Project Management Certification: Which One Should You Get in 2026?

Last updated: 5 November 2026. Requirements, exam formats and prices read that day on each certifying body’s own US pages. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We earn nothing from PMI, CompTIA, PeopleCert, Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org, and that did not change the verdict below.

A project management certification proves something different at each level, so the right one depends mostly on how much project experience you can document. Whether you search for a project manager certification or a PMI certification, eight credentials cover nearly every case: PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, the Google Project Management Certificate, CompTIA Project+, PRINCE2, Certified ScrumMaster and Professional Scrum Master. This guide compares their requirements, exams, real costs and renewal rules, using each body’s own pages, then gives one pick for each career stage and says who should skip each credential.

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What is the best project management certification?

The PMP is the best project management certification for most people who qualify. PMI requires three years of project experience with a bachelor’s degree, and the exam is built around leading projects by any method rather than one framework. PMI reports more than 1.7 million PMP holders, which it calls the world’s most widely held project certification. That count comes from the seller, and PeopleCert makes a similar claim of 2M+ certified professionals for PRINCE2, so neither number settles the question alone.

“Best” changes quickly with your starting point. A coordinator with no project history cannot sit the PMP, and a Scrum Master who runs sprints may gain little from it. Use the table to rule credentials out, then read the sections below for the ones left.

All figures on this page were read on 5 November 2026 from US pages. Check the certifying body before you pay, because prices vary by region and change without notice.

Which project management certification should you get? Pick by career stage

No experience, changing careers

Start with the Google Project Management Certificate if the vocabulary of the job is still new to you. It teaches the work, requires no degree, and Coursera says it qualifies you for more than 100 hours of project management education. That is well past the 23 hours the CAPM asks for. At Google’s stated pace of three to six months and $49 a month, the certificate costs $147 to $294. Add the $300 non-member CAPM fee and the full route costs $447 to $594.

Go straight to the CAPM if you already understand the basics and want a proctored credential sooner. You still need 23 education hours. Andrew Ramdayal’s CAPM Exam Prep Course on Udemy is built for that requirement, rated 4.7 from 23,548 ratings when we read it, with a February 2026 update. We could not confirm its current price, because Udemy did not display one to us.

One to three years around projects

This is the awkward middle: too much experience to need a beginner course, too little for the PMP. Count your real project time first. PMI counts time in which you took responsibility for planning, decisions, delivery and outcomes in the last 10 years, and overlapping projects count once. Our PMP requirements guide explains how that works. If you are short, the CAPM holds your place, and PMI says an active CAPM fulfills the PMP’s training requirement later.

Three or more years leading projects

Take the PMP. A second entry-level credential adds little at this stage. Check your training plan against the rule that takes effect on 1 December 2026, which limits which live classes count toward the 35 hours. Self-paced courses from any organization still qualify, including Ramdayal’s PMP Exam Prep Course on Udemy, rated 4.8 from 209,019 ratings and updated in October 2026 when we read it. Our best PMP courses guide compares the options, and the PMP practice exam guide covers question banks.

Working on agile or Scrum teams

If you hold the Scrum Master role or want it, look at PSM I and Certified ScrumMaster first. Read about 20 postings for that role and see which credential they name. If you lead agile delivery and already have two years of agile experience, the PMI-ACP tests a wider range of methods than either Scrum credential.

IT staff who run projects alongside other work

CompTIA Project+ fits when you are a technical person handed small and medium projects. It has no formal gate, and it includes basics of IT and governance as an exam domain. Move to the PMP instead if project management is becoming your main job and you can meet the experience rule.

Moving up to programs, or working in construction

PgMP and PMI-CP are later or specialist steps, covered near the end of this guide. Most people should hold or qualify for the PMP before weighing the PgMP.

The project management certifications compared, one by one

PMP (Project Management Professional)

Requirements and exam. You need one of four education and experience sets, plus 35 training hours or an active CAPM. The exam has 180 questions in 240 minutes. Cost. PMI lists $425 for members and $675 for non-members, and the US store shows the same prices. Our PMP cost guide adds training, retakes and membership. Renewal. 60 PDUs every three years, plus a renewal fee that PMI says arrives by email when it is time to renew.

