10 Best Online Project Management Courses & Certificates 2025

Project managers are responsible for leading projects within companies. They can work in many different fields, including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, IT, and finance. Typically, you need a strong knowledge of your industry, plus project management skills, to become a project manager.

If you're interested in pursuing a new career in project management or furthering your current career, an online certificate course can help. These courses can teach you the fundamentals or specific topics within project management, and also provide a certificate you can add to your resume or LinkedIn profile. Keep reading to discover the best online project management certificates.

Best Online Project Management Certificate Programs

There are a few places online where you can find project management certificate programs to help you further your career. Below, we've featured some of the best online project management courses with certificates.

1. Google Project Management: Professional Certificate

Google offers a project management professional certificate through the online learning platform Coursera. The certificate includes six courses that cover topics like:

• project initiation
• project planning
• project execution
• Agile project management

The Google project management certificate is self-paced, but most students finish in about six months. It's free to enroll, but you may need to pay a fee to access the certificate of completion at the end.

2. Microsoft Project Management Professional Certificate

Microsoft also offers a professional project management certificate through Coursera. The self-paced program takes about four months to complete on average.

The certificate includes nine courses that teach basic project management principles. Like the Google project management certificate, it's free to enroll, but you may need to pay a fee for full course access.

3. Project Management Fundamentals

Alison is another online learning platform, and it offers a free project management fundamentals course. It's designed to help students build foundational and advanced-level knowledge in managing projects of any kind.

Students also cover project management tools, like Microsoft Teams. You can work through the course at your own pace, and most students take four to five hours total. A certificate of completion is available once you're finished.

4. Diploma in Project Management

Another option from Alison is a free online diploma in project management. This program covers the different phases of project management and helps learners develop practical project management skills.

The program includes two modules plus a course assessment and takes about 10 to 15 hours total to finish. Students can receive a diploma when they've completed the course.

5. PMP Project Management - Fundamental Concepts for Beginners

Those wanting to pursue the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential from the Project Management Institute (PMI) should check out the PMP Project Management - Fundamental Concepts for Beginners course on Alison. This is a free course for newcomers to project management who want to learn what sitting for the official PMP exam entails.

Students in this program will learn about the project management life cycle and cover the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). The course takes about two to three hours to complete and students can earn a certificate at the end.

6. IBM: Project Management Basics

EdX is an online learning platform very similar to Coursera. It hosts a Project Management Basics course from IBM that covers the core principles of project management.

Students learn how to handle complex projects and lead their project team members. The course is self-paced, but most students finish in five weeks. It's free to audit, but if you want unlimited access to course materials and a certificate of completion, the cost is $49.

7. Program Management and the Art of Communication

Program Management and the Art of Communication is a professional certificate program offered by the University System of Maryland on edX. It's made up of five courses that cover topics like communication for stakeholders and planning successful projects, as well as helping students hone their leadership skills.

Students can earn up to 50 professional development units (PDUs) for this program. It's available to those without project management experience and takes about six months on average to complete. The tuition cost is $1,120.50.

8. RITx: International Project Management

The Rochester Institute of Technology offers an International Project Management course through edX. Students will learn what makes global projects uniquely challenging and how to successfully manage projects based in different industries and countries.

The self-paced course takes about nine weeks, on average, to complete. The full program costs $449, but students can audit the online course for free.

9. ISCEA: Lean Six Sigma Program and Project Management

The Lean Six Sigma Program and Project Management from the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA) helps students understand the steps in project management related to the Lean Six Sigma Supply Chain process. The self-paced course is offered through edX and takes most students three weeks to complete.

Learners will gain an understanding of the steps in Six Sigma Project Management related to the Lean Six Sigma Supply Chain process and risk management. The course is free to audit or $249 for the whole version, including a certificate.

10. Brain Sensei's PMP Exam Prep Course

Brain Sensei's PMP Exam Prep Course is another great option for those who want to prepare for the PMP certification exam. The program covers the fundamentals of project management and offers strategies for test-takers.

It includes 1,500 realistic exam questions and provides students with 35 education hours. The price is $99 per month for monthly access or $349.99 for a year's worth of access.

What To Expect From Project Management Certificate Courses

Project management certificate courses are primarily designed to teach the fundamentals of project management, such as the Project Management Body of Knowledge outlined in the PMBOK guide. Students cover topics like:

• project development
• project schedules and planning
• project team leadership and conflict resolution
• professional communication
• risk management

Many project management training programs also help students prepare for the PMP exam, as a PMP certification can be a huge asset to your career path.

While it's possible to earn a degree in project management, like a bachelor's degree, a certificate program is a great option for those who want to learn to manage projects within their specific field. These programs are much shorter than degree programs and help build your leadership skills.

PMP Certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI)

The Project Management Institute is an organization dedicated to furthering the field of project management. The PMP certification offered by the PMI is one of the most respected certifications for project management.

This certification is for those with three to five years of experience and validates skills and knowledge in managing and directing people, processes, and priorities for a project team. To earn this certification, you must pass the 180-question exam. The PMI offers multiple test prep tools and courses to help students prepare.

If you don't have three to five years of experience, the PMI also offers the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) credential for beginners. This credential shows that you understand foundational project management skills. To receive the CAPM certification, you must pass a 150-question exam.

FAQs About Online Project Management Certification

To help you better understand online project management courses, we've answered some FAQs about project management programs below.

What Is the Most Respected Project Management Certification?

The most respected project management certification is the Project Management Professional credential from the Project Management Institute. To earn this credential, you must have a sufficient amount of experience in project management and pass an exam to prove your competency.

There are several online courses that help students prepare for the PMP exam. You can also find study guides and prep courses through the PMI website.

Which Online Platforms Offer the Best Project Management Certification Programs?

Coursera, edX, and Alison all offer excellent project management programs, including free online project management certificates. These programs can help you understand the fundamentals of project management, and courses are also available for specific specializations within project management, like Lean Sigma Six.

Most of the courses on these platforms are free to audit, but some require you to pay a fee for the full course experience, which includes a certificate of completion.

What Skills Can I Learn From Project Management Courses on Coursera?

Coursera offers a variety of project management courses from a number of reputable institutions and organizations. Some of the skills you'll learn in these programs include:

• project development
• project planning
• project scheduling
• project communication
• team leadership
• conflict resolution
• problem-solving

Many often teach students how to use specific project management tools and technologies as well.

Explore Professional Certificates

Find a project management certification program by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual providers today to learn more about their program options.