How to Pick the Best Project Management Training

Every great project starts with vision and succeeds with discipline.

Project Management Academy (PMA) celebrates the professionals who turn visions into reality. On November 1, International Project Management Day, and every day, we honor the planners, communicators, and problem solvers who make success possible. Whether you are leading your first project or managing large-scale initiatives, strong project management skills form the foundation of success.

Choosing the right training program is more than earning a credential. It is an investment in both personal growth and team performance. Project management (PM) training builds the technical and leadership skills that help professionals and organizations deliver lasting results. The right course strengthens collaboration, sharpens communication, and equips teams to lead through change together.

No matter where you or your team are on your professional journey, PMA offers courses designed to meet organizational goals. This guide will help you identify the program that best fits your experience level and aspirations.

For Beginners: Build a Strong Foundation

If you’re new to project management or managing projects “by accident,” foundational training can make a big difference. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® provides new and aspiring project managers with a solid foundation in the structured principles of the PMI framework, the global standard for effective project planning, budgeting, and execution.

Participants learn to apply these principles across the full project lifecycle, learning how to set objectives, build schedules, manage stakeholders, and address risks early. For recent graduates, professionals transitioning from other roles, or emerging teams building project structure, the program develops versatile skills that transfer across industries.

CAPM® Prerequisites

The CAPM® is a popular starting point because the entry requirements are accessible. You don’t need years of project experience to qualify, just a commitment to learning the fundamentals.

To be eligible for the CAPM exam, you’ll need:

A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent)
At least 23 hours of formal project management education, which is fulfilled in PMA’s CAPM Certification Training course

There are no professional experience requirements, making it ideal for early-career professionals or students who want to build credibility before managing larger projects.

Why It Matters

Early in your career, employers want proof you can work within structure and deliver results. Earning your CAPM® or completing foundational project management training builds credibility and prepares you for future PMP® certification.

Courses to Explore:

What You’ll Learn:

Plan and execute small to mid-size projects using PMI best practices
Communicate effectively across stakeholders and departments
Build the discipline and vocabulary to advance toward PMP® certification

Who It’s For:

Entry-level professionals seeking their first PM credential
Team leads or coordinators managing informal projects
Students or recent graduates exploring project-based roles

Building a project management foundation is about more than process. It builds the clarity and leadership skills needed to guide teams and deliver results. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you’ll be ready for greater responsibility and, for many professionals, the next step: PMP® certification.

For Advancing Professionals: Earn Your PMP® and Elevate Your Career

If you have practical experience, you may be ready for the next step in your career. The Project Management Professional (PMP®) is one of the most valuable and globally recognized certifications, proving mastery of predictive, agile, and hybrid methods often required for senior roles.

According to PMI’s Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, PMP-certified professionals earn up to 30% more than their non-certified peers. PMP-certified leaders are trusted to guide teams and organizations through transformation and high-stakes delivery.

PMP® Prerequisites

Unlike the CAPM®, the PMP® certification is designed for experienced professionals who already lead or manage project work. PMI offers two eligibility paths depending on your education level.

If you hold a four-year degree (bachelor’s or global equivalent):
- At least 36 months of professional project management experience within the last eight years
- 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM® certification
If you hold a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent):
- At least 60 months of project management experience within the last eight years
- 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM® certification

PMA’s PMP certification training fulfills the 35-hour education requirement and prepares professionals to perform confidently on the exam. It also includes application and audit support to ensure every submission meets PMI’s criteria.

Choose Your Path to Success

We know how important it is to have the right tools for the job. Whether you’re advancing your own career or building capability across your team, quality training makes the difference. That’s why PMA offers more value than any other PMP program on the market.

PMA provides three levels of PMP certification training packages designed to match individual learning styles, team schedules, and long-term goals.

Essential – Everything you need to pass the exam

35 PMI-approved contact hours
Thousands of practice questions
Supplemental deep-dive video lectures
Post-class tutoring and instructor support
Application and audit support
100% money-back guarantee

Advanced – Build mastery and maintain your certification

Includes everything in Essential, plus:
- An extra day of PMP training for deeper topic coverage
- A one-year subscription to PMA’s PDU Library (for continuing education)
- Extended support for complex or quantitative PM topics

Premium – Prepare, pass, and keep growing

Includes everything in Advanced, plus:
- Agile Fundamentals on-demand course for exam-relevant agile concepts
- PMI Talent Triangle® Bundle for balanced leadership, strategy, and technical skill development
- Expanded content for long-term growth beyond certification

Why It Matters

The PMP® credential proves you can manage risk, inspire teams, and align projects with strategic goals, transforming skilled project managers into recognized leaders.