What changed. PMI launched an updated exam on 9 July 2026. Business Environment grew from 8% to 26% of the content, and PMI added case, scenario and graphic-based questions. Prep material written for the older exam is a poor buy now. Suits: anyone whose work is leading projects across industries. Skip if: you cannot document the experience, or your target postings consistently name a different credential.

CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)

Requirements and exam. A secondary degree, age 18 and 23 hours of project management education, with 150 questions in 180 minutes. Cost. PMI lists $225 for members and $300 for non-members. PMI’s own prep course is $350 or $400. Renewal. 15 PDUs every three years. Suits: people targeting coordinator, analyst or assistant project manager roles, the kinds of job PMI lists for it. Skip if: you already qualify for the PMP, since PMI positions the PMP for experienced project leaders and the CAPM for people starting out. Our CAPM certification guide has the full detail, and CAPM vs PMP helps if you are close to the line.

PMI-ACP (PMI Agile Certified Practitioner)

Requirements and exam. A high school diploma and 21 hours of agile training, plus one of these: 2 years of agile experience in the past 5 years, a degree from a PMI-accredited program with 1 year, a third-party agile certification with 1 year, or the PMP. PMI’s page does not say which third-party certifications count, so ask before relying on a CSM or PSM for that route. The exam has 120 questions in 180 minutes. Cost. PMI lists $435 for members and $495 for non-members, and its prep course is $350 or $400. Renewal. 30 PDUs every three years. Suits: agile leads, coaches and product roles who work across Scrum, Lean and Kanban. Skip if: your team runs plain Scrum and a Scrum credential would meet the posting at lower cost.

Google Project Management Certificate

Requirements and format. Google says no experience or degree is required. Coursera’s listing shows a seven-course series, rated 4.8 from 145,851 reviews with 2,890,080 enrolled. You complete graded work online, and the pages we read describe no proctored exam. Cost. $49 a month in the US and Canada after a 7-day free trial, with financial aid available. It is also included with Coursera Plus, at $239 a year (normally $399), which beats paying monthly only if you study for many months or plan a second program. Renewal. We found no renewal rule on Google’s or Coursera’s page.

Evidence to weigh. Coursera says 75% of graduates report a positive career outcome within six months, based on a 2022 US graduate survey. That is a self-reported figure from the seller, and it includes raises and promotions along with new jobs. Suits: career changers who want structure and a CAPM on-ramp. Skip if: you already manage projects, because it would teach you what you do daily. Our full Google certificate review covers the curriculum and job outcomes.

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CompTIA Project+

Requirements and exam. CompTIA recommends the equivalent of 6 to 12 months managing projects in a tech environment, and we found no formal prerequisite. The current version is V5, exam PK0-005, launched on 8 November 2022, with up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions in 90 minutes. Cost. The store lists a $399 voucher and $519 with Retake Assurance. Bundles run $548 with CertMaster Practice, $764 with CertMaster Learn, and $993 for Learn, Labs and Practice, each including a voucher with retake. Renewal. The certification expires after three years. Renewing through continuing education takes 30 CEUs and a $150 fee over the three-year period. Suits: technical staff and IT support moving into coordination. Skip if: your target employers outside IT do not name it, or you qualify for the PMP.

PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner

A naming change first. PeopleCert now calls this PRINCE2 Project Management, at Version 7. Older guides refer to PRINCE2 6th Edition, so check the version on anything you buy. Version 7 includes people management, sustainability, and digital and data management.

Requirements and exam. Foundation has 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, closed book, with a 60% pass mark. Practitioner has 56 questions and sub-questions worth 70 marks in 150 minutes, open book, also at 60%. Practitioner needs a prerequisite, and PeopleCert’s list includes the PMP and the CAPM. A PMI credential holder can therefore skip Foundation, which saves the $701 starting price.

