Top 10 Product Management Certification Programs

In Glassdoor's annual Jobs Report "Top 50 Jobs in America for 2022", a Product Manager is ranked 10th with an average base salary of $125,317. There is no doubt that product management skills are in high demand. While the area of product management work seems quite exciting and stimulating, it is also very complex and requires constant learning. To stay ahead of the competition, product managers must continually update their skill set to keep up with evolving technology, learn and develop new processes and strategies.

The best way for product managers to move up the career ladder is through self-development. But given that their work hours and environment are already challenging, they find it difficult to attend seminars or take college courses or professional development programs. 

In this case, the best option is to attend product management certification courses or classes offered through the online channel. 

Moreover, if you pass the certification exam, you will receive a certificate. Adding this new skill to your professional profile separates you from the average product manager. This industry-recognized certification also makes you the best choice for hiring managers or employers who recruit new employees through various employment platforms.

However, it is difficult to determine the product management course that best suits your personal needs. 

Therefore, we have compiled a list of the best online product management courses, certifications, and training. These courses enhance your product management insight and some are offered by or affiliated with leading companies and universities around the world. So whether you're just starting out or looking for a refresher, this list will help you choose the best technical product management course to suit your needs.

Top 10 Product Management Certification Programs

Pricing: $399 per month

Duration: 4 months (10 hours per week)

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: Become a Product Manager Nanodegree

This course is placed first because it provides an introduction to product management that covers everything from product strategy and design to launch and development. 

The course takes about four months to complete and you can either pay $399 per month or $599 upfront for four months of access.

One of the most unique parts of this course is that it includes access to the student community, mentor support, and career services like resume review and LinkedIn profile optimization. 

You will receive personal feedback on your projects to ensure that you are successfully learning the material. The Nanodegree program does not offer university credit, but is created by industry professionals and is open to applicants from any academic background.

Target audience: This course is ideal for people who need additional support in the form of personalized feedback, career services, and an online student community.

Pros:

• Comprehensive program 
• Access to the student community 
• Individual support and career services

Cons:

• No university credit
• High cost per month

Pricing: $13.99

Duration: 5 hours

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: Product Management 101

This course usually costs $19.99 but you will often find it discounted making it the most affordable product management course we have included. It's intended for people with some product management experience and is included with Udemy for Business, so it's especially useful for upskilling existing employees. 

The product management certification course covers the entire product lifestyle with sections on market analysis, strategy, digital product development, and lifecycle management.

In addition to five hours of video content, you'll have several hands-on activities to complete along the way. Other topics include how to handle pricing, sales support, growth hacking, and product obsolescence.

Target audience: The instructors designed this course for students with zero to five years of product management experience, especially those who work with engineers.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• Several practical exercises

Cons:

• Lectures could be more entertaining
• Too basic for some students

Pricing: $109.99

Duration: 12 hours and 49 minutes

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: Become a Product Manager|Learn the Skills and Get the Job

This product management course was designed specifically for the Udemy for Business collection. It is aimed at job seekers and other industry professionals and contains almost 13 hours of content including videos, interviews, and training events. 

The instructors claim that over 1,000-course participants now work as Product Managers for large companies, making it the best course for professional results on our list. 

You will learn about the role of a product manager as well as the software product development lifecycle and customer development process. There are no official prerequisites for this course, though instructors recommend the experience with "core business concepts".

Target audience: This product management certification course is suitable for professionals of all levels, including existing product managers who want to improve their skills, job seekers, and entrepreneurs.

Pros:

• Access to the Slack community
• Interviews with professional product managers
• Subtitles in multiple languages

Cons:

• Mostly lectures, few graphics
• Too simple for some professionals

Pricing: $99.99

Duration: 5 hours and 54 minutes

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: The Complete Product Management Course

This course is designed for professionals who want to become Agile Product Owners and learn about modern product management strategies. 

The instructor uses case studies from major brands such as Apple, NASA, and Getaround so you can learn from real examples and apply them to your ideas or products. 

You'll learn how to quickly test your ideas, turn concepts into product specifications, and use product management tools like Axure and Workflowy. 

Other topics include building a product portfolio and navigating the product manager interview process. There are no prerequisites other than “passion for product design”. 

You will end up with wireframes and an interactive prototype to showcase your skills.

Target audience: The instructors developed this course for entrepreneurs, junior product managers, and those who unintentionally find themselves in the role of PM.

Pros:

• Real-world examples
• Focus on Agile methodology

Cons:

• Some software manuals are outdated

Pricing: $84.99

Duration: 5 hours

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: Master the Product Manager Interview – The Complete Guide

This course is specifically geared towards product manager interviews, so it is a good choice for those who have completed a product management course and are looking to improve their job prospects. 

You'll learn about the most frequently asked questions in product manager interviews (and how to answer them), as well as how to develop a product portfolio to impress potential employers. 

