Introduction

While any project management certification is good to have, some are more specialized than others. It pays to know which project manager certification can be applied to your work, and which are tailored to suit specific industries or work environments. A PRINCE2 Agile certification for example, is aimed at those who already have a  PRINCE2 certification and what to adapt what they know to suit an Agile environment.

Every certification has a different purpose, different prerequisites, and tests different criteria. So, what you really must ask is: “What project management certification is best for me?”Finding project management jobs

What is the best project management certification for me?

A project manager certification can be put into one of three categories: beginner certification, intermediate certification and expert certification.Knowledge Train

A beginner certification is one that has no prerequisites (i.e. it requires no previous experience or knowledge). If you’re new to project management, or if you don’t have any other accreditation, you’ll want to start here.19 Feb 2026

An intermediate certification is a bit of a mixed bag. Some are just extensions of beginner certifications, while others are aimed at working professionals with at least a few months of project management experience. For this article, we’ll consider intermediate certifications as those that have some entry requirements but don’t require you to be an expert in project management.

Expert certifications are still rare. There are only a handful, and those that do exist are less of a learning opportunity and more a badge of excellence rewarded to project managers who take a keen interest in project management theory.Hunting project management jobs in the UK? Discover the best job sites to help you on your way. Scroll down for information on where to find project management jobs.

To gain your APM PFQ certificate, the typical learning path is to take 

 (CAPM)® certification. This certificate tests your knowledge of the fundamentals of project management and common project terminology.Knowledge Train

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.19 Feb 2026

To gain your CAPM certificate, a typical learning path is CAPM trainingIf you want your business to lead with purpose and change, our comprehensive guide will explain how sustainable project management can incorporate eco-friendly projects to make a difference. which takes 35 hours of online study.

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 Qualification  which tests whether you have a deeper understanding of project management. The Project management vs programme managementAPM PMQ  certification is usually taken by students having a few years’ experience of project management.Knowledge Train

There is no prerequisite for this certification, so you do not need to hold the APM PFQ certificate already.19 Feb 2026

To gain your APM PMQ certificate, the typical learning path is APM PMQ trainingDive into the differences between project and programme management to determine which is best suited for your organisation and can improve your project delivery. Read on to find out more. which takes 5 days, or 35 hours if studying online.

PRINCE2 Practitioner

A  PRINCE2 Practitioner

edition , the prerequisites for the Practitioner certification have changed. You must now hold one of the following certificates:

• PRINCE2 Foundation or PRINCE2 Practitioner (6 ^th edition)
• APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
• APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ)
• PMIHow APM qualifications can help your career^® Certified Associate in Project ManagementSimon Buehring
• PMI19 Feb 2026^® Project Management Professional (PMP)The Association for Project Management (APM), a leading UK educational charity, offers qualifications that boost your career at any stage. Read on to discover how these credentials can enhance your professional journey.^®
• IPMA ^® Levels A, B, C or D.

IPMA ^® is a registered trademark of IPMA in Switzerland and other countries.

PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner

PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner certification requires that you first hold either a PRINCE2 Foundation or PRINCE2 Agile Foundation certificate. It is only suitable if you work in an agile environment and want to apply the PRINCE2 framework. The exam tests you on your ability to apply PRINCE2 appropriately in an agile context.

To gain your PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner certification, the typical learning path is PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner training which takes 2 days, or 21 hours if studying online. Training can also be combined with the PRINCE2 Agile Foundation. In this case, training takes 4 days, or 33 hours if studying online.

AgilePM Practitioner

AgilePM Practitioner certification requires that you hold an AgilePM Foundation certificate. It is suitable if you want to apply the agile project framework on projects. AgilePM Practitioner is a popular choice for project managers working in an agile context.

To gain your AgilePM Practitioner certification, the typical learning path is AgilePM Practitioner training which takes 1 day, or 15 hours if studying online. Training can also be combined with the AgilePM Foundation in which case, it takes 4 days, or 35 hours if studying online.

CompTIA Project+

CompTIA offers some of the leading IT qualifications in the world. CompTIA Project+ ^® focuses on managing smaller, less complex projects within the IT industry. This certification tests student’s knowledge of the specific industry tools used for documentation and requirements analysis.

This certification has no prerequisites, but without the recommended 135 hours of IT project development experience, you might find yourself a bit lost.

PMI PMP

PMI’s  Project Management Professional  (PMP) ^®  certification is the most challenging one on this list. To be eligible for this certification you must have 3 years of project management experience and a 4-year college/university degree. Without a degree you require 5 years of project management experience. In both cases you also need at least 35 hours of project management education completed before the exam.Give us a call

The PMI PMP ^® exam covers every aspect of project management from your ability to plan projects to monitoring and controlling project tasks.+44 (0)207 148 5985

Maintaining your PMI PMP ^{®Or chat with us using the link at the bottom of the screen.} qualification requires you continuously accumulate Professional Development Units (PDUs), which are one-hour blocks of time that you spend learning, teaching others, or volunteering.Contact us with questions about the courses on this page, or about which project management certification or training is best for you.

If you want to gain your PMP certificate, a typical learning path is to take Finance FAQsPMP trainingContact which takes 35 hours of online study.Cookies

Expert project management certificationsPRINCE2

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.®

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., MSP

APM ChPP®

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., ITIL

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.®

Conclusion, P3O

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.®

No matter how much experience you have, or what you’re looking for a project management certification, there’s likely a certificate out there., PRINCE2

If you you’d like to gain any of the certifications listed in this article, why not look at some of the ®project management certification courses Agile, RESILIA offered by Knowledge Train.®