70% of projects fail*. Not very encouraging, right? However, research has demonstrated that the adoption of a management process can decrease the failure rate to 20% or lower. This is just one of the statistics that demonstrate the importance of project management.

So, if you want to decrease the failure rate to 20% or lower, you need to improve your project management skills. To do that, nothing better that enrolling in a project management course.  

Free eBook: The Project Manager’s Handbook on Time Tracking

Get your step-by-step guide to master time tracking as a Project Manager

Download now

But with so many options for project management courses, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. In this article, we’ll provide you with a complete guide to the 15 best project management courses on the market, both online and offline, free and paid.

Hopefully, you’ll find valuable information to help you improve your skills, launch successful projects and take your career to the next level!

The Best 15 project management courses to take in 2024

1. PMI — Project Management Professional (PMP)
2. PRINCE2® — 6th Edition Foundation
3. PRINCE2® — 6th Edition Practitioner
4. PMI — Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
5. CompTIA Project+ certification
6. Udemy – PMP Exam Prep Seminar
7. Coursera – Google Project Management Professional Certificate
8. Alison — Diploma in Project Management
9. Oxford Home Study College- Project management short course
10. KnowledgeHut training – PMP Certification Training
11. IAPM — Certified Project Manager
12. BVOP — Project Management Certification
13. Cornell University: Project Management Certificate Program
14. Velociteach – The Complete PMP Exam Prep Bundle
15. ScrumAlliance — Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

1. PMI — Project Management Professional (PMP)

Our first pick is quite apparent — PMP certification recognizes the proficiency of competent project managers and is considered the global “gold standard” of project management.

The PMP curriculum encompasses several methodologies, such as predictive, hybrid, and agile techniques, and concentrates on the business environment, processes, and human aspects of project management. 

To attain the PMP certification, candidates must meet some eligibility requirements and pass an extensive 180-question exam that puts them to the test in real-world scenarios.

PMI certificates are valid for three years, during which candidates must earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) to maintain their PMP certification.

If you aspire to earn a PMP certification that sets you apart as an elite project leader and showcases your ability to manage multiple projects using various methodologies, we unequivocally recommend this course!

Keep your projects’ time and budgets safe with the most accurate time tracking solution

“Since we started using Timeular and tracking our time, we’ve never made another mistake in planning, creating accurate proposals or budgeting for clients” – AC Coppens, Founder of THE CATALYSTS

Learn how

Read also: Project management milestones examples

2. PRINCE2® — 6th Edition Foundation

PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is an internationally recognized project management method that originated in the UK.

The PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner certifications are highly regarded and suitable for a wide range of professionals, including aspiring and current project managers and those involved in project design, development, and delivery.

If you’re looking to learn project management 101 through one of the most widely practiced methods worldwide, the Prince2 6th Edition Foundation Online course is worth considering. This certification covers essential project management topics such as key principles, themes, and project management from beginning to end and incorporates multimedia and engaging activities to ensure effective learning retention.

Optimize project resource allocation. Effortlessly track project time and make informed decisions

Learn how

Price-wise, this program starts at 892.50€ + VAT for a 12-month access period. You can choose between three-course formats — Online, Classroom, and Virtual — with flexible scheduling to suit part-time learners.

With a certificate of completion included, this is an excellent opportunity to expand your project management knowledge and advance your career.

3. PRINCE2® — 6th Edition Practitioner

While the 6th Edition Foundation focuses on the basics, the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification demonstrates that professionals can put their knowledge into practice. This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the PRINCE2® methodology, covering the seven processes, themes, and principles essential for managing projects through this approach.

This course is suitable for individuals in various industries and organizations who are responsible for project management, project team members, and managers involved in supporting and supervising projects.

To qualify for the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, one must have either the PRINCE2 Foundation, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or an IPMA certification.

This course can be taken online or in a classroom setting, depending on your individual preferences and needs.

4. PMI — Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

The Project Management Institute also offers other certifications, like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), a prestigious certification designed for those starting their careers as project managers.

This is a less advanced certification than the PMP. Usually, candidates complete this course first and only then progress to the PMP. 

The CAPM exam will suffer some changes to reflect the latest trends and innovations in project management practices. Due to this, PMI recently replaced the original curriculum with the following: 

• Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
• Predictive, Plan-Based Methodologies
• Agile Frameworks/Methodologies
• Business Analysis Frameworks.

This updated syllabus ensures that CAPM-certified professionals have the most up-to-date knowledge and skills.

To obtain the PMP certification, candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria (available on their website) and pass a 150-question exam. Like the PMP, this PMI certification is valid for three years.

It might be useful for you: The ultimate guide about project risk management.

Keep your projects’ time and budgets safe with the most accurate time tracking solution

Learn how

5. CompTIA Project+ certification

This is one of the best project management courses for beginners!

