How to Learn Project Management Online

If you’re just starting to learn a new skill, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; learning project management is no different.You’ll find a lot of resources for learning project management online, from blogs and courses to free videos and certificate programs.

Project management is the field of managing projects successfully. A Project Manager oversees projects, including planning, executing, monitoring, and completing. If you’ve always wanted to learn project management, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes, your options are outlined here so you can decide how to learn in a way that works best for you.

What is Project Management?

Project management describes the process of managing the successful completion of a project. A Project Manager guides a project through the different stages of what is known as “The Project LifeCycle,” which comprises five stages: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. A Project Manager’s most important goal is ensuring that a project is completed on time and under budget.

A Project Manager is responsible for creating a project plan to establish project goals and deadlines, delegating tasks to team members, motivating team members to meet deadlines, risk management, communicating with upper management, and resource management. Experts in Project Management estimate that around 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating. Soft skills such as communication, leadership, time management, and budgeting are required in Project Management.

Project management as a field is defined by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) created by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which outlines best practices, methodologies, and processes for professional Project Managers. Aspiring Project Managers will want to seek out training in PMBOK as well as experience in managing real-world projects.

Project management is a hot career path that is expected to add over 22 million jobs by 2027. In addition to this booming job growth, Project Managers earn lucrative, six-figure salaries. The average salary for a Project Manager is around $115,000 annually. That’s more than double the national average across all occupations.

Read more about what project management is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Project Management?

There are no limits on what can be done with project management skills. Project management is a versatile career path as Project Managers are needed in every industry and in various roles. You could continue to work in the same industry even after completing your training in Project Management.

Some Project Managers work for companies on specific projects or as part of a project team. Some Project Managers work as freelancers or consultants who assist clients on specific projects.

Project management is a very hot career path because the Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that Project Management will increase by 33%, with 22 million new Project Manager jobs created by 2027. A significant number of Senior Project Managers are expected to retire, leading to even more job openings for those with training in Project Management.

Many of the essential skills in project management are soft skills, including communication, leadership, management ability, time management, delegation, conflict resolution, and multitasking. Project management experts estimate that around 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating. Aspiring Project Managers should have impeccable communication skills and well-developed leadership skills.

Project managers often specialize in a particular industry, such as IT, healthcare, or construction. Skills already acquired in these industries could be combined with project management training for a new career within your industry.

Live Online Project Management Training

You’ll need to find the right course near your home to take an in-person project management course. Finding the right course to launch your new career can be tricky, especially if you’re limited by location. One major advantage of online training is that you can train from anywhere, even in your own living room.

Live online courses work exactly like in-person courses: because they’re happening live, you’ll be able to interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You’ll have the ability to ask questions. You can even get hands-on, personal feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. Live online training provides all of the perks of in-person training with the added bonus of being able to take it from anywhere: even your own bedroom.

If you’re open to taking advantage of all that live online classes have to offer, then your training options will become much more extensive. For example, Noble Desktop offers live online project management classes taught by PMP-certified instructors who are experts in Project Management. Noble Desktop offers guaranteed small class sizes and a free retake option, allowing you to retake the course for up to one year. Their Project Management Bootcamp provides students with comprehensive training in starting a new career as a Project Manager. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to include on their Project Manager resume or portfolio.

On-Demand Project Management Classes

On-demand Project Management classes are great for beginners who want to learn the basics before fully committing to a career. Many free on-demand course options allow you to begin exploring your interest in project management without any financial commitment. There are also more intensive paid on-demand programs, such as Google’s 6-month Project Management Certificate Program.

On-demand courses offer greater schedule flexibility than live courses because they are entirely self-directed. You choose when you want to learn rather than attending a live course with an instructor and classmates. You’ll be learning independently but entirely at your own pace. In on-demand courses, students typically watch videos and complete assignments on their own time. You must be very self-disciplined to continue training with on-demand courses since there is no one to keep you accountable.

One drawback to on-demand courses is that you cannot interact with your instructor and ask questions. Another potential drawback is that you must be capable of teaching yourself the material. You’ll also want to ensure that any on-demand course you choose is recognized within the field of project management. If it’s not, you might have difficulty getting hired despite your time and financial investment.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

Suppose you’d like to dip your toes into project management but are not quite ready to commit to an entire course. In that case, Noble Desktop offers free live online seminars which provide a sneak peek of their highly-reviewed, hands-on approach to live online instruction. These seminars allow you to see if project management interests you without fully committing to the career.

Microsoft Office proficiency is the most-requested hard skill for entry-level Project Managers.

