Best Project Management Certifications of 2025
Last Updated : 17 Jun, 2025
PMCs or Project Management Certifications can offer you a competitive edge for helping you proceed ahead in your career, along with overall sustainability, call it your career catalyst, which will be adding credibility to your career graph by offering you recognition at a global level in the software industry market. As per the research, more than 70 percent of the businesses can extract high-performing project results if led by a certified individual, such as a Certified Project Manager, and the demand will increase for sure by 2027.
Still planning whether or not to execute a career transition? Take a look at the top PMCs that many IT companies consider before offering you roles related to Project Management in 2025.
What is Project Management?
Project Management is concerned with the job role that requires specific knowledge of skills, tools, and techniques in order to initiate specific plans and manage and execute new initiatives along with the implementation of new rules within the organization. There are different types of Project Management, such as Waterfall project management, Lean project management, Agile project management, etc.
Different Roles in Project Management:
These are different roles in project management:
Top Project Management Certifications
1. PRINCE2 Certification
PRINCE is the short abbreviation of PRojects IN Controlled Environments. You may wonder why the number 2 is placed after this! This is because it was relaunched in Oct 1996 as it started collecting global recognition from many potential employers. In addition to all of this, PRINCE2 is an advanced-level 3 to 4-year project management degree rather than just a certification whose price is around 900 US Dollars (in accreditation with AXELOS Ltd.). This certification has sub-categories - a) PRINCE2 Practitioner (starting with $340) and b) PRINCE2 Foundation (starting with $200).
But before you think about enrolling for the Practitioner one, you need to have completed at least one of these - PMP, CAPM, PRINCE2 Foundation, or IPMA Certification. The good news about the certification is that the management and delivery strategies of a current or futuristic project - from start to finish - will be conveyed by the modules of PRINCE2 certification in a business-oriented manner. All you need to do is start improving your project management skills with the performance-oriented teachings of this certification (keeping in mind its prerequisites) applicable to real-time IT problems.
2. CAPM Certification
CAPM has a full-form Certified Associate in Project Management. This is an ideal choice for aspirants looking for some global recognition in the project management market at the entry-level. Thinking if this certification demands hands-on experience! No, you need not demonstrate any experience in which you have enhanced the credibility of the existing quality parameters of a project’s lifecycle (from initiation to closure).
However, some prerequisites can’t be avoided like a secondary degree and 1500 hours of experience with any of the projects you like to manage or monitor. The fee for this certification is around 225 US Dollars (this is for members), and 300 US Dollars (this is for non-members) powered by 5 years of validity without any requirement of renewing the PDUs (Professional Development Units). But to maintain CAPM certification, it is imperative to keep earning up to 15 PDUs every three years so that there is no hustle from your end to find another way to enrich your project management skills effectively and credibly.
3. PMP Certification
PMP would be your industry-relevant Project Management Professional Certification supported by the Project Management Institute. This certification can skillfully fill the vacant spaces for Project Management Professionals who are always in demand because of their expertise, competency, capability, and knowledge exhibited in terms of project management solutions towards the evolving customers’ requirements. However, there are some prerequisites of this 3 years certification program bounded by the constraints of COST, SCOPE, and time. The first is a secondary or four-year professional degree in the relevant field.
Second, is your contribution in terms of 35 hours of PM i.e. Project Management Training or Education. The third one is your 7500/3500 hours competitiveness in directing and leading the management projects (with no compromise on business ethics). Worried about the price! The certification costs 405 US Dollars (for PMI members) and 555 US Dollars (for non-PMI members). All you need to do now is explore the agile project management practices this certification will offer and supercharge yourself toward the journey of becoming a sincere and competitive project manager.
