7 Best Microsoft Project Certifications For 2025
Microsoft Project certifications are a great way to learn and validate your skills in using this software tool for effective project planning and management. You'll have a tangible way to demonstrate your value to employers and get the knowledge you need to succeed in a project management role.
I've summarized the best Microsoft Project certifications and provided some notes about who and what each one is best for so you can find the right one for the next step in your career.
Best Microsoft Project Certifications Shortlist
- Microsoft Project Management Professional Certificate — Best for learning project management skills in Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Project White Belt 2016 — Best for Microsoft Project beginners
- Microsoft Project Orange Belt 2016 — Best for intermediate Microsoft Project users
- Microsoft Project Blue Belt 2016 — Best for advanced Microsoft Project users
- MPUG’s Microsoft Project Certification Course — Best for practical applications of Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Project Training - 9 Hours Online MS Project Course — Best for learning project planning in Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Project Masterclass — Best for using Microsoft Project to optimize your project processes
Overviews of the Best Microsoft Project Certifications
Below are detailed summaries of the best Microsoft Project certifications that made it onto my shortlist.
1. Microsoft Project Management Professional Certificate - Best for learning project management skills in Microsoft Project
The Microsoft Project Management Professional Certificate is a structured program designed to prepare you for a career in project management.
It consists of a self-paced, nine-course series that covers essential project management concepts, methodologies, and best practices in areas such as risk management, stakeholder communication, and agile methodologies. You'll gain the skills required to handle real-world scenarios through a capstone project and simulation exams.
Issued by: Microsoft (via Coursera)
Focus:
- Project management fundamentals
- Team building and leadership
- Stakeholder engagement
- Risk management and budgeting
- Agile methodologies
- Communication and cultural nuances in project management
- Project performance evaluation
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: None
Price: $39.99 per month
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for those starting or wanting to advance their careers in project management. It signifies that you're proficient in managing projects using Microsoft tools and methodologies.
For more resources on agile project management, check out this list of Scrum certifications.
2. Microsoft Project White Belt 2016 - Best for Microsoft Project beginners
Microsoft Project White Belt 2016 is an introductory certification designed to familiarize beginners with Microsoft Project.
You'll learn how to navigate the software and use its basic features effectively for project management. The certificate serves as a primer if you're looking to establish foundational skills in managing projects using Microsoft Project.
Issued by: International Institute for Learning, Inc.
Focus:
- Introduction to Microsoft Project
- Basic navigation and functionality
- Key project management concepts using Microsoft Project
- Tips on using various features effectively
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal if you're new to project management and you need a foundational understanding of Microsoft Project. It signifies a basic proficiency in using the software to manage simple projects.
3. Microsoft Project Orange Belt 2016 - Best for intermediate Microsoft Project users
Microsoft Project Orange Belt 2016 provides you with a detailed understanding of creating and managing effective project schedules using Microsoft Project.
The workshop is designed to help you estimate, coordinate, budget, and control projects effectively, as well as set milestones and manage a new project from inception. The course content is aligned with the Project Management Institute's PMBOK Guide, so you'll get industry-standard skills and knowledge.
Issued by: International Institute for Learning, Inc.
Focus:
- Creating effective project schedules
- Estimating project timelines and resources
- Coordinating project activities
- Budgeting and cost management
- Controlling and monitoring project progress
Prerequisites:
- Education: Familiarity with project management concepts, basic Windows skills, and prior experience with Microsoft Project is recommended
- Work Experience: Not required
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: It's recommended that you complete Project White Belt 2016
Price: $1,350
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for project managers and professionals who want to improve their Microsoft Project skills. It signifies to employers that you're committed to understanding and applying best practices in project management using this specific software tool.
Find more project scheduling certifications here.
4. Microsoft Project Blue Belt 2016 - Best for advanced Microsoft Project users
The Microsoft Project Blue Belt 2016 certificate course will help you advance your skills in project management using Microsoft Project.
