How to Become a Certified Project Manager

You can develop skills by taking courses specific to a subject, studying for a certification or practicing them in the workplace. Every project brings unique challenges, opportunities to learn and fresh perspectives you can carry forward into the future. It’s a profession where no two days are the same, and the possibilities for growth — both personal and professional — are endless.

Related courses

These certifications provide you with advanced knowledge of project management methodologies and enhance your credibility with employers, helping you learn how to become a project manager. A project manager is responsible for the overall planning, execution, and completion of a project. This includes defining scope, setting goals and objectives, managing resources, coordinating tasks, and communicating with stakeholders. They must handle risk management, monitor progress, and ensure that project deliverables meet quality standards. Essentially, project managers are the linchpins that hold all aspects of a project together, ensuring its successful completion. According to Zippia, 68 percent of project managers hold a bachelor’s degree 1.

Capitalizing on Industry-Specific Experience

Remember, your goal at this stage is to get a solid grounding in project management principles. You may also consider enrolling in a project management course or program at a university or college. This includes knowledge of project planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure. Before embarking on a career as a Project Manager, it is crucial that you thoroughly understand the core principles of project management. This article is for anyone considering a similar leap — especially Software development if that jump feels a stretch too far.

• If you’re trying to build up project management skills, look for opportunities in your current work.
• Each methodology has its own strengths and weaknesses and is best suited to specific types of projects.
• If you’re looking for something more formal, consider an online course, bootcamp, or certificate.
• As part of your journey to becoming a Project Manager, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with various project management methodologies.
• When reviewing listings, pay attention to the job description and education and experience requirements.

Pathway 2: How to become a certified project manager

• The duration of these apprenticeships range from two to five years, depending on the company you work for and the level you study at.
• Offered by the IAPM, this certification requires no prior professional experience.
• Project Managers can work in a variety of industries, including IT, construction, healthcare, finance, and marketing.
• These natural leaders manage the budget, schedule, and coordination aspects of a project, whether that’s constructing a home or improving internal business processes.
• Project management specialists earn a median annual salary of $98,580, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 1.

Becoming a Project Manager involves gaining the right mix of education, experience, and skills to lead and oversee successful projects. Whether you’re starting fresh or transitioning from another role, following a clear path can help you achieve your goal. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is one of the world’s leading project management certifications. This certification validates project leadership experience and expertise across industries. They aren’t necessarily responsible for the coaching and mentorship of a team—in fact, a project manager’s team members may report to another member of the organization.

• Eventually, they may assign you a project to manage full-time with their guidance.
• You can get into general project management with any degree, although courses in business or project management are particularly useful.
• Online courses can be a great way to build project management skills and knowledge as well as explore the areas in which you might like to earn certification.
• In some cases, relevant experience in organizing, planning, and managing can be more useful than a degree.
• The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers some of the most popular certifications, but several other organizations offer certifications as well.
• As a project manager, you ensure projects meet deadlines and align with budgets by developing and adhering to a project plan.

If it makes sense to do so, approach your manager with ideas of how you Technical Project Manager/Business Analyst job can contribute and let them know you’re interested in developing project management experience. Some may study project management principles in school and apply directly to project management positions after graduating. In contrast, others “accidentally” become project managers after gradually taking on more responsibilities in their current roles or switch from seemingly unrelated fields. Whatever path you hope to take, consider these six steps when exploring how to become a project manager. You can earn the PMI’s PMP certification—widely considered the gold standard in the industry—with only a high school diploma.