Cost. PeopleCert’s US page lists Foundation at US$701 for the exam bundle, US$1,029 with eLearning, and US$1,338 with eLearning, a free retake and a mock exam. Practitioner is US$778, US$1,235 or US$1,544. The page labels these prices as including VAT. Bought separately, the two lowest options come to US$1,479. We did not price local training partners, who sell their own packages. Renewal. 60 CPD points, with Foundation stated as every 3 years. PeopleCert describes logging 20 points a year through PeopleCert Plus, or you can pass another exam in the same suite. We did not read a PeopleCert Plus price. Suits: people at organizations that run PRINCE2 or list it in postings. Skip if: your target postings do not name it. At these prices, this is the credential most worth checking against real job ads first.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Requirements and exam. You must take a 16-hour course, usually across 2 to 3 days. Scrum Alliance then gives you 90 days and two attempts at a 50-question test, with 37 correct needed to pass and one hour to finish. Cost. Trainers set their own prices. Scrum Alliance publishes a range of $250 to $2,495, but it dates that range to October 2023. Three US live online classes we opened in its course search, all starting 7 November 2026, cost $399, $399 and $750, and the $750 class capped enrollment at 5 students. Renewal. $100 and 20 SEUs every two years, or earn another Scrum Alliance certification. Suits: people who want live instruction, or whose target postings name CSM. Skip if: you can learn Scrum from the Scrum Guide and want the credential at the lowest cost.

Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)

Requirements and exam. Scrum.org requires no course, though it strongly recommends one. The test has 80 questions in 60 minutes, and you need 85%. Cost. $200 per attempt, or $279 bundled with its self-paced course. Each retake is another $200. Renewal. Scrum.org calls it a lifetime certification with no annual renewal fee. Prep. Scrum.org’s Scrum Open assessment is free, and Pluralsight has a PSM I certification path of 11 courses if you already subscribe. Suits: self-studiers who want a Scrum credential that never needs renewing. Skip if: you need live teaching, or your target postings name CSM alone. Scrum.org and Scrum Alliance are rivals, and each one’s page argues for its own model.

Project management certification requirements: do you need a degree or experience?

None of the eight main credentials requires a college degree, and only the PMP and PMI-ACP tie entry to years of experience. A degree helps most with the PMP, where it cuts the experience requirement from five years to three.

Are any certifications required for a project manager? Generally no. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says project management specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree and adds, “Although not always required, certification may be beneficial.” A specific employer or contract can still make one mandatory, so read the posting.

Project management certification cost

The exam fee is only part of the bill, and PMI’s membership discount does not always pay for itself. On PMI’s US store, individual membership is $164 a year. Our math below compares members and non-members for each PMI credential, before any fees added at checkout.

So join PMI before paying for the PMP or PgMP if you want the cheaper first bill, but a CAPM or PMI-ACP candidate pays less without joining unless they value the other member benefits. Membership auto-renews each year, so turn that off if you joined for the discount alone. Our PMP certification cost guide covers the membership and renewal math in more depth, and our certification cost calculator helps you price a full plan.

Ask your employer before buying any of this, because a training budget changes which route is cheapest.

Can you get a project management certification online?

Yes. All eight have an online training option, the Google certificate is entirely online, and Scrum Alliance’s CSM test is online. For proctored exams such as the PMP, confirm the delivery options when you schedule. If you would rather search for project management certification near you, in-person classes are listed through PMI’s Authorized Training Partner directory, Scrum Alliance’s course search and PeopleCert’s local partner finder.

Free project management certification: what actually exists

None of the eight credentials here is free to earn, and a site promising a free PMP or CAPM is describing something else. These are the legitimate low-cost starting points we could confirm:

• Coursera financial aid. Coursera’s Google certificate page shows “Financial aid available,” which is the closest thing to a free recognized credential here.
• Google’s 7-day free trial. It gives you time to judge the course, though finishing all seven courses that quickly is unrealistic for most people.
• PMI’s free PMP introduction. A one-hour course that helps you decide. It awards no certification.
• Scrum Open. Scrum.org says this assessment is “free of charge and does not include any certification.”

