Top 16 Project Management Certifications

Skilled Project Managers are an essential element of every organisation today. Organisations need them to deliver successful projects and drive business growth. They expect Project Managers to bring efficient results focusing on business values. These results can be achieved by acquiring some of the best Project Management Certifications.

These will help demonstrate the exceptional agility, creativity, and adaptability required for successful project delivery. They can help navigate, optimise and guide projects within the business from start to finish. They ensure to meet the client's expectations with minimal modifications to their requests. 

Project Management can be a rewarding career for anyone who chooses to do correct certifications. According to Glassdoor, with the right Project Management Certifications, you can earn between 41,822 GBP and 64,868 GBP a year. Read more to know about the Top 16 Project Management Certifications!

Table of Contents

1) What is a Project Management Certification?

 2) Top Project Management Certifications in 2024 

      a) Project Management Professional (PMP)

      b) Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

      c) Associate in Project Management (APM)

      d) CompTIA Project+ Certifications

      e) PRINCE2 Certifications

      f) Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Certifications

      g) Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

       h) Master Project Manager (MPM)

       i) Professional in Project Management (PPM)

       j) Certified Project Director (CPD)

4) How do I get a PMI certification?

3) Conclusion

What is a Project Management Certification?  

A Project Management Certification validates your skills, abilities and practical  skills to employers. The certification is recognised globally. It also proves your experience and skills in managing a project. Many organisations invest huge sums today to certify their employees in a domain.  

They teach you everything you need to learn about managing projects. You can seek a higher position in your industry by acquiring advanced Project Management Certifications. You will be treated as an industry expert with these certifications. With a certificate, you can increase your earning potential. The certifications mentioned below will set you ahead of other peers applying for the same job. Additionally, when you’re choosing a certification, consider these factors:  

1) Your current employment and where or which role you want to work next  

2) Where do you stand in your career  

3) What value will the certificate add to your current position  

4) What specialisation do you want  

5) Duration of the certifications  

6) Certification’s format  

7) Industry standards  

8) Cost of the certifications  

9) Competition

10) How challenging is the certification's exam

Remember that there are no one-size-fits-all Project Management Certifications before you pick a choice. The best option will rely on your specific requirements. 
 


 

Top Project Management Certifications in 2024    

Let's discuss the top 16 Project Management Certifications in Project Management: 

1) Project Management Professional (PMP) 

Project Management Professional Certifications are offered by Project Management Institute (PMI). This certification tops the list of best Project Management Certifications. It is the most in-demand certification worldwide. To obtain this certification, you must clear the PMP exam, considered one of the most challenging professional certifications.  

There are over 1 million PMP-certified Types of Project Managers across industries today. It certifies one's ability to carry out Project Manager duties, lead and manage teams and projects, and implement Project Management methodology.

Requirements: The PMP Certification Requirements include a High school Diploma or associate’s degree or a degree equivalent to it. Also, they must be experienced with leading and directing projects for at least 7,500 hours. Additionally, the candidates require to have a 35 hours of Project Management education.

Price: The PMP certification cost ranges from GBP 335 to GBP 458.

2) Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) 

CAPM Certification helps Project Managers stand out in the job market. It builds your credibility and improves your Project Management Skills to manage teams and projects. This certification is also offered by PMI. It also serves as one of the requirements to obtain PMP. This can be  the appropriate start to your Project Management career.  

Requirements: It requires a high-school diploma or equivalent degree and 1,500 hours of Project Management training to gain this certification. It is specially designed for beginners in Project Management, highlighting your knowledge and skills in managing a project.

Price: This certification will cost you anything between 185 GBP to 248 GBP.    

Also, check out our blog to prepare the top PMP Exam Questions to crack the exam!

3) Associate in Project Management (APM)

Global Association for Quality Management offers an (APM)  Associate in Project Management Certification. This certification will familiarise you with standard Project Management terms, framework and strategies. It will give you a clear direction, Project Management knowledge and practical communication skills.  

This certification will assist you in showcasing your dedication to Project Management excellence for future roles, along with getting a higher pay grade. The certificate will also teach you Project Resource Management, flexibility, project delivery, and risk mitigation techniques.

Requirements: No experience or formal education requirements.

Price: This certification will cost you 248 GBP.   

4) CompTIA Project+ Certifications 

CompTIA Project+ is another certification, especially for beginners in Project Management. This will help you gain the skills required to manage projects in IT and non-IT domains.

