? What is your target score? Did you reach that? If not, raise a change request. Modify your strategy after a root cause analysis .

Firm up your brain dump, hone your math skill , take full-length practice tests, and check your score. Have you reached your target? Continuous monitoring & control is an important aspects of getting PMP certification. When you reach your target score, schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE testing center.

Have a checklist of what identity proofs and documents that are needed at the Pearson VUE test center and accordingly take them to the exam center.

PMP Exam Day: Start the exam with confidence and proceed to finish successfully and see the Congratulations message! Do not leave any questions unanswered. Remember, you do not have negative marking in PMP!

How to Get PMP Certification Step 5: Closing

Have you done a closure review of your project? Did you capture lessons learned and best practices? Which resources did you find useful? This would be a great help for other PMP aspirants and their questions about getting PMP certification!

PMP Renewal

Do you know that you have to renew your credential every 3 years? It is not just how to get PMP Certification but also how to maintain it. Check out the courses to earn your PDUs for PMP Renewal .

Putting it all together on getting PMP certification: Have a plan and follow it diligently . Using a project approach is the solution to your question of how to get PMP Certification.

Author Biography

Sunanda Gundavajhala, B.Tech, M.B.A, PMP has over 25 years of project management. She is a consultant, trainer on project management for different sectors and is the recipient of “Recognition of Excellence” award from PMI, USA and Woman Volunteer award from Hyderabad, India Chapter of PMI. Sunanda has contributed to the “Practice Standard on Scheduling, PMI”. She has worked as the Liaison Officer for PMIEF (Education Foundation) for the Hyderabad, India Chapter of PMI.

Disclaimer:

Master of Project Promo Codes PMP Articles

PMP Certification Ultimate Guide – 99.6% Pass Rate CAPM Articles

Best Project Management Certifications

These project management certifications can help you excel as an employee..

Project management certifications have claimed a place in every top IT certification list for years. That’s because project managers are important to IT operations of all kinds. Whether you are interested in becoming an IT project manager or just want to add project management to your list of soft skills, these five leading certifications will help you add to or boost those skills and, in turn, increase your value.

If there’s a single set of soft skills that’s been fixed on the IT radar for the past decade or so, to the point where it’s become almost as sought after and every bit as valuable as top-level credentials, it must be project management. Thanks in large part to the immensely popular and widely pursued Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), this area has become an incredibly valuable merit badge for IT professionals of all stripes. That’s because it enhances and expands on the value of just about any other kind of technical credential.

Project management has everything to do with planning, scheduling, budgeting for, and then executing and reporting on projects of all shapes and sizes. In fact, anything and everything that IT does can be understood or handled as a project of some kind. It applies to one-of-a-kind activities that happen only once or very seldom (think hardware or OS upgrades or migrating from older to newer platforms or infrastructures). Ditto for a recurring series of activities that repeat regularly (think security patches, software updates or other regular maintenance tasks). Thus, project management is incredibly important and valuable to IT operations across the board.

According to PMI’s Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey , 10th Edition [pdf] , IT professionals who hold a PMP report median base annual salaries in the U.S. of almost $116,000. The top 25 percent of survey respondents report base salaries of at least $139,000. Depending on such factors as complexity and size of projects, location, fields of expertise (e.g., IT, construction or healthcare), and experience, salaries for some PMP credential holders can be much higher still.

Robert Half’s Technology & IT 2019 Salary Guide lists project management as a hot certification, with salaries varying slightly by technology area. It cites a salary range of $93,000 to $157,500 for project managers in application development environments. Project managers engaged in consulting and system integration roles can expect to earn $96,250 to $163,500 nationwide. This explains nicely why PMP appears in nearly every top 10 list of popular, targeted or most desirable certifications since the early 2000s. It’s no surprise that Robert Half also lists the PMP credential, along with Agile and Scrum certifications, as “highly valued technology certifications” trending up in the IT industry.

To give you an idea of which project management credentials employers look for in prospective candidates, we conducted a quick survey on some popular job boards. Clearly, the PMP is the overall favorite and remains our No. 1 pick for must-have project management certifications. PMI’s entry-level project management credential, the CAPM, also made our top five. The CSM from Scrum Alliance, along with ASQ’s Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt credentials, round out those picks. It’s also worth noting that job postings for project managers increased by 20 percent from 2018 across all project management certifications.