Our best project management courses guide lists more training options, for readers who want to learn the work before choosing a credential.

How long does project management certification take?

The set requirements range from a weekend to several years, and the longest part is usually earning the experience, not the studying.

• Certified ScrumMaster: 16 course hours, usually over 2 to 3 days, then a one-hour test within 90 days.
• PSM I: a 60-minute test whenever you are ready. Scrum.org’s passwords do not expire.
• Project+: CompTIA estimates 25 to 40 hours for CertMaster Learn, and 10 to 20 for CertMaster Practice.
• PRINCE2 Foundation: PeopleCert’s eLearning is 9 hours. Practitioner adds 8.
• CAPM: at least 23 education hours, plus your own exam study.
• Google certificate: three to six months by Google’s estimate; Coursera says six months at 10 hours a week.
• PMI-ACP: 21 training hours, after 2 years of agile experience in most cases.
• PMP: 35 training hours, after 3 to 5 years of project experience in most cases.

How to get a project management certification

These steps work for any of the eight, and they keep you from paying for a credential the market you want does not ask for.

• Pull 20 job postings for the role you want next, in your region. Count how often each credential appears. This is the single most useful check on this page, because demand differs by country and industry.
• Document your experience. List projects, dates and your responsibility. That tells you which PMI routes are open.
• Choose your credential from the career-stage section above.
• Ask your employer what it will fund before you buy anything.
• Complete the required training. For the PMP, check the 1 December 2026 live-class rule first.
• Apply and pay. PMI collects the exam fee only after it accepts your application.
• Study from current material. Use resources aligned to the current exam: PMI’s Study Hall and practice exams, CompTIA CertMaster, the PRINCE2 official eBook, or the Scrum Guide.
• Note your renewal date the day you pass, and log qualifying activity as you go.

Do you need a project management certification?

No, you can work as a project manager without one, but a certification can help you get past a screen. Scrum Alliance says outright that certification is not required to get a job as scrum master, while noting certain employers ask for it. BLS says much the same for the wider occupation. If your employer already gives you projects and promotes on results, a credential is optional. If you are changing fields, or applying to employers you have no history with, it gives a recruiter evidence they can check quickly.

Is project management certification worth it?

For someone who meets the requirements and sees it in target postings, usually yes, since the cost is small against a project manager’s pay. BLS reports a median of $102,320 for project management specialists in May 2025, about 76,500 openings projected each year, and 7% growth from 2025 to 2035. PMI reports a $135,000 US median for PMP holders and says holders report 17% higher median salaries than those without it. It also cites Forbes for a $100,750 average for CAPM holders.

Read the vendor numbers with care. PMI and Google sell what these figures promote, the salary data is survey-based, and PMP holders have years of experience before they certify. Experience explains an unknown share of the gap. Google’s own figure, a median of $93,000-plus for project management jobs with 0 to 5 years of experience, describes the field in general and says nothing about graduates of its certificate.

A certificate rarely replaces experience. A first project management job usually still depends on showing projects you ran, even small ones inside your current role. Pair any entry-level credential with real work you can describe in an interview.

Project management certificate vs certification vs degree

These three words describe different things, and job postings do not always use them carefully.

BLS names a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education, and it may be in a variety of fields, so a project management degree is one option among many. A degree also counts toward the PMP route: PMI cuts the experience requirement to two years for a degree from a program it accredits. A PMP is not an alternative to “a project management certification.” It is one of them, and it is the name most people mean. University certificate programs, which Forbes Advisor ranks, are a further option that we did not price for this guide. Check whether any you consider supplies PMI training hours.

Agile, IT, construction and program management certifications

Agile project management certification. The PMI-ACP is the broad option. PSM I and CSM cover Scrum, and PeopleCert also runs PRINCE2 Agile, which combines PRINCE2’s structure with agile techniques.

IT project management certification. Project+ is the entry point written for technical staff, and its exam objectives include IT and governance basics. The PMP remains an option once you have the experience.

