Project management training to achieve certification this year

The skills gap for project managers is getting worse, according to research in 2024 by APM for National Apprenticeship Week. Their survey showed that 1 in 8 project managers think that the gap between what employers want and the ability of employees to meet those expectations.

The survey also found that 1 in 7 project managers believe there aren’t enough skilled professionals in their industry.

Skilled professionals are in demand, especially those who can demonstrate adaptability, flexibility, communication, time management, risk management and leadership, according to the survey.

Certification can help, although work experience is also important to demonstrate that you can put your skills into practice.

If your goal this year is to put yourself ahead of the curve and get studying for a certification, then I’m here to help!

There is a dizzying array of courses out there to help you achieve project management qualifications, both for PMI® courses, PRINCE2® courses and more. Here are the ones I think are worth taking a look at.

Courses that support Project Management Professional (PMP) and other PMI certifications

If you’re looking to get PMI’s flagship certification of Project Management Professional (PMP), then there are plenty of classroom and virtual courses to choose from.

If you want an in-person class, check out what is on offer from your local PMI Chapter, as they often run cost-effective courses led by local professionals. If you want a remote, self-paced or virtual course, then I have a couple of recommendations for you to check out.

The PM PrepCast

Product: PM PrepCast, Agile PrepCast, Exam Simulators

Certification: PMP®, CAPM®, PMI-ACP®

No round up of training courses to help you get through the PMI exams would be complete without a nod to Cornelius Fichtner. Creator of the PM PrepCast, which has helped thousands of students get through the PMP® exam, he and the team have expanded their affordable training range to include study materials to help you prepare for other PMI credentials too.

The products I’d call out as the ones I personally enjoyed using the most are:

The PrepCast itself: a self-paced video course that covers everything (and I mean everything) on the course outline for PMP, even the topics that aren’t covered in the PMBOK Guide itself like ethics and business acumen.

The PMP exam simulator. This is a hugely valuable tool for preparing for the exam because it mirrors the environment you’ll see in a real exam. Given that you’ve now got about a minute to answer every question, you need to feel as confident and familiar with the online test-taking environment as you can. This will really help you prepare.

If you are shooting for the Agile credential this year, then take a look at the Agile PrepCast and associated tools like the exam simulator.

You can read my full review of the PM PrepCast here.

BrainBOK

Product: BrainBOK

Certification: CAPM®, PMP®

BrainBOK is a PMP® online training tool that majors on helping you understand the ITTOs in the PMBOK® Guide.

It’s also got built-in quizzes to help you brush up on your terms, flashcards and the all-important practice exams to get you ready to face the test for real.

I tried it and I’ve never seen anything like it. If you want to understand the ITTOs then this is a fully interactive tool that will definitely do the job. Perfect if you want to deep dive into the PMBOK® Guide.

Plus they have a free option with (very) limited features so that you can try before you buy. Check it out here.

Read my full review of BrainBOK here.

Brain Sensei

Product: Brain Sensei

Certification: PMP®

Brain Sensei is a PMP® Exam Prep Course, but it’s unlike other courses I’ve seen or taken because it is based in feudal Japan. Plus, the main character is a female Samurai. When I went through the first Module I was drawn in from the beginning – who doesn’t want to be the project manager who rallies the community to build a castle to protect our children and the village?

It’s online video-based training and it’s really well put together. It actually made me want to learn about process groups, which is a rare thing.

There’s also a test, so you can assess your progress as you go.

If you learn well through video but need a good story to keep you engrossed in the material, this course will be perfect to help you prepare for the PMP® exam.

They also offer a PMP Exam Simulator so that you can practice what you have learned before you take the exam.

MPlaza PRINCE2® Training

This comprehensive Prince2® Training is led by Frank Turley and Nadar K. Rad, both considered experts in the field. It is accredited by PeopleCert/AXELOS, so you know that you can trust the training will help you pass the exam.

The course itself includes one year of access and the exam fee is included. It is fully aligned with the latest edition of PRINCE2 and it equivalent to a 7-day course (providing you with the 48 contact hours that you need to sit the exam).

They also offer the first 20 lessons for free, so you can try the training before you buy it. They offer a 30 day money back guarantee and their customer service is top-notch. I highly recommend them!

Google Project Management Certificate

The Google Project Management Certificate doesn’t have quite the industry recognition of PMP or PRINCE2, but it’s a perfect entry level certificate from a household name, and the course content is very good.

I took this course and rate it highly for new professionals and people wanting to get comfortable with the jargon of project management before applying for entry-level roles.

It’s also great for people who are doing project management alongside their main job, as it has plenty of tips and templates for formalizing what you do (which helps impress your managers!).

Read my full review of the Google PM certificate.

APM PMQ

Finally, if you are based in the UK or interested in getting a certification from the only Chartered professional body for project professionals, take a look at the Association for Project Management’s Project Management Qualification (PMQ).

It’s one of a series of certifications offered by the professional body, and it covers both soft/interpersonal/power skills and technical skills in a rigorous exam.

PMQ is a good choice for professionals who want to align their career development with industry standards and who might want to go on to become a Chartered Project Manager one day.

Look for a classroom-based course or a virtual online course near you, and make sure the training company is accredited by APM.