Job board survey results (in alphabetical order, by certification)

Capm: certified associate in project management.

The same organization behind the more senior Project Management Professional (PMP) credential also backs the Certified Associate in Project Management ( CAPM ). In fact, the CAPM is properly considered a steppingstone credential for those who wish to attain PMP status by stages, rather than in a single giant leap. That’s why PMI describes the CAPM as a “valuable entry-level certification for project practitioners” that is “designed for those with little or no project experience.”

The PMP requires three to five years of documented on-the-job project management experience, depending on the educational background of each applicant. On the other hand, the CAPM requires only a high school diploma and either 1,500 hours of documented on-the-job experience (about nine months of full-time work) or 23 hours of project management classroom training prior to taking the exam. The education prerequisite can be met by completing PMI’s Project Management Basics online course which costs $350 for PMI members and $400 for non-members.

Nor does the CAPM require continuing education (which PMI calls PDUs, or professional development units) as does the PMP (60 PDUs every three years) to maintain this credential. To recertify, CAPM holders must retake the exam once every five years.

The CAPM is one of a small set of entry-level project management certifications (including the CompTIA Project+) that IT professionals interested in project management might choose to pursue. Remember, though, that it is just a steppingstone to the PMP.

Unless you work in a large organization where a project management team is in place that includes junior as well as senior positions, the CAPM by itself is unlikely to provide a ticket to a project management job. However, it’s ideal for IT professionals for whom project management is a part-time job role or who want to grow into full-time project management.

CAPM facts and figures

Csm: certified scrummaster.

As companies seek to deliver more for less, many adopt Agile methodologies to streamline processes, build quality into products and ensure that final builds meet customer requirements. As Agile methodologies have become more popular, it’s no surprise that we see increased demand for IT practitioners qualified to manage projects in Agile environments.

While different Scrum master certifications are available, our pick is the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from the Scrum Alliance. This nonprofit encourages adoption of Scrum and Agile practices, promotes user groups and learning events, and provides resources for professional development. The organization boasts more than 500,000 certified practitioners worldwide.

The Scrum Alliance provides a support system for Scrum practitioners, including Scrum Gatherings, user groups, virtual communications, coaching, online training and much more. In addition to community and advocacy activities, the Scrum Alliance offers numerous Scrum-related certifications at the foundation, advanced, professional, elevated (guide) and leadership levels. Scrum Alliance certifications are designed for team members engaged in Scrum master, product owners and developer roles. The Scrum master and product owner tracks offer credentials at the foundation, advanced and professional levels which the developer track only offers a foundation and professional level cert.

For project managers getting started as Scrum practitioners, the CSM makes an excellent entry-level credential. Not only must candidates demonstrate an understanding of Scrum principles and values, but they’ll learn how to implement and apply Scrum in practice. The Scrum Alliance provides CSMs with multiple resources, plus checklists and information about the servant-leader role of the Scrum master.

Certified ScrumMaster facts and figures

Cssbb: certified six sigma black belt.

Globally recognized, ASQ certifications attest to candidate expertise, mastery of industry and regulation standards, and mastery of the ASQ Body of Knowledge. Currently, ASQ offers 18 credentials, three of which specifically target project management: the Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) (expert level), the Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) (professional level) and the Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB) (entry level).

The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt is ASQ’s highest Six Sigma credential. The CSSBB aims at experienced practitioners who understand Six Sigma methodologies (including the DMAIC model), tools, systems and philosophies. CSSBBs can lead teams or manage team dynamics, roles and responsibilities.

The path to CSSBB certification is rigorous. In addition to passing a comprehensive exam, candidates must complete two projects that employ Six Sigma tools and processes, resulting in project improvement and a positive financial project impact. An affidavit is also required to attest to the veracity of the project. Alternatively, candidates with at least three years of experience in one or more of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge areas need only complete one Black Belt project.

CSSBB candidates are expected to demonstrate mastery of the ASQ Black Belt Body of Knowledge, called standards:

The CSSBB is valid for three years. To recertify, candidates must earn 18 recertification units or retake the exam.