Construction project management certification. PMI-CP asks for 3 years of construction or built-environment experience within the past 10 years, plus four self-paced modules of 6 to 10 hours each. The exam has 120 questions in 230 minutes and costs $399 for members or $499 for non-members. Modules list at $149 to $249 each, and members save $50 on each. Here membership pays off once you count the modules. Skip if: your projects sit outside construction, because the PMP travels further.

Program management certification. PgMP costs $800 for members and $1,000 for non-members, with 170 questions in 240 minutes and 60 PDUs every three years. Depending on education, it requires 3 to 7 years of program management experience on top of 3 to 4 years of project experience or a PMP. Consider it only when you already run related projects as a program. PMI’s certification catalog lists further specialist credentials in risk, scheduling, business analysis and PMO work.

What changed in project management certifications

• PMP exam, 9 July 2026: updated content, with Business Environment up from 8% to 26%, plus AI and sustainability in scenarios.
• PMP training, 1 December 2026: live classes count only from a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider, or an eligible accredited higher education program. Self-paced courses from any organization still count.
• PRINCE2: sold under the name PRINCE2 Project Management, at Version 7. Older material and older job ads use the previous names.
• Google certificate: now includes AI training, along with an optional job-search course.
• Project+: V5 remains the version on CompTIA’s page, launched in November 2022, with no successor shown when we read it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best project management certification?

For someone with at least three years of experience managing projects, the PMP is the best general choice: it is method-neutral, and PMI reports more than 1.7 million holders. Without that experience, the CAPM is the closest entry-level exam, and the Google certificate is the better starting point if you need to learn the basics first.

What is the easiest project management certification to get?

By entry requirements, the Google certificate is the easiest: it asks for no degree or experience and has no proctored exam. Among exams, PSM I has no prerequisites and costs $200, though it requires an 85% score and it covers Scrum alone.

Can I get a project management certification without experience?

Yes. The CAPM, the Google certificate, PRINCE2 Foundation, Certified ScrumMaster and PSM I all list no required project experience. CompTIA recommends 6 to 12 months of experience for Project+ but lists it as a recommendation.

Can I get a project management certification without a degree?

Yes. The PMP accepts a high school diploma with five years of experience, and the CAPM asks for a secondary degree. Google says its certificate requires no degree. A degree shortens the PMP experience requirement from five years to three.

How much does a project management certification cost?

Exam prices we read on 5 November 2026 run from $200 for PSM I to $675 for a non-member taking the PMP. Certified ScrumMaster is sold as a course, at $399 and $750 on the three US listings we opened. PeopleCert’s PRINCE2 Foundation bundle starts at US$701.

Is there a free project management certification?

None of the eight credentials in this guide is free to earn. Coursera lists financial aid for the Google certificate, and it has a 7-day free trial. PMI offers a free one-hour PMP introduction, and Scrum.org offers a free practice test called Scrum Open, but neither awards a certification.

Do project management certifications expire?

Most do. PMP, CAPM and PMI-ACP run on three-year cycles with 60, 15 and 30 PDUs. Project+ expires after three years, PRINCE2 Foundation renews every three years, and Certified ScrumMaster renews every two. Scrum.org calls PSM I a lifetime certification. We found no renewal rule on Google’s or Coursera’s certificate pages.

How long does it take to get a project management certification?

Certified ScrumMaster has the shortest set path: a 16-hour course and a one-hour test. Google says its certificate takes three to six months. PMP candidates need three to five years of experience in most cases, unless they hold a degree from a PMI-accredited program, plus 35 hours of training before they can sit the exam.

Is a project management certificate the same as a certification?

Usually not. A certificate shows you finished a training program, as with the Google certificate. A certification comes from a body that sets an exam or other standard and usually requires renewal, as with the PMP. Check which one a job posting asks for.

Related guides

• PMP certification requirements
• PMP certification cost
• Best PMP courses
• PMP practice exams
• CAPM certification guide
• CAPM vs PMP
• Google Project Management Certificate review
• Best project management courses