Microsoft Project Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in Microsoft Project, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have many questions about which certificates can help you get hired. What certificates are available for Microsoft Project? What certificates are recommended for aspiring Project Managers? This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path towards a Microsoft Project certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is the project management software in the Microsoft Office suite of programs. Microsoft Project is the world's most widely-used project management software and has been since its release. MS Project currently has around a 66% project management software market share. Proficiency in Microsoft Project is a must-have skill for aspiring Project Managers. 

Project management is a booming field: the number of Project Manager jobs is expected to increase by over 33% over the next five years. The Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that over 22 million new project management jobs will be created by 2027. Project management is growing rapidly because more companies recognize the need for professional help managing projects. However, there are already more Project Manager positions than employees trained in project management. 

Microsoft Project assists Project Managers in prioritizing tasks, defining expectations, delegating tasks, tracking and managing resources, creating and tracking budgets, and sharing calendars with your team. Project also includes project management methodology tools, such as kanban boards and Gantt charts. Some of Project’s major features include tools for project planning, communication and collaboration, progress tracking and reporting, roadmaps for project tracking, financial management and timesheets, and resource management. 

Project is fully integrated with Microsoft Teams, allowing team members to share files, attend meetings, and chat easily. Its scheduling features are automatic, which can help teams stay on track with less direct supervision from the Project Manager. Project also incorporates the cutting-edge Microsoft Power BI dashboard, allowing project teams to visualize and analyze data in real-time. 

While Microsoft Project may seem easy to learn because of its familiar Microsoft Office interface, you will need to learn its advanced features to use it effectively. Senior Project Managers praise its power to manage multiple complex projects. Developing your ability to manage complex projects is the key to a successful career in project management. 

One of the biggest advantages of Microsoft Project is its full integration with other Microsoft Office programs. Microsoft Office is the most widely-used software suite in the world. If you’re serious about pursuing project management as a career, you’ll want to consider training in the entire suite of programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

Read more about what Microsoft Project is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Microsoft Project?

Project management is a hot career path: the Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that over 22 million new Project Manager jobs will be created by 2027. Even without this 33% increase in job positions, there is already a significant talent gap in project management, with more companies seeking Project Managers than qualified candidates. 

Another perk of a career in project management is a high salary: the average salary for a Project Manager is around $116,000 annually. That is more than double the national average of approximately $50,000 across all occupations. Training in project management could lead to a lucrative career. 

Project Managers need to have many skills, including soft skills such as communication, leadership, and time management. Project Managers will also need to have advanced skills using Microsoft Project, the world’s most widely-used project management software tool, for decades. 

Microsoft Project is the industry standard for managing complex and multiple projects. Its powerful project management features include interactive dashboards for project monitoring, integrated project timeline, task prioritization and delegation, team dashboard, report generation, resource tracking and management, and the Master Project Plan for managing multiple projects.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

For a certification, one must typically take an exam administered by a third party to demonstrate mastery of the topic. For example, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers project management certifications, and Microsoft offers certifications in some of its programs. 

Certificates are typically completion-based programs: you complete a program of study and earn a certificate demonstrating mastery. 

Top Certifications & Certificates for Microsoft Project

From 2013-2019, Microsoft offered certification in Microsoft Project. It was a prevalent certification option for Project Managers. Microsoft has said as recently as 2022 that it has no plans to relaunch the certification. 

A great alternative to MS Project certification is a certificate. For example, NYIM offers two levels of Microsoft Project training. Each comes with a Certificate of Completion, which is shareable on Linkedin or can be included in a Project Manager portfolio to demonstrate that you’ve mastered Microsoft Project. 

In Microsoft Project Level I, students are guided through hands-on, real-world projects to master the fundamentals of Project. Topics include getting started with Project, project definition, task creation and organization, resource management, and finalizing a project plan. In Microsoft Project Level II, students gain more advanced mastery of Microsoft Project, including executing a project, project progress monitoring, controlling a project plan, progress reports, and advanced customization features. 

Aspiring Project Managers must demonstrate their knowledge of project management theories and practices to get hired. Pursuing a certified project management education and professional certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the fastest ways to launch a new career as a Project Manager. 

PMI offers professional certification for aspiring and entry-level Project Managers: the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). To sit for the certified exam, applicants must demonstrate that they’ve completed hours in project management education. One great way to meet this qualification is by taking a project management bootcamp.

