By Quick answer: Which project management certifications get you hired in 2027?
- Project manager — PMP.
- Coordinator — CAPM.
- Scrum Master — CSM or PSM I.
- Agile PM — PMI-ACP.
Key takeaways
- PMP is the credential most often named in project manager posts.
- Scrum Master posts accept CSM or PSM I.
- Quantify one project outcome on your résumé.
Project manager job posts often name a credential outright: 'PMP preferred' is one of the most common lines in the field. These five certifications match the titles you'll apply for, from coordinator to project manager and Scrum Master.
The top 5 at a glance
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 | Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Scrum Alliance | Included in a 2-day course price3 | 16-hour course, then a 50-question test | Free test |
| 4 | PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)PMI | $435 PMI members / $495 non-members4 | 180 minutes, 120 questions | Free test |
| 5 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page5 | Check issuer | 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 →
- CSM Practice TestPractise for Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) before you pay.Start free test →
- PMI-ACP Practice ExamPractise for PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and the job post it matches
- PMIPMP – Project Management ProfessionalProject manager roles$425 PMI members / $675 non-members
- PMICAPM – Certified Associate in Project ManagementCoordinator and junior PM roles$225 PMI members / $300 non-members
- Scrum AllianceCertified ScrumMaster (CSM)Scrum Master rolesIncluded in a 2-day course price
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
The credential most often named in project manager posts. Needs 3–5 years leading projects; $425 PMI members, $675 non-members. 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 forproject manager roles
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
Fits project coordinator and junior PM roles. $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 forcoordinator and junior PM roles
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Cost
- Included in a 2-day course price3
- Format
- 16-hour course, then a 50-question test
Named in many Scrum Master posts. Earned through a two-day course and a 50-question test. Scrum Alliance's Certified ScrumMaster is earned through a 16-hour, trainer-led course and a 50-question test. The price is set by the trainer, it renews every two years, and it's widely named in Scrum Master posts.
Best forScrum Master roles
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
- Cost
- $435 PMI members / $495 non-members4
- Format
- 180 minutes, 120 questions
- Entry
- 2+ years of experience and 21 hours of agile training
Fits agile project manager roles. Needs two or more years of experience. PMI's agile credential is a 180-minute, 120-question exam covering several agile approaches. It needs two or more years of experience and 21 hours of agile training and costs $435 for PMI members or $495.
Best foragile PM roles
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page5
Scrum.org's exam-only Scrum Master credential, accepted alongside CSM in many posts. 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 forScrum Master roles
Résumé lines that pass PM screens
- Exact names — 'Project Management Professional (PMP)'.
- Scale — budget, team size, duration.
- Outcome — 'Delivered a 9-month CRM rollout 3 weeks early'.
- Tools — Jira, MS Project, Asana.
How we ranked these picks
We chose the PM and agile certifications most often named in project and Scrum Master job posts. Fees, formats and prerequisites come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which project management certification is best for getting a job?
PMP for project manager roles; CAPM if you don't yet qualify for PMP.
Is PMP required for project manager jobs?
Not always, but many posts list it as preferred or required, especially in large companies.
CSM or PSM I for jobs?
Both are widely accepted. CSM includes a course; PSM I is exam-only.
Can freshers get project management jobs?
Usually as project coordinators. CAPM or Google PM plus organisational experience helps.
Is there a free PMP practice test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free PMP, CAPM and Scrum practice tests with instant results.
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 Alliance — Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), 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
- Best Project Management Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 agile and Scrum certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones agile job posts nameThe top 5 agile and Scrum certifications to get hired in 2027: Certified ScrumMaster, PSM I, PMI-ACP, PMP and ITIL 4, matched to agile job titles.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 HR certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones HR job posts nameThe top 5 HR certifications to get hired in 2027: SHRM-CP, PHR, Google Data Analytics, Google Project Management and AI for Business, matched to HR roles.
- 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 2027Top 5 finance certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones finance job posts nameThe top 5 finance certifications to get hired in 2027: CFA, FRM, CFI FMVA, Microsoft PL-300 and CISA, matched to investment, risk, FP&A and audit roles.
- 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.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 certifications for project managers in 2027: PMI, agile, AI and specialistThe top 10 certifications for project managers in 2027: PMP, PMI-ACP, PSM I, CSM, CAPM, ITIL 4, Six Sigma, AI for Business, GenAI Leader and PL-300.
Get the ideas, not the noise.
Sign up with Google and we’ll send you short UX psychology tips by email — why people tap, stall and leave, and what to do about it. Unsubscribe anytime. Prefer something to keep? Get the free Laws of UX guide as a PDF.
Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
Start with the free PMP Practice Exam. 1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.