Best Project Management Certifications of 2025

Key Takeaways

• Certifications matter – 55% of employers prioritize them when hiring project managers
• PMP is the gold standard but not the only option
• CAPM is great for beginners, while PRINCE2 and Agile-focused certifications fit structured and flexible methodologies
• The right certification depends on your career goals but not all are required. Choosing the right one can help advance your career

Project management certifications aren’t one-size-fits-all.

In this guide, we’ll break down the most recognized certifications, their requirements, and which might align best with your career goal.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

If you’ve looked into project management certifications, you’ve heard of the PMP certificate.

It’s globally recognized, widely respected, and often listed as a requirement in job postings.

PMP-certified project managers also earn 16% more on average.

It’s best for mid-to-senior-level project managers with experience managing projects or working in traditional (Waterfall) and hybrid methodologies.

Requirements

• With a Bachelor’s Degree: 36 months of project management experience and 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM certification
• With a High School Diploma or Associate Degree: 60 months of project management experience and 35 hours of education
• Pass a 180-question exam

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Not everyone has years of project management experience, and that’s where CAPM comes in.

Offered by PMI (the same organization behind PMP), CAPM is designed for:

• Entry-level professionals
• Students who want to build credibility in project management
• People who plan to get PMP certification later but don’t yet meet the experience requirements
• Organizations that want junior staff to develop project management knowledge without PMP

It provides a solid foundation in project management principles without requiring prior hands-on experience.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or GED
• 23 hours of project management education before taking the exam
• A 150-question exam covering project management concepts, terminology, and processes

CAPM gives you a recognized credential without the years of experience required for PMP.

Many professionals use it as a stepping stone toward fulfilling their PMP certification requirements, making it a strong first move for an aspiring project manager.

Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

Not all projects follow a strict, linear plan.

Agile methodologies prioritize adaptability, collaboration, and iterative development. PMI’s Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) helps project managers apply these principles effectively.

Consider ACP if you are:

• A project manager in IT, software development, and fast-moving industries
• Scrum Master, product manager, or business analyst looking to strengthen your Agile expertise
• A team transitioning from traditional (Waterfall) project management to Agile

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• 21 hours of Agile training and 12 months of general project experience (or a PMP/CAPM certification as a substitute)
• 8 months of Agile-specific experience within the last three years

ACP certification entails a 120-question exam covering agile frameworks, principles & tools that validates your ability to lead agile projects, making you more valuable to companies that embrace fast-paced, iterative workflows.

PRINCE2 Certifications

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a widely recognized certification in Europe, Australia, and government sectors.

PRINCE2 Foundation

Project managers who work in highly structured environments such as government agencies, large corporations or use Waterfall methodologies can benefit from it.

It emphasizes structured project governance, clear roles, and stage-based planning, making it a strong choice for organizations that rely on defined processes.

The 60-question multiple-choice exam tests knowledge of PRINCE2 principles, themes & processes, and is ideal for teams that need rigid structure, well-defined roles, and controlled project stages.

Requirements

No prior experience is required.

PRINCE2 Practitioner

If PRINCE2 Foundation is about understanding the framework, PRINCE2 Practitioner is about applying it to real-world projects.

This advanced certification is for professionals who already use PRINCE2 and want to strengthen their ability to lead structured projects that require strict governance and controlled processes.

Requirements

• Must have PRINCE2 Foundation certification (or certain equivalent qualifications, such as PMP or CAPM)
• The exam includes scenario-based questions to test real-world applications

If your company already follows PRINCE2, this certification can fast-track career progression into leadership roles.

Program Management Professional (PgMP)

Some project managers manage many projects at once. Offered by PMI, PgMP is designed for senior-level professionals who oversee multiple projects that must align with strategic goals.

Consider PgMP if you are:

• An experienced project manager moving into program management or executive roles
• A professional overseeing large, complex programs rather than individual projects
• A leader who needs to ensure that multiple projects align with business strategy

Requirements

• With a Four-year Degree – 48 months of project management experience AND 48 months of program management experience in the past 15 years
• With a High School Diploma or Associate Degree – 48 months of project management experience AND 84 months of program management experience in the past 15 years

• A panel review of your experience and a 170-question exam

If you manage complex programs with multiple interdependent projects, PgMP can help formalize your expertise and set you apart from senior project managers.

Lean Six Sigma

LSS, or Lean Six Sigma works on eliminating inefficiencies and improving processes.

It’s widely used in manufacturing, healthcare & industries where minimizing waste and maximizing quality is critical and offers multiple levels of certification – Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt.

Requirements

• No strict prerequisites for entry-level belts
• Higher-level belts require work experience and project leadership
• Exams typically include process improvement methodologies, statistical analysis, and case studies

Project managers focusing on process optimization and data-driven decision-making and teams should seek this certification and implement Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to reduce errors and improve efficiency.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Principles from a CSM certification (Certified Scrum Master) comes in handy where deadlines shift and and teams need flexibility to deal with ever-changing requirements.

Scrum Masters, product owners, and team leads who run daily stand-ups and sprint planning or professionals transitioning from Waterfall to Agile project management can benefit from being CSM certified.

Requirements

• No prior experience is required
• Scrum Alliance-approved course is mandatory
• Must pass a 50-question multiple-choice exam

CSM formalizes your knowledge of Scrum and helps you work more effectively in Agile teams.

While some companies don’t require certification for Scrum Masters, having a CSM credential boosts credibility and career prospects, especially in tech-driven industries.