Noble Desktop offers a free online Top 10 Beginner Tricks for Microsoft Excel That You Need To Know, which is recommended for aspiring Project Managers. One of the most critical responsibilities of a Project Manager is making sure that projects are completed on budget. For aspiring Project Managers, sound financial planning skills and Microsoft Office proficiency are required.

Another option would be Udemy, which offers short, online project management courses for a fee. Some popular Project Management courses offered on Udemy include Project Management Fundamentals, Lean Project Management, and Project Management with MS Project. However, all of these courses have a fee, so you won’t be able to learn about project management for free.

Read about more free project management videos and online tutorials.

Comparing Online Learning with In-Person Learning

When it comes to job training, in-person learning is the most traditional approach. However, online learning has caught up, especially considering all of the advantages of live online classes.

If you’re committed to in-person training, you’ll need to make sure there is an option for project management in your local area. If you’re in a major city, this might be easier. However, options for Project Management training elsewhere may be slim. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool to discover in-person Project Management courses in your area.

Just because there isn’t an in-person course in your area doesn’t mean you can’t train in project management. Live online courses work exactly like in-person courses and offer many of the same advantages as in-person classes. Since the class is happening live, you’ll be able to interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You will have the ability to ask questions. You can even get hands-on feedback on your work from your instructor using screen-sharing software.

One advantage of live online courses is that they can be done anywhere, even in your bedroom. With the availability of live online project management classes, you won’t need to relocate to start training in project management.

Tips to Succeed when Learning Project Management Online

One of the best ways to ensure success in learning project management online is by choosing a great online project management course. Whether a structured course with a live instructor or an on-demand video curriculum, you’ll want to select a course that helps you meet your professional goals while fitting into your current schedule.

For example, Noble Desktop is a business, coding, and design school in NYC that offers live online project management courses and bootcamps. PMP-Certified instructors teach all their Project Management courses, meaning you’ll get a mentor and an education. If you’re someone who desires a professional network or needs the accountability of an instructor, then choosing live online training is a great way to succeed.

Certificates and certifications are the industry standard in project management. If you choose an online course, you should consider whether it comes with a certificate. For example, General Assembly offers a one-day online Project Management Bootcamp. While this course may provide a great introduction to project management, without a Certificate of Completion, it will be harder to demonstrate your skills when applying for Project Manager positions.

You should also consider if you plan to seek a professional certification in project management. PMI offers an entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), which is excellent for aspiring Project Managers. A CAPM certification demonstrates to employers that you are qualified to be a Project Manager. To sit for the exam, you must complete 23 hours of education in project management.

Watching free resources online won’t apply to this prerequisite, so you’ll want to take some more structured classes if you plan to take the CAPM exam. One example is Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp which comes with a verified digital Certificate of Completion to apply towards CAPM Certification or to put on your Project Manager resume. When you’re ready to sit for the exam, Noble Desktop offers a CAPM Certification Bootcamp, which prepares graduates to pass the CAPM exam with live instruction, a proprietary exam prep guide, and an additional video curriculum.

Another tip for success when studying project management online is to join your local chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI). These PMI Chapters offer networking and professional development events in your local area. If you’re training online, joining a PMI Chapter is a great way to begin building a professional network and discovering Project Manager job opportunities. PMI offers discounts on membership to current college students.

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help as it lists both in-person and online classes in project management.

Learn Project Management with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding, design, and business school based in NYC. They offer courses on various topics, including project management courses and bootcamps, both live online and at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. All of their classes feature small class sizes and are taught by instructors who are experts in their industry. PMP-Certified professional Project Managers teach all their project management courses. Graduates can retake their course for up to one year for free to continue developing their knowledge and refresh their skills.

Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp provides hands-on instruction in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) theories and methodologies needed to get hired as an entry-level Project Manager. Students receive hands-on, project-based training in topics that include the five phases of project management, creating project proposals, and working with a project team. Graduates receive a verified digital certificate of completion to help them get hired as an entry-level Project Manager. This bootcamp is also recommended for those planning to pursue either a CAPM or a PMP Certification. Both certifications require formal project management education, which this bootcamp provides.

Graduates seeking professional certification should consider Noble Desktop’s CAPM Certification Bootcamp, which guides students through PMI’s entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam. This four-day bootcamp includes 35 hours of hands-on instruction, live project-based training, an exam preparation guide, a video curriculum, lessons taught by a PMP Certified Project Manager, and a digital certificate of completion.

Key Insights

• There are a lot of online resources for learning project management.
• In-person training is more traditional, but live online learning works exactly the same way and can be done from anywhere.
• Aspiring Project Managers should seek online training that allows them to demonstrate their education to employers, such as a certificate.
• The most important tip for success when learning project management online is to select the correct learning path for your career goals.