4. CSM Certification
CSM or Certified Scrum Master Certification is a way through which you may ally with Scrum. You may ask what Scrum is actually. It is a framework that lets you utilize the Agile principles of Software Engineering to not only develop and deliver the products but also make them sustainable in various complex and challenging environments. Emphasizing becoming a Scrum Master isn’t a bad thing but you need to become more agile with the learning methodologies of CSM Certification powered by Scrum Alliance. The cost of this certification with a 2-yr validity is ranging between 995 US Dollars to 1395 US Dollars.
Thinking, if some prerequisites are there? No, you can relax now for sure and all you need to keep in mind is attentiveness while taking classes for the framework and lifecycle of Scrum. With such an attitude, you not only sharpen your Scrum skills but also ensure that the team/teams you are leading are committed to continuous improvement while completing the projects assigned successfully and on time.
5. PMI-ACP Certification
PMI-ACP is the Agile Certified Practitioner Certification administered by the Project Management Institute. Thinking about how you may enhance your versatility in existing projects somewhere demanding Agile practices! This certification will be a wiser choice comprising of many choices of Kanban, XP, Lean, TDD i.e. Test-Driven Development, and Scrum. But there are some prerequisites that one can’t afford to ignore. First is the high school diploma or an equivalent Associate Degree in the Agile Development field.
Second is your cumulative experience of 2000 Hours while managing Agile projects assertively demanding good collaborative skills, and tools and techniques having higher response time. In case you don’t have that experience, you may also use your references from the Agile Management Industries. Then, you can evolve well with the market dynamics by enrolling for this certification whose cost ranges between 490 US Dollars to 640 US Dollars. Later, if you wish to maintain the validity of this certification, you should be earning 30 PDUs in Agile topics every three years.
6. CompTIA Project+ Certification
CompTIA Project+ certification, in accreditation with CompTIA Project Co., costs around 285 US Dollars. There is no specific duration applicable for this certification however this will be fruitful for you if you have a year of experience in the field of project management. Indeed, this certification is more multifaceted than other Project Management certifications preferred by industrial experts because it will help you manage the entire lifecycle of small-to-medium scale projects by covering the indispensable project management concepts.
Those concepts are ensuring proper communication amongst the current manageable project’s resources, maintaining documentation of the project management plans well, monitoring and controlling the performances of various project modules, and performing various project closure activities while keeping in mind the risks and other constraints of a project. A point that one can’t avoid is that this certification is targeting well, the specific mindsets i.e. business professionals, of the IT industry as they are capable of completing the project at hand with the right mindset. Despite all this, the certification is self-paced and has the potential to continue your learning process in every stage of your preparation with its time-saving training modules packed with various disciplines of project management.
7. AgilePM Certification
One of the most popular certifications in the field of Agile Project Management. AgilePM training from APMG has two levels of certification AgilePM Practitioner and AgilePM Foundation and both of them have equal importance. This course guarantees a deep knowledge of becoming an Agile project manager by blending Agile practices with complete governance and control of Project Management. While studying for this certification you get a practical understanding of the principles and philosophy of Agile Project Manager. You will also learn to apply in the real-life industry and it will help you to gain profound knowledge to understand the roles and responsibilities.
AgilePM certification costs between 800-1400 USD which includes the examination fee. However, there are no eligibility criteria for this certification but the candidate must clear the foundation certification before appearing. Talking about the examination format, there are 50 multiple-choice questions out of which the candidate must answer 25 to get the certification in 150 minutes.
8. CPMP Certification
Certified Project Management Practitioner or CPMP is an EC-council, an organization formed after the attack of 9/11 to deal with information technology and cyberterrorism. It is a perfect course for project managers or someone who wants to get experience in project management technical leadership, management skills, etc. The CPMP certification costs up to 199 USD and the candidate has to attend a 3-day preparation course. After the completion of the course, a person can get a job for $50,000 – $88,000. Also, people who have completed this CPMP course are expected to take projects related to obstacles related to managerial level, leadership hurdles, and infrastructure development.
