Whether you're an entry-level product manager looking to gain new skills or a senior product manager looking to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends, this guide is for you. 

We've researched and compiled a list of the top product management courses available, both online and in-person, to help you take your career to the next level. 

From foundational skills to advanced strategies, these certifications will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to excel in the fast-paced world of product management.

For new product managers

If you are just starting out on your product manager career path, the six online product management certification courses below will help you learn the ropes quickly.

1. Product Management Foundations by Reforge

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Why we recommend this course:

1. Regarded as one of the best product management certifications, this course helps students, PM interns, entry-level PMs, and associate PMs gather the tools required for a successful product manager career.
2. This product manager certification teaches learners how they can identify valuable opportunities, prioritize features, determine design constraints, build and launch products, and learn from their own processes.
3. Reforge also offers an annual membership with this course where you can access a network of like-minded product managers, case studies, and more educational content.

2. Product Management: Building Great Products by Jon Kolko

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This online course for product management helps aspiring PMs understand the connection between products, services, and design.
2. You will learn how to identify the needs of your users, create a product story, and build an actionable roadmap that will help you design great products.
3. After the completion of the course, you will receive a certificate from Udemy. On top of that, you will have lifetime access to the course and its 11 downloadable resources.
4. This course is rated 4.4/5 by 112 verified students.

3. Product Management 101 by Todd Birzer

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Why we recommend this course:

1. The course covers the entire spectrum of product management which includes market intelligence, product strategy, development, and lifecycle management, making it one of the best certifications for new PMs.
2. Filled with real-life examples, this product management course educates the learners about the best practices that will help them build innovative and market-leading products that delight their customers.
3. Rated 4.6/5 by over 14,000 students, you will have lifetime access to this course’s contents.

4. One Month Product Management by Christian Arca

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Why we recommend this course:

1. Designed for entry-level PMs with great ideas, the One Month Product Management certification will share tools and strategies derived from real-world applications for developing and managing products.
2. In this online agile product management certification, you will learn about the responsibilities of a product manager, how to identify risks, validate product ideas, communicate with customers, create wireframes, build products, and much more.
3. You can access the contents of this course for a year. This course also offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you are dissatisfied.

5. Product Manager Certification™ by Product School

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This beginner-level course helps PMs land their first job and keep it by proving themselves making it one of the best product manager certifications.
2. You will learn how to think like a PM, master the art and science of strategic alignment, understand your customers, go from concept to reality, create a go-to-market plan, and wow hiring managers in interviews.
3. Product School will also give you access to exclusive content like case studies, discussion forums with other product managers, podcasts, and PM tools that will help you improve your performance at your first job.

6. Product Manager Career Accelerator Program (CAP) by Upraised

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Why we recommend this course:

1. Apart from teaching essential concepts to aspiring product managers regardless of their backgrounds, the CAP program also helps them start their careers with appropriate guidance.
2. This product management certification will teach you practically by explaining a concept with a real-world example, giving you a problem statement to solve, and sharing feedback on your solution.
3. The CAP program will also help you prepare for your job interviews, give you 1:1 career counseling whenever you need it, and provide you access to a strong peer and alumni network.

7.Product Management Certification by the Institute of Product Leadership

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This course is designed to equip product managers with advanced skills and comprehensive knowledge, enabling them to excel in their roles. By mastering the latest tools, techniques, and best practices in product management, participants can make more informed decisions and significantly impact their projects and teams.

2. The International Certificate in Product Management program is focused on career transition with a curated curriculum focused on the latest industry hiring trends. Dedicated Career Assistance Platform to host hiring events through Talentathon with the hiring managers.

3. By signing up for this Product Management Certificate program, you can work as a Product Analyst, Associate Product Manager, Product Marketing Manager, Product Designer, Product Owners, Technical Product Manager, Senior Product Manager

For experienced product managers

Once you have nailed down the fundamentals of product management and settled into the job, it is time for you to acquire new skills to push your product manager career even further. Here are six essential product manager certifications you should consider for that.

1. Managing Your PM Career in 2023 & Beyond by Shreyas Doshi

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This course is different from most of the product management certifications in this list in the sense that it gives you step-by-step guidance on how to take your product manager career forward while continuing to grow in the field.
2. You will access 12 seminars with two live AMAs with the instructor where you learn how to build crucial skills quickly, build a personal brand, and take the right job offers throughout your career.
3. Throughout the course, you will get an opportunity to network with multiple product managers which can be quite helpful for career development.

