With so much revolution going on in the working culture around the world, individuals and organizations are rethinking ways to deliver value to consumers. One of the most effective ways for project professionals is by earning project management certifications, while for employers, it’s hiring these qualified professionals.
According to PMI, employers will need nearly 88 million project management-oriented professionals by the end of this decade, with India and China representing more than 75% of that demand. This means, in the context of project management, pursuing a project management certification is not a choice but a necessity to get a sharp edge over your competitors.
But with so many available courses, from the gold standard PMP Certification to the agile-focused CSM and PMI-ACP, which one should you really choose? In this guide, we’ll explore the top project management certifications for 2026, what makes each one important to be included in the list, and how they can help you stay ahead in your career. Read Along!
What is a Project Management Certification?
The certification in project management is a professional qualification that serves as a stamp certifying the knowledge and skills possessed by an individual concerning managing projects. It usually entails doing a regimented course, passing an examination, and sometimes meeting some workplace requirements.
But is a certification worth it? Well, it depends. Standard project management certifications can also help your career by proving that you have the necessary skills and knowledge. Moreover, they often provide much better employment opportunities, higher salary rates, and also career progression. If you are looking to develop in strategic management and prove your abilities, including soft skills and technical expertise, being certified could be a perfect solution for you.
Best Project Management Certifications for 2026
Project Management certifications have stayed at the top of every sector, especially in the IT and Tech sector,s for the past few years. This proves that project managers play a vital role in all kinds of operations and industries.
Additionally, we have done some detailed research on the most popular job portals and with certain Project Management employers. Certainly, PMP Certification is the most favorite and popular amongst the many available Project Management Certifications.
Some of the other popular Project management certifications are CAPM, Program Management Professional (PgMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner. Follow this section as we explain which of the certifications stand out and why.
1. Project Management Professional Certification (PMP Certification)
PMI (Project Management Institute), which is a US-based organization, provides a catalog of Project Management Certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA), PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP), PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP), and the most popular PMI Project Management for Professionals (PMP).
Moreover, PMI standards are very rigorous, and certification like PMP is one of the toughest examinations. They verify if the aspirants hold credentials and meet the required educational skills very thoroughly. Although the PMP exam can be cleared in the first attempt, it would take you dedicated study, especially of the domain knowledge areas, to do so.
Accreditation Body: Project Management Institute
Prerequisite skills:
4-year degree, 4,500 hours in leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education.
OR
Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or equivalent), 7,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education.
PMP Certification Cost per exam
Paper-based and computer-based exams:
PMI member: ₹24708 (retake $275)
Non-member: ₹50025 (retake $375)
Out of all these trending certifications, the Project Management Professional certification is the most trending and popular course in the Project Management field.
What’s More…
It is an all-around recognized Certification for Project Managers. It is said to be the Gold Standard of Project Management. There are 1.5 million PMP Certified Managers around the world. Additionally, PMP Certification Training shows the experience, ability, and competency required to lead and direct projects. Also, PMP is the most sought-after course directed by the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA. This Certification encourages people to comprehend the functionalities of Project Management and a more extensive skyline.
However, becoming a PMP Certified is time-consuming, a bit complicated, and expensive, but it comes with a high level of commitment as well in the Project Management Profession. So, having a PMP certification will give you a good edge over non-certified project managers as well as add a certain level of prestige and access to jobs with higher salaries. As a fact, PMP Certified individuals get an average of a 33% hike in their salary. It takes around 3-6 months to fully prepare for the PMP exam. It is important to attend 35 hours of PMP Certification Training before you take your PMP Exam.
Furthermore, a PMP credential shapes you as a proficient Project Manager; however, that relies upon how genuinely you take up your course and training. A Project Manager needs to deal with a great set of tasks and handle every single perspective of the project. Also, undertaking projects may require preparing others and assessing colleagues, and sometimes even ground workers. There are innumerable advantages of a PMP Certification as it is not restricted to a particular field. It is your stepping stone to new markets, new industries, and even new countries. PMP is indeed one of the best project management certifications.
2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
If you’re looking for a certification that could give you entry into the project management field, look nowhere else. Because CAPM is the right choice that you can make. This credential will distinguish you in the job market and enhance your credibility related to managing projects. CAPM (Certified Associate of Project Management) is the entry-level Project Management certification, and you can call it the stepping stone for the PMP Certification. (Although it is not mandatory for the PMP Exam).
Moreover, it demonstrates your understanding of the fundamental knowledge, terminology, and processes of effective project management, like project risk assessment and project communication management. One of the silver linings is that CAPM is valid for five years and doesn’t require any Professional Development Units (PDUs) to be renewed.
Accreditation Body: Project Management Institute
CAPM Examination Cost
Computer- or paper-based exams:
PMI member: ₹13746 (retake $150)
Non-member: ₹18270 (retake $200)
The exam is available in online proctored or center-based test (CBT) formats.
Exam administered by Pearson VUE.
Requirements: High-school diploma, associate degree or equivalent, and at least 1,500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of project management education.
You can take the training of this project management certification online. This can help you save your time, energy, and money. You can find the CAPM exam prep course training on the PMI portal also. They provide an on-demand CAPM exam prep online course that will fulfil the requirement of project management education.
3. Program Management Professional (PgMP)
PMI is one of the finest certification providers for every project professional. Now, it has a catalog of courses, from beginners to advanced and across project methodologies. The PgMP Certification is one such advanced and esteemed project management certification. It is meant for professionals managing multiple projects within the same organization and under the same business objectives.