9. CPD Certification
Certified Project Director is a high post with a high level of management certification. The examination is also tough and the institution which is supposed to provide the course should also have all the requirements to validate the course. Also, if you have certification in CPD then should maintain the number of hours in the field. A person who is a certified project director should not be confused with any other field as a CPD professional has to do a detailed study along with proper certification, online education, and supporting documentation. Also, this is a very prestigious certification that has some specific requirements, including, knowledge about methodologies and principles of project management, and the expected salary ranges between $138,000 – $173,000. The price of the course is $400 – $555 with no exact course duration.
10. PgMP Certification
People who are well-established in their careers and can see numerous tasks or projects are eligible for this certification. People holding PgMP certification are supposed to tackle complex tasks with ease across various organizations, locations, and cultures. To complete this certification one has to pass a panel review as well as an examination. Talking about the exam 150 questions are questions related to evaluating projects and relationships with stakeholders. It costs between 800-1000 USD and is ideal for people who are experienced and can handle several projects easily.
Conclusion
These were the best project management certifications, and you can choose any of these as per your requirement and need. These certifications are very much helpful in getting a hike in your career and people who want to grow in life must consider doing any of these courses for their betterment.
Similar Reads
Project Management Tutorial for 2024 Project management is the organized approach to planning, executing, monitoring, and closing projects. This project management tutorial is best suited for students and aspiring project managers, providing a deep understanding of many different aspects of project management. This project management t
15+ min read
Project Management Basics
Characteristics of Project - Project ManagementA project is a combination of interrelated activities to achieve a specific objective within a schedule, budget, and quality. It involves the coordination of group activity, wherein the manager plans, organizes, staffs directs, and controls to achieve an objective, with constraints on time, cost, an
5 min read
What is a Project in Project Management?In the field of project management, a project is a brief undertaking that is carried out to produce a special good, service, or outcome. There are several planned tasks involved all with clear outputs, boundaries, and restrictions. This article focuses on discussing Projects in Project Management.Ta
6 min read
What is Project Management System?A project management system is a software or application used to efficiently plan, carry out, oversee, and manage projects. Task scheduling, resource allocation, budget management, collaboration tools, and reporting capabilities are some of the elements that are usually included in order to optimize
10 min read
Role and Responsibilities of a software Project Manager - Software EngineeringA software project manager is the most important person inside a team who takes the overall responsibilities to manage the software projects and plays an important role in the successful completion of the projects. This article focuses on discussing the role and responsibilities of a software projec
5 min read
Best Project Management Certifications of 2025PMCs or Project Management Certifications can offer you a competitive edge for helping you proceed ahead in your career, along with overall sustainability, call it your career catalyst, which will be adding credibility to your career graph by offering you recognition at a global level in the softwar
10 min read
Phases of the Project Management LifecycleIn this article, we will discuss the overview of project management Also, we will discuss the phases of project management and then finally conclude with the description of each phase in detail. Let's discuss it one by one. Table of Content What is Project management ? Five phases of project managem
11 min read
Phases of the Project Management Lifecycle
What is Stakeholder? Defination, Types and ExamplesIn simple words, anyone having any type of relation/interest in the project is known as a stakeholder. The term Software Project Stakeholder refers to, "a person, group or company that is directly or indirectly involved in the project and who may affect or get affected by the outcome of the project"
4 min read
Types of Feasibility Study in Software Project DevelopmentFeasibility Study in Software Engineering is a study to evaluate feasibility of proposed project or system. Feasibility study is one of stage among important four stages of Software Project Management Process. As name suggests feasibility study is the feasibility analysis or it is a measure of the s
5 min read
Difference between Project Report and Feasibility ReportProject reports provide a detailed analysis of the design, execution, and outcomes of a project, whereas feasibility reports assess a project's feasibility by examining operational, financial, and technological aspects to determine its viability. In this article, we are going to learn the difference
4 min read
