What can help you fall in the higher salary tier for project management? Besides your field, advanced education and certifications can get you that income you desire. How much project managers make can vary widely based on the industry, experience level and state of employment.

Your courses will also help you develop essential soft skills, such as communication, leadership and problem solving that will help you to succeed in a project management role. Your career path in project management can point in many more directions and offer you more choice when you earn a bachelor’s degree. The Project Management Professional certification is for individuals who have more experience in a project manager role. Applicants must have a four-year degree and at least 4,500 hours of project management experience. This experience includes leading cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time, leveraging available resources, and maintaining a budget. The PMP certification test contains 200 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within four hours.

Organizational Skills:

Based on the methodology outlined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge , earning this certification will show employers that you have the skills required to manage how to become a project manager the demands of most projects. It’s widely seen as the gold standard for project management certificates, particularly in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.

how to become a project manager

For example, a Project Manager at a software development company might’ve worked as a developer for several years before moving into project management. At a machine learning company, a Project Manager might’ve been a Data Scientist before they took on their current role. These are all involved in the discipline of managing projects, and with some experience you’ll be able to move into managing larger projects by yourself. Organizational skills are essential for a successful project manager. To stay on track and manage resources effectively, be sure to keep an organized schedule and develop effective communication habits. Establish clear goals for each stage of the project and be prepared to share this information with team members during planning meetings.

How do I start a career in project management?

There are a number of different ways to develop these skills, from online courses to webinars to traditional college classes. If you’re looking for self-paced online options, you can check out our Analyze Data with Microsoft Excel course to get started building your analytical skills.

  • You should be able to adapt to its changing nature and become comfortable in it.
  • If you have yet to become certified, your MBA program can prepare you to sit for the Project Management Professional and Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) exams.
  • Or you can keep gaining project management experience and working your way up the project management career ladder without a degree, certification, or other “classical” project manager education.

Project managers need to be able to lead and motivate their team. They need the ability to communicate effectively, manage resources, and keep everyone on track. Learn how to effectively manage a project, keeping it on time, in budget, and in scope.

Roles and Responsibilities

Whether or not the program incorporates any kind of experiential learning or co-op experience that can translate into direct, hands-on opportunities. Whether or not the faculty members you will be learning from have direct and recent experience working in the industry. A project is a temporary endeavor with a finite start and end, which is focused on creating a unique product, service, or result for a business.

How to Become an Engineering Project Manager

To become an engineering project manager, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering. However, most engineering project managers earn a master’s degree or even a doctoral degree. You must also pass the Professional Engineer exam to earn your PE license. This career requires extensive work experience, up to a decade, in both your field of engineering as well as project management. Additional qualifications include excellent analytical, communication, and management skills.