Top 10 Free Project Management Certification Courses Online

Quick Summary:

Designed to elevate your project management game, these courses cover everything from the basics to advanced techniques, guiding you through managing projects seamlessly from inception to completion. 

Bolster your professional standing and gain a competitive edge in the job market with these free certifications.

Are you looking for the best free project management certification online to up your game as a project manager?

You arrived at the right place. In this post, we'll look at the ten best free project management courses that will teach you the fundamentals of project management and how to manage any project from start to finish. 

All these courses can boost your credibility and help you stand out in the job market.

Best Free Project Management Courses Comparison Chart (Top 10 Highest Rated)

What is the Best Free Project Management Certification Online? Here’s Our Top 10 List:

Below you’ll find a list of the top 10 free project management certifications online, along with a description of their course, requirements, cost, duration, level, and type. Some of these certification programs offer a free certificate; others require an additional fee, ranging from a few dollars to $200+. 

1. Introduction to Project Management by the University of Adelaide: best free project management certification overall

Why We Chose It:

Introduction to Project Management by the University of Adelaide is an ideal starting point if you're considering taking on a management role in the future and need to learn the fundamentals of project management. 

The free online project management course is designed for aspiring project managers, project team members, team leads, or anyone who wants to upgrade their project management skills in general. By the end of this course, you'll know how to plan, scope, schedule, cost, and manage your project from start to finish. 

Additionally, you'll be equipped with the soft skills to communicate effectively with project stakeholders, manage people in the real world, and employ leadership skills to lead projects to success. The skills you'll learn in this course can be applied to teams and projects of all sizes and complexity. 

Another advantage is the course material is transferable for managers of any type of project. It can be a great free construction management certification if you're working in the construction industry or a top marketing project manager certification if you're planning on leading marketing teams. 

Requirements: 

• None 

Level: 

• Introductory

Duration:

• 6 weeks 

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free

• Shareable certificate available for $199

Visit site
^{Go to EdX official website}

2. KICKOFF from the Project Management Institute (PMI): great pick if you want PMI free courses

Why We Chose It:

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a not-for-profit professional organization for project management. This KICKOFF free project management course was created by the PMI to help managers-to-be learn the basics of project management. 

PMI is particularly well-known for publishing the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide. PMBOK describes how the five project management process groups work, and focuses on how to achieve successful project outcomes on budget and on schedule.

In keeping with this ethos, KICKOFF is an interactive 45-minute project management course and digital toolkit that can teach you how to run any type of project from start to finish. The course contains short, easy-to-absorb lessons with step-by-step guidance and fun activities to help you remember what you learn. 

Additionally, you can choose one of two Project Management Institute free courses, depending on the type of projects you'll be managing. If you’re using the agile project management methodology, you can opt for that. Practitioners of waterfall project management can take the other course.

After completing the course, you'll win a badge you can download and share on your resume or social platforms like LinkedIn.

Requirements: 

• None 

Level: 

• Introductory

Duration:

• 45 minutes 

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

Visit site
^{Go to PMI’s official website}

3. Project Management (Short Course) by Oxford Home Study College: one of the best short courses for project management

Why We Chose It:

Oxford Home Study College offers a wide selection of free project manager short courses, including this Project Management short course that's created for absolute beginners who want to jump into a PM role quickly.

This short course for project management is divided into three parts: an introduction to project management, an overview of the project manager role, and a breakdown of the project life cycle. 

After completing this course, you can claim one of three types of certificates for a small fee, including an official Course Completion Certificate from Oxford Home Study Centre, a CPD Accredited Certificate, or an Endorsed Certificate issued by the Quality Licence Scheme.

And as mentioned, there are many other HSC courses available, with tiered courses for project management moving up to international and advanced diploma courses, and a comprehensive set of courses covering Six Sigma methodology from beginner to expert. 

Requirements: 

• None 

Level: 

• Introductory

Duration:

• 20 hours 

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

• Certification available for a small fee 

Visit site
^{Go to Oxford Home Study official website}

4. PMP Basics: best free PMP certification online

Why We Chose It:

If you’re looking for free PMP courses, this Free Course to Learn Project Management (PMP) Basics will teach you the most widely used project management methodologies for delivering successful projects. 

By the end of this course, you will be knowledgeable about concepts like project planning, project time, cost quality management, and communication management. You’ll also get familiar with project management roles and the most popular tools, such as Trello, an app known for its focus on the Kanban system and small learning curve.

This course is designed for beginners, aspiring project managers, marketing professionals, and Agile Scrum professionals. You will receive a course completion certificate after completing the PMP basics course.

Requirements: 

• None

Level: 

• Introductory

Duration:

• 9 hours 

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

Visit site
^{Go to Simpli Learn’s official website}

5. Leadership and Management for PM Practitioners in IT from University of Washington: good option if you need free project management courses for beginners

Why We Chose It:

This Leadership and Management for PM Practitioners in IT course is designed for individuals who want to become effective project managers in a global market.

The course is specifically tailored for project managers in the IT sector, addressing the unique challenges and dynamics of this field. The course focuses on both leadership and management skills, which are crucial for success in IT project management.

During this course, you’ll learn the essential soft and hard skills every project manager needs to manage diverse or distributed teams and projects successfully. 

You’ll also get acquainted with organizational culture and learn how a team’s dynamics can affect a project. The final lessons of the course revolve around team composition and communication and the connection between organizational change management and readiness.

Moreover, being offered by a reputable institution like the University of Washington adds to its credibility and value in the job market, especially for those aiming to specialize in IT project management. 