The CompTIA Project+ certification is intended for IT professionals who manage small-to-medium-sized projects and have at least one year of project management experience.

This entry-level certification is versatile and unique in that it covers essential project management concepts that apply to various methodologies and frameworks. It teaches skills related to project basics, constraints, tools, documentation, and change management. 

CompTIA Project+ only provides a high-level introduction to Agile, so if you would like to focus on Scrum we recommend other courses like Scrum Alliance’s Certified Scrum Master certification. 

To be eligible for this course, you must know how the project life cycle works, the ability to manage resources and stakeholders, and strong communication skills.

Starting at $358, the CompTIA Project+ certification does not require any renewal.

6. Udemy – PMP Exam Prep Seminar

With an average review of 4.6/5, this Udemy project management online course is one of the most popular – 289,621 students and counting have completed this program. Taught by project management expert and author Joseph Phillips, the PMP Exam Prep Seminar guarantees quality PMP training for future and current project managers. 

By the PMI’s Exam Content Outline, the curriculum has been updated as of November 2022. The course includes a pre and post-assessment exam, coaching sections to maintain motivation, 20-question sections, and assignments and discussion. Completion of all videos, assignments, and interactive sessions allows students to claim the project management education hours for PMP certification.

According to the course’s author, PMP Exam Prep Seminar is designed for project managers who are planning to pass their PMP exam “on the first try”. 

This online certification is taught in English but comes with subtitles in 13 languages, such as Portuguese, Thai, Arabic, and Turkish.

7. Coursera – Google Project Management Professional Certificate

If you lack experience as a project manager, don’t worry!

Benefit from the Google Project Management Professional Certificate, a beginner-friendly online program that offers a comprehensive curriculum in project management with a focus on agile techniques, project documentation, and stakeholder management. 

This online program includes 140 hours of instructional material, hands-on projects, and assessments, and requires a minimum of 10 hours of study per week.

The good news is that the course is free, but to receive a certificate of completion, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee of $39, or you can access the course with a Coursera Plus membership. 

While the certificate has no set expiration date, it may be necessary to consider updating your education after a few years.

8. Alison — Diploma in Project Management 

You can find a Diploma in Project Management on Alison’s website, a quite popular online education platform.

This certification provides a clear and simple guide to every aspect of project management, covering the analysis, planning, design, and evaluation phases of the project lifecycle.

You’ll also learn about the practical aspects of project management methodology that will help you achieve success in this exciting industry. If you’re a beginner seeking a quick introduction to project management — only takes 10 to 15 hours to complete — this one’s for you.

Project managers track their time with Timeular

“My time spent on revenue-generating projects has increased by ~10% each week and time in meetings decreased by about 1-2 meeting per week” – Angela Morisette, SVP Business Operations at Scratch Financial

Learn how

It’s worth noting that although the diploma program does not specifically prepare students for PMP Certification, its high-quality materials make it a valuable resource. Alison’s curriculum is unique in its use of real-world case studies to provide practical knowledge that’s why is one of the best project management courses and it’s free!

Read also: Project reporting: 101 guide

9. Oxford Home Study College- Project management short course

Finding complete courses for those already working as project managers is not difficult but selecting a targeted course for beginners who don’t want to make a big initial investment can be. Thinking of you, here’s another option!

This free Project Management short course from Oxford Home Study College provides a great opportunity to either start a new career in project management or advance your existing one.

This 80-hour course has no time restrictions and is divided into three sections, which cover project management overview, project manager’s duties, and project lifecycle. 

You can enroll easily by visiting the Oxford Home Study College website and starting your learning journey anytime. The best part? It’s free and comes with a certificate of completion.

TIP: The top time-saving tips to help you in project management.

10. KnowledgeHut training – PMP Certification Training

PMP Certification Training concentrates on the three new domains of People, Process, and Business Environment that the PMP exam added in January 2021, in addition to other subjects related to structural project management, such as predictive, agile, and hybrid approaches.

This course offers both live instructor-led and self-paced learning alternatives. Those who opt for the live instructor-led learning experience will be required to attend live sessions to ask questions and obtain immediate feedback from instructors.

If you work full-time or simply can’t find the time to attend these sessions, the self-paced option will be your best friend.

Finally, Knowledge’s Hut PMP Certification Training is not the cheapest option on this list — pricing for the course starts at $799 plus taxes for the live instructor-led alternative and $265 for self-paced training.

Free eBook: The Project Manager’s Handbook on Time Tracking

Get your step-by-step guide to master time tracking as a Project Manager

Download now

11. IAPM — Certified Project Manager 

The IAPM Certified Project Manager certification provides an introduction to the key project management principles and practices and is ideal for those new to the field.

This self-paced online course covers both hard and soft skills related to project management and serves as a foundation for the International Project Manager certification from IAPM. 

