By Quick answer: Which certifications help you become a manager?
- Delivery — PMP or CAPM.
- Agile — PSM I.
- People — SHRM-CP.
- AI — AI for Business.
Key takeaways
- Management is learnt by doing; certifications speed it up.
- Show you can lead before the title.
- AI literacy is a new manager expectation.
Most people are promoted into management because they were good at the job before it. The skills of the new job (delivery, people, decisions) can be learnt. These seven certifications help.
Seven certifications for new managers
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members1 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 2 | CAPM – Certified Associate in Project ManagementPMI | $225 PMI members / $300 non-members2 | 180 minutes, 150 questions | Free test |
| 3 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page3 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 4 | Google Project Management Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan4 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 5 | SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)SHRM | Check the official page5 | 3-hour exam | Free test |
| 6 | AI for Business SpecializationWharton / Coursera | Coursera plan6 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 7 | Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan7 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- PMP Practice ExamPractise for PMP – Project Management Professional before you pay.Start free test →
- CAPM Practice ExamPractise for CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management before you pay.Start free test →
- PSM I Practice TestPractise for Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) before you pay.Start free test →
- Project Management Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Google Project Management Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and the management skill it builds
- PMIPMP – Project Management ProfessionalExperienced leads$425 PMI members / $675 non-members
- PMICAPM – Certified Associate in Project ManagementEarlier career$225 PMI members / $300 non-members
- Scrum.orgProfessional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Agile teamsCheck the official page
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members1
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
$425 PMI members, $675 non-members; needs project experience. PMI's Project Management Professional is a 240-minute, 180-question exam covering predictive, agile and hybrid approaches. It needs 3–5 years leading projects plus 35 hours of training and costs $425 for PMI members or $675.
Best forexperienced leads
CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management
- Cost
- $225 PMI members / $300 non-members2
- Format
- 180 minutes, 150 questions
- Entry
- Secondary diploma plus 23 hours of project management education
$225 members, $300 non-members. PMI's entry credential is a 180-minute, 150-question exam for people early in project roles. It needs a secondary diploma plus 23 hours of project management education and costs $225 for PMI members or $300.
Best forearlier career
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page3
Scrum.org's exam-only credential. Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master I is exam-only, with no course required, and it doesn't expire. Study the free Scrum Guide and practise before booking; check Scrum.org's page for the current fee.
Best foragile teams
Google Project Management Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan4
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Project basics, about six months. Google's professional certificate teaches traditional and agile project management for beginners, about six months at ten hours a week. It can meet CAPM's 23-hour education requirement, and financial aid is available.
Best forbasics
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
- Cost
- Check the official page5
- Format
- 3-hour exam
HR knowledge; check eligibility. SHRM's certification for HR professionals is a three-hour exam focused on competencies and HR knowledge. It's one of the two HR credentials job posts name most; check SHRM's page for eligibility and fees.
Best forpeople knowledge
AI for Business Specialization
- Cost
- Coursera plan6
Wharton's AI strategy. Wharton's specialization on Coursera covers AI strategy, data, ethics and organisational change in business terms. It suits managers and leaders planning AI adoption, and financial aid is available.
Best forleading AI change
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan7
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Data skills. Google's professional certificate teaches spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and R through case studies and ends with a portfolio capstone. It's designed for beginners, takes about six months at ten hours a week and offers financial aid on Coursera.
Best fordata decisions
Lead before the title
- Run a project — end to end.
- Mentor — a newer colleague.
- Report — share results with data.
How we ranked these picks
We chose certifications that build first-time management skills. Fees from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What certification helps become a manager?
PMP or CAPM plus a people-focused credential.
Do managers need certifications?
Not required; they help prove readiness.
Is PSM I useful for managers?
Yes for agile team leads.
Should new managers learn AI?
Yes; teams expect guidance on AI use.
Is there a free test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free management tests.
Sources
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Project Management Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- SHRM — SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Wharton — AI for Business Specialization, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
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- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top certifications for managers in 2027: eight for leading people, projects and AI changeThe 8 best certifications for managers in 2027: PMP, PSM I, AI for Business, GenAI Leader, SHRM-CP, Six Sigma, Google Data Analytics and AI Essentials.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The project management certification roadmap for 2027: from coordinator to programme leaderA project management certification roadmap for 2027: Google PM and CAPM, then PSM I or CSM, then PMP, then PMI-ACP, Six Sigma or AI for Business.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best project management certifications of 2027: ten from first project to programme leadThe 10 best project management certifications of 2027: PMP, CAPM, Google PM, PMI-ACP, CSM, PSM I, ITIL 4, Six Sigma and more, with verified fees.
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- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Agile and Scrum certifications for beginners: five best for 2027The 5 best agile and Scrum certifications for beginners in 2027: PSM I, Certified ScrumMaster, Google Project Management, CAPM and ITIL 4 Foundation.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027HR certifications for beginners: five best for 2027 if you're starting in human resourcesThe 5 best HR certifications for beginners in 2027: SHRM-CP, Google Project Management, Google Data Analytics, Google AI Essentials and HubSpot Inbound.
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