CSSBB facts and figures

Cssgb: certified six sigma green belt.

The Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) by ASQ is a professional-level credential targeting experienced Six Sigma practitioners. Often, a CSSGB works under the direction of the more senior CSSBB or as an assistant. CSSGBs identify issues and drive quality and process improvements in projects.

To earn the credential, candidates should have at least three years of experience working with Six Sigma processes, systems and tools. The work experience must have been full time and compensated; an unpaid internship, for example, doesn’t count. In addition, work performed must have been in at least one of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge competency areas.

In addition to work experience, candidates must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge. Currently, the Green Belt Body of Knowledge includes six competency areas:

Overall, this is an excellent credential for those who have some experience but are not quite ready to take on the roles and responsibilities of a Black Belt.

CSSGB facts and figures

Pmp: project management professional.

The Project Management Institute ( PMI ) not only stands behind its Project Management Professional certification, it works with academia and training companies to ensure proper coverage and currency in the various curricula that support this and other PMI credentials. Boasting more than 500,000 global members and 750,000 PMP certified professionals around the world, PMI’s PMP remains one of the most prestigious project management credentials available. ( Note : The PMP’s precursor, the CAPM, is covered in an earlier section of this article.)

That’s why you can obtain college- and university-based PMP training from so many institutions. It’s also why you may sometimes find PMP coverage integrated into certain degree programs (often at the master’s degree level).

The PMP credential is coveted by employers seeking the most highly skilled project management professionals. Developed by project managers, the PMP certification is the highest level offered in PMI certifications. It is designed to ensure that credential-holders possess the skills and qualifications necessary to successfully manage all phases of a project, including initiating, planning, scheduling, controlling and monitoring, and closing out the project.

PMP certified projects managers are also well versed and skilled in managing all aspects of the triple constraints – time, cost and scope. Employers depend on the skills of PMP professionals to manage budgets, track costs, manage scope creep, identify how changes to the triple constraints may introduce risk into the project, and minimize such risk to protect the project investment.

The standards for PMP certification are rigorous. Beyond passing a comprehensive exam, credential holders must first demonstrate and certify that they have the skills and education necessary to succeed in the project management field. Credential seekers should be ready to provide documentation for items such as education, projects worked on and hours spent in each of the five project management stages – initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing out the project.

While it’s difficult to achieve, the rewards for PMP credential holders can be significant. According to PMI’s Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey , 10th Edition, PMPs in the U.S. earn an average of 23 percent more than their non-credentialed counterparts. The survey reports median salaries of PMPs in the United States at $115,000, as opposed to $92,000 for non-PMP certified project managers.

For those interested in program management or wishing to specialize in a project management area, PMI offers several interesting additional credentials:

The PMP remains a nonpareil certification for IT and other professionals whose responsibilities encompass project management. It is the standard against which all other project management credentials are judged.

It should be noted that, after meeting the prerequisites, candidates are also required to pass a rigorous exam. Candidates must obtain an eligibility ID from PMI before they can register for the exam.

PMP facts and figures

Beyond the top 5: more project management certifications.

Project management is truly a white-hot area for both certification seekers and employers. Several other project management certifications are available, for general IT project management as well as software development project management.

Honorable mention goes to the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM) project management certifications, such as the Professional in Project Management, Associate in Project Management and Certified Project Director. The Prince2 Foundation and Practitioner qualifications (featured in the 2017 top-five list) are also excellent credentials and worth honorable mention.

The CompTIA Project+ credential (featured in the 2017 top-five list and honorable mention in 2018) remains a well-known entry-level project management certification for those starting their project management careers. ASQ’s Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt ( CSSYB ) is another entry-level credential worth exploring, particularly if you’re interested in eventually moving up to the more senior Green and Black Belt credentials.

Most graduate business, management and management information systems (MIS) programs offer project management training to students, and some offer certificate programs outside the project management organizations as well.

You’ll also find training and occasional certification around various project management tool sets . For example, some Microsoft Learning Partners offer courses on Microsoft Project, and you can find a dizzying array of project management packages on Wikipedia’s comparison of project management software page.

