Why Project Management Training is Essential
Project managers are an integral part of the success of an organization. They are responsible for the effective delivery of projects—from planning and organizing timelines to managing teams and staying on budget.
Are you curious about becoming a project management professional? You’ll be delighted to know that project management roles are expected to increase by 7% in the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s an estimated 770,000 project management job openings by 2033.
If you’re considering enrolling in project management training, we suggest you take time to consider all your educational options and then proceed to act fast. The quicker you get your project management certification, the faster you’ll be ahead of the curve—bringing your new, high-demand skills into one of the fastest-growing fields in the country.
What Is Project Management Training?
Project management training will equip you with the key project management tools and methodologies you’ll need to be a successful project manager and lead any team. From introductory courses designed to teach you project management essentials, to advanced and specialized courses designed to build upon your foundational knowledge, you’ll find training programs that you can build upon, no matter where you are along your project management journey.
Types of Project Management Training Programs
Introductory Project Management Training for Beginners
If you’re a beginner with little to no project management experience, an introductory project management training course is the best place to start. These training programs are designed for learners who want to develop practical project management skills. Jumpstart your career by learning the basics like essential project management tools, key concepts, methodologies, as well as project management roles and responsibilities.
Popular introductory project management courses for beginners include:
- Project Management Fundamentals by Google through Coursera
- Project Management Basics by PMI (Project Management Institute)
- Beginning Project Management by PMI (Project Management Institute)
Our 10-week Digital Project Management Certificate Course offers flexible, on-demand learning so you can advance your project management skills from the comfort of your home. Earn 23 hours toward the CAPM® through our project-based learning framework, so you can take the exam with confidence.
Advanced Project Management Training:
If you’re an experienced professional seeking advanced project management training, you’ll be able to leverage your current skills to become a better leader by maintaining your PMI certification. These advanced training programs are designed to set you up for project success—deepening your knowledge around managing project risks and understanding complex methodologies and frameworks, including agile, waterfall, and hybrid.
Popular advanced project management courses include:
- Advanced Project Management 1/4: Project Initiation by Udemy
- Basics of Disciplined Agile™ Online Course by PMI
Specialized Project Management Courses:
If you’re an experienced project management professional seeking advanced project management training courses, consider a specialized course that focuses on specific sectors in project management. Whether you’re hoping to manage projects in construction, lead teams with agile project management principles, or become highly skilled in risk assessment, these advanced training courses are designed to equip you for the niche certification you’re looking for.
Popular specialized project management courses include:
- PMI Construction Professional (PMI-CP)™ by PMI
- PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® by PMI
- PMI Agile Certification Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® by PMI
- PMO Certified Professional (PMO-CP)™ by PMI
The Role of Certifications in Project Management Training
Project management certifications are imperative if you’re hoping to be considered for project manager positions that are above an internship or novice level. According to an article from Project Management Academy®, Key Consulting’s consulting manager, Kevin Archbold, notes, “Many recruiters divide their resumes into two piles: those with PMP certification and those without.” Additionally, in a 2010 article for CIO.com, the director of IBM’s Project Management Center of Excellence, Steve DelGrosso, stated that “IBM has seen requests for proposals where the clients are demanding certified project managers be part of the proposal. If you can’t present a certified project manager on their deal, they won’t consider you.”
The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is an industry standard at this point. If you’re interested in a long-term, sustainable career as a project management professional, future employers will expect you to have a project management certification—demonstrating the expertise and project leadership skills that come with PMP certification preparation. Before you apply for the PMP exam, PMI (Project Management Institute) requires that you meet some requirements, including (but not limited to):
- High school or secondary school diploma
- Minimum 60 months (or five years) of experience leading and managing projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® certification
Training courses—like the Project Management and PMP® Exam Preparation course at Arizona—and Professional Development Units (PDUs) are the main ways you can prepare for the PMP exam. These are outlined clearly on the PMI website, however, you’ll want to make sure the governing body that is offering these trainings are accredited and authorized (more on this in the following section).
Agile project management uses an iterative, or incremental, approach to project life cycles. It highlights a more flexible approach to project management, putting a strong emphasis on collaboration and team empowerment. Agile project management certifications like the Disciplined Agile® Scrum Master (DASM) Certification and PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® will validate your expertise in team-centric project management methodologies like Scrum, Lean, Kanban, and more. These are important in today’s highly dynamic work environments. According to Harvard Business Review, companies that foster agile methodologies in their work environments are able to produce innovations faster than those that don’t.
