The global demand for project managers is experiencing unprecedented growth. With the Project Management Institute predicting a requirement for millions of new professionals by 2035, and median salaries for project managers in the United States ranging from $60,000 to over $200,000 (for senior positions in IT and technology), there has never been a better time to invest in your career!
Whether you’re considering new job opportunities or aiming to advance in your current management position, enhancing your project management skills can set you apart from the competition.
In this blog post, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of both free and paid project management courses suitable for professionals at all levels and from various industries. These resources will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in this dynamic field. Let’s dive in and explore how you can take your project management career to the next level!
Free Project Management Courses
1. Agile Project Manager Training and Certification
Key features:
- Focus on Agile mindset
- Independent modules
The program of the course goes beyond theoretical concepts, immersing you in the practical skills that Agile teams utilize every day. From sprint planning to retrospectives, backlog prioritization to effective stakeholder communication, you’ll gain hands-on experience in the Agile methodologies that drive successful projects.
Topics covered:
- How to adopt an Agile way of thinking.
- Scrum, Kanban, XP, and Lean: how to choose or combine these frameworks effectively.
- Collaborative dynamics between Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and teams needed to achieve tangible results.
- How to build a realistic backlog, estimate effort using story points, and plan effective sprints.
- The structure of daily work and stand-ups.
- Using burn-down charts and velocity metrics to conduct retrospectives that foster continuous improvement.
- Skills required for clear and frequent communication with stakeholders ranging from users to executives.
- Iplementing Agile practices across multiple teams via frameworks such as SAFe, LeSS, and Spotify.
- Esential tools like Jira, Confluence, and Trello that enhance your workflow.
- Practical strategies for applying Agile principles in real-world scenarios.
Upon completion of the course, you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge, reflect on your progress, and earn your Agile Project Management Mastery certificate.
2. Construction Project Manager Training and Certification
Key features:
- Realistic scenarios
- Skills that can be immediately applied
This course provides you with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in the field, covering key areas such as project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and quality control.
Each module is designed to be completed in approximately 5–7 minutes, allowing you to progress at your own pace. You can choose to follow the modules sequentially or focus on specific topics that are most relevant to your current challenges.
Course Modules:
- Planning: Learn to define project scope and create actionable plans using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
- Scheduling and Time Management: Master tools like Gantt charts and Critical Path Method (CPM) to keep projects on track.
- Estimation: Gain skills in cost estimation through methods such as quantity takeoffs and BIM-based techniques.
- Resource Cost Management: Discover effective allocation of labor, materials, and equipment while maintaining budget control.
- Risk Quality Control: Identify risks early and implement quality assurance processes to minimize rework.
- Quality Management: Develop safety plans and quality management systems to ensure compliance on-site.
- Team Communication Management: Enhance stakeholder coordination and improve meeting efficiency.
Complete the course and pass the quiz to get your Construction Project Management certificate, showcasing your expertise to employers.
3. Project Management Simulation Aligned with PMP Standards
From an inteview wit Cornelius Fichtner we learned that many candidates trying to pass the PMP exam (a test by the Project Management Institute that validates a project manager’s skills in leading teams, processes, and business priorities across industries) struggle with common pitfalls like inaccurate estimates, poor time management, and lack of clear strategies, and that simulation testing is a powerful tool for preparing for the test.
Our simulator addresses these challenges head-on, providing you with a practical learning experience that guides you through the entire project lifecycle.
Key features:
- Aligned with PMI guidelines
- VInstant feedback for each response
The simulation encompasses a variety of project management scenarios including budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. Each scenario challenges you to make critical decisions, solve complex problems, and refine your strategies—just as you would in an actual project.
At the end, successfully navigating all 52 challenges without being fired allows you to earn the title and a certificate of the project management professional.
4. Project Management: The Basics for Success
Key features:
- Flexible schedule and deadlines
- Video lectures + other types of content
This course by the University of California combines two knowledge base blocks: Project Management and Team Leadership. A great choice for beginners: you’ll acquire the understanding of a project leader’s responsibilities and learn how to apply this knowledge in real project environment. The course gives insights into creating high-performance teams, strengthening them, helping team members achieve high performance, planning and managing project cycle and more.
Video lectures and some content of the course is free; a paid part is also available. If you’d like to complete it and receive your Course Certificate, a paid subscription is also needed.
5. Diploma in Project Management
Key features:
- Duration: 10-15 Hours
- Theory + assessment
A course by Alison platform that helps gain expertise and skills in project management. It offers comprehensive knowledge on project management methodology and detailed review of the project life cycle. After completing the course, you’ll know what needs to be considered when starting a project, planning it, assigning roles and distributing workloads. You’ll be able to plan project phases, use special tools, visualize project progress and use documentation in work on a project.
