The Project Management Professionals (PMP)® credential has become widely recognized and popular among project management professionals. For many Project Managers, getting their PMP Certification helps them take their career to the next level.
Not only does this certification take your career to the next level and increase your salary range, it provides valuable skills and knowledge in the project management realm.
Trained project managers are better equipped to minimize risk and facilitate change management.
In this article we will answer some popular questions about the exam, what the exam requirements are, and list 11 of the best Online Project Management courses so that you can be fully equipped to ace the test and become PMP Certified.
What is the PMP Exam like?
The PMP exam test includes five main categories:
- Initiating the project
- Planning the project
- Executing the project
- Monitoring and controlling the project
- Closing the project
The certification test is multiple choice and includes about 200 questions within each category listed above. The test is closed book meaning that you cannot bring any notes or cheat sheets with you during the exam. It is 100% based on memorization, experience and preparation beforehand.
What are the Requirements of the PMP Exam?
There are certain prerequisites required to even take the certification exam:
- Applicants must have a Secondary Degree (high school diploma or associate’s degree)
- At least 7,500 hours leading and directing projects
- At least 35 hours of Project Management Education
OR
- A four-year degree
- At least 4,500 hours leading and directing projects
- At least 35 hours of Project Management Education
Benefits of Getting Your PMP Certification:
- Industry Recognition – The PMP Certification has very high standards, making it very hard to pass without extensive preparation. Having the PMP Certification on your resume automatically gives you industry recognition and value. Anyone in the Project Management field knows that the certification exam is time consuming and challenging to pass. It will instantly put you above the rest not only on your resume, but in practice.
- Learn Important Skills – Leading successful projects is hard and this certification prepares you with the knowledge needed to get a project through to completion.
- Higher Income – On average, certified project managers earn 20% more than non-certified ones.
- Networking Opportunities – When you receive your PMP certification, you instantly become part of a network of over 700,000 other certified professionals. PMI organizes meetings in major cities across the world where project management professionals can connect and network with one another.
Best Online Project Management Courses Online:
The Knowledge Academy
With the option to take the PMP preparation courses in a classroom, live virtual classroom, online course format, or in-house, Knowledge Academy offers a learning style for everyone. Their PMP Exam Prep Boot Camp includes 4 days of instructor led training, guidance on the Exam application process, Boot Camp Manual, and a course completion certificate to validate course attendance.
They are highly rated as one of the best online PMP test preparation courses and have a high success in students passing the actual exam.
PDU’s
37.5
Price
$2,895 (varies with location and sometimes they go on sale!)
Delivery Method
Classroom, Live Virtual, Online, or In-House
Official Website
https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/us/courses/pmp-training/
Alison Diploma in Project Management
This is a FREE online project management course and takes the average participant 10-15 hours to complete. This course is not recommended for people that are new to the project management field, but rather ideal for project managers who already have some work experience under their belt. This course covers all of the basics of project management and is a good option for getting you started on your test preparation, for free.
In order to complete the course, students must maintain an average of 80% on all exams.
PDU’s
10
Price
100% Free!
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
https://alison.com/courses/project-management
Master of Project Academy – All Course Bundle
The Master of Project Academy is quickly becoming a preferred choice for those looking to take the PMP Exam. Their All Course Bundle is not only a reasonable price ($99/month for all courses), but it is self-paced with a 30 day money back guarantee.
The All Course Bundle includes 27 online project management courses including:
- PMP certification training
- Agile Scrum certification training
- ITIL Foundation certification training
- CAPM certification training
- Microsoft Project training
- and more!
The specific PMP Certification course includes over 750 practice exam questions, a sample PMP exam, and PMP cheat sheets. This course has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews and is highly recommended by those who have passed the test.
PDU’s
- PMP Certification training meets the 35 hours prerequisite
- Other courses vary
Price
- PMP Certification Training Course – $67/month
- All Course Bundle – $99/month
- They have a few free options as well.
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
Colorado State University Online Project Management Certificate
The online project management certification program at Colorado State University uses the same curriculum as the in-classroom sessions but is condensed into a 16 week schedule for busy, working professionals. This program is designed to be a highly interactive “shared learning” environment. Points are earned during weekly discussions, team exercises, and quizzes to test progression throughout the class term.
