What is the best project management certification in 2026?

Beginner project management certifications

This category includes only those certifications that have no entry requirements and are suitable for new project managers or those who have some prior experience in project management and want to gain their first certification.

APM PFQOUR VALUES

The Association for Project Management offers the excellent Our 6 core values are everything we do. They include:Diversity. The APM PFQ certification is for newcomers to project management.Fairness

Candidates gain the APM PFQ certificate by learning basic project management concepts and terminology which will help you make a positive contribution towards any project.Quality

This certificate is becoming very popular in the UK because it comes from the InnovationAPMSocial responsibility, the Chartered Institute for Project Management.

To gain your APM PFQ certificate, the typical learning path is to take SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYAPM PFQ trainingSome of the charities we have helped over the years: which takes 2 days, or 25 hours if studying online.

PRINCE2 Foundation

In the UK, a PRINCE2 certification is considered the industry standard in project management. The  PRINCE2 Foundation  certification tests your knowledge of  the PRINCE2 principles, practices, processes, and terminology of the PRINCE2 methodology .AWARDS

The certification is ideal for anyone who is new to project management making it a popular choice for employers and new project managers alike.We don’t go seeking awards, but here are two of the awards we have received for our training.

The PRINCE2 Foundation certificate is by far the most common project management certification in the UK.

To gain your PRINCE2 Foundation certificate, the typical learning path is to take PRINCE2 Foundation training Request a quote which takes 2 days, or 20 hours if studying online.

PRINCE2 Agile Foundation

In the UK, PRINCE2 Agile certifications are becoming increasingly popular as more projects operate within an agile environment.

PRINCE2 Agile Foundation certification is like PRINCE2 Foundation, except that it is aimed at people working in agile environments. The exam tests you on your knowledge of the core PRINCE2 methodology and agile concepts and terminology.

To gain your PRINCE2 Agile Foundation certification, the typical learning path is +44 (0)207 148 5985PRINCE2 Agile Foundation training which takes 2 days, or 12 hours if studying online.[email protected]

AgilePM Foundation

Another UK certification which is suitable if you are working primarily in an agile environment is the AgilePM Foundation certification from the Agile Business Consortium. This is the most popular agile project management certification in the world, not just in the UK.

AgilePM is based upon DSDM, one of the first agile methodologies, and for this certification you are assessed on your knowledge of the underlying agile project framework.

To gain your AgilePM Foundation certification, the typical learning path is AgilePM Foundation training which takes 3 days, or 20 hours if studying online.

PMI CAPM

The Project Management Institute offers the United KingdomCertified Associate in Project Management  (CAPM)® certification. This certificate tests your knowledge of the fundamentals of project management and common project terminology.

Eligibility for this certification requires that you already possess a secondary degree and requires that you attain at least 23 hours of project management education completed before the exam. This certificate needs to be renewed every 5 years.

It should be noted that the CAPM certification is mostly popular in the USA, Canada, Africa, and Asia, rather than the UK.

To gain your CAPM certificate, a typical learning path is CAPM training which takes 35 hours of online study.Search

Intermediate project management certifications

Intermediate project certifications usually have some entry requirements. We’ll start with the easiest and make our way up to the hardest.

Intermediate certifications require that you have a more detailed understanding of what project management is all about. These certifications test you on your ability to apply project management principles, practices, and techniques to life-like project scenarios.

APM PMQ

The Association for Project Management offers the  Project Management QualificationUnited Kingdom which tests whether you have a deeper understanding of project management. The AustriaAPM PMQBelgium certification is usually taken by students having a few years’ experience of project management.Bulgaria

There is no prerequisite for this certification, so you do not need to hold the APM PFQ certificate already.Croatia

To gain your APM PMQ certificate, the typical learning path is CyprusAPM PMQ trainingCzech Republic which takes 5 days, or 35 hours if studying online.Denmark

Expert project management certificationsIntroduction

There aren’t a lot of certifications more difficult than those already mentioned. If you want to work as a project manager or are already employed in a project manager, an intermediate certificate will be all you’ll ever need.Definition of change management

The following certification tests your in-depth knowledge of project management but is really only valuable if you are already an expert with many years’ experience.Change management

APM ChPP is the act of transitioning an organisation from an existing situation (or current state) to a situation providing more desirable outcomes (a future state). It requires teamwork, hard work, and best practise change management tools and processes to reach the future state.

The APM’s own Project Management Chartered Standard (ChPP) examination similarly takes place over 3 days. In the first 2 days you’ll be given coaching by a ChPP professional and get your paperwork in order. On the final day, interviewed a board and will have to provide comprehensive documentation of your work over the past several years.Applying change in organisations requires optimism, determination and dedication. Therefore, a person must oversee the change strategy and be able to drive it to its proper destination. That person is the change manager.

The board will be looking to see that you’ve not only encountered several setbacks in your project management career, but that you’ve also overcome these challenges with a little ingenuity and out-the-box thinking.Many change managers learn the key change management tools and techniques by attending one of these professional

Conclusionchange management courses

This list of the top project management certifications is by no means complete. There are other project management accreditations out there, these just happen to be the most widely recognized certifications in the UK and EU.. In the UK, the most popular of these are the

No matter how much experience you have, or what you’re looking for a project management certification, there’s likely a certificate out there.APMG change management

If you you’d like to gain any of the certifications listed in this article, why not look at some of the courses.project management certification coursesEnhance your skills with our expert-led courses offered by Knowledge Train.