Entry-Level Project Management Certification: 4 Options for New PMs

An entry-level project management certification can be a powerful step toward a well-paying, high-demand career. Around the world, organizations need project managers to help teams stay organized, manage resources, and keep projects on track. In the US alone, project management specialists earned a median salary of $100,750 in 2024, with employment projected to grow 7 percent between 2023 and 2033 [1]. This translates to about 77,000 job openings each year, driven by business expansion and workforce turnover [1].

Globally, demand is even more significant. The Project Management Institute (PMI) anticipates that employers will need nearly 88 million individuals in project-management roles by 2027, and the labor force in some parts of the world could grow by 33 percent [2].

If you like solving problems and have strong leadership and communication skills, you may be a good fit for a project management role. Whether you're entering the field or considering a career change, earning an entry-level project management certification can be a strategic move. The following certificates can help you build foundational skills and show your enthusiasm for the field.

Can I get a project management certification without experience?

Yes, you can get a project management certification without experience, and earning one can be a smart way to start your new career. If you're exploring project management as a career path, a beginner-level certification can help you build practical skills, gain confidence, and show potential employers that you're serious about the field. The options below require little to no prior experience and focus on the core knowledge you'll need to manage projects, collaborate with teams, and grow into more advanced roles over time.

Certified Associate in Project Management: CAPM certification

The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an entry-level project management certification issued by PMI. If you're at the beginning of your project management career, this certification can help you build foundational knowledge and gain credibility. Earning this certification can be a valuable step toward the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

The CAPM exam covers essential concepts, terminology, and best practices that can help prepare you for positions such as project coordinator, junior project manager, or analyst. You have 180 minutes to answer 150 multiple-choice questions, and the exam is available in English, French, Japanese, Arabic, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Italian [3].

Cost: $300 ($225 for members) [3]

Requirements: High school diploma or GED, 23 hours of project management education, and a passing score on the exam [3]

How to prepare: The Project Management Institute offers a self-paced course to help you prepare for the exam, as well as an online practice exam that you can use to identify your areas of strength and need.

Can a beginner take the PMP certification?

To take the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, you must have a combination of education and project management job experience. If you have a bachelor's degree, you need 3 years of job experience—or 2 years if you have a degree from a program accredited by PMI's Global Accreditation Center [4]. If you have a high school diploma, you need 5 years of relevant job experience [4]. You will also need 35 hours of project management training or CAPM certification [4].

CompTIA Project+ 

If you plan to manage small- to medium-sized IT projects, the CompTIA Project+ certification may be valuable for your career goals. Offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), this certification is especially relevant for IT project managers, and stands out for being vendor-neutral and not tied to a specific methodology. This makes it a flexible option that can apply to a variety of project types across industries.

The exam validates foundational project management skills, including Agile methodology, communication, resource coordination, and documentation. You have 90 minutes to answer no more than 90 multiple-choice questions [5]. The exam is available in English, Japanese, and Thai [5]. CompTIA recommends you have between six months and one year of experience working in an IT project management environment before taking the exam.

Cost: $369 [5]

Requirements: You need a score of at least 710 on the exam [5]. CompTIA also recommends that you have some experience in the field.

How to prepare: You can purchase a bundle from CompTIA that includes the exam voucher and practice materials. The organization also has digital study guides available for purchase, as well as recommendations for training led by instructors.

Google Project Management Certificate

The Google Project Management Certificate is a beginner-friendly, fully online credential hosted on Coursera. If you have no previous project management experience and want to build essential skills you can use in entry-level roles, consider this certificate. You can earn the certificate in less than 6 months and do not have to pass an exam.

Developed by Google, this program covers key project management topics, such as project initiation, planning, execution, and risk management. You'll also have opportunities to work with tools commonly used in the workplace, including Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides. The certificate path also introduces you to Agile approaches and the use of AI in project management.

Cost: $59 per month with a Coursera Plus subscription [6, 7]

Requirements: None How to prepare: Sign up for a Coursera Plus subscription and complete the six courses in the program.

IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate

The IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate helps you build job-ready project management skills for entry-level roles. The program covers key project management topics, including project planning, execution, stakeholder communication, and Agile methodologies. It also gives you opportunities for hands-on practice and skill development.

You'll participate in hands-on projects that you can include in a portfolio to share with potential employers. The certificate also provides training in project management tools and includes guidance to help you prepare for the CAPM exam, if you choose to pursue that credential.

Cost: $59 per month with a Coursera Plus subscription [7, 8]

Requirements: None

How to prepare: Enroll through Coursera and complete the eight courses to earn the certificate.

How to decide which is the best project management certificate for your career goals

Choosing the right project management certificate depends on where you are in your career and what kind of work you want to do, as well as your timeline. Consider the following questions:

• What kind of career do you want to build?

• Which industries or roles interest you most?

• How much structure and support do you want while learning?

• Are you planning to pursue an advanced credential?

If you're just starting out and have no experience in a project management role, the Google Project Management Certificate and the IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate are strong choices. Both are beginner-friendly, fully online, and require no previous experience. Google's program places an emphasis on Agile and Scrum, while IBM includes a course dedicated to CAPM exam preparation.

If you have some experience in project management, you may meet the eligibility requirements for the CAPM certification. It's a good fit if your goals include earning the PMP credential. You might also consider the CompTIA Project+ certificate if you're already working in an IT team role or prefer a vendor-neutral credential that's not tied to a specific methodology.

Earn your project management certification on Coursera

Entry-level project management certifications like CAPM, Google Project Management Certificate, IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate, and CompTIA Project+ can help you build foundational skills, gain credibility, and prepare for long-term growth.

If you're exploring project management for the first time, the Google Project Management Certificate offers a beginner-friendly introduction to key concepts like Agile, Scrum, risk management, and the project lifecycle. The program runs entirely online, follows a self-paced format, and comes with a Coursera Plus subscription.