The CAPM and Project+ remain the best-known entry-level project management certifications, with the PMP as the primary professional target and capstone for would-be professional IT project managers. Don’t forget to consider PMI’s related certifications as well. For project managers seeking entry into the realm of Scrum, the CSM is the best entry-level cert for Scrum practitioners.

Best 12 Project Management Certifications (2023)

ProjectManager's tools have been used to plan over 2 million projects. Join thousands of PMs using our award-winning software—sign up now and get 30 days free.

There are several project management certifications that you can get to become a project management professional. To determine which one is best for you, you’ll need to think about things such as your project management skills, the career path you want to choose or your desired project management methodology specialization.

Choosing the right certification and training program for your project management career is an important decision. That’s why we’ve compiled the best project management certifications of 2023. But before looking at them in more detail, let’s first define what a project management certification is.

What Is a Project Management Certification?

A project management certification is a test that validates someone’s project management skills, knowledge and practical experience. In most cases, issuing organizations usually offer an accompanying training or education program so candidates can prepare for the test.

Some organizations, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI), will ask you to meet some requirements to be allowed in the program, such as having a bachelor’s degree, months of project management experience or even another project management certification.

Completing those training programs and getting a project management certification has many benefits for your career, such as staying current with a discipline that’s always changing, keeping up with the newest technology and techniques and a higher project manager salary.

Once you complete your project management certification, you’ll need the right project management tools to manage your projects. ProjectManager is online project management software equipped with Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and more. Plus, it delivers real-time data when tracking projects to help project managers make more insightful decisions. Get started for free.

Best Project Management Certifications for 2023

Before you make a decision, keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all certification in project management. The best choice depends on your particular needs. for example, a program manager and a project manager need different skills, training and different project management certifications.

In this list, we’ve compiled choices from the top project management certifications providers, such as the project management institute (PMI), Axelos and Google. These organizations offer a variety of certifications that focus on different project management methodologies such as agile or scrum, or specific project management knowledge areas such as project scheduling, resource management or risk management. We hope you find the one that best suits your needs.

1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

PMI administers many of the certifications in our field, including the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) . This is the first step in your certification journey. It doesn’t require much more than a high-school diploma or equivalent and at least 1,500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of project management education. It gives you the basics and is a way to differentiate yourself from others trying to break into the business.

Price: PMI members, $225, nonmembers, $300

2. Project Management Professional (PMP)

Again, managed by PMI, the PMP certification is a rigorous and thorough test that covers all aspects of project management. From the triple constraint of time, cost and scope, to every phase of the project from initiating, planning and executing to monitoring, controlling and closing, it shows you’re a qualified project manager.

The exam is based on PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and requires a high-school degree or equivalent, 60 months of experience managing projects and 35 hours of project management education or a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. If you have a four-year degree, however, you can qualify with only 36 months of project management experience.

Price: The fees for PMI exams vary depending on whether you’re a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI). The PMP exam costs $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members.

3. Program Management Professional (PgMP)

This certification is geared toward project managers who wish to become program managers. Program management requires expertise in areas such as resource management, project planning and risk management.

This certification tests your ability to allocate resources over multiple projects, track multiple project timelines and make strategic decisions for your organization to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Price: The program management professional (PgMP) exam costs $800 for PMI members and $1,000 for non-members.

4. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)

Portfolio managers excel at prioritizing and coordinating the execution of projects and programs to achieve the strategic goals of their organization. This requires excellent analytical skills and thorough knowledge of project management methodologies, techniques and tools.

Price: The portfolio management professional (PfMP) exam costs $800 for PMI members and $1,000 for non-members.

5. Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

This certification is geared toward project management professionals who wish to validate their knowledge of agile project management. The test measures your overall understanding of an agile framework and your knowledge of different agile project management methodologies such as scrum, kanban, lean and extreme programming (XP).

Price: The agile certified practitioner (ACP) exam costs $435 for PMI members and $495 for non-members.

6. CompTIA Project+ Certification

Another entry-level certification, but with fewer requirements than CAPM, CompTIA Project+ is recommended for people who’ve had one year of managing a small- to medium-sized project management experience. With this certification, you’ve opened the door to a career in project management, having learned the knowledge and skills needed to lead a project to a successful end.

