9 Most Popular Product Management Certifications & Courses
The learning is never-ending in product management, which is why these product management certifications and courses are important. Here are some of the best certifications I'd recommend for product managers and leaders who want to learn new skills as well as demonstrate your competency in order to get a job or promotion.
I've summarized what you'll learn in each course and key details like how much it costs and how long it takes so that you can choose the right program for your goals.
9 Best Product Management Certification Programs
1. Certified Product Manager Online Course
This complete product management course from 280 Group looks at how to manage products through each stage of the product lifecycle. It includes study content, articles, quizzes, interactive portions, and practice exams. You'll also learn about product marketing and market research, which is useful if you are interested in specializing as a product marketing manager. Other topics include product management skills and new product launches.
Price: $1495-2495
Duration: 10 modules
Exam Required: Certification exam – 2 chances
Online, In-person, Both: Live Online, Self-Study, In-Person, Custom Training
How Many Hours of Instruction: 15-20
Requirements: Be working in the field or a desire to enter the field
2. Software Product Management
This product management course from Coursera is designed for those working in the software product development field and is not for those looking to do digital product management. It focuses on agile software methodology.
Price: Free to enroll and audit – Inquire about fees
Duration: 6 modules
Exam Required: No – Hands-on Project
Online, In-person, Both: Online
How Many Hours of Instruction: 8 hours per week/3 months
Requirements: Working in the software field
3. Product Management Training
Get your professional certificate by completing a training course from Udemy that teaches product management essentials and how to use those tools. The perfect choice to advance your career in this field, as it covers a wide range of topics, strategies, and tools. It covers all types of project methodologies, including scrum, agile, waterfall, and Kanban. You'll also learn design thinking, communicating effectively with the team members such as developers and engineers, and user experience best practices.
Price: $199
Duration: No set completion
Exam Required: No
Online, In-person, Both: Online
How Many Hours of Instruction: 13 hours
Requirements: None but knowledge of business concepts is a help
4. Master of Product Management
This is a Master of Science in Product Management from the Tepper School of Business and School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University that is above and beyond your engineering degree. It focuses on working at product development for growth and boosts your hiring potential and salary grade and is recommended for product leaders.
Price: $125 to apply, $2500 deposit if accepted
Duration: 12 months
Exam Required: Yes
Online, In-person, Both: Both, mostly in person
How Many Hours of Instruction: Undefined
Requirements: Bachelor of Engineering
5. Product Manager Degree
This product school program from the Institute of Product Leadership works at making senior managers into C-suite execs. There is a focus on strategic decision making, leadership skills in executive roles, and the ability to effectively execute your role and skills.
Price: $1000 deposit + yearly costs per course (undefined for those outside of Asia)
Duration: 18 months
Exam Required: Yes + entrance application and test
Online, In-person, Both: In-person
How Many Hours of Instruction: Undefined
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree + 5 years of experience in the field
6. Product Strategy Program
This program from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is for managers looking to become more hands-on in the project manager role. The course includes lectures, webinars, case studies, and more. You get one-on-one help and a product management certification when you finish the program.
Price: $2,850
Duration: 2 months, 4-6 hours each week
Exam Required: Ongoing assignments
Online, In-person, Both: Online
How Many Hours of Instruction: Undefined
Requirements: Background in business
7. Certified Product Manager
These CPM certification courses from the AIPMM are well known and will not only improve your skillset but also bolster your career outcomes. It improves your CV as a product manager or product owner, as well as your chances of new and challenging management jobs.
Price: $395-520
Duration: 2 months, 4-6 hours each week
Exam Required: Final for certification
Online, In-person, Both: Both
How Many Hours of Instruction: Undefined depending on course
Requirements: Background in business
8. Product Management Online Certification
Coursework from Brainstation focused on management level problem solving, the product development process, market strategy, agile team management, and building great products. Enjoy live lectures online and working and interacting with your peers.
Price: $1950
Duration: 5 weeks
Exam Required: Hands-on project
Online, In-person, Both: Online
How Many Hours of Instruction: Varies due to peer work and online lectures
Requirements: Background in business
9. Product Management Certificate
eCornell presents this program for becoming a certified product manager that fits into your current career and schedule. It consists of six courses completed online to help learn product roadmaps, creating prototypes, documenting target customer personas, and bringing products to launch.
Price: $3600
Duration: 6 courses over 3 months
Exam Required: No
Online, In-person, Both: Online
How Many Hours of Instruction: 3 to 5 hours per week
Requirements: Be working in the field or a related field
Frequently Asked Questions
Figuring out the right courses, certifications, and skills to build before launching into product management can be a bit confusing—after all, there's no real "beaten path" into product management!
Here are some of the questions we hear a lot from aspiring PMs:
1. Why should I take a product management certification?
Since there are technically no standardized educational requirements for product management right now, you may be wondering if it's worth it to invest in a product management certification or course. The answer is a resounding yes.
Product management is a growing field, but it's also competitive—and the skillset you'll need to be successful is broad and complex. Certifications are a great way to demonstrate to employers that you have the foundational skills they're looking for, and some employers might even prefer certain certifications (for example, agile product management certifications) over others.
2. What are the benefits of product management certifications?
Earning a product management certification offers several advantages:
- Expand your skill set: Certification enhances your general product management knowledge by introducing you to core concepts of product management and giving you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience.
- Build your network: When you take a course, you get the opportunity to meet and learn from other senior professionals and aspiring professionals in the field.
- Attract the attention of hiring managers: Certifications, especially from reputable programs, complement your existing education and professional experience in a way that is tangible to employers.
- Improve your earning potential: Having more skills than other applicants gives you increased bargaining power when negotiating your salary.
- Faster career advancement: Starting strong with practical knowledge of product management means you'll be in a prime position to get promoted sooner.
3. How long does it take to get product management certified?
Every certification program varies in terms of expected durations. Many on this list are self-guided, meaning you can complete the course in whatever time it takes you to work through the modules. Others run for a duration between a few months to a year and a half.
I recommend choosing your certification based on the overall benefits you'll receive from the course content and delivery method rather than the amount of time it will take to complete—in the long run, taking a few extra months to get more value from your course work is always a better investment.
4. Do I need technical training to become a product manager?
'Technically" (heh, see what I did there?) you don't—but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. Knowledge of programming languages like Python, R, and SQL is always a 'nice-to-have' for core, or 'traditional,' product managers and could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate for that juicy associate product manager job.
Furthermore, as you advance in your career, you may want to pursue a specialization such as a data product manager role—and then, that technical knowledge becomes essential!
Final Thoughts
Whether you're a senior product manager or undergoing product management training, you've probably looked into a product management certification program as you work towards continuous learning, not only to keep you up to date but also help build your CV and boost your LinkedIn profile to advance your product management career.
There are courses for all levels and standards of product manager certification, from a basic project manager certification up to a master’s degree. Deciding on the most valuable certification for you depends on what you are looking for in the next phase of your career as a successful product manager.
There are different goals depending on the industry you are in and where your professional goals are set, but adding a certified product manager credential to your CV will only increase your opportunities. Some focus on management while others aim for the C-Suite positions. Talk to your employer to see if they expect certain qualifications for you as their employee.
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