Best 8 Project Management Certifications For Beginners
If you are a recent graduate looking to start your professional career or someone who wants to transition into a project management role, having an accredited project management credential can help you stand out among the crowded job applicant pool.
Not sure which certification is right for you? This handy guide will give you the lowdown on some of the most popular project management certifications for beginners to help you choose.
Top Project Management Certifications For Beginners
1. Mastering Digital Project Management
- Who It’s For: Agency project managers, digital producers, in-house software delivery leads, SaaS product onboarding managers, website development leads, freelancers, & entrepreneurs
- Price: $399 USD per year
- Duration: Self-paced
- Exam Required: Assessments and quizzes throughout the online course
- Online, in-person, or both: Online only
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: None
- Website Link
Available through The Digital Project Manager's membership program, this certification equips you with the mindset, skills, and tools to lead digital projects confidently. You'll also get practical lessons, hands-on experience, and expert-led discussions and mentorship in the course Slack channel. The course covers the entire project life cycle from start to finish using a variety of methodologies.
Specific topics include holding project kickoffs, planning, defining scope, communicating effectively, staying in control, leading with purpose, and tackling all manner of project risks.
The course is now part of DPM's membership offering, which also includes templates, member-only events, mini-courses, and workshops.
2. Google Project Management Certificate
- Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals looking to transition into a career in project management
- Price: $49 USD per month
- Duration: Approximately 6 months (self-paced)
- Exam Required: Yes, assessments and quizzes throughout the online course
- Online, in-person, or both: Online only
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: None
- Website Link
Developed by the namesake global tech company, the Google Project Management Certificate is a great step to getting started in the high-growth field of project management.
The Google Project Management Certificate allows learners to discover how to manage projects efficiently and effectively, using both traditional and agile methods.
3. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- Who It’s For: Entry-level project managers or those aspiring to become project managers
- Price: $225 USD for Project Management Institute members, $300 USD for non-members
- Duration: Self-paced study or classroom training
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, in-person, or both: Both
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: High school diploma and 23 hours of project management education
- Website Link
Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is a great option for beginners that are new to project management and want to have a cert on their resume.
It’s also great for those who lack formal work experience in project management (which is required to obtain PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and other PMI certifications). The CAPM certification covers both waterfall and adaptive (agile) project management methodologies.
4. PRINCE2 7 Foundation Certification
- Who It’s For: Beginners and those looking to gain foundational knowledge in project management concepts
- Price: Varies by provider. Training is delivered by PeopleCert's Accredited Training Organizations who set their own rates. Approximately $300-$400 of the cost of the training is allocated towards the cost of the exam
- Duration: Self-paced or 3 days of classroom training (with the exam written on the last day of the training)
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, in-person, or both: Both
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: None
- Website Link
PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments) is a globally recognized and established project management method that offers a structured, scalable, and tailorable approach to project management. The PRINCE2 7 Foundation Certification is the perfect place to start for those interested in mastering this project framework.
5. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Who It’s For: Individuals interested in agile methodologies and Scrum project management practices, including both entry-level and experienced project managers
- Price: Approximately $1,000-$1,500 (including training and exam, based on training provider)
- Duration: 2-day training course offered by a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, in-person, or both: Both
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: None
- Website Link
Offered by the Scrum Alliance organization, the Certified ScrumMaster course is ideal for those who are new to the Scrum framework or the agile project management methodology.
It’s perfect for those who would like to learn more about agile and Scrum fundamentals or those specifically looking to transition into the Scrum master role on an agile project team.
6. Six Sigma Yellow Belt
- Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals looking to understand basic Six Sigma concepts
- Price: $422 USD
- Duration: Self-paced with review of the exam resources/references indicated by the ASQ and completion of a self-paced online certification prep course that you can enroll in to prepare for the certification
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, in-person, or both: Both
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: None
- Website Link
The Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification is aimed at those new to the world of Six Sigma process improvement, including those who have a small role, interest, or need to develop foundational knowledge in the Six Sigma process.
Yellow belts can be entry-level people who seek to improve processes in their role, or leaders who require an overview of the Six Sigma methodology and the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) improvement cycle.