2. Product Strategy by Reforge

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This online product management course educates PMs on frameworks that will enable them to build, communicate, and execute a detailed product strategy.
2. Ideal for senior product professionals such as the Director of Product or Senior PMs, this course covers feature strategy, growth strategy, product-market fit, expansion, and scaling strategy.
3. As this course is offered by Reforge, you will also get unrestricted access to their in-house content such as case studies, and get an opportunity to network with like-minded product people across the globe.

3. Continuous Interviewing by Teresa Torres

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This product management certification helps seasoned product people become better at interviewing their prospects and customers to understand their pain points and expectations quickly and eventually automate this process.
2. You will learn what questions you need to ask, how to take better notes, and how to convert your insights into actionable items for your team.
3. The contents of this five-week course will remain accessible to you for three months. You will also get a three-month subscription to the Continuous Discovery Habits Membership Program and a virtual community.

4. Product Leader Certification™ by Product School

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This helps PMs become leaders through hands-on work, practical exercises, and case studies, making it one of the best certifications for product managers.
2. You will learn how to lead, embrace change, manage growth, establish product vision, and capitalize on new opportunities; things that are immensely helpful for senior product managers.
3. Apart from the world-class content from Product School, you will also have access to an inclusive discussion forum and various PM tools that will help you fulfill your responsibilities.

5. The Certified Product Manager® by 280 Group

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Why we recommend this course:

1. Considered one of the best product management certifications for experienced PMs, The Certified Product Manager teaches two important skills: becoming the voice of the customer and aligning efforts within the team.
2. You will learn everything from product strategy to marketing plan in the method you are comfortable with. This course also helps teams to start speaking the same language and improve collaboration.
3. By enrolling in this course, you will get an AIPMM (Association of International Product Marketing & Management) membership and access to various study materials.

6. Product Management Certification by Pragmatic Institute

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Why we recommend this course:

1. This product management certification consists of multiple courses which will help senior product managers learn specific things related to their expertise such as designing, marketing, pricing, etc.
2. Pragmatic Institute recommends you start with the Foundation course to get accustomed to their framework and then pick courses as you need them. This is particularly helpful for busy PMs with a lot on their plate.
3. You will get lifetime access to the Pragmatic community, their learning materials, and a huge alumni network.

7. Executive MBA in Product Leadership by the Institute of Product Leadership

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Why we recommend this course:

1. The EMBA in Product Leadership is designed for experienced professionals wanting to build end-to-end skills needed to lead product decisions/execution in top organizations or even start their own ventures.

2. The Executive MBA in Product Management & Leadership offered is an 18-month program with an additional 2 months for industry internship, allowing the learners to become eligible for doing a PhD in future.

3. The Executive MBA program at the Institute of Product Leadership(IPL) is ideal for senior working professionals who want to take on broader management responsibilities to advance their careers in roles that are growing in demand – Product, Data, and Leadership roles.

Summing up

The world of product management is constantly evolving, and it's important for professionals to keep improving their skills as needed. Whether you're an entry-level product manager looking to gain a solid foundation or a senior product manager looking to stay ahead of the curve, there's a course on this list for you.

Apart from the right knowledge, product managers need the right tools to deliver the right solution to their audience. However, due to the nature of the job, PMs have to cycle through multiple apps to get things done which can be inefficient.

Zeda.io, a suite of product management tools, enables PMs to run and manage all their processes throughout the product lifecycle. With the help of over 5000 integrations with Zapier, you can get started in minutes.

Start your free trial today.

FAQs

1. What certifications do you need to become a product manager?

Answer: Product manager certifications will help you in developing relevant skills that will help you become a (better) product manager. However, the best course for you depends on where you are on your product manager career path and where you want to go.

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2. Do you need an MBA to be a product manager?

Answer: Although an MBA is helpful in learning and honing various skills that are necessary for PMs to do their job, it is not a mandatory requirement if you want to become a PM.

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3. What is the best product management certification?

Answer: The best product management certification is the one that helps you build better products for your audience which depends on your industry, experience, etc. You can always start with foundational courses from Reforge, Pragmatic Institute, and Product School.

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4. Which product management courses are a must-to-do for aspiring PMs?

Answer: It is necessary for every product manager to master the basics. For that, Product Management Foundations by Reforge and Product Management 101 by Todd Birzer can be great places