To successfully complete the course, you need to score 80% or higher in each assessment. If you do that, you can purchase an Alison Diploma or Certificate to include in your CVs and portfolios.
6. Become a Project Manager
Key features:
- 17 hours of video tutotials
- Theory + practice
This course by Lynda includes theoretical lectures and practical tasks to master project management. It provides you with a detailed overview of various aspects: managing teams, creating schedules for efficient work, managing change, using communication strategies, etc. The practical part of this course is represented by essential training in Microsoft Project. Experts show how to use its features and implement different project management techniques. An essential practical part is running reports and understanding compliance of your project with plans and requirements.
Lynda offers a month of free trial and paid plans for individuals and for business. Their courses are based on knowledge and experience of certified project management professionals, consultants and experts.
7. Project Management Professional (PMP)
Key features:
- Duration: 5 hours 14 minutes
- Video materials mostly
Cybrary offers this free practical course that offers comprehensive project management training. It is designed for new project managers who want to become more familiar with techniques and approaches, and experienced project managers who need PMP certification and want to prepare for it.
The course offered by Cybrary educates on how to initiate, plan, and manage a project, as well as how to assess risks, develop and control schedules and budgets, and make sure the project is delivered on time. After the training, students are able to prepare a project plan and execute a project.
8. Short Project Management Course by Oxford Home Study Center
Key features:
- Duration: 20 hours
- Introductory level materials
This online course by Oxford Home Study College (OHSC) is an excellent opportunity to learn the basics of project management while working or studying. OHSC provides all necessary materials and sets no deadlines, so you can study at your own pace.
The course includes three topics: Introduction to Project Management, Role of The Project Manager and Project Life Cycle. After completing the course, you’ll be awarded a free OHSC certificate that will be sent to your email.
Paid Project Management Courses and Certifications
1. Complete PMP Exam Prep Course
Key features:
- Duration: 6 months
- 9 eLearning modules + 4 practice exams
This course is designed for preparation for the PMP exam and provides all necessary theoretical knowledge and practical tasks for it. Key knowledge points summary in each module, self-assessments and over 900 practice questions provide a strong basis for the upcoming exam.
All modules of this course include interactive materials and lots of details. The course is online and self-paced, so consider this option if you’re interested in gaining knowledge and skills for PMP exam but don’t have unlimited time for education and professional development.
2. Certified ScrumMaster
Key features:
- Duration: 14 hours of face-to-face education with a specialist
- Theory + certification exam
If you’re working with scrum teams, this certification course will be a valuable asset for your career and skillset. During the course, you’ll learn the Scrum framework and improve your understanding of how to efficiently manage a scrum team.
The certification includes a two-day course that provides a comprehensive overview of organizing, supporting and running a scrum team. After the course, you need to pass an exam to receive a certificate.
3. Graduate Certificate in Project Management
Key features:
- Duration: ~ 3 months
- Theory + practice
The certification by Penn State is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with comprehensive knowledge on project planning and resource management, cost and value distribution, commercial law, interpersonal and group behavior, and other topics.
Issued certificate enhances career opportunities in any field where large and complex projects are typical. Possible roles for a certified specialist are project manager, PM associate, project coordinator or planner, change management analyst, etc.
4. Associate in Project Management (APM) Certification
Key features:
- Self-paced course
- 4 practical tests
This certification course is targeted to experienced managers, project team members, entry-level employees and students who plan to start their career in project management and anyone who’s interested in project management. While there are no formal prerequisites, the course suits best for those who have a basic understanding of the project management process and some practical experience in a project environment.
The course consists of three modules: fundamental knowledge, practical project management training, and intermediate project management. After the course, students take an online exam. The APM certificate is valid for life and doesn’t require re-certification.
5. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Key features:
- Examination timespan: 1 year after the application approval
- Exam with 150 questions
This certification course by the Project Management Institute (PMI) is targeted to new project managers who want to gain new skills and manage larger projects with more responsibility. The certification requires a secondary degree and 1500 hours of work in project management as prerequisites.
The certification includes 150 multiple choice questions that you need to answer in 3 hours. It needs to be maintained by retaking the exam every five years.
Boost Your Project Management Practice with actiTIME
When it comes to selecting the right resources to enhance your project management skills, actiTIME stands out as a comprehensive solution that goes beyond just software. Whether you’re embarking on your project management journey or are a seasoned professional, actiTIME is committed to supporting your growth with a wealth of free learning materials designed to boost your productivity.
With its intuitive solution and a range of features tailored to streamline every aspect of project management—from task planning to performance monitoring—actiTIME empowers you to do your work effectively. You can easily allocate assignments, track working hours and billable time, streamline PTO accrual, generate automatic invoices, and create detailed reports.
By choosing actiTIME, you’re not just investing in a tool; you’re gaining access to a valuable resource that understands the intricacies of project management and is dedicated to helping you succeed.
