There are lots of ways to advance your product management career. You can:
- Read blogs
- Listen to podcasts
- Network
- Learn on the job
- Take courses
Or, you can save some time and learn from the experts. There are outstanding product management certifications out there that can help you level up.
Certifications are more than just a shiny badge for your LinkedIn profile; they’re a catalyst for growth. The best product management certification offers new perspectives, refines your skills, and connects you with like-minded pros.
Starting out? There’s a certification to lay your foundation.
Ready to climb higher? Pick one that polishes your strategic thinking.
Been in the game for years? Advanced certifications can still open new doors.
Let’s dive into the best product management certifications to help you stand out. It’s your ultimate guide to make an impact and truly move the needle in your career.
Note: some certifications require you to take a product management certification course. Others offer prep materials and require an exam to get certified. We’ll explore both kinds of certifications.
Foundational courses for new product managers
Starting a career in product management can seem overwhelming. However, there are foundational courses that can equip you with essential product management skills.
Digital product management from the University of Virginia (Coursera)
If you’re looking for a free option that doesn’t skimp on quality, check out the Digital Product Management on Coursera. This product management course covers modern digital product management techniques and teaches how to:
- Successfully manage a product
- Focus your work using modern product management methods
- Manage new products and explore new product ideas
- Manage and amplify existing products
Price: $39-$99/month (Coursera subscription)
Course duration: ~11 hours
Format: online, self-paced
Become a Product Manager | Learn the Skills & Get a Job
Who’s it for? People starting out in product management.
This Udemy course is a full guide for anyone new to product management. It teaches you:
- The basics of product management
- How to build and launch products
- Tips on getting a product manager job
It’s packed with lessons on everything a new PM needs to know – from planning to getting your first job in the field.
Price: $30/month (Udemy subscription)
Course duration: 13+ hours of video lessons + additional articles and resources
Format: online, self-paced
One Week PM
Who’s it for? Aspiring product managers looking for a quick start.
One Week PM from Product Manager HQ is an excellent starting point for aspiring product managers. This fast-paced course is designed to quickly immerse you in the key practices of product management. You’ll learn about:
- Conducting end-user research
- Creating a successful product roadmap
- Interviewing customers
It’s ideal if you’re eager to quickly apply your practical skills too.
Price: $350
Course duration: ~6 hours
Format: online, self-paced
Introduction to Product Management
Who’s it for? Complete beginners to product management.
Are you completely new to product management? Then Introduction to Product Management by Cognitir is your choice. It provides a thorough overview of the fundamentals. It’s structured to help beginners understand a product manager’s core concepts and responsibilities. And it sets a solid foundation for further learning and development.
Price: $33.25-$49/month
Course duration: 12 hours
Format: online, self-paced
Product Management Course by BrainStation
Who’s it for? Beginners wanting to start right in product management.
BrainStation offers an online product management course that covers all you need to kick off your PM career. It includes:
- Basics of product management
- How to work with teams to build products
- Learning to use data to make decisions
- Planning and launching products
Price: $3,250 or $290/month
Course duration: 10 weeks, part-time
Format: online; live
Product Management Certification from Product School
Who’s it for? Aspiring product managers.
This isn’t just any product management course. PMC from Product School is a deep dive with industry leaders from giants like Netflix and Google.
The goal of this program is to:
- Teach you about how to execute the daily tasks of a product manager
- Help you transition into your first formal product manager position
You’ll get your hands dirty with real-world case studies and interactive sessions that promise more than just theoretical knowledge. Picture yourself mastering product strategies and leadership skills that make hiring managers sit up and take notice.
The course culminates in a project where you’ll apply everything and craft a product from idea to launch. This project isn’t just homework. It’s a portfolio piece that shouts your readiness for the big leagues.
You get unlimited access to course materials and tools even after completion.
Join a community of over 15,000 alumni who are now at top firms like Google and Uber. This network is invaluable for landing your first PM job and beyond.
Price: $5,559 (interest-free installment plans or discounts available)
Course duration: ~1 week
Format: live online sessions; 2-month part-time course or 5-day full-time sprint
Core certifications for rising PMs
Ready to take your product management career to the next level? Check out these courses.
AIPMM Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner Credential
Who’s it for? Professionals at any level looking to excel in Agile product management roles.
This certification from Productside will arm you with:
- Comprehensive Agile methodologies and strategies
- Product leadership skills
- Nuances of being an effective product owner
Price: starting at $1500
Duration: ~4 days
Format: live online or self-paced
Note: AIPMM offers more certifications. Check out other options for product managers here.
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Who’s it for? Product managers with some Agile experience looking to master Scrum.
The CSPO certification by Scrum Alliance is all about maximizing the value of your product. It’ll teach you effective backlog management with Scrum. This course covers project management topics as well.
There’s no exam at the end of this product management program.
Price: $299-369
Course duration: ~2-3 days
Format: live online
Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO)
Who’s it for? This product manager certification from scrum.org is for aspiring product owners who work within the Scrum framework.
This professional certificate deeply explores Scrum, emphasizing the product owner’s role.
