Earning a project management certification is an investment in both time and money. Make sure you take the right one that will boost your career prospects. If you’re not sure which one you should do, find out what is preferable at your current work or if there’s a company you’re targeting look at what certification(s) they want for their project management positions.
1. Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Institution: Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Globally recognised, best for experienced project managers.
- Covers predictive (Waterfall), agile, and hybrid methodologies.
- Requires 35 hours of training + 3–5 years of project experience before taking the exam.
2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
Institution: Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Entry-level certification for beginners in project management.
- Covers foundational project management principles, frameworks, and terminology.
- Requires high school diploma (or equivalent) + 23 hours of project management education.
3. PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner
Institution: AXELOS (UK-based, now part of PeopleCert)
- Popular in the UK and Europe, used by governments, focuses on structured, process-driven project management.
- Foundation is for beginners; Practitioner is for experienced professionals.
- Emphasises defined roles, responsibilities, and governance in projects.
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)®
Institution: Scrum Alliance
- Best for agile and Scrum teams, ideal for Scrum Masters and agile leaders.
- Focuses on Scrum framework, roles, events, and artifacts.
- Requires a 2-day training course + passing an exam.
5. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
Institution: Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Covers various agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, SAFe).
- Requires 2,000 hours of general project experience + 1,500 hours on agile projects.
- Great for experienced agile practitioners and project managers.
6. Certified SAFe Agilist (SA)
Institution: Scaled Agile, Inc.
- Focuses on Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) for large organisations.
- Covers agile at scale, Lean-Agile leadership, and portfolio management.
- Requires a two-day training course + passing an exam.
7. CompTIA Project+
Institution: CompTIA
- Entry-level certification for project management in IT & tech fields.
- Covers project lifecycle, risk management, and change management.
- Requires one year of project management experience (recommended but not mandatory).
8. PRINCE2 Agile®
Institution: AXELOS (PeopleCert)
- Combines PRINCE2’s structure with agile flexibility.
- Best for organisations needing governance in agile environments.
- Two levels: Foundation (beginner) & Practitioner (advanced).
9. Certified Project Director (CPD)
Institution: Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)
- Designed for senior project managers and executives.
- Focuses on strategic project leadership and governance.
- Requires CPM (Certified Project Manager) certification + experience in project management.
10. Lean Six Sigma Certifications (Green Belt, Black Belt, Master Black Belt)
Institution: Various organisations (ASQ, IASSC, CSSC, etc.)
- Focuses on process improvement, waste reduction, and quality management.
- Green Belt = Intermediate, Black Belt = Advanced, Master Black Belt = Expert level.
- Highly valued in manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and business process management.
Further reading:
On inkscroll, we show what certifications are popular by job group and by job title. Check out the Project Management job group.
