If you are a beginner or have some experience, project management courses will help you break into or advance your project management profession.
However, when you start researching project management courses, you may become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available.
To make the most of your time studying, make sure you choose suitable courses based on your expertise and future ambitions.
That’s why we’ve put together this helpful article to help you learn about the best project management courses in 2025. This will help individuals wishing to grow and advance in their careers.
Table of contents
- What is Project Management?
- Top 10 Project Management Courses
- #1. The Digital Project Management
- #2. PMP Foundation Course by PMTraining
- #3. Google Project Management: Professional Certificate
- #4. Project Management Professional Prep Course from Project Management Academy
- #5. Career Essentials in Project Management by Microsoft and LinkedIn
- #6. Diploma in Project Management from Alison
- #7. Agile with Atlassian Jira on Coursera
- #8. IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate on Coursera
- #9. Managing Complex Technical Projects at MIT
- #10. Project Management from ClickUp
- Project Management Courses Fees
- Skills Gained from Project Management Courses
- Types of Project Management Certifications
- How to Become a Project Manager
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Reference
- Recommendation
What is Project Management?
Project management is the process of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve defined goals within a set time. This includes initiating, planning, executing, managing, and guiding a team’s work to reach a goal or fulfil certain success criteria.
Project managers play an important role in controlling these procedures, which include communicating with stakeholders, managing risks and contingencies, and assuring quality control. It also completes the project on schedule and within budget.
It is an essential skill in most sectors. As a result, having project management abilities and qualifications will improve your career prospects. These skills make you a more desirable asset to your employers.
See also: Top 15 Best Bridging Courses in South Africa.
Top 10 Project Management Courses
Here are the top ten project management courses that will help you advance to leadership positions.
#1. The Digital Project Management
DPM’s Master Digital Project Management course is an extensive course of study that goes deep into the full project lifecycle from inception to closure. It also equips students with the skills they need to manage projects.
The course includes 27+ on-demand sessions.
The substantial course content includes real world scenario-based tasks, over 50 templates and samples, as well as access to an online Slack community and study groups. You also receive additional resources such as articles, quizzes, and whitepapers.
Cost: $950
#2. PMP Foundation Course by PMTraining
PMTraining offers a flexible PMP Foundation Course that can be accessed at any time and from any location. It provides an organized learning experience that prepares students for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam.
The online PMP course provides a full introduction to PMP certification, supplementing in-person education and serving as a refresher for current credential holders.
This course will provide participants with the knowledge and abilities required to take the PMP project management certification exam.
Cost: Varies depending on location and format; typically starts around $399
#3. Google Project Management: Professional Certificate
Google’s ‘Project Management Fundamentals’ specialization on Coursera provides a practical foundation for project management.
This specialization, created by Google professionals, will provide you with vital project management skills that can be applied across a variety of industries and career pathways.
If you’re a beginner hoping to build a firm foundation or an experienced professional looking to improve your approach, this course will teach you how to effectively initiate, plan, execute, and close projects successfully.
It also connects alumni from this course with appropriate job prospects through the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium.
Cost: $39 USD/month on a subscription basis.
#4. Project Management Professional Prep Course from Project Management Academy
Project Management Academy’s (PMA) PMP Prep Course provides a flexible and self-paced learning experience for obtaining the famous Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
This course covers the PMBOK Guide, PMI concepts, and important exam-taking tactics.
It allows you to learn the five process categories, nine knowledge areas, and important tools and techniques used in the PMP exam at your own pace and convenience.
Furthermore, students can take sample exams to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, paving the road for strategic study changes and PMP success.
Cost:
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#5. Career Essentials in Project Management by Microsoft and LinkedIn
This collaborative course by Microsoft and Linkedin offers a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to project management.
Learn from Microsoft and LinkedIn’s industry leaders, gaining invaluable insights tailored to real-world scenarios.
The course enables you to learn quickly, choosing individual courses to build your skill set brick by brick. The course engages you with video lectures, quizzes, and interactive exercises, and even practice what you have learned with hands-on demos.
This flexible and engaging approach makes mastering project management accessible and rewarding.
Cost: Free with LinkedIn Premium, which starts at $39.99 USD/month.
#6. Diploma in Project Management from Alison
This free diploma course explores project management principles and the elements influencing successful execution.