If you tick the eligibility criteria, the PgMP Certification can help you validate your advanced skills, experience, and performance. The Certification is the official stamp that will ensure that employers recognize your contribution in bringing more successful projects under the same vision. It also displays your dedication and commitment to the profession as pursuing a course at an advanced stage of your career is in itself quite impressive.
Here are some information snippets to help make up your mind;
Accreditation Body: Project Management Institute
PgMP Prerequisite skills:
To apply for the PgMP certification, you must meet one of the following sets of criteria:
Set A:
A four-year degree (Bachelor’s or global equivalent)
48 months of project management experience (or PMP certification)
48 months (4 years) of program management experience within the last 15 years
Set B:
A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or equivalent)
48 months of project management experience (or PMP certification)
84 months (7 years) of program management experience within the last 15 years
PgMP Certification Exam Cost:
The fees for the PgMP Exam vary due to the PMI membership.
PMI Member Price: ₹48720
Full Price: ₹60900
(Note: Prices may vary slightly based on currency exchange rates and location.)
The PgMP certification helps distinguish you as a senior-level program manager who can manage complexity, ensure governance, and achieve strategic benefits for the organization. It also strengthens your leadership profile and opens doors to senior roles such as Program Director, Portfolio Manager, or PMO Head.
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
A lot of organizations adopt Agile methodologies as it has become more popular, and a lot of Project management practitioners are qualified to manage Agile environments.
Although there are a lot of Scrum Master certifications that are available the most popular among those is ScrumMaster (CSM) from the Scrum Alliance. In addition, the current organization promotes a large number of groups, communities, and resources for professional development.
Moreover, some of the certifications include Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM), and Certified Scrum Professional – Scrum Master (CSP-SM).
Accreditation Body: Scrum Alliance
Prerequisites/required courses: General familiarity with Scrum
Certification Cost:
Completion of a two-day CSM training course (price varies by training provider; candidates can expect to pay $920 to $1,295)
5. Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)
This specific certification is directly provided by the PMI. It adopts Agile project management and also supports the development of skills related to the use of agile methodology for managing projects.
In regard to this course, you will receive an in-depth guide on all the Agile practices like Kanban and Scrum, and learn about software development, extreme programming, and its use; Moreover, PMI ACP teaches how one can implement the same. The coursework is most suitable for agile organizations and teams. Also, it includes many training modules that educate the person on how to implement Agile practices and the Scrum framework.
Accreditation Body: Project Management Institute
Prerequisite skills:
- A diploma or a two-year degree.
- Not less than 2000 hours in project management.
- Eight long months of previous work with Agile teams or companies.
- Twenty-one hours of agile practice training is a good amount.
6. Prince2 Foundation and Practitioner Course
Employers value the PRINCE2 project management certificates a lot. Specifically tailored as project management certifications for beginners, PRINCE2 offers two accessible levels: Foundation and Practitioner.
Your entry point is the PRINCE2 Foundation. This introductory class lays down a sound foundation of understanding for the PRINCE2 methodology, its principles, processes, and also PM roles.
Furthermore, after learning the fundamentals, the PRINCE2 Practitioner advances their project management knowledge to a higher level. It aims at enabling you to learn the best methods on how PRINCE2 can be used for particular projects and develop your confidence in being able to employ it in actual situations.
Moreover, the Foundation exam tests your knowledge of PRINCE2 theory, checking whether you understand all its main ideas and principles.
On the other hand, the Practitioner exam measures how well you can apply PRINCE2 in real-life projects. It has many cases to view how you will use the PRINCE2 principles in practice. These tests are essential qualifying criteria to measure your understanding of the PRINCE2’s theoretical knowledge and its practical use for advanced development skills in test-driven.
Accreditation Body: Axelos
Prerequisite skills: There is no prerequisite for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification Exam. While a PRINCE2 Practitioner requires one of the following: • PRINCE2 Foundation; Project Management Professional (PMP); the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or IPMA certification.
Certification exam per cost:
The cost of the PRINCE2 Foundation exam is usually around $300 to $500, with that of the Practitioner test being between about $400. These costs may vary concerning the location and training organization that provides such courses.
Conclusion
Certifications are becoming powerful for a resume if you can combine them with experience. In that case, you can prove your learned knowledge combined with hands-on experience. You can choose any of the above-stated project management certifications if your interest matches and you check the said standard eligibility criteria. The ultimate goal is to upskill and stay relevant in your profession for your growth.
FAQs
- Which Certification is best for project management?
Since it’s not a race, no one certification can win. All the certifications serve various individuals well, depending on the skill set and industry type. Having said that, PMP Certification does take the cake in terms of its popularity and career benefits. - Is PMP better or PRINCE2?
Both are excellent and are suited to different individuals and regions. PMP is more globally recognized and focuses on skills across project industries, while PRINCE2 is structured and widely used in government and UK-based projects.
- What is the difference between PMP and PMI?
PMI is the professional organization that sets standards in project management certifications. PMP is a certification offered by PMI that validates your project management experience and knowledge. - Which Study Material is the best for PMP?
The PMBOK Guide is essential for understanding standards, and Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Prep offers practical tips and exam-style questions. Combining both works best. Just to Flex, ProThoughts is the official partner that provides Rita Mulcahy’s premium study materials. - Can I skip CAPM and go for PMP?
Yes, CAPM is an optional route. You can go straight to PMP if you have the required project management experience and education hours.