This certification focuses on the advanced features and functionalities of Microsoft Project and how they can help you improve project scheduling, manage tasks, and optimize resources.
The course will provide you with practical experience and insights from subject matter experts on everything from agile project management to the project lifecycle.
Issued by: International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL)
Focus:
- Advanced project management techniques
- Resource leveling
- Gantt charts
- Custom reporting
Prerequisites:
- Education: It's recommended that you have fundamental knowledge of project management and familiarity with concepts and terminology from the PMBOK Guide
- Work Experience: It's recommended that you have experience using Microsoft Project
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: It's recommended that you complete Microsoft Project Orange Belt 2016
Price: $1,495
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for project managers and professionals who want to validate their advanced Microsoft Project skill set.
5. MPUG’s Microsoft Project Certification Course - Best for practical applications of Microsoft Project
MPUG’s Microsoft Project Certification Course will provide you with comprehensive knowledge and skills in using Microsoft Project for effective project management.
The course covers fundamental concepts, practical tips, tricks, and best practices, so it's suitable for both beginners and advanced users. You'll learn how to manage team members effectively, understand the critical path, and align your projects with goals. A certification is available upon successful completion.
Issued by: MPUG
Focus:
- Creating and managing project schedules
- Task dependencies, resource allocation, and budget management
- Proactive scheduling and baseline management
- Custom reports, fields, and dashboards
- Automation and optimization of Microsoft Project
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Price: $179 (or free with a $129 annual MPUG membership)
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal if you want to improve your practical skills in project management using Microsoft Project. Earning this demonstrates your proficiency in the software and ability to apply project management principles.
6. Microsoft Project Training - 9 Hours Online MS Project Course - Best for learning project planning in Microsoft Project
The Microsoft Project Training Course is a short, nine-hour online training course that will help you improve your skills in using Microsoft Project. You'll get the necessary knowledge to effectively create, manage, and track project plans, as well as workflows and workloads.
The course allows you to learn at your own pace, and it also covers Power BI tools and how to visualize and analyze project data. Upon completion, you're eligible for nine PDUs and a certificate that recognizes your proficiency.
Issued by: Master of Project Academy
Focus:
- Creating and managing project plans
- Tracking workflows and workloads
- Custom reporting
- Optimizing your use of Microsoft Project
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Price:
- Monthly: $57 per month
- Annual: $177 per year
- Lifetime access: $277
Who It’s For: This certification demonstrates your proficiency in Microsoft Project and is ideal for project managers and team leaders.
7. Microsoft Project Masterclass - Best for using Microsoft Project to optimize your project processes
The Microsoft Project Masterclass is an intensive training program designed to equip you with comprehensive skills in using Microsoft Project software.
You'll improve your overall project management capabilities and learn more about project scheduling, resource management, and cost tracking. Upon completion, you'll receive a certification that acknowledges your proficiency in Microsoft Project.
Issued by: The Knowledge Academy
Focus:
- Project scheduling
- Resource management
- Cost tracking
- Practical applications of Microsoft Project
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: None required
- Exam: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Price: $1,695 CAD
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal if you need to master Microsoft Project and effectively manage and execute projects.
FAQs about Microsoft Project Certifications
How can I prepare for a Microsoft Project certification exam?
Preparation can include studying course materials, taking practice exams, and practicing with hands-on exercises to gain practical experience with Microsoft Project tools and functionalities.
Are there prerequisites for taking Microsoft Project certification courses?
Generally, there are no strict prerequisites for the Microsoft Project certifications, but having a foundational understanding of project management principles and experience with Microsoft Project software can be beneficial.
What are the benefits of earning a Microsoft Project certification?
Earning a Microsoft Project certification can validate your expertise and skills in using Microsoft Project, potentially leading to career advancement opportunities and increased credibility in the field of project management.
Other Useful Resources
Here are a few other useful resources to check out:
- Guide to MS Project & MS Teams
- Guide to Microsoft Project Pricing Tiers & Costs
What's Next?
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