The course starts with an overview of the system development lifecycle (SDLC), covering phases like business analysis, planning, design, and evaluation. It goes deep into risk of project management methodologies and practical tools like Gantt and PERT charts for effective scheduling.
Additionally, the course discusses standard project management practices, including the use of technical documents and programs for tracking progress.
A case study is included to demonstrate effective project management in action.
Cost: Free to enroll
#7. Agile with Atlassian Jira on Coursera
The Agile with Atlassian Jira course is designed to deepen the understanding of agile methodologies and effectively implement these principles through project management tools.
From the basics of visualizing work to advanced customization, the course covers various topics to equip learners with the skills to manage agile projects successfully.
Cost: Enrol for free
#8. IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate on Coursera
The IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate provides a comprehensive pathway for those aspiring to excel in project management.
This program offers an in-depth exploration of modern project management techniques, focusing on Agile methodologies.
This program equips participants with the essential skills, practical experience, and industry recognition needed to excel in project management roles across various industries.
Cost: $39 USD/month on a subscription basis.
#9. Managing Complex Technical Projects at MIT
This three-day online class covers two critical strategies for managing large-scale product and service development.
The curriculum devotes two days to understanding the design structure matrix (DSM) method, which was invented and explored at MIT to improve project performance in complex system development.
DSM has been successfully adopted in a variety of technical disciplines, including automotive manufacturing, software development, aerospace, and more.
The third day of the course focuses on new agile development approaches, which were previously employed in software but are now being applied to other technical tasks.
This program emphasizes knowing the appropriate agile tools for various project types, recognizing that effective software methodologies may not directly translate to other technological fields.
Cost: 4,500 USD for the program
#10. Project Management from ClickUp
Project management solutions such as ClickUp are essential for organizing, tracking, and efficiently managing many areas of a project, ensuring that teams fulfill deadlines and achieve goals in a coordinated manner.
This live workshop teaches you how to use the ClickUp toolbox to manage projects, teams, and improve your project management skills.
It shows you not only how to use ClickUp for effective project planning, organization, and execution, but also how to implement essential project management concepts such as project scope, milestone determination, and task dependencies.
Cost: $249
Project Management Courses Fees
The costs to study top project management courses can vary depending on the provider but generally range from $500 to $2,000 for training with the exam fee itself costing around $400 for PMI members and $555 for non-members; prices may be higher for other certifications like PRINCE2 or Agile depending on the course provider and its depth.
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Skills Gained from Project Management Courses
Opting for any of these project management certification courses will equip you with a robust skillset to tackle any project, no matter how complex, including:
- Leadership and communication: Effectively leading teams, managing stakeholders, and fostering clear communication channels
- Planning and organization: Setting goals, defining project scope, creating timelines, and allocating resources efficiently
- Risk management: Identifying and mitigating potential risks to ensure project success
- Problem-solving: Adapting to unforeseen challenges and finding creative solutions to keep projects on track
- Time management: Prioritizing tasks, managing deadlines, and optimizing workflow for increased productivity
- Software proficiency: Mastering project management tools like ClickUp
See also: Top 10 Risk Management Courses in South Africa | Cost and Requirements
Types of Project Management Certifications
Taking a course and obtaining a recognized project management certification will authenticate your abilities and boost your career.
Below are the several types of project management certifications:
Project Management Professional (PMP)
The Project Management Professional (PMP) credential given by the Project Management Institute (PMI) is the gold standard in project management and is recognized worldwide.
PMI offers eight credentials, including the PMP exam, which aligns with the ECO PMP Examination Content Outline.
To improve project success rates, organizations in the government, commercial, and diverse sectors hire PMP-certified project managers. This is accomplished by implementing the established and constantly changing project management concepts outlined in PMI’s PMBOK Guide.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification is designed to provide candidates with the necessary abilities for entry-level roles in project management.
Obtaining a CAPM certification provides excellent preparation for individuals seeking entry-level careers in project management. This certification will help you fully comprehend project management principles and become certified in proven frameworks and processes.
PMI-ACP
The PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner) training enables participants to develop skills as agile professionals by covering a wide range of agile methodologies.
The PMI-ACP exam, which is considered PMI’s fastest-growing credential, was recently upgraded to include the Agile Practice Guide.