You’ll gain insights into:
- Value-driven product management
- Effective stakeholder communication
- Scrum mastery
Similar to the previous course, this will be useful for a project manager too.
To get certified, you need to pass a certification exam. You can either prepare on your own or take one of the courses from scrum.org.
Price: $200/exam attempt + $1000+ for a prep course
Course duration: ~2 days
Format: online or in-person
Pragmatic Institute Certification for Product Management
Who’s it for? Product managers looking to deepen their expertise.
The Pragmatic Institute offers this Product Management Certification. It’s designed for PMs who have a grasp of the basics and are looking to elevate their game. This program dives deep into the more advanced strategies and skills. There are various bundles that cover different topics, such as:
- Foundations (intro to product management)
- Focus (deep dive into strategies and roadmaps)
- Design (UX, UI, and more)
- Build (aligning product and development)
Check out different options here.
Price: $1,295+
Course duration: ~4-8 hours
Format: live online, self-paced, or in-person
New Product Development Certification
Who’s it for? PMs who want to get better at creating new products.
The PDMA offers a New Product Development Certification. It’s all about teaching you how to make new products from start to finish. This course is perfect if you want to learn:
- How to come up with new product ideas
- Ways to test and make your product better
- How to launch your product to the market
It’s great for PMs who already know the basics but want to get really good at making new products.
You need to pass an exam to get certified.
Price: $250 exam fee
Course duration: no dedicated course; study materials are available online
Format: online, self-paced
Product Management with Lean, Agile, and System Design Thinking
Who’s it for? PMs who want to use Lean and Agile methods better.
Boston University offers this course on edX. Students will learn:
- How to make products with less waste (Lean)
- How to manage projects that change often (Agile)
- Ways to design systems for better products
This course is good for PMs who know some basics and want to improve their product-making skills.
Price: $400 certificate fee
Course duration: 7 weeks, 4-8 hours a week
Format: online, seld-paced
Choosing this course means you’re looking to sharpen your skills with modern methods that many companies use. It’s for making your work as a PM more efficient and keeping up with new trends.
Advanced certifications for experienced product managers
Have you been in the product management game for a while? Then check out these advanced certifications. They can really help you up your game. They teach you about more complex product management topics.
Product strategy
Who’s it for? This course from Reforge targets product leaders managing a product work portfolio. This includes a senior product manager, group PM, director, and a head of product. It’s ideal for those shifting from execution to strategic roles.
Participants will:
- Evaluate product features
- Explore product-market fit (PMF) expansion
- Learn to scale products strategically
- Apply frameworks for building and executing product strategy
- Engage in live sessions for interactive learning and real-time feedback
The course emphasizes articulating and securing buy-in for your product strategy.
Price: $1,495
Duration: 4 weeks + live events scheduled over four sessions
Format: self-paced, online + live events + Slack channel
eCornell Product Management Certificate
Who’s it for? Experienced product managers who focus on leading tech and want to hone their skills.
Cornell University’s eCornell Product Management Certificate provides an Ivy League-level education. It’s tailored for product managers aiming to excel in the tech industry.
Participants will learn:
- Strategies for building tech products customers love
- Techniques for effective user research and data analysis to guide product decisions
- Leadership and communication skills
Price: $3,900 or $700/month
Course duration: 3 months (six 2-week courses)
Format: online, instructor-led
Product Strategy by Kellogg School of Management
Who’s it for? PMs ready for bigger strategy roles.
Kellogg’s Product Strategy course teaches you how to think big about your products. You’ll learn:
- How to plan long-term for your product
- Ways to understand and win over your market
- How to make decisions that guide your product to success
It’s perfect for PMs who have been in the game for a while and are looking to lead with big ideas.
Price: $2,850
Course duration: 2 months, ~4-6 hours each week
Format: online, mix of live and self-paced
How to choose a product management certification
Having too many options gets overwhelming. When picking a product management certificate program, consider these points for a perfect match.
- Program structure. Choose between online, in-person, or hybrid formats based on what fits your lifestyle and learning preferences best.
- Course Content. Look for courses that cover the skills you need or areas you’re passionate about. The content should help fill your knowledge gaps.
- Specialization options. Some certifications offer specialized tracks. If you’re interested in a niche like digital products or AI, find a course that dives deep into these areas.
- Duration. Courses can range from a few days to several months. Consider how much time you can commit to learning without overstretching yourself.
- Alignment with career goals. Ensure the certification aligns with your career aspirations. Are you aiming for a promotion? Planning to switch industries? Want to refine your expertise? Choose a certification that propels you toward those goals.
Conclusion: why you need a product management certificate
If you’re still wondering why you need a certification, here’s a quick answer. It can help you get ahead faster. You can learn on your own, or you can fast-track your career. Lots of organizations recognize and value the certified product manager credential. Also, courses that prepare you for these certificates are valuable and contain unique insights. You’ll get to learn from top industry leaders and explore real-world examples.
There are lots of ways to learn and advance your career. We hope this guide to product management certifications will inspire you to keep learning.
Take a look at our guide to the top product management platforms for some more actionable tips on working in product.
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