Other topics include navigating job search sites (for example there is a lesson that guides you through UX/UI designers seeking), improving your resumes, and researching company products. Course content includes five hours of lectures, mock interviews, email templates, and more. What’s also worth mentioning is that it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Target audience: The program is suitable for both rookie and experienced product managers and assumes some knowledge of what the job entails.

Pros:

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Mock interview questions
• Job search tips & resume improving

Cons:

• Not advanced course
• Too much filler

Pricing: $19.99

Duration: 4 hours and 51 minutes

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: Product Management A-Z: Excel as a PM & Build Great Products

This is the shortest course on our list, so it's a good overview for those who are new to product management or not sure if they want to take a longer program. 

You'll learn everything from MVP development to A/B testing, as well as hands-on projects to help you prepare for your PM interview. 

Other topics include Agile methodologies, user journey mapping, and usability testing. While not as comprehensive as some of the other courses on our list, the course does include case studies and exercises based on real products such as hotel booking apps and a doctor search platform. You can view all 28 lectures in less than five hours.

Target audience: This course is for entrepreneurs, would-be product managers, and other professionals who want to improve their skills.

Pros:

• Case studies and exercises
• PM interview questions

Cons:

• Slides are hard to read
• Not an advanced course

Pricing: $79

Duration: Approximately 11 hours

Flexible schedule: Yes

Website link: Digital Product Management Modern Fundamentals by the University of Virginia

The online course under review is part of the professional certificate program offered by the University of Virginia, making it the most academic option on our list. It's free to sign up, but there's a monthly fee if you want a certificate that you can share on LinkedIn or attach to your resume. Financial assistance is also available. 

The course is 11 hours long but has flexible timing so you can fit it into your schedule. 

Topics include "Exploring a New Product Idea" and "Improving an Existing Product" with a focus on managing digital products that require frequent updates. 

Although the material is suitable for beginners, the instructors recommend that you have some software development experience. Hence, it’s ideal for example for Ruby on Rails or React coders.

Target audience: This course is intended for current or future product managers who want to learn modern approaches to product management.

Pros:

• Flexible terms
• Subtitles in multiple languages

Cons:

• No university credit
• Slides are hard to read

Pricing: $49

Duration: Approximately 14 hours

Flexible schedule: Yes

Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes

Website link: Brand and Product Management

This product management certification course is taught by Luis Rodríguez Baptista, Professor at IE Business School in Spain. This is the first course in the five-part Marketing Mix Implementation Specialization and one of the few courses on this list that covers brand strategy and development in addition to product management. 

You will get access to 14 hours of content as well as video interviews with industry professionals. According to Coursera, 19% of students received a promotion or a pay raise after taking the course, and almost 40% started a new career or “received a tangible career benefit.” 

Registration is free, although you will have to pay extra for the full experience, which includes a certificate of completion, graded assignments, and peer reviews.

Target audience: This course is best suited for product managers and business strategists who want to develop brand management skills as part of a broader product management strategy.

Pros:

• Part of a wider specialization
• Flexible registration options
• Subtitles in multiple languages

Cons:

• No university credit
• Can't view quiz solutions

Pricing: $49

Duration: 6 months (3 hours per week)

Flexible schedule: Yes

Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes

Website link: Software Product Management Specialization by the University of Alberta

This course is offered by the University of Alberta and focuses on software development using Agile methodologies. 

You will learn how to work with clients, create backlogs, and lead a development team to build successful products. This course takes about six months with a recommended workload of three hours per week. 

A future Agile certified product manager can check it out for free but will have to pay to get a certificate of completion. Unlike many of the other courses on this list, you will also have to take a Capstone project based on a "realistic" product management scenario. 

Coursera claims that 27% of participants received a promotion or pay raise after completing a course, and 60% started a new career.

Target audience: This course is best suited for practical learners who want to make a career change or improve their skills in a product management position.

Pros:

• Supported by a major university
• Practical learning projects
• Subtitles in multiple languages

Cons:

• No university credit
• Six months commitment

Pricing: $1,995

Duration: 8 months

Flexible schedule: Yes

Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes

Website link: Digital Product Management MicroMasters Program by Boston University

This MicroMasters program is the most expensive product management course on our list, but it's also the most advanced. It is offered online by Boston University and can be combined with on-campus study as part of the Master of Science in Digital Science degree. 

The full program takes eight months, with five graduate courses included in the curriculum. Major brands such as Fidelity Investments and Boston Globe Media have backed the program, which covers topics such as strategic social media marketing and driving digital innovation through experimentation. 

You can take the courses in any order, but you will need some product management experience and high school level algebra to follow the material.

Target audience: Since this course can provide formal academic credit, it is ideal for those who wish to complete a degree from one of the several participating institutions.

Pros:

• Supported by a major university
• Provides academic credit

Cons:

• Expensive price tag
• Eight months commitment

Online product management certification programs comparison chart

Bottom line

So that’s it – the 10 best product management certifications that are really worth your time.

Each of these courses offers real value for your self-development, career prospects, and practical knowledge in product management.

So consider your options carefully and choose the course that is right for you.