Phases of Project Management ProcessProject management involves several key phases that guide the project from initiation to completion, ensuring that objectives are met efficiently and effectively. It's like having a step-by-step guide to follow, ensuring you stay on track and reach your goals smoothly. These phases typically include
7 min read
Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a procedure through which activities of a project are represented in its appropriate sequence and timing. It is a scheduling technique used to schedule, organize and integrate tasks within a project. PERT is basically a mechanism for management plann
7 min read
Project Planning & Execution
Risk Management in Project
Principles of Risk Management and ParadigmRisk Management is an approach that helps in managing and making the best use of the available resources. A computer code project may be laid low with an outsized sort of risk so as to be ready to consistently establish the necessary risks that could have an effect on a computer code project. Table
4 min read
Essential Activities of Risk ManagementRisk management is the area which tries to ensure that the impact of risks on cost, quality and schedule is minimized. The main purpose of risk management is to identify and manage the risks associated with a software project and solve the problem. Estimating the risks that can affect the project sc
3 min read
What are the Five Steps in Risk Management Process in project management?Risks are an inherent part of any Project that has been initiated to deliver some end product to the customers. This is why Project Professionals always need to take care of the potential disruptions in the middle of the Project phases. This article focuses on discussing the Risk Management Process
8 min read
Short note on Risk Assessment and Risk MitigationSoftware Risk is a problem that may or may not occur that shows the uncertainty of risks but if occurs, unwanted losses threats, or consequences will occur. It is generally caused due to a lack of incomplete information, control, or time. Table of Content What is Risk Assessment? What is Risk Mitiga
3 min read
Methods for Identifying RisksIdentifying risk is one of most important or essential and initial steps in risk management process. By chance, if failure occurs in identifying any specific or particular risk, then all other steps that are involved in risk management will not be implemented for that particular risk. For identifyin
4 min read
Risk Mitigation, Monitoring, and Management (RMMM) planRMMM Plan : A risk management technique is usually seen in the software Project plan. This can be divided into Risk Mitigation, Monitoring, and Management Plan (RMMM). In this plan, all works are done as part of risk analysis. As part of the overall project plan project manager generally uses this R
4 min read
Procedural and Quantitative Approach to Quality Management A quality product does exactly what the user want it to do. The quality of software can be interpreted in terms of satisfying the requirements of the user. Quality management is one of the vital phases in Software Project Management which relates to the planning, designing, implementing, and monitor
4 min read
Team Collaboration Tips
Project Management Methodologies
Agile Methodology Basics
Agile Development Models - Software EngineeringIn earlier days, the Iterative Waterfall Model was very popular for completing a project. But nowadays, developers face various problems while using it to develop software. The main difficulties included handling customer change requests during project development and the high cost and time required
11 min read
Agile Methodology Advantages and DisadvantagesAgile Software Development Methodology is a process of software development similar to other software development methodologies like waterfall models, V-models, iterative models, etc. Agile methodology follows the iterative as well as incremental approach that emphasizes the importance of delivering
4 min read
Agile Software Process and its PrinciplesAn Agile software process is designed to handle the unpredictability inherent in most software projects. It recognizes that requirements and customer priorities can change rapidly, and it is difficult to predict the necessary design before construction begins. Agile processes integrate design and co
4 min read
What are the benefits of Agile?An Agile framework refers to a collection of practices and principles that provide guidance for the adaptable development, execution, and management of projects. Agile methodologies place emphasis on collaboration to customer feedback and quick iterations. Unlike project management methods Agile doe
4 min read
Difference between Agile and Scrum TestingAgile and Scrum are important factors of Project Management that help to make the process manageable and easy for future use. Here we are learning about Scrum and agile in detail point related to both.What is Agile TestingAgile Testing is a Type of Software Testing that follows the principles of agi
3 min read
Agile vs Waterfall Project ManagementIn Project management, two methodologies that stand out for their distinct approaches are Agile and Waterfall. These methods represent contrasting approach in how projects are planned, executed, and delivered. Waterfall is a traditional, linear approach, where each phase of the project is completed
7 min read
Project Management Frameworks