Other project management certificates you can pursue include PRINCE2 training courses. PRINCE2® (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is an internationally recognized, process-based methodology that utilizes a controlled and organized start, middle, and end for project life cycles. This certification consists of two separate training programs—starting at the foundational level and building up to the “practitioner” level. They also offer a PRINCE2 Agile® certification that combines the clearly defined framework of PRINCE2 with the flexibility of agile methodologies.
Choosing the Right Project Management Training Program
Project Management Institute (PMI) is a globally recognized leader in project management; for over 30 years, they’ve offered certifications in all areas—from beginning stages to advanced specialized fields. They help project management professionals solidify their credibility in the workplace and earn an average of 44% more than their non-certified colleagues. It’s important to browse PMI’s website to ensure the training program you’re looking at is an authorized training partner and can provide PDUs (professional development units) for exam requirements. Some things to look out for:
Program Flexibility
Take into consideration the learning style that you know works best for you, and the level of time commitment you’re able to put in. Most project management trainings are held online with self-paced and on-demand options. There are also opportunities for live streaming and in-person trainings as well. Flexibility is at the forefront of project management education—supporting a healthy work-life balance, so you can learn, work, and take care of personal obligations simultaneously.
Tools Offered
It’s important to gain hands-on experience using project management tools like Microsoft Project (or MS Project), Asana, Jira, Smartsheet, and more. This gives you real-world experience so, by the end of your training(s), you’ll have a portfolio that artfully showcases your expertise in software tools and how to implement them.
Resources Offered
If you’re looking to break into or advance your career in project management, you’ll need a mentor who is genuinely invested in workforce development. That’s why we highly encourage you to find training programs that offer supportive mentorship from folks who are real project managers. The right mentor will want to get to know you, learn your skills and interests, and understand how to help you leverage your unique gifts for career advancement opportunities.
We offer a mentor-led, 10-week Digital Project Management Certificate Course that features flexible, on-demand learning. Through our authorized certificate program, you’ll get hands-on project experience by building and developing an effective project management plan using essential tools like Jira, Microsoft Project, and more. Leverage your existing skill set while earning 23 hours toward the CAPM®.
Key Skills Developed in Project Management Training
Technical Skills
- Project management tools: Microsoft Project, Asana, Jira, and more.
- Project planning: To create effective project plans, you’ll need a clear and concise project charter—a document that explains the project’s main purpose, goals, objectives, stakeholders, and more.
- Scheduling: Using visual elements like Gantt charts will bring schedule visibility to your team, keeping everyone on task and on track.
Soft Skills
- Leadership: Demonstrating leadership skills will keep your team motivated and inspired.
- Communication: Throughout the lifecycle of a project, you’ll be communicating with team members and reporting on progress to all stakeholders.
- Time Management: It will be your job to ensure the projects stay on track—your team will be relying on you to make sure they’re keeping up with deadlines.
- Risk Assessment: Managing project risk is essential to ensure successful project completion. Project risk management should be a part of the project planning process—identifying, categorizing, and planning for potential risks before they happen.
The Benefits of Project Management Training
Career Growth
Project management training opens doors to higher-level positions like program manager or executive-level roles. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, the sky’s the limit. You’ll be able to work your way up, successfully delivering innovative products to help shape and inspire the world at large.
Increased Project Success
Well-trained project managers are better equipped to lead successful projects, mitigate risks, and meet deadlines. Successful project management starts with understanding the basics, foundational methodologies, and the use of project management tools. Once you’ve mastered these, project success will only grow as you learn new processes and skills to expertly lead a team and deliver a project on time and within budget.
Continuous Learning and Professional Development
Professional development is at the core of project management. The importance of ongoing training and upskilling through workshops, webinars, or obtaining additional project management certifications, is key in your success.
Popular Project Management Training Providers
- PMI (Project Management Institute)
- Ziplines Education—PMI authorized training partner
- PMTraining—PMI authorized training partner
Invest in Your Future with Project Management Training
Pursuing certifications in project management will open many doors to a fulfilling career. The growth potential is high and the earning potential is even higher. The steps to becoming a project manager include getting a bachelor’s degree and going on to complete accredited training programs—gaining hours and experience to pass the CAPM® and PMP® exams, and possibly go on to pursue more specialized training courses.
If you’re tech-savvy, organized, and a natural leader, consider future-proofing your career in project management with our 10-week Digital Project Management Certificate Course. With live mentor sessions in addition to a highly immersive learning experience, you’ll be on your way to developing in-demand skills and earning industry certifications in one of the fastest-growing fields in the country.
