Project Management Certifications
Find the Right One for Your Career
Complete, free guides to every major PM certification. Compare costs, difficulty, salary impact and eligibility requirements — then use our finder tool to discover which certification is right for your specific career stage, location and goals.
The best PM certification depends on your experience and location. For professionals with 3+ years of experience, PMP has the highest global recognition and salary premium (33% on average). For beginners, CAPM requires no work experience. For Agile teams, CSM or PMI-ACP. For UK and European roles, PRINCE2 is the industry standard.
Which Certification Is Right for You?
Answer three quick questions and we'll point you to the right certification for your situation — no guesswork needed.
Every PM Certification — Reviewed in Detail
Click any certification card to read the full guide. Each guide covers eligibility, exam format, cost breakdown, study plan and pass tips.
Project Management Institute (PMI)
The gold standard in project management. Globally recognised in 214 countries, commanding the highest salary premium of any PM certification.
Project Management Institute (PMI)
PMI's agile certification covering Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, XP and more. Ideal for practitioners working on agile teams in all industries.
Project Management Institute (PMI)
PMI's entry-level certification. No project leadership experience required — just 23 hours of PM contact time. Perfect for career starters.
PeopleCert / Axelos
The dominant PM framework in the UK, Europe and Australia. Process-based and structured, widely used in government and large enterprises.
Scrum Alliance
The most widely held Scrum certification. Requires a 2-day instructor-led course — no prior experience needed. Fast to earn and widely recognised.
Full comparison guide
Can't decide? Our full ranked list compares every major PM certification by salary uplift, recognition, difficulty, cost and career impact.
All Certifications Compared
A quick reference comparison of every certification covered on this site. For deeper analysis see our full rankings guide →
| Certification | Issuer | Experience Needed | Exam Cost | Difficulty | Best For | Globally Recognised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMP | PMI | 36–60 months | $405–$555 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Experienced PMs worldwide | ✓ |
| PMI-ACP | PMI | 12 months general + 8 months agile | $435–$495 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Agile practitioners | ✓ |
| CAPM | PMI | None (23 hrs training) | $225–$300 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Beginners & students | ✓ |
| PRINCE2 Practitioner | PeopleCert | None required | ~£440 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | UK, Europe, Australia | ✓ |
| CSM | Scrum Alliance | None required | $995–$1,500 | ⭐⭐ | Scrum teams, quick start | ✓ |
| PSM I | Scrum.org | None required | $150 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Budget-friendly Scrum cert | ✓ |
PMP vs Other Certifications — Detailed Comparisons
Still deciding between two certifications? These side-by-side guides answer the question definitively with data on salary, recognition and career impact.