This certification teaches you about Project Management, covering change management, reporting and documentation, resource allocation, budget management, risk management, and client management.

Requirements:

1) One year’s worth knowledge of how the project life cycle works in the IT field

2) Ability to manage resources and stakeholders

3) Communication skills

4) Project documentation

Price: This certification will cost you 288 GBP.

5) PRINCE2 Certifications 

Projects In Controlled Environments is the full form of PRINCE2. It is the most widely recognised certifications in Europe. AXELOS, a joint venture between the UK and Capita, provides PRINCE2.  

PRINCE2 Certifications train professionals in directing, managing and delivering projects from start to end. PRINCE2 provides  standards and uses common systems, language and procedures that even beginners can easily comprehend. It trains individuals in risk management, resource allocation and delivering project scope, ensuring client satisfaction.  

Requirements:

PRINCE2 Practitioner requires one of the following:

1) PRINCE2 Foundation;

2) Project Management Professional (PMP);

3) Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM); or an IPMA Certification.

Price: PRINCE2 offers PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner Certifications, which will cost you 165 GBP and 280 GBP, respectively.   

6) Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Certifications 

The non-profit Scrum Alliance offers Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Certifications. As you may be aware, Scrum is a part of the Agile methodology and is used mainly in IT projects. This certification helps software development by small teams that work in short sprints and employ Agile methodology. CSM gives individuals an in-depth understanding of self-management and the ability to work for project success.  

CSM teaches you to work in Scrum, and you can understand its values, practices and applications thoroughly. This certification also assists you in delivering successful software across the PRINCE2 project lifecycle and Project Management Processes.

Requirements:

1) General familiarity with Scrum

2) Attend an in-person, two-day (16 hour) CSM course

3) After you pass the CSM exam and accept the License Agreement, complete your Scrum Alliance membership profile

Price: This certification will cost you anything between 820 GBP to 1152 GBP.  

7) Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

The EC-Council was created after the 9/11 attacks to fight cyberterrorism and focuses on Information Security. Project Managers or anybody else looking to gain practical Project Management expertise and learn about different tools and approaches to effectively manage projects in the real world may consider taking the Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP) course from the EC-Council.

The primary goal of CPMP is to assist professionals in developing the technical, leadership, and management abilities necessary to complete every project successfully.

Requirements: To become a Certified Project Management Practitioner, there are no pre-requisites. However, you must have attended a three-day preparation course, to get a gist about the basics of CPMP.

Price: This certification will cost you 165 GBP.

8) Master Project Manager (MPM)

Candidates who complete the American Academy of Project Management's (AAPM) commission requirements for education, training, experience, industry knowledge, ethics, and continuous education are awarded the Master Project Manager (MPM) credential. In reality, anyone with business or technical responsibility is eligible to apply for this certification, not simply Project Managers.

Requirements: The minimum qualification for you to become an MPM is three years of Project Management experience and training.

Price: This certification will cost you around 249 GBP.

9) Professional in Project Management (PPM)

The Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM) offers the Professional in Project Management (PPM) course. The Project Management modules included in the mid-level certification cover topics including how to plan, carry out, manage, and finish projects. Also, it teaches you how to create project timetables, project metrics, and other project leadership and management strategies.

The emphasis is on developing skills of the seasoned Project Managers who can handle risks, lead teams to excellence, and operate well under pressure.

Requirements:

1) A mandatory E-Course completion requirement

2) Candidates should have at least some Project Management experience

Price: This certification will cost you 249 GBP.

10) Certified Project Director (CPD)

The Certified Project Director (CPD) exam, administered by GAQM, is often regarded as the pinnacle of Project Management. It is intended for senior and seasoned individuals who want to advance beyond standard PPM and become Project Management authorities.

Requirements: The Certified Project Director (CPD) Certification requires a mandatory E-Course completion requirement.

Price: This certification will cost you around 249 GBP.

11) Project Management in IT Security (PMITS)

You can strengthen your control over the administration of IT security projects by earning the EC-Project Council's Management in IT Security (PMITS) Certification. The majority of those who will benefit from this certification are those who wish to adapt their Project Management approach in order to better lead IT security-related teams and organisations.

Requirements:

1) Minimum two years of experience in Information Security

2) An educational background that revolves around security-related higher education

3) Candidates may also opt to attend EC-Council’s very own training program before the exam

Price: This certification will cost you 208 GBP.

12) Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

The PMI is in charge of directly administering this Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Certification.  This course teaches Agile Project Management and follows the Agile model. You get an overview of all Agile practices and learn how to use them. It includes many training modules that guide you on applying Agile principles and the Scrum methodology.

Requirements:

To become an Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), you will require:

1) A high school diploma, or an associate degree.

1) At least 2000 hours worth of experience in project management.

2) Prior experience with Agile teams or companies.

Price: This certification will cost you between 407 GBP to 532 GBP.

13) Program Management Professional (PgMP)

The Program Management Professional (PgMP) Certification is more focused towards Project Managers who want to transition to Program Managers. This certification  requires professional expertise especially in areas like resource management, project planning, and risk management. 

a) Requirements: A high school diploma or bachelor’s degree in equivalent field

b) Minimum four years of experience in Project Management

Price: This certification will cost you around 626 GBP for PMI members and 783 GBP for non-members.

14) Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

Business Analysis is a significant element in running a successful project. This certification examines you on business criteria such as project evaluation, project planning, project assessment, project monitoring, and project strategy. It is ideal for project professionals looking to enhance their business analysis skills. 

Requirements: Five years of experience in business and a minimum of thirty-five hours of learning about business analysis are required. If you have a minimum undergraduate degree, the amount of experience required decreases to thirty-six months. 

Price: This certification will cost you 358 GBP for non-PMI members and 175 GBP for PMI members.

15) PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)

The certification, a testament to your risk assessment and management skills, is a significant milestone for advanced Project Management professionals handling large and complex projects. It holds value for those with a specialisation in risk and extensive experience. The 150 questions on the examination delved into risk management principles, stakeholder engagement and education, and risk process analysis.

Requirements: You must have a minimum of thirty-six months of project risk management experience from the last five years and forty hours of project risk education if you do not hold a minimum undergraduate degree. If you have a degree or master's degree, you need twenty-four months of experience in project risk management and ten hours less of education in project risk management. 

Price: It will cost you around 335 GBP- 431 GBP.

16) PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®

The PMI-SP Certification is awarded to individuals with deep knowledge and experience in project scheduling. It is best suited for Project Managers who specialise in project scheduling. 

Requirements: you must possess either a secondary degree with 5,000 hours of experience in project scheduling and 40 hours of education or a four-year degree followed by 3,500 hours of project scheduling.

Price: It will cost you around 416 GBP to 536 GBP.

Learn the essentials of Programme Management with our PgM (Programme Management) Course- register today!

How do I get a PMI Certification?

To get a PMI Certification, you need to follow a structured process that involves meeting specific requirements and preparing and passing an exam, among others. Below is a detailed guide based on the steps:

Step 1: Understand the certification requirements 

Select the right certification: PMI offers various certifications. You need to select the certifications that meet your career objectives and experience level.

Review eligibility criteria: Each certification has its own set of eligibility criteria. Visit the PMI website for detailed certification requirements.

Step 2: Gain the necessary experience and education 

Experience: Depending on the certification, you may need a certain number of hours leading and directing projects or working in teams. 

Education: Some certifications require you to have a certain number of hours of formal education in Project Management.

Step 3: Apply for the certification 

Online application: Submit your application through the PMI website. You need to document your education and experience related to Project Management. 

Application review: PMI will examine your application to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. This process can take up to 5 business days.

Step 4: Prepare for the exam 

Study: Utilise PMI's exam content outlines, practice exams, and reference books. 

Develop a plan: Dedicate regular study time, focusing on your weak areas. Different study methods, such as reading, practising questions, and discussing topics with peers, can enhance your learning.

Step 5: Schedule and take the exam 

Payment and scheduling: After the application is approved, you will need to pay for and schedule the exam. Exams are offered at various testing centres or in an online proctored format. 

Taking the exam: Arrive at the testing centre early or set up your space for an online proctored exam.

Step 6: Maintain your certification 

Earn PDUs: To maintain your certification, you must earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) by participating in professional development activities. 

Renewal: To maintain your credential status, submit your PDUs and complete the renewal process before your certification expiration date.

Conclusion  

We hope this blog gave you the necessary information to select the appropriate Project Management Certifications. You could start by first registering in a Project Management Course to learn about Project Management in detail. Then, you choose the certificate based on your educational qualifications and experience.

Learn essential tools and techniques for effective project planning with our Project Management  Course - join today!