Whether you are an old or new project manager in the profession, it is becoming increasingly important to get ongoing training so that you can stay up to date with the best and most up-to-date methods and advance your career. There are many online project management courses you can take to get certified, prepare for the PMP® certification exam, or earn advanced training units to maintain your current certifications.
Not to mention, those who have gained and maintained a professional certification tend to receive a higher salary than those who rely on experience alone.
Do you need certification in online project management courses to become a project manager?
Not necessarily. The proliferation of project management software has opened the door to project management for many people who do not consider themselves project managers. Despite the software being available to everyone, some companies will still require official approval of some kind.
Workzone project management software does not require certification. It’s easy enough for everyone to use, but powerful enough to handle complex work. Because the people in the skill set are different, Workzone offers unlimited training to all clients. So, no more courses needed!
Free online project management courses
There are quite a few reputable institutions that offer project management courses with which you can get started at no cost. You may have to pay a commission to access additional features or issue a certificate.
This course offers a comprehensive overview of project management and covers topics such as methodology, toolkits and project life cycle including analysis, planning, design and evaluation.
It provides a good foundation for beginners who want to learn about the different stages of the life cycle of system development as well as different types of documentation.
It takes about 6-10 hours to complete the course and you will have to pass a final review test at the end. You can access the course materials for free and you will have the opportunity to purchase an official Allison diploma when you pass the course assessments.
Coursera offers a series of project management specialization courses, such as “Introduction to Principles and Project Management Specialization” and “Project Initiation and Planning”.
Coursera offers a series of project management specialization courses, such as “Introduction to Principles and Project Management Specialization” and “Project Initiation and Planning”.
Many of these courses are offered in partnership with the University of California, Irwin. Most of these classes offer free access to the course materials and require an additional fee if you want to rate the course work and get a course certificate.
Oxford Home Study College is the UK’s leading provider of professional distance learning courses.
This 80-hour course covers an introduction to project management, the role of the project manager and looking at the life cycle of the project.
Upon completion of the curriculum, you will be emailed a certificate issued by the college at no extra charge.
This PMP online training course of 10 hours CEU / CPE of 5.5 hours, will show you how to initiate, plan and manage a project, as well as the process of risk analysis, monitoring and control of project contracts and development of schedules and budgets.
The in-depth course materials are aimed at the PMP certification exam, with a complete library of self-paced instructional videos, practice exams and additional resources such as the “Project Management Knowledge Body Guide: PMBOK® Guide.”
5. Latitude U – Efficient project management
This free online course teaches key concepts for project management, including resource management, scope management, time management, budget management and risk management.
It introduces the four stages of project management and students will learn how to meet project objectives while balancing the constraints of scope, budget and resources.
This 13-module learning track includes 23 hours of video tutorial, covering project management basics and Microsoft Project basics, as well as schedule management, teams, changes, budgets, communications, quality, procurement, stakeholders, risks and integration.
Lynda.com is a PMI-listed education provider and the Professional Development Units (PDUs) courses.
Lynda.com is LinkedIn’s online learning platform and offers 30 days free trial. Then, it’s $ 19.99 for the basic membership and $ 29.99 for the premium membership.
if you have Premium subscription on LinkedIn, You can access LinkedIn Learning online project management courses at no extra charge. Otherwise, you can start with a free 30-day trial and pay $ 24.99 a month thereafter.
The platform offers a considerable number of training videos on project management, most of them about an hour, on the various aspects of the discipline.
Many of these courses are produced by Lynda.com, an education provider registered with PMI and certified by Professional Development Units (PDUs).
Top Paid Project Management Courses
Most of these paid courses are designed to help students prepare for the PMP® exam and are more comprehensive in nature.
Some are offered by universities and students will complete the program with a certification or degree:
1. Brain Sensei – Complete a preparation course for the PMP® exam
This comprehensive six-module online course meets the 35-hour criteria (PDUs) for the PMP® exam and covers the following topics:
- Project Management Overview
- Starting a project
- Project planning
- Execution of a project
- Project monitoring and control
- Project closure
The materials are delivered through engaging animated stories and interactive content, with self-assessment to track progress and tests with over 900 practice questions to help you prepare for the big day.
Payment for all six modules is $ 399.99, or you can purchase each module separately.
2. Project Management Institute – a package of project management courses 60 PDU
Upon completion of this self-paced online course package, you will receive 60 PDUs to maintain your PMP certification.