Price: $285

7. Associate in Project Management (APM), Professional in Project Management (PPM) and Certified Project Director (CPD)

All three tiers of certification are offered by the nonprofit Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM), APM covers a broad spectrum of project management skills at the entry level and requires no experience. PPM is the next level up, targeting experienced project managers with some formal management experience. CPD is exclusively for professionals who have significant experience in the field. It’s suited for complex projects and focuses on managing, budgeting and scope when working on multiple projects.

Price: APM, PPM and CDP $300 each

8. Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

You don’t need any experience to take CPMP certification , but it’s recommended to take the three-day preparation course for the exam. Proctored by the EC-Council, an organization formed after 9/11 to deal with cyberterrorism, CPMP crosses many methodologies and types of projects, usually more complex ones, and is recommended for project managers looking to add value to their already established skillsets.

Price: $199

9. Master Project Manager (MPM)

The MPM certification is handled by the American Academy of Project Management (AAPM) and is recognized around the world. It requires three years of project management experience, though waivers are available for those with a qualifying master’s degree. The program is best for those who work in business and technical professions.

Price: $300

10. Certified ScrumMaster

Scrum is part of Agile, which has become a standard in IT projects. It’s used in software development by small teams of developers who work in short “sprints.” The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification, a great way to get started in the discipline, is offered by the nonprofit Scrum Alliance . It teaches you how to properly work in Scrum, its values, practices and applications. To get certified as a Scrum Master you first must have some knowledge of Scrum.

Price: Between $995 and $1,395

11. PRINCE2 Certification

PRINCE2 is an acronym for Projects in Controlled Environments. It was developed in England and is more common in Europe, where it’s used by most governmental organizations. The certification is provided by AXELOS , a joint venture between the UK and Capita, which trains participants in directing, managing and delivering projects from initiation to close. There are two certifications available, PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner. The former is an entry-level certification on basic project management terms and methods, with the latter for more advanced project managers who have already passed PRINCE2 Foundation.

Price: PRINCE2 Foundation, $200 and PRINCE2 Practitioner, $340

12. Project Management in IT Security (PMITS)

Like CPMP, PMITS is operated by the EC-Council and focuses exclusively on managing IT security projects. Candidates need at least two years of project management experience, plus, preferably, a bachelor’s degree or higher. There’s an EC-Council training program offered before the exam, which is recommended.

Price: $250

ProjectManager Is a Dynamic Project Management Software

Certification shows employees and clients that you have the skills it takes to deliver projects successfully. Skills applied with the right tools are even more insurance that the work is being done right. ProjectManager is online project management software that’s flexible enough to serve project, program and portfolio managers who work in traditional waterfall methodologies, agile environments or even hybrid methodologies.

Use the Project Management Tools You Want

Unlike other software products that push you into their definition of project management, we give you multiple project views so you can choose the tools with which you’re most comfortable. Gantt charts are great for waterfall projects while kanban boards are preferred by those who are working in an agile environment. There are also calendar views for stakeholders, sheet views that mimic Excel but with more power and list views for those who want to know what’s next.

Connect Across Departments or Continents

Skills and tools will only get you so far. Projects are team efforts and teamwork is essential to their success. That’s why our real-time tool is so powerful. It allows you to share files, make comments at the task level and even tag anyone in the project to bring them into a conversation. This helps foster collaboration across departments that might be working on different tasks with different tools. But the data is updated the same. It also helps connect people in the office, the field or even at home.

Cross-team collaboration in ProjectManager's Gantt chart

Our software is packed with the features you need to show off all the skills you proved you excel at by getting certified. There are task management tools to boost productivity, resource management tools that keep everyone well-allocated and risk management tools to identify and track issues so they don’t become problems. Certification plus the right project management tool equals no limits.

Whatever project management certification you get, you’ll still need the right tools to apply that knowledge. ProjectManager is online project management software developed by project managers to help with every phase of the project. Take your learning to the next level by trying out our software free for 30-days .

Click here to browse ProjectManager's free templates

Deliver your projects on time and under budget

Start planning your projects.

Google Project Management Certificate

Get started in the high-growth field of project management with a professional certificate developed by Google. Discover how to manage projects efficiently and effectively, using traditional and agile methods.