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

While CSM focuses purely on Scrum, PMI-ACP — the Agile Certified Practitioner — covers a broader range of Agile methodologies, including Kanban, Lean and XP (Extreme Programming.)

If you work in Agile project management or need certification with more rigorous requirements than CSM, PMI-ACP might be the better choice.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• 21 hours of Agile training before taking the exam
• 12 months of general project experience (or PMP/CAPM certification as substitute)
• 8 months of Agile-specific experience in the last three years
• A 120-question exam covering Agile frameworks, tools, and leadership principle

PMI-ACP is more comprehensive than CSM.

If you work in an organization that blends Agile and traditional project management, this certification proves you understand Agile strategically beyond the team level.

CompTIA Project+

Project+ is an entry-level certification that covers fundamental project management skills.

It is ideal for IT professionals, business managers, and hybrid roles that involve project work but don’t require a dedicated PM certification like PMP.

Or for people who want a project management certification without strict experience requirements and want a vendor-neutral, industry-agnostic PM certification.

Requirements

• No experience is required
• At least one year of project involvement (recommended)
• A 95-question multiple-choice exam covering project basics, constraints, communication, and documentation

CompTIA Project+ doesn’t follow a single methodology and is useful for professionals who run projects as part of their role but don’t necessarily want a full-time project management career.

Certified Project Manager (CPM)

The CPM credential (Certified Project Manager), offered by the International Association of Project Managers (IAPM), is a globally recognized alternative to PMP and PRINCE2.

It focuses on practical project management skills rather than rigid frameworks.

Consider CPM if you:

• Are a project manager looking for a certification without extensive prerequisites
• Prefer a broad, flexible PM certification instead of a methodology-specific one
• Want something that is accessible for beginners and mid-level professionals
• Enjoy a self-paced online learning approach

Requirements

• No mandatory work experience

It’s a great option for professionals who want to validate their PM skills with an exam that tests for general PM knowledge, but don’t want the rigorous application process of PMI certifications.

Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)

Project managers handle individual projects, while portfolio managers oversee multiple projects and ensure they align with business strategy.

That’s where a PfMP-certified professional comes in.

This advanced PMI certification validates expertise in managing complex portfolios – Allowing executives, directors, and those just transitioning into the position to become responsible for strategic project alignment.

Requirements

• With a Bachelor’s Degree: 96 months of project or program management experience AND 48 months of portfolio management experience in the last 15 years
• With a High School Diploma or Associate Degree: 96 months of project or program management experience AND 84 months of portfolio management experience in the last 15 years

Followed up by a panel review of your experience, and a 170-question exam.

PfMP is one of the most senior project management certifications available, proving you have the expertise to lead at an executive level.

Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)

Projects often involve delays, budget overruns, scope changes, and unexpected problems.

The PMI-RMP certification focuses on identifying, analyzing and mitigating risks to keep projects on track for project managers specializing in risk assessment and mitigation.

It’s ideal for professionals in high-risk industries like finance, healthcare, and construction or teams handling complex, high-stakes projects with strict compliance requirements.

Requirements

• With a Four-year Degree: 36 months of project risk management experience AND 40 hours of risk management education
• With a High School Diploma or Associate Degree: 60 months of project risk management experience AND 40 hours of risk management education

Then a 115-question exam covering risk strategy, assessment, response planning, and monitoring.

Companies value professionals who can identify potential threats before they derail a project!

Digital Project Manager Certification

The Digital Project Manager Certification (DPM) is tailored for project and digital managers in digital or remote environments: Software, marketing, UX design, and online businesses.

Unlike traditional PM certifications, it focuses on fast-paced, iterative project work.

This certification is particularly useful for teams that use Agile, Kanban, or Lean methodologies in digital projects.

Professionals with varying experience levels can learn using a self-paced course followed by a final exam covering digital project methodologies, team collaboration, and workflow optimization.

Requirements

• No strict prerequisites

The DPM Certification validates skills that traditional PM certifications often overlook—remote collaboration, digital workflows, and cross-functional team coordination.

If you manage marketing campaigns, UX projects, or tech initiatives, this certification aligns with the realities of digital work.

Choosing the Right Certification

Not every certification is right for every project manager.

The best one for you depends on your experience, industry, and career goals. Instead of picking one at random, consider:

Experience level

• New to project management – Start with CAPM or CompTIA Project+ to build foundational knowledge
• Mid-career professional – PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or PMI-ACP are strong choices
• Senior-level managers – Consider PgMP or PfMP for leadership roles

Industry + work environment

• Corporate and government sectors – You may want PRINCE2 or PMP
• Tech, startups, and Agile teams – The most benefit might be found in CSM, PMI-ACP, or a Digital Project Manager Certification
• Manufacturing or healthcare – Lean Six Sigma, PMP or PMI-RMP, which are great for process improvement and risk management

Long-term career goals

• Executive leadership – PfMP and PgMP prove you can manage large-scale initiatives
• Technical problem-solving – PMI-RMP and Lean Six Sigma help you specialize in risk and efficiency
• Flexibility – PMP remains the most universally recognized certification

No certification guarantees success, but the right one can open new career opportunities, increase credibility, and boost earning potential.

Get Certified Next

Certifications aren’t just resume boosters – they show you’ve invested in mastering the skills, processes, and leadership abilities needed to drive projects forward.

Whether you’re just starting or advancing into executive roles, there’s a certification that aligns with your goals.

Make sure you choose the one that fits your industry, experience, and career aspirations – not just the most popular one.

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