For the price you can walk away with an Associate Project Manager certification and a large amount of knowledge to take to the field with you.
PDU’s
54
Price
$3,395
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
https://www.online.colostate.edu/certificates/project-management-online/
Coursera Applied Project Management Certificate
Coursera was created by two Stanford University computer science professors and offers two specializations: Introductory Project Management (for those who are new to the field) and Applied Project Management (for those with 3-5 years experience).
The Coursera Applied Project Management Certificate is great for those who are already currently working in a professional setting and want to get their official certification. The program is 6 months long and consists of 4 courses at 6 weeks each.
Program tuition covers all online course content, project, and resources, plus optional live sessions with faculty.
PDU’s
120 (for the Applied Project Management Certificate)
Price
$2,980 or $777 per each individual course
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificate/applied-project-management
Greycampus
With a 99.4% pass rate, Greycampus is a popular option for those looking to take their certification. It includes 3 simulated exams, 1 Year E-Learning Access, and the official PMBoK Guide. You can go at your own pace or at the pace of a classroom setting depending on your needs.
PDU’s
35
Price
- Online Self Learning – $300
- Live Online Training – $699
- Traditional Classroom – $1,599
Delivery Method
Online or Classroom Setting
Official Website
https://www.greycampus.com/pmp-training-instructor-led
Project Management Institute – Introduction to Project Management Course
This self paced, online course is great for entry-level professionals who are looking to start their career in project management, individuals who are already working on project teams and are looking to learn the project management language, or existing project managers who are preparing to take the certification test.
This course covers each Knowledge Area of the PMBoK Guide and uses real world scenarios to make it tangible when taken back to your workplace. Each module features a pre- and post-assessment, allowing you to measure your progress along the way.
PDU’s
23
Price
$350
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
https://learning.pmi.org/online-course/879/introduction-to-project-management
Brain Sensei Complete PMP Exam Prep Course
This in-depth program comes with 8 study modules plus 4 practice exams with over 900 different questions. The courses also include storyline challenges to show you how to take what you learn and put it into practice. The online course is self-paced so that you can complete it at your own pace.
The modules are animated and interactive, making this a more fun and interesting way to study and learn. For the price, this is probably the most enjoyable course without skimping out on any of the important information.
PDU’s
35
Price
$499.99 for 6 months or pay per course
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
https://brainsensei.com/product/complete-pmp-exam-prep-course/
Lynda.com PMP Cerification Prep
Lynda.com is one of the oldest online training sites and was recently acquired by LinkedIn, making it a wealth of Knowledge. Lynda has more than 10,000 expert-led courses and about 1,500 of those courses are related to project management.
The Lynda PMP Certification Prep course offers 6+ hours of video, 10 hands-on activities, 7.5 chapter questions, and 11 individual exercises.
PDU’s
35
Price
$29.99/month
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
Simplilearn PMP Certification Training Course
The PMP Certification Training Course by Simplilearn covers new trends, emerging practices and places a strong emphasis on business knowledge to help you take and pass the certification exam successfully.
Key features of this program include:
- 36 hours of instructor-led training
- 8 industry cases
- 20 industry based scenarios
- 29 hours of e-learing content
- 6 hands-on projects
- 7 simulation tests with 200 questions each
The online course is self-paced and includes 24×7 learner assistance and support.
PDU’s
35
Price
- Online – $499
- Classroom – $1,199
- Corporate Training Solutions – contact for pricing
Delivery Method
Online, Classroom, or Corporate Training Solutions available
Official Website
https://www.simplilearn.com/project-management/pmp-certification-training
Velociteach Project Management Course
Velociteach.com was created by project management expert Andy Crowe and only has resourses for project management and nothing else. With more than 40 courses available, you can pick and choose which courses you need to prepare for the exam or you can take their PMP course bundle for $219.
The bundle includes everything needed to take and pass the test including the 35 PDU prerequisite.
PDU’s
Varies
Price
$19 – $449
Delivery Method
Online
Official Website
These courses are all great options and any of them will help prepare you for the PMP exam test. The exam is said to be one of the most challenging certification exams out there so having real-world experience combined with any of the above courses is key to success.
Even if you are not planning on taking the exam anytime soon, these courses will help sharpen your skills and knowledge in the industry.