Get a job in project management, with help from Google

Learn the foundations of project management and get the job-ready skills you need to kick-start your career in a fast-growing field.

Median salary in project management 1

In-demand job openings in project management 1.

Learn online, in partnership with Coursera

Fast and flexible, the project management curriculum is hosted on Coursera, one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, so you can learn at the pace that’s right for you.

Qualify for in-demand jobs in project management

Whether at a small company or a large enterprise organization, project managers are responsible for planning, organizing and running projects so they can be delivered on time and on budget.

Learn more about the certificate

Project management certificate.

This fully online program provides the skills you need for an entry-level job in project management, with no relevant experience required.

You’ll learn about:

See full curriculum

Preview the certificate material

The foundations of project management

Discover what it takes to build a successful career in project management, gain an understanding of what it's like to be a project manager and learn about the project lifecycle and common project management approaches.

The full certificate program includes:

Build on your project management skills with an industry specialization.

Industry Specializations are university-built training programs designed to help you develop additional expertise and unlock job opportunities in high-growth industries. Earn a credential from Google and a leading university when you complete a Google Career Certificate and Industry Specialization.

Construction Specialization

Developed by Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and hosted on Coursera, this fully online program provides the skills you need to find entry-level jobs in construction management and project engineering.

Prepare for jobs such as:

Sustainability Specialization

Developed by Arizona State University and hosted on Coursera, this fully online program provides the skills you need to find entry-level jobs in sustainability management.

Get on the fast track to in-demand jobs with top employers

Complete a Google Career Certificate to get exclusive access to CareerCircle , which offers free 1-on-1 coaching, interview and career support, and a job board to connect directly with employers, including over 150 companies in the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium.

Complete online certificate courses, at your own pace and time.

Access career resources like coaching sessions, mock interviews, and a resume builder tool.

Share your resume and get connected with national and local employers.

CONNECT WITH TOP EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING THESE:

We have over 150 employers in our employer consortium .

Project Management and more ways to grow

Send me more information to help me grow my…

Sorry, an error occurred! Make sure your email address is valid, and that you’ve selected an interest.

By clicking subscribe, you consent to receive email communication from Grow with Google and its programs. Your information will be used in accordance with Google Privacy Policy and you may opt out at any time by clicking unsubscribe at the bottom of each communication.

Thanks for subscribing to the Grow with Google newsletter!

Kenefra, Project Manager at The Mom Project and Google Project Management Certificate graduate

Adrienne, Small Business Advisor at Dell Technologies and Google Project Management Certificate graduate

Lauren, Administrative Business Partner at Google and Google Project Management Certificate graduate

Frequently asked questions

What is project management.

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.

Think about the last time you planned a group vacation or trip. Finding a location, delegating who should bring what, collecting and tracking payments, coordinating your arrival, and ensuring everyone enjoys the trip are all project management tasks. Think about the value that accomplishing those tasks adds to your trip. Now, think about the value that can add to a company. Project management is valuable to businesses because it helps ensure that a project delivers the expected outcomes — both on time and within budget. So, as you can imagine, project management is critical to the success of projects both big and small.

What is a project management certificate?

The Google Project Management Certificate will teach you how to effectively coordinate projects for companies of all sizes. Through a combination of skills training and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to plan, organize, and run projects so they can be delivered on time and on budget.

Why start a career in project management?

Project managers are in high demand. As the workplace continues to grow and evolve, project managers serve as a pivotal piece to an organization’s ability to adapt and remain agile.

Project managers are natural problem-solvers. In addition to setting the plan and guiding teammates through the project, they are tasked with managing changes and risks. Each day is dynamic and different for a project manager because they are at the center of the project — building relationships, prioritizing tasks, and delivering results! Using various tools and templates, as well as a unique skill set, the project manager brings order to chaos.

Who is the Project Management Certificate for?

You! No prior project management experience or specific knowledge is required. All you need is an interest in solving problems and working with people.

Why enroll in the Google Project Management Certificate?

The Google Project Management Certificate not only focuses on project management artifacts and skill sets, but essential business acumen skills like stakeholder management, influencing, critical thinking in problem solving, and effective communication.

