Project Management Training Courses and Certifications

Project Management - 2019 Guide for Professionals

The majority of companies employ a project-based framework to meet targets, drive development, and continuously improve; therefore, project management is a rapidly growing profession. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), 1.57 million new jobs will be created each year through 2020 but 83% of organizations report difficulty in finding qualified project management candidates to fill open positions.  

That means that those with a project management qualification are in high demand!

As the point of contact between upper management and the team members bringing a project to life, the project manager plays a vital role in organizing a project and seeing it to fruition. Since projects are, by definition, temporary and unique, project teams are often organized with a singular goal in mind. Such teams may include members who have never worked together but who each lend a vital expertise to the project. 

Shepherding a project team therefore requires a high level of proficiency in

• organization
• planning
• time-management
• communication
• deliberation
• collaboration
• budgeting
• the latest technologies.

While these skills can be learned “the hard way” through years of experience, a training course in project management can improve your skill set, increase your value to your organization, and enhance your future career prospects. 

Interested in a training course to become a better project manager? Not currently working as a project manager, but want to excel in future professional projects? Our guide will provide you with the necessary tools to choose the best project management training course for you!

What are the benefits of project management training?

According to a study conducted by Wrike, 80% of “high-performing” projects are led by a certified project manager. Beyond the success of a project, getting your project management certification has personal benefits like boosting your marketability, earning you more, opening the door to new clients, and providing international recognition.

Even if your official role is not as project manager, the tools you learn in a project management training program will make you more competent, efficient, and judicious in any project you attempt professionally. 

Here are 5 benefits of project management training: 

Increased Efficiency

Because projects are defined by their fixed time frame, one of the most important tasks of a project manager is to complete the project on-time. Project management training will teach you how to set goals and objectives and how to prioritize these goals to make best use of the project team’s time. 

Better Budgeting

Projects are also constrained by a budget, usually set by the client or upper management, and finite resources. Project management training will teach you how to create a realistic budget, allocate resources effectively, and determine and estimate project costs.

Organized Documentation

Projects must be well-documented to ensure that the project requirements are fulfilled and to clearly trace what has been done, who has done it, and when it has been done. In a project management training course, you’ll learn how document projects in a way that is well arranged, easy to read, and organized.

Effective Communication

Since about 90% of the time in a project is spent on communication by the project manager, it’s crucial that this communication is as effective as possible to avoid missing the deliverables or other project outcomes. Clear and effective communication is a skill that can be learned through a project management training course.

Latest Technologies and Trends

The field of project management technology is ever-expanding: New tools for collaborating, tracking projects, gathering information, and scheduling are quickly emerging. Learning how and when to use these technologies will you manage projects efficiently. 

Who needs project management training?

Because the lessons learned in a project management training program can be both professionally and personally beneficial and because most people are involved in projects throughout their career, anyone can take project management training. 

However, if your company’s budget only allows those directly involved in the project to attend training, here’s how to narrow down the pool of candidates:

1. Make a list of projects

First, create a project register that catalogs your company’s current projects and those slotted for the new future. These should be clear, well-defined projects with a high priority or linked to the overall strategy.

2. Identify the project sponsor and manager

Who will be involved in the project? For each project, list the sponsor, manager, and team members who will be involved. 

3. Focus training resources on those in key roles

By focusing the project management training on those involved in strategic projects, delivery is positively impacted and resources allocated most efficiently.

Again, if the budget allows, project management training is beneficial to most professionals. If you are completely new to the industry or hope to enter a new role as project manager, a training program can help you reach your goals.

How can you study project management?

Which project management certification is right for you?

Deciding which certification is right for you can be a daunting task because of how many project management methodologies and systems currently exist. To make this decision a little easier, we’ve distilled the top project management certifications into five popular choices and organized them by experience level. 

So, is your project management level beginner, intermediate, or advanced?

“I’m a beginner project manager.”

If you’re a beginner, you want to start with the basics. You may have been involved in projects before, but you want to lay a firm foundation for the rest of your career. 

CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) is the global standard in project management. This certification demonstrates that you have a solid foundation in project management, including important terminologies, processes, and implementation techniques. 

CAPM is a great entry-level qualification and is ideal for junior-level practitioners and MBA students. 

CompTIA Project+ is designed for professionals who manage smaller, less complex projects as part of their other job duties but also have foundational project management skills. Since the certification covers essential project management concepts beyond one methodology or framework, it’s a good entry level qualification to pursue. 

“I’m an intermediate-level project manager.”

An intermediate-level project manager has probably been working in the field for at least one year. You might have even completed CompTIA Project+ or CAPM and are looking to expand your knowledge of project management methodologies and frameworks. 

According to the PMI, highly agile organizations that are responsive to market dynamics successfully complete more of their projects than their slower counterparts. Agile is considered the future of project management, so a certification that proves your mastery can open many doors. The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) has a prerequisite of 2,000 hours of general project management experience or 1,500 hours working on agile project teams, so it’s best suited for intermediate-level project managers.

CSM Certification

Originally developed for the tech industry and software development, CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) covers the agile values and Scrum framework. The Scrum framework is designed for teams of ten or less and breaks the project into short time frames for completion. 

Scrum is an agile approach to project management, which focuses on collaboration, change, and adaptivity. A CSM certification is a good choice if your projects involve close team collaboration and you’re interested in the Scrum methodology.

“I’m an experienced project manager.”

You’ve managed projects for several years and are familiar with different methodologies and frameworks--now you just need the credentials to prove it!

The PMP is globally recognized as the gold standard in project management and therefore the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. It’s not only the most prestigious but the most difficult certificate to obtain, so a few years’ experience under your belt is required. 

Despite its difficulty, the PMP is definitely worth it because those with a PMP certification earn a 20% higher salary on average than those without a PMP certification!

What should you look for in a project management course?

We asked users what they look for in a project management course, and here’s what they told us: 

Advice from current project managers

"Think about what could be most beneficial not only for you personally but also for your company. It will probably feel more satisfying for you if you can implement or try something out as soon as you get back to the office."

- Erik Appelberg, Project Manager

Popular courses in project management

If  you still feel a little lost, might we make a suggestion?

Here are some of our most popular training courses in the field of project management:

Project management for administrative professionals

PMP® PREP Course

Improving Your Project Management Skills: The Basics for Success

Program content: As you explore every aspect of managing projects, you’ll learn and practice the latest tools and techniques necessary for project management success. This course is specifically designed to focus on the practical application of project management concepts.

Certified ScrumMaster Workshop (CSM)

Risk Management Essentials for the Project Manager