Courses to Explore:

PMP Certification Training

What You’ll Learn:

Apply predictive, agile, and hybrid methodologies to real-world projects
Manage risk, scope, and quality through structured frameworks
Lead cross-functional teams and align execution with business goals

Who It’s For:

Experienced project managers ready to formalize their expertise
Professionals seeking promotion into senior PM or leadership roles
Anyone pursuing career mobility across industries

PMP® certification proves you can drive complex projects, align strategy, and lead high-performing teams to deliver results that scale. As your expertise grows, advanced PMI credentials can open doors to leadership roles across teams and industries.

For Senior Leaders and Specialists: Differentiate with Advanced Credentials

As project managers advance, their focus shifts from managing single projects to aligning them with organizational strategy. That means understanding how multiple projects connect to business goals. Advanced PMI credentials prepare professionals for broader leadership and specialized roles.

PMI-ACP® (Agile Certified Practitioner) validates your ability to apply agile and hybrid methods at scale.
PgMP® (Program Management Professional) focuses on coordinating multiple related projects that drive strategic objectives.
PMI-CP™ (Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects) distinguishes professionals in the construction and built environment sector, emphasizing collaboration, sustainability, and risk reduction.

Why It Matters

Advanced credentials help professionals stay competitive by proving they can deliver results, guide transformation, and shape organizational strategy. They position you as a leader who connects vision to measurable outcomes.

Courses to Explore:

What You’ll Learn:

Integrate agile, predictive, and hybrid methods across teams
Govern complex programs through business-aligned frameworks
Apply PMI’s evolving standards to industry-specific challenges

Who It’s For:

Experienced project managers pursuing leadership roles
Senior professionals seeking specialization or broader influence
Executives leading digital or operational transformation

Advanced credentials show your ability to lead change and improve performance across teams and business units. They help you strengthen systems, shape culture, and develop the next generation of leaders. Many professionals continue expanding their impact through advanced PMI certifications and specialized programs that build on their experience.

For Teams and Organizations: Build Capability Together

Project success takes more than one skilled manager. It relies on a unified team working from shared frameworks and tools. PMA’s Organizational Coaching and Consulting helps build a culture where projects run smoothly, teams stay aligned, and collaboration leads to consistent results.

Our programs adapt to your goals with customized PMP training, leadership development, and governance solutions that align people and processes.

Why It Matters

When teams share a consistent project management framework, execution becomes faster, communication clearer, and risk lower. Investing in team capability builds a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, supporting long-term success.

Explore: Organizational Coaching and Consulting

Common Outcomes Include:

Improved delivery consistency and fewer overruns
Better cross-functional collaboration and accountability
Standardized tools and expectations across teams
Development paths tied to business performance

Investing in team development strengthens every project. Shared frameworks align people, processes, and goals to create measurable results. That spirit of collaboration is what PMA celebrates on International Project Management Day and every day.

Celebrate Your Profession and Progress

Project managers are the driving force behind every innovation, launch, and transformation. They bring clarity to complexity and turn ideas into results. Their impact reaches far beyond a single day of recognition. And behind every successful project manager is the training that shaped their discipline.

Why PMA’s Approach Works

At PMA, our mission goes beyond helping you pass an exam. We’re here to help you think strategically and lead effectively as a project professional. Every course focuses on real-world application, collaborative problem-solving, and the leadership behaviors that define success for individuals and teams.

You’ll apply techniques like stakeholder planning, risk management, and agile adaptation to achieve long-term success. Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced leader, PMA’s structured approach helps you grow steadily, measure your progress, and lead with clarity.

The Reward: Your Next Step

Every project you and your team complete builds expertise and prepares you for what’s next, whether leading larger initiatives or earning your next certification. PMA helps you reach each milestone and keep moving forward. Every project tells your story of progress, and PMA supports you at every stage.

Your success is closer than you think. Turn your next goal into a milestone. Start your journey with Project Management Academy today.

Author profile

Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO

Director of Product Development at Project Management Academy