You’ll learn these job-ready skills in our certificate program through interactive content (discussion prompts, quizzes, and hands-on activities) in under six months, with 5-10 hours of study a week. Along the way, you'll work through a curriculum designed with input from top employers and industry leaders, like the Project Management Institute (PMI) and Scrum.org.

After you’ve graduated from the program, you’ll have access to career resources and be connected directly with employers hiring for open entry-level roles in project management.

What project management tools and platforms are taught in the Project Management Certificate curriculum?

Spreadsheets (e.g., Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, etc.), word processing applications (e.g., Google Docs, Microsoft Word, etc.), and presentation applications (e.g., Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote, etc.) will be used in the Project Management curriculum. Additionally, learners will have the option to use Asana and to learn about other common work management tools.

What languages is the Project Management Certificate available in?

This certificate is currently available in English and we are currently working to bring this certificate in additional languages. Please check back here for updates.

Will completing this certificate help prepare me for Project Management Institute certifications?

Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing the profession and practice of project management by providing organizations and individuals with tools, publications, and other resources, including globally-recognized standards, credentials, and certifications.

Google is an approved member of the Project Management Institute’s Authorized Training Partner Program, which ensures practitioners have access to consistent and high-quality training experiences. Those who complete the Google Project Management Certificate will qualify for over 100 hours of project management education that apply directly to requirements for globally-recognized PMI credentials, like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification , at a discounted price.

How much is the Project Management Certification?

The IT Support, User Experience Design, Project Management and Data Analytics Certificates cost $39 per month by subscription on Coursera.

What is Coursera?

Coursera is a global online learning platform that offers access to online courses. Google has worked with Coursera to make Google Career Certificates available on their platform.

Is the Google Project Management Certificate accredited?

The Google Project Management Certificate is accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a global nonprofit organization that provides globally recognized standards and certifications for the project management profession. In addition, graduates of the Google Project Management Certificate will qualify for over 100 hours of project management education that apply to PMI credentials at a discounted price.

Where can I access the Project Management Certificate?

The Project Management Certificate is available globally in English on Coursera. The Google IT Support Certificate is also available in Spanish and Portuguese. We are working to make the certificates available in more languages.

How long does it take to finish the Google Project Management Certificate?

The Google Project Management Certificate can be completed in three months working approximately 20 hours per week, or in six months working 10 hours per week. To finish the six courses which make up the Certificate, around 240 hours total are needed.

Is financial assistance available for the Project Management Certificate?

If you are interested in financial assistance, you may be eligible for financial aid via Coursera through the course page. Recipients of financial aid will have full access to course content and assignments required to earn a certificate. To apply, go to the certificate course page on Coursera and click the “Financial aid available” link next to the “Enroll” button.

Google has also funded 100,000 scholarships for Google Career Certificates, which will be distributed by Grow with Google partners and Google.org grantees like Merit America, Per Scholas, NPower, Goodwill, Futuro Health, Generation USA, UnidosUS, LULAC and Hispanic Federation. These funds will create a lasting impact in helping people land high-quality jobs in high-growth fields.

What is the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium? Can it help me find project management jobs?

The Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium consists of over 150 U.S. companies like Deloitte, Infosys, Snap Inc., Target, Verizon, and of course, Google. These companies span multiple sectors and are committed to considering Google Career Certificate graduates for entry-level jobs. Upon completion of the Project Management Certificate, you will gain access to an exclusive job platform where you can easily apply to opportunities from employers with open jobs.

Employers interested in joining the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium can find more information at grow.google/employers .

What other kind of support is available after I complete the Project Management Certificate?

In addition to expert training and hands-on projects designed to prepare you for a job in project management, you'll get access to a resume building tool, mock interviews and career networking support designed to help you with your job search. You'll also be able to connect with over 150 US employers in the hiring consortium who are accepting candidates who have completed the Project Management Certificate.

Who designed the Google Project Management Certificate?

Google Career Certificates were designed and built by subject-matter experts and senior practitioners at Google from each of the job fields. Every certificate has been created to equip learners with theoretical and practical knowledge and real-life problem-solving skills to be successful in an entry-level job. Expert industry organizations and platforms - like the Project Management Institute for project management, Tableau for data analytics, and Figma for UX design, to name a few - consulted and collaborated on material.