Subjects studied include:
- 4CShare Global Project Management Simulation
- Agile team challenges
- Emotional intelligence for project managers
- Ethics for project managers
- Introduction to Agile
- Project management team leadership
- Quality management fundamentals
The cost for the entire package is $ 1,395 for non-members or $ 999 for PMI members.
This online project management certificate program uses the same curriculum and is taught by the same faculty as the classroom in Denver. This boils down to a 16-week schedule for busy professionals.
This course will prepare you for the PMP® exam and the completion certificate reflects 48 hours of contact in a PMI approved course.
Tuition costs $ 3,395 and graduate students may be eligible for funding through the Colorado Workforce Development Center.
This certification training includes 300+ lectures, 750+ PMP practice questions, PMP sample certification exam, PMP cheat sheets and more. It meets the requirement of 35 hours of contact (PDU) to register for the PMP® exam.
The practical tutorial approach of the self-paced online course allows participants to understand the 5 process groups and 10 areas of knowledge as determined by PMI® and be prepared for the PMP® certification exam.
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate.
The academy offers various payment options for this course: $ 37 per month, $ 185 per year, or $ 370 for lifetime access.
This package includes all six project management courses from the Master Project Academy, covering PMP, Agile, Scrum and Microsoft Project designed for IT and business people.
There are 400+ lectures and 60+ hours of online training materials designed and led by industry veterans with a deep well of academic and field knowledge.
You can access the package at $ 62 per month, $ 307 per year or $ 590 for lifetime access.
This online course includes 35 hours of instructor-led training, 5 industry case studies, 12 scenario-based games, 35 hours of e-learning content, 83 quizzes and 5 simulation exams.
Upon completion, participants will receive the 35 PDUs required to access the PMP certification exam or maintain their PMP certification.
The course is offered at two different price points for individuals – $ 499 for self-paced learning and $ 999 for Flexi-Pass, which includes 90 days of access to 15+ online instructional classes led by instructors. An organizational training option is also available to businesses upon inquiry.
This interactive online project management course is delivered through WebEx Virtual Classroom which includes document sharing, two-way audio, video and text chat, screen sharing, question and answer sessions and more.
The program takes place over 4 weekends, with 2 sessions per week.
In addition, you will have access to instructional videos, a mobile app, tabs, chapter test questions, full-length virtual PMP tests, exam tips and support.
Participants will receive the 35 hours of PMI contact required to take the PMP exam, and will also receive assistance in submitting the PMP® exam application up to 45 days from the training.
Trainings24x7 also offers a E-learning option For PMP certification that includes videos, online study materials, a mobile app and practice exam questions for $ 76.
This AACSB-certified interdisciplinary program uses problem-based learning to provide a strong foundation in project management theory and practice. In addition, Penn State is a Project Management Institute (PMI) ® registered education provider.
The courses are based on business needs in the real world and are delivered by a respected faculty in the industry. You can choose courses that cover topics that include planning, cost and value management, project control, manpower issues and strategic issues.
If you take less than 12 credits per semester, each credit will cost $ 975. For 12 credits or more per semester, you will pay a fixed fee of $ 11,700.
Led by a staff of experts and practitioners in the industry, this program is built on the core processes defined in the “Guide to the Knowledge Body of Project Management” of the Project Management Institute.
There is also a strong emphasis on assisting participants to develop the skills and practices in the real world required for the successful management of projects on time, budget and within the range.
Upon completion of the program, students will meet the requirements required to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) ® exam or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) ® exam.
The total tuition for all 6 courses is $ 6,570 with most course materials included.
Classes are delivered in an 8-week format during this online course. The program is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center (GAC) of the Institute for Project Management (PMI) ® while Walden is a Registered Education Provider (REP) approved for project management training by PMI.
Each project management course is worth 45 professional development units for PMP® certification.
The classroom curriculum covers budgeting and operations management, project contract planning and management, and sustainability in project management, portfolios and programs, as well as social impact in project management.
A bachelor’s degree or higher is required to enter this program.
Choose a program that suits your needs
There are many options when it comes to choosing an online project management course. To make the right decision, you need to consider your goals, preferences, expectations and budget.
While PMP® certification is agnostic in the industry, regional job availability and local government subsidy may affect a program’s curriculum, and you will want to make sure it is targeted at the industry in which you work.
If you are excited to start your educational journey, do not forget to check out this comprehensive guide to the basics of project management we recently published.