7 Best Technical Project Manager Certifications To Take In 2024
Obtaining a technical project manager certifications validates your skills in managing complex technical projects and looks good on your resume, which can help with career opportunities.
I've summarized the best technical project manager certifications with notes about who and what each is best for so you can find the right one for the next step in your career.
Best Technical Project Manager Certifications Shortlist
- Project Management for Technical Professionals — Best for technical professionals seeking foundational project management skills
- PMP: Technical Project Management — Best for essential technical project management methods
- Technical Project Management — Best for a comprehensive understanding of technical project management
- Technical Project Management — Best for flexible online learning in technical project management
- Online Technical Project Management Certificate — Best for current students at Ohio University
- Professional Certificate in Advanced Project Management — Best for gaining hands-on experience with project management
- GIAC Certified Project Manager (GCPM) — Best for those in IT or software development fields
Overviews of the Best Technical Project Manager Certifications
Below are my detailed summaries of the best technical project manager certifications.
1. Project Management for Technical Professionals - Best for technical professionals seeking foundational project management skills
The Project Management for Technical Professionals certification will help you transition from a technical role to a project management position.
It covers project management concepts, leadership, agile methodologies, and business communication, and can help you prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Issued by: The Chang School of Continuing Education - Toronto Metropolitan University
Focus:
- Business communication
- Agile project management
- Leadership training
- Project management fundamentals
- Planning and scheduling
Prerequisites:
- Education:
- Be an Internationally Educated Professional (IEP) and registered in the Middle-Level Managers (MLM) Program OR
- Hold a degree in a technical field
- Work Experience: At least two years of relevant work experience
- Exam: Yes
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: This certification does not expire and does not require renewal.
Price: $3,100 to $3,500
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for technical professionals who want to enhance their project management skills and transition into project manager or team leader roles.
2. PMP: Technical Project Management - Best for essential technical project management methods
This certification will help improve your skills in managing technical projects and carrying out essential processes like scope, schedule, and budget management. It covers tools like the critical path method and earned value analysis, with flexible online or in-person learning options.
Issued by: Georgia Tech Professional Education
Focus:
- Managing project baselines
- Critical path method
- Earned value analysis
- Risk management
- Project data analysis
Prerequisites:
- Education: Completion of the Strategic Project Management (COMP 7300P) course (offered via the same institution)
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: This certification does not expire and does not require renewal.
Price: $1,900
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for technical project managers, aspiring project management professionals, business analysts, and technical team leaders.
3. Technical Project Management - Best for a comprehensive understanding of technical project management
This certification helps you develop essential skills and strategies for effective project management. It's a PMI-registered program that offers industry-standard training, with sessions in international locations like Geneva, London, and Dubai, and awards a certificate and Continuing Professional Education credits upon completion.
Issued by: GLOMACS
Focus:
- Project planning and control
- Economic evaluation of projects
- Risk management
- Budgeting and project control techniques
Prerequisites:
- Education: No formal education requirements
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: This certification does not expire and does not require renewal.
Price:
- Classroom Sessions: $5,950
- Online Sessions: $3,950
Who It’s For: This certification is tailored to professionals in sectors such as oil and gas, engineering, IT, and business.
4. Technical Project Management - Best for flexible online learning in technical project management
This certification will equip you with technical and leadership skills, as well as tactics like launching Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and using Scrum and agile methodologies. You'll gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and a strong foundation in project management fundamentals.
Issued by: Chegg Skills
Focus:
- Project management fundamentals
- Predictive project management
- Agile project management
- Scrum methodologies
- Leadership skills in project management
Prerequisites:
- Education:
- Proof of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent (or attestation of proper educational requirements)
- Exception for Data Science: students require a Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS)
- Students must be proficient in written and spoken English
- Ability to complete coursework on a computer and demonstrate basic computer proficiency
- Exception for Technology Fundamentals: Requires only basic computer skills
- Proof of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent (or attestation of proper educational requirements)
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: This certification does not expire and does not require renewal.
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for individuals who want to gain essential technical and leadership skills for managing projects in a flexible, online format.
For more online training options, check out this list of online project management certifications.
5. Online Technical Project Management Certificate - Best for current students at Ohio University
The Online Technical Project Management Certificate will improve your competency in enterprise computing, accounting, and management, preparing you for a technical project management role.
The curriculum includes courses in computer methods, accounting, management, project management, and additional management topics.
Issued by: Ohio University
Focus:
- Enterprise computing
- Accounting
- Management
- Project management
- General management
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: This certification does not expire and does not require renewal.
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for students and alumni of Ohio University's online bachelor's degree programs who want to gain skills in technical project management.
6. Professional Certificate in Advanced Project Management - Best for gaining hands-on experience with project management
This certification focuses on advanced project management methods, teamwork principles, and agile methodologies, and it also includes a capstone project that gives you a chance to apply your skills in real-world scenarios.
The program includes insights from MIT faculty and industry experts, and you'll be awarded an MIT xPRO certificate and 31.50 continuing education units (CEUs) upon completion.
Issued by: MIT xPRO
Focus:
- Advanced project management methods
- Teamwork and collaboration principles
- Agile approaches
Prerequisites:
- Education: A minimum of a bachelor's degree
- Work Experience: One year of project management experience is recommended
- Exam: Yes
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: This certification does not expire and does not require renewal.
Price: $7,450
Who It’s For: This certification is designed for professionals who want to advance their project management skills, particularly those already in mid-level project management positions or transitioning from other roles.
7. GIAC Certified Project Manager (GCPM) - Best for those in IT or software development fields
The GIAC Certified Project Manager (GCPM) certificate program validates your expertise in technical project management methodologies and implementation. It is ideal for security professionals, managers, and individuals managing time-sensitive IT projects, and you'll gain essential skills in communication, time management, cost management, quality management, procurement, and risk management.
Issued by: GIAC
Focus:
- Technical project management methodologies
- Risk and uncertainty management
- Communication and leadership strategies
- Time, cost, quality, and procurement management
- IT project and application development management
Prerequisites:
- Education: No formal education requirements
- Work Experience: Not required
- Exam: Yes
- Other Certifications Required: Not required
Renewability: You are required to renew your certification every 4 years.
Who It’s For: This certification is designed for technical professionals in IT who want to get into project management, managers seeking key insights for project success, and other professionals that are managing projects.
FAQs about Technical Project Manager Certifications
What are the benefits of obtaining a technical project manager certification?
Certifications help you improve your skills in handling complex technical projects, provide a competitive edge in the job market, and demonstrate your commitment to the profession.
How can a certification impact a technical project manager's career?
Certifications can lead to better job opportunities, higher salaries, and recognition in the field. They validate your expertise and your commitment to succeeding in your career.
What is the typical process for obtaining a technical project manager certification?
The process usually involves meeting certain educational and professional experience requirements and passing an examination administered by a certifying body like PMI (Project Management Institute).
Are technical project manager certifications globally recognized?
Many certifications are globally recognized. If you have one of these, you can often work in a variety of international settings and industries (subject to any visa requirements that come with working in another country), thanks to standardized curriculum and examination processes.
Other Useful Resources
Here are a few other useful resources to check out:
What's Next?
Want to connect with other digital project managers to share resources and best practices? Join our membership community and get access to 100+ templates, samples, and examples, and connect with 100s of other digital project managers in Slack.