You don’t need any prior knowledge or certificates to become certified, but basic familiarity with project management concepts is recommended. Candidates can take a self-test mini-exam to gauge their knowledge before sitting for the certification exam.

Certified Project Manager’s online format offers flexibility and convenience for learners worldwide, as it’s globally recognized. The certification fee varies depending on the candidate’s nationality — it’s calculated based on the gross domestic product of each country. For US citizens, you can enroll at $479!

12. BVOP — Project Management Certification

The Business Value-Oriented Project Management (BVOP) is targeted at senior project managers, scrum masters, agile professionals, product managers, and business analysts. 

If you’re looking to develop modern leadership skills, such as agile and waterfall methodologies and people and business-oriented principles in project management, this might be a great option for you. 

The Project Management Certification boasts a success rate of over 95%, with most candidates passing the exam on their first attempt. This complete training program includes mock tests, which are available to all registered users and contribute to their high success rate.

The certification program is completely online, costs $130, and has lifetime validity.

13. Cornell University: Project Management Certificate Program

If you’re interested in gaining practical techniques and tools to comprehensively understand project management you should consider eCornell’s Project Management Certificate Program.

This certification is open to all, although prior work experience as a project manager is recommended. The course focuses on agile methodologies and earned value management.

A small class size of fewer than 35 students enables personalized attention from an experienced instructor. The course is instructor-led and held entirely online, so students need to allocate enough time for the sessions and the expected workload of 2-5 hours per week.

The certification takes three months to complete, and the total cost is $3,900, which includes access to an online study group for PMBOK review with other students.

14. Velociteach – The Complete PMP Exam Prep Bundle

The PMP Exam Prep Bundle is a great program, founded by PMP author Andy Crowe, that guarantees a full understanding of project management.

The course is structured around one of the best project management books: PMBOK® Guide, 6th Edition. At the same time, it’s based on the PMP Exam Content Outline, covering all 49 processes and three domains, as well as traditional, modern, agile, and hybrid methodologies. 

The course consists of 47 contact hours of audio and video training, with visual aids and clear explanations to help students master the key concepts. It also provides practice exams to ensure you leave for the PMP exam feeling prepared and confident.

The PMP Exam Prep Bundle is a package of different resources and costs $389, with the option of purchasing individual courses. The course offers a flexible schedule and a certificate of completion upon finishing.

15. ScrumAlliance — Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

As agile methodologies become more popular and widely adopted, it may be worth considering a Scrum Master certification. While project managers guide projects from beginning to end, Scrum Masters act as agile leaders who facilitate change for their teams and organizations.

ScrumAlliance’s CSM certification demonstrates your mastery of the Scrum framework and concepts. This course is perfect for individuals who want to gain a deeper understanding of agile work and its concepts, which can be applied to a range of industries and cross-functional teams.

To be eligible for the certification, you should have a basic understanding of Scrum and complete a two-day in-person CSM course (16 hours), followed by passing the CSM exam and accepting the Licence Agreement. 

Currently, this $999 certification is only available in the Live online format, where classes are held online at predefined times. 

Conclusion

Obtaining a PMP certification can be a valuable investment, leading to better job prospects, higher compensation, and improved project outcomes.

This article has listed our 15 top picks of PMP certifications, both online and in-person, that can be great options for individuals looking to enhance their project management skills and advance their careers.

Each certification has its unique strengths, and it’s essential to assess your needs and professional goals checklist before making a decision. Above all, congratulations on taking the initiative to develop yourself professionally!

FAQ

What are the best project management courses on Coursera?

The top project management courses in Coursera are Google Project Management Professional Certificate, Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization (University of California), and Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management (University of Virginia).

What are the best project management courses on Udemy? 

The top project management courses on Udemy are the PMP Exam Prep Seminar, Agile PM 301 – Mastering Agile Project Management, and Project Management Success: Learn by Managing 5 Projects.

What are the best online project management courses?

Some of the best online project management courses are from Coursera — Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization and Colorado State University — Online Project Management.

What are the best project management courses on LinkedIn learning?

The best project management courses on LinkedIn Learning are Project Management Foundations, Project Management for Leaders, and Project Management Simplified.

What are the best free online project management courses with certificates?

The best free online PMP courses are Alison — Diploma in Project Management and Oxford Home Study College- Project Management short course. 

What are the best project management courses for beginners?

CompTIA Project+ certification and Oxford Home Study College- Project Management short course are the best project management courses for beginners.

What is the best project management certification in the USA?

The best project management certification in the USA is the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which is globally considered the “golden standard” of PM certifications.

You might be interested in:

• The best YouTube channels for project management
• The best project management podcasts
• Tips to improve project management skills
• The best PMP certifications
• Project managers’ roles and responsibilities
• The best project management tools

* Source: https://teamstage.io/project-management-statistics/

Subscribe to newsletter

Sign up to boost your productivity and time management skills

First name *

Email *

Subscribe now