Requirements: 

• None

Level: 

• Introductory

Duration:

• 6 weeks 

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

• Certification available for $199

Visit site
^{Go to EdX official website}

6. Diploma Course in Project Management by Alison: top pick if you want diploma of project management online

Why We Chose It:

This Diploma Course in Project Management course is recommended for anyone who's interested in starting a career in project management or upgrading their skills. It includes 28 topics divided into three modules. 

The first module teaches you about topics like project management methodologies, the most widely used project management tools like Gantt charts, and project management documentation. 

The second module is all about the project life cycle, walking you through every phase of the system development life cycle: analysis, planning, design, and evaluation. 

The third module is a course assessment; you'll need to obtain at least 80% in the course assessment to complete the course and become an Alison graduate. 

You can purchase a diploma for a small fee. Learners can purchase three types of diplomas: a Digital Diploma, a Physical Diploma, and a Framed Diploma in project management. 

Requirements: 

• None

Level: 

• Introductory

Duration:

• 10-15 hours

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

• Professional certification available for a small fee 

Visit site
^{Go to Alison’s official website}

7. International Project Management from Rochester Institute of Technology: great choice if you’re looking for free project management classes

Why We Chose It:

This International Project Management Course from Rochester Institute of Technology on edX equips you with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors you need to manage projects in an international environment. 

Over the course of 19 weeks, you will understand how people in different cultures relate to authority, view time, receive feedback, and more. Key areas of focus likely include cultural, linguistic, regulatory, and legal variations, as well as the impact of technology, ethics, and political contexts on project management.

This makes the course an ideal choice for professionals seeking to develop skills in international project management, addressing both the strategic and practical aspects of managing projects in a global context.

This course doesn't include a sharable certification, although you can purchase one for $299 if that credential is desired.  

Requirements: 

• Successful completion and understanding of concepts from the Project Management Life Cycle course. 

Level: 

• Advanced 

Duration:

• 19 weeks

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

• Certification available for $299

Visit site
^{Go to EdX official website} 

8. Introduction to Project Management by SkillUp: best project management free tutorial

Why We Chose It:

This Introduction to Project Management course is intended for aspiring project managers, students, and job holders who are new to the field and want a solid foundation in project management principles and practices.

The course offers one hour of self-paced video lessons, focusing on the fundamentals of project management and providing a career roadmap.

The course contains five modules, including an introduction to project management, project management techniques, an introduction to Agile and Scrum, a quick overview of other Agile methodologies, and managing projects using Microsoft Project. 

After completing the course, you'll earn a certificate you can share with prospective employers and your professional network. 

Requirements: 

• None 

Level: 

• Beginner 

Duration:

• 1 hour

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

Visit site
^{Go to Simpli Learn’s official website}

9. Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management by the University of Maryland: top online course for leading Scrum projects 

Why We Chose It:

The Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management course teaches you the key project management processes, roles, mechanics, and philosophies behind Scrum. This is a recommended course for project management professionals who want to begin their agile journey and advance in their careers. 

Over the course of four weeks, you will learn the history of agile, how to run a successful Scrum team, sprint planning, Scrum at scale, and more. In other words, you’ll gain holistic knowledge of Scrum methodology and its practical application. 

Keep in mind that finishing this course won’t make you an Agile certified practitioner (PMI-ACP) or certified scrum master (CSM). 

However, you’ll gain a more fundamental agile certification, confirming you’re knowledgeable about the agile project management principles and practices. Upon successful completion of this course, you'll earn ten Professional Development Unit (PDU) credits that are recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI). 

Requirements: 

• None 

Level: 

• Advanced 

Duration:

• 4 weeks

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

• Shareable certification available for $199

Visit site
^{Go to EdX official website}

10. Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management by the University of Virginia: best free project management training exercises

Why We Chose It:

The Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management is an introductory course that teaches the key concepts of planning and executing projects, available on Coursera. Over the course of four weeks, you'll learn how to plan, analyze, and manage projects.

The course is particularly beneficial for early-career project professionals who need to quickly develop skills in planning, scheduling, and project controls. It's well-suited for individuals already working within a project team, especially in linear and waterfall environments.

The course offers a thorough introduction to project management, covering essential topics like project goals, project success, cost control, work breakdown structures, and schedule risk analysis. While it provides an overview of Agile methods, its strength lies in more traditional project management techniques.

Requirements: 

Level: 

• Beginner 

Duration:

• 8 hours to complete  

Type:

• Self-paced 

Pricing:

• Free 

• Certification available for purchase for $59

Visit site
^{Go to Coursera’s official website}

Which Free Project Management Training is Best for Me? Key Takeaways

The free project management certification training courses discussed in this post are all a great option if you want to up your project and program management game. They can be an excellent resource for acquiring new skills fast, all the while learning at your own pace. Just make sure to take notes for those quizzes and do that all-important exam prep!

The best free certification course for you would depend on what type of project management skills you want to acquire. 

For instance, the International Project Management from Rochester Institute of Technology course can be a good pick if you're looking to build your career in international project management. If you're more interested in managing projects in a Scrum environment, the Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management by the University of Maryland course is exactly what you need.

And we know budgetary considerations are always top of mind, but it’s worth thinking about paid options, too. You may want to take a look at our best project management certification article to see if there’s a more career-goal-appropriate option there.

And of course, regardless of certification, you’ll need the right project management tools for the job. In this case, you may want to take a spin around our best project management software list.