Obtaining the PMI-ACP certification certifies your practical experience and proficiency as a member of an agile team. It covers a variety of agile methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, Lean, extreme programming (XP), and test-driven development (TDD), stressing flexibility by not limiting practitioners to a single agile methodology.
Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt
Six Sigma certification is a professional credential that verifies an individual’s knowledge of Six Sigma principles, processes, and technologies.
It is a data-driven methodology used by organizations to increase process efficiency, reduce errors, improve quality, and achieve operational excellence.
Certification in Six Sigma demonstrates a strong understanding of statistical analysis, problem resolution, and project management. It exhibits the capacity to lead process improvement projects, manage organizational change, and provide real outcomes.
Various certification levels, such as White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt, acknowledge varying degrees of knowledge and expertise in Six Sigma application.
How to Become a Project Manager
Here’s a list of steps you can take to start your career as a project manager:
Earn A Bachelor’s Degree
Many project managers begin their careers by earning a bachelor’s degree, as this is usually the minimum education requirement for the job. There are several areas of study you can choose from for your undergraduate degree, but many aspiring project managers major in either project or business management. Other related majors you can pursue include marketing, project management or studies in the field you plan to work in, such as engineering or IT.
Choose A Specialization
A project manager might work in a variety of industries and enterprises. Determining the field you want to work in might help you plan your next steps toward becoming a project manager.
For example, if you want to be a project manager in construction, you may spend time learning about different sorts of construction projects or talking with other construction personnel about effective management strategies. Other typical areas of specialization for project managers are:
- Energy
- Marketing
- Electrical
- Systems
- IT
- Health care
Become Certified
Earning a project management certification can set you apart from other applicants and may be necessary for some project manager positions. There are numerous sorts of certifications available, including the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) certificates from the Project Management Institute.
Each credential has various requirements. For example, the PMP certification needs 7,500 hours of practical experience for those with an associate’s degree or less, and 4,500 hours for those with a bachelor’s degree or more.
Gain Experience
Gaining on-the-job experience can be a critical component of preparing to work as a project manager. Once you’ve decided on the profession you want to work in, look for entry-level positions that will allow you to gain experience managing projects in that business. For example, if you want to work as an IT project manager, you could start with an entry-level position that utilizes computers to gain technical knowledge and abilities.
Network
Networking offers advantages to project managers for a variety of reasons. First, you may identify mentors who can assist you in developing your talents and informing you of potential opportunities. It’s also helpful since you may have colleagues who have worked on similar projects and can offer additional advice on how to handle them efficiently.
Engage in Continuous Learning
Continuous learning is essential for project managers because they may encounter various types of projects during their careers. Staying current with current trends and technology will help you efficiently manage varied teams while also allowing you to improve your skills, making you a better project manager.
Build Your Management Skills
As you gain professional experience, concentrate on enhancing your management skills. Because project managers frequently supervise other employees, they usually have good management abilities that allow them to guide and inspire their teams.
You can improve these skills by volunteering for priority tasks taking on more responsibility at your current job or by speaking with your boss about how to transition to a lower-level management role. If you have exceptional management skills, you can inquire about advancing to a project manager position or look online for open positions at other firms.
FAQs
A Project Management Fee (PM fee) is charged to generate funding to pay for expenses.
Project management work is complex since project managers need to be so detail-oriented and organized to get their work done, but that doesn’t mean that this field is too difficult to learn.
No, project management doesn’t require math, it requires diligence and domain expertise.
Project Management Basics is a self-paced course that provides an introduction to the project environment and teaches the foundational concepts of managing projects.
The start-to-start relationship is a term from the field of project management and network diagramming. It describes the dependency between two or more activities, where the start of one activity is dependent on the start of another.
Conclusion
While project management courses provide vital understandings for a variety of positions, they have particular appeal to certain individuals. If you’re an experienced Project Manager or Project Lead, these courses can help you expand your knowledge and refine your project management skills.
The journey to becoming an effective project manager is ongoing and multifaceted. It involves continuous learning, adapting to new methodologies, and embracing technological advancements and tools.
Whether you’re just getting started or trying to improve your skills, these top ten project management courses will serve as a compass to help you understand the complex challenges of managing high-intensity, high-stakes projects.
Reference
- Clickup.com– Top 10 Online Project Management Courses to Level Up Your Career
- Indeed.com– How To Become a Project Manager in 7 Steps (Plus Salary)
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