Can I get college credit for taking the Google Project Management Certificate?

Those planning to attend a degree program can utilize ACE®️ recommendations , the industry standard for translating workplace learning to college credit. Learners can earn a recommendation of 9 college credits for completing the Project Management Certificate, the equivalent of 3 college courses at the bachelor’s degree level. This aims to help open up additional pathways to learners who are interested in higher education, and prepare them for entry-level jobs.

To share proof of completion with schools, certificate graduates will receive an email prompting them to claim their Credly badge, which contains the ACE®️ credit recommendation. Once claimed, they will receive a competency-based transcript that signifies the credit recommendation, which can be shared directly with a school from the Credly platform. Please note that the decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution and is not guaranteed.

What is the Google Career Certificates fund? How do I enroll?

The $100M Google Career Certificates Fund will help nonprofits Social Finance, Merit America, and Year Up offer career support, job placement, and stipends to help drive $1B in aggregate wage gains. Learn more .

*Complete in 6 months, under 10 hours per week.

1 Burning Glass: Labor Insight (Last 12 Months: Feb. 1, 2021 - Jan. 31, 2022)

Discover even more ways to grow

I’m interested in resources to help me grow my...

Subscribe to discover even more ways to grow

IMAGES

Project Management Professional Certification : 7 Must-Read Resources for Project Management
Project Management Certification & Training Online
This certificate verifies my successful completion of Coursera Project Network's "I…
How Do You Need to Get a Project Management Certification Done?
PMP Certification Requirements 2020
How to get project management work experience without PMP certification

VIDEO

Project Manager Career Path| Project Manager Skills
What is needed for a Project Manager job
Top Project Management Certifications To Advance in Your Career
Supply Chain Project Management (SCPM) Series at Georgia Tech
Online Project Management
Agile Project Management Certification: Agile Overview Agile Principle 8

COMMENTS

What Is Project Management?
A project is an undertaking by one or more people to develop and create a service, product or goal. Project management is the process of overseeing, organizing and guiding an entire project from start to finish. Here are more facts about pr...
Why Is Project Management Important?
Project management is important because it helps companies get the most organization and production for their money. They are in charge of managing personnel to get a job done in a timely manner as inexpensively as possible.
What Is a Baseline in Project Management?
The baseline in project management refers to the initial cost, scope and schedule of the project. The baseline functions as a measure so the project will not deviate. Establishing a baseline happens before the project starts; otherwise, pro...
PMP Certification
To obtain PMP certification, a project manager must meet certain requirements and then pass a 180-question exam. The PMP exam was created by project leaders for
PMI Certifications
PMP® certification is the gold standard in project management. Recognized and demanded by organizations worldwide, the PMP validates your competence to perform
How to Get a PMP Certification: An Overview
How to get your PMP certification · 1. Meet the PMP certification requirements. · 2. Apply. · 3. Prepare. · 4. Take the PMP exam. · 5. Maintain your
How To Get A PMP Certification
PMP certification requires months of work experience. Precise requirements vary depending on your level of education. If you have a bachelor's
How to get PMP Certification in 10 Easy Steps (Advanced Guide)
If you have a bachelor degree or its equivalent in your country then the requirements are different. Then you must have a minimum of three years (36 months) of
PMP Certification Requirements
How to Get a PMP Certification · Step 1: Register to become a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. · Step 2: Take our PMP Certification Training
2023 How To Get PMP Certification Guide
Apply on the PMI website; Pay your PMP certification exam fee: you pay $555 if you are not a PMI member. You take membership with an annual fee
Best Project Management Certifications
PMP: Project Management Professional · Program Management Professional (PgMP) · Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) · PMI Agile Certified
Best 12 Project Management Certifications (2023)
The exam is based on PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and requires a high-school degree or equivalent, 60 months of experience
Google Project Management Certificate
Developed by Arizona State University and hosted on Coursera, this fully online program provides the skills you need to find entry-level jobs in sustainability
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification · A high school diploma or an associate degree (or global equivalent) · 60 months of leading projects · 35