What you need to know about project management training
Why Project Management Training is Essential
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there to be 770,000 project management job openings by 2033; that’s a 7% increase over the next decade, 3% more than the average growth rate for all occupations. If you’re located in Oregon, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re in one of the top five states with the “highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Project Management Specialists,” according to BLS. Not only that, project managers in the state of Oregon can expect to make an average annual income of $96,880—higher than the national project manager’s average salary by over $7,000 per year.
When choosing to enroll in project management training, it’s vital to consider all your educational options. This is a substantial undertaking; you’ll be investing a solid amount of money and time toward an exciting new career path. With such a demand for project managers in Oregon, consider pursuing an accredited project management training program sooner rather than later to stay ahead of the ultra-competitive, high-earning field of project management. The quicker you get your project management certification, the faster you’ll be ahead of the curve and on your way to a fulfilling career as a project management professional.
What Is Project Management Training?
From foundational project management training programs to advanced and specialized studies, you have a myriad of options as you pursue and advance your career in project management, no matter where you are along your project management journey. To be a successful project manager, you’ll need to learn the key project management tools and methodologies to lead a diverse set of teams to success. Project management training will equip you with everything you’ll need, 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, from foundational project management studies to advanced and specialized programs. Let’s take a look at what your options are.
Types of Project Management Training Programs
Introductory Project Management Training for Beginners
Introductory project management training programs are designed for beginners who want to develop practical project management skills. These foundational project management trainings will teach you 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:
- Beginning Project Management by PMI (Project Management Institute)
- Project Management Basics by PMI (Project Management Institute)
- Project Management Fundamentals by Google through Coursera
UO Continuing and Professional Education 10-week Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education, 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:
Are you an experienced project management professional seeking advanced project management training? These advanced training programs will leverage your current skills to become a better leader, going beyond maintaining your PMI certification. Designed to set you up for project success, you’ll deepen your knowledge around managing project risks—getting a better grasp on 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:
Are you an experienced project management professional seeking specialized project management training courses? Consider an advanced 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 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.
Another option for project management certification includes 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)—a globally recognized leader in project management—has offered certifications in all areas of project management for over 30 years, 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
What’s your learning style and level of commitment per week? Take into consideration the learning style that you know works best for you and the amount of hours you’re able to put in to training modules and homework per week. 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.
Here at UO Continuing and Professional Education, we offer a mentor-led, 10-week Project Management Certificate Course—in partnership with Ziplines Education—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)
- PMTraining—PMI authorized training partner
- Coursera
- LinkedIn Learning
- Udemy
Invest in Your Future with Project Management Training
Whether you’re just starting out or advancing your skills, that’s pretty much everything you need to know about project management training. To recap, the steps to becoming a project manager include getting a bachelor’s degree and going on to complete accredited training programs. You’ll fulfill the necessary certification hours and gain enough experience to pass the CAPM® and PMP® exams, possibly going on to pursue more specialized training courses. The growth potential is high and the earning potential is even higher.
If you’re tech-savvy, organized, and a natural leader, consider supercharging your career in just 10 weeks with UO CPE Project Management Certificate Course, in partnership with Ziplines Education. You’ll appreciate the blend of live mentor sessions with our highly immersive learning experience. Develop in-demand skills and earn industry certifications in one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. Invest in project management training programs—this is your chance to open the door to a fulfilling career.