Noble Desktop offers a Project Management Bootcamp, conducted either live online or at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. This bootcamp is excellent for those who want to pursue a career in project management and provides career training and comprehensive education in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). A PMP-Certified Project Manager guides students through hands-on, real-world projects to develop knowledge of the Project LifeCycle, project selection, project scope, resource management, managing project teams, cost calculations, risk management, communication, and project closure. Graduates earn a verifiable digital certificate in project management. 

You will be eligible to sit for professional certification, such as the entry-level CAPM when you have accrued some hours of project management education. Noble Desktop offers a CAPM Certification Bootcamp designed to help graduates pass the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. A PMP-Certified instructor mentors students through the application process. This bootcamp also includes a proprietary exam prep guide, video lessons, and live project-based training. In addition to being eligible to take PMI’s certification exam, graduates earn a verified digital Certificate of Completion.

Project management professionals with experience leading projects may want to consider PMP certification. PMI offers the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, considered the industry's gold standard. PMI reports that PMP-Certified Project Managers earn around 25% more than uncertified Project Managers. Noble Desktop offers a PMP-Certification Bootcamp, which prepares students to pass the PMP Certificate Exam. Students are mentored by a PMP-Certified instructor throughout the process and receive an exam prep guide and video lessons. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion, which is shareable on Linkedin.

Another certification option is through Microsoft. Although Microsoft has retired its Project Certification, it still offers certifications in other Office programs. NYIM offers courses designed to help students pass Microsoft’s most popular certification exams, including the Excel Specialist Certification Program, PowerPoint Specialist Certification Program, Word Specialist Certification Program, and Access Specialist Certification Program. These programs include group courses, private instruction, lifetime access to video curriculum, exam fees, and a free retake option for the certification exam. Those who wish to demonstrate mastery of the entire Microsoft Office family of products might consider the Microsoft Master Certification Program with Access or the Microsoft Master Certification Program with Outlook. 

Should I Get Certified in Microsoft Project?

Since Microsoft retired its Project Certification in 2019, there’s been no official certifications in Microsoft Project. However, if you are an aspiring Project Manager, you will want to seek a certificate in Project Management, such as the one provided for completing Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp. A Certificate will demonstrate to potential employers that you have training in using Microsoft Project to manage projects.

You may also consider pursuing certificates in Microsoft Office or other programs, as many Project Managers eventually seek professional certification.

How to Get Certified in Microsoft Project

The best way to get certified in Microsoft Project is to complete a training course with a Certificate, such as the certificates earned in NYIM’s Microsoft Project courses. You’ll be able to easily demonstrate your mastery of the program on your Linkedin profile or your Project Manager resume.

Learn Microsoft Project with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re an aspiring Project Manager, you’ll need to train in Microsoft Project. NYIM is a business, design, and coding school based in NYC. They offer tech courses and bootcamps both live online or at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. 

All of NYIM’s courses have guaranteed small class sizes and are taught by instructors who are experts in their industry. NYIM uses a unique hands-on approach in which instructors give a “micro-lecture” and then immediately guide students through applying what they learned using real-world projects. Graduates can take advantage of NYIM’s “free retake” option, which allows them to retake the course for free for up to one year to refresh or further develop skills. 

Live online courses are a great option if you don’t live in the NYC area. Because the class is happening live, it works exactly like an in-person class: you’ll be able to ask questions, interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time, and even receive direct feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. 

NYIM offers many options for learning Microsoft Project and the other programs in the Microsoft Office suite. In their Microsoft Project Level I course, students learn essential project management concepts and the fundamentals of using Microsoft Project to manage projects. Some of the Project skills that graduates will develop include defining projects, creating and organizing tasks, analyzing task relationships, creating a work breakdown structure, creating a resource calendar, resource management, creating baselines, sharing project plans, and finalizing project plans. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion, which is sharable on Linkedin and your Project Manager Resume. 

NYIM’s Microsoft Project Level II covers more advanced techniques, including managing multiple projects. Instructors guide students through hands-on projects to develop skills using Microsoft Project to execute a project, monitor progress, control a project plan, create progress reports, and use advanced customized features. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to share on their Project Manager resume or Linkedin. 

If you want to study project management or pursue project management education hours toward CAPM Certification, you should consider a course like Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp. A PMP-Certified instructor trains students in project management theories and methodologies to help them launch a new career as Project Managers. Topics covered include the Project Management LifeCycle, project scope, project planning, resource management, risk management, financial management, team management, and becoming a professional Project Manager.

Key Insights

• Certifications require passing an exam administered by a third party.
• Certificates are completion-based and earned after completing training.
• Microsoft has retired its MS Project certification, so you want to pursue a certificate.
• You can receive comprehensive Microsoft Project training and a certificate through an in-person or live online course with NYIM.