7. SAFe Agilist Certification
- Who It’s For: Individuals and teams seeking to implement agile at scale within organizations
- Price: Approximately $1,000-$1,500 USD (varies depending on course training provider. Course cost includes certification exam fee)
- Duration: Completion of the 2-day Leading SAFe course
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, in-person, or both: Both
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: Some basic experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product, or project management
- Website Link
The SAFe Agilist Certification is for those who are looking to learn the lean-agile basics from the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). The certification is offered by the Scaled Agile organization. The certification is earned via completion of the Leading SAFe training course.
8. Certified Project Manager
- Who It’s For: Beginners and professionals looking for a broad understanding of project management in an international context
- Price: Varies by the country you live in; roughly $541 USD based on current exchange rate
- Duration: Recommended completion of self-paced online learning module
- Exam Required: Yes
- Online, in-person, or both: The certification exam is online
- Prerequisites or eligibility requirements: No previous project management experience required
- Website Link
The Certified Project Manager is a project management certification for those looking to learn the basics needed for a project management career. The CIPM is certified by the International Academy of Project Management (IAPM), which is recognized in over 145 countries with over 200,000 members.
FAQs About Project Management Certifications For Beginners
Are project management certifications worth it for beginners?
Yes, definitely. Economic factors such as the unemployment rate and overall business growth, make entering into the workforce difficult, and there are a lot of people looking for and applying for jobs in the current job market.
The Project Management Institute has estimated that by 2027, employers will need 87.7 million people working in project management roles globally. That’s a lot of jobs and a lot of applicants.
Having a recognized project management certification can help beginners stand out in a competitive market. Certs are evidence to prospective employers that you possess a common understanding of standardized project management knowledge and concepts.
It can also show prospective employers and hiring managers that you are committed to learning, professional development, and your career path.
What are the most common PM certifications?
The most common project management certifications include:
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt
- SAFe Agilist Certification
Some of these certifications, such as the PMP, PMI-ACP, and Six Sigma Black Belt, require you to have project management experience, so you will need to wait until you’re further down your career path and more experienced as a project manager.
Start Your Career In Project Management
Getting your foot in the door and starting a career can be daunting if you are new to project management and don’t have any experience. Fear not—here’s some helpful advice to get you started.
Include Certifications on Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile
Highlight any and all certifications on your project management resume. Be sure to include the certification, the date it was earned, the expiry date, and the certification provider’s name.
Many of the organizations that issue certifications will also offer you a digital badge that can be added to your LinkedIn profile (which is handy for recruiters as they are reviewing your profile).
As a beginner, having one of the certifications noted in this article, along with your educational achievements such as a four-year degree, bachelor’s degree, or associate degree can be just as impressive as having a lot of project management experience and the PMP certification.
Gain Experience
Look for opportunities to manage small projects or assist project managers at your organization in your current role.
Also, look for opportunities to gain project management experience in areas such as project planning, stakeholder management, project scheduling, quality management, and the project life cycle by volunteering your time to a charitable or non-profit organization in your community.
Learn Continuously
Take advantage of online project management courses, webinars, and books to deepen your project management knowledge. Many of the certification providers listed in this article provide these types of resources to certification holders—continuous learning is often a requirement to maintain your certification.
Local community colleges also offer excellent project management programs to help you get the required number of hours of project management education.
Other project management training providers offer courses to help you develop foundational project management skills and aid in your professional development as well.
It’s also worth brushing up on your knowledge of project management software so that you have a few tricks up your sleeve to show off.
Network
Join professional organizations, such as PMI or other local project management groups, to connect with other professionals. Many of these groups also offer virtual networking opportunities if in-person events are not available to you.
Networking can be especially valuable when you’re searching for a PM role as a beginner—people in your network might be hiring (or may know someone who is).
Seek Mentorship
Find a mentor who can provide guidance, support, and insights into the project management profession.
Mentors may be found internally through your current organization (for example, senior leaders or executives). Mentors may also be found externally through professional organizations and community groups.
For example, many local PMI chapters offer mentorship programs for members. You can also find a mentor through your professional network. Don’t be afraid to ask colleagues, managers, and other contacts for recommendations. LinkedIn also makes it easy and accessible to contact potential mentors.
Develop Soft Skills
Work on essential soft skills like communication, leadership skills, and problem-solving, which are crucial for successful project management.
If you don’t have a lot of formal work experience, highlight this on your resume by citing school projects (and what role you took on with your team members) or volunteer work you have completed.
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