The PMP certification stands as the globally renowned and esteemed accreditation in the field of project management, making it an indispensable asset for individuals aspiring to progress in their project management careers. Nevertheless, obtaining the PMP certification can incur significant costs, with the examination fee alone exceeding $400.
This article is going to highlight a number of free PMP certification courses available online. These courses can be a great way to learn the basics of project management and prepare for the PMP exam without spending a lot of money.
Free PMP Certification Courses: Affordably Learn Project Management
Free Introduction to PMP® Exam Prep from PMI: This course is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the organization that administers the PMP exam. It is a short course that provides an overview of the PMP exam and the project management knowledge areas.
Free PMP Certification Training from Master of Project Academy: Master of Project Academy offers a fully online and self-paced PMP training course with three sections of learning material. This comprehensive course consists of over 25 lectures and a variety of additional resources for those seeking more information.
The course content encompasses a handout, a brief quiz, and a real-life situational project case example. In the second section, participants can access free materials such as a PMP question bank, flashcards, a formula sheet, and a sample of Master of Project Academy’s PMP prep eBook. Additionally, the course guides learners through the PMP application process, providing visual aids for each step.
Notably, there is no final examination required to obtain the certificate; completion of each module is the sole prerequisite.
Introduction to PMP Exam Tutorial from Udemy: This course is taught by Bayhas Al Sawady, a PMP certified project manager. It covers the basics of project management, including project planning, budgeting, and risk management.
LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning offers some free PMP certification training courses. Here are a few of them:
- Agile Project Management Foundations
- Project Management Foundations
- PMP Exam Prep: Project Integration Management
- PMP Exam Prep: Project Scope Management
- PMP Exam Prep: Project Time Management
These courses are a great way to learn the basics of project management and get started on your journey to becoming a PMP-certified project manager. However, it is important to note that these courses are not a comprehensive PMP certification training program. If you are serious about getting your PMP certification, I recommend that you also consider enrolling in a paid PMP certification training program.
To access the free PMP certification training courses on LinkedIn Learning, you can sign up for a free trial of the service. The free trial gives you access to all of the courses on LinkedIn Learning for one month. After the free trial period, you can choose to subscribe to LinkedIn Learning for a monthly or annual fee.
Project Management Professional Certificate from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) is a 4-course specialization that covers the fundamentals of project management. The courses are taught by UCI faculty and industry experts, and they cover topics such as project planning, budgeting, risk management, and communication. The specialization also includes a capstone project where students apply the skills they have learned to a real-world project.
Google Project Management Professional Certificate is a 6-course certificate program that teaches the basics of project management. The courses are taught by Google employees and they cover topics such as project planning, agile methodologies, and stakeholder management. The certificate program also includes a hands-on project where students apply the skills they have learned to a real-world project.
Both the UCI and Google project management certificates are a great way to learn the fundamentals of project management and prepare for the PMP exam. However, there are some key differences between the two programs.
The UCI program is more comprehensive and covers a wider range of topics. It is also more rigorous and requires students to complete a capstone project. The Google program is more focused on the basics of project management and is more flexible, as it allows students to complete the courses at their own pace.
The cost of the two programs is also different. The UCI program costs $79 per month, while the Google program costs $49 per month.
Ultimately, the best program for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a comprehensive and rigorous program that will prepare you for the PMP exam, then the UCI program is a good option. If you are looking for a more affordable and flexible program that will teach you the basics of project management, then the Google program is a good option.
Here is a table comparing the two programs:
| Feature | Project Management Professional Certificate from UCI | Google Project Management Professional Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79 per month | $49 per month |
| Duration | 4 courses | 6 courses |
| Topics covered | Project planning, budgeting, risk management, communication, and more | Project planning, agile methodologies, stakeholder management, and more |
| Capstone project | Yes | No |
| Flexibility | Less flexible, as all courses must be completed in sequence | More flexible, as students can complete the courses at their own pace |
Free PMP certification courses can be a great way to learn the basics of project management and prepare for the PMP exam. However, it is important to note that these courses are not a substitute for a comprehensive PMP certification training program. If you are serious about getting your PMP certification, I recommend that you also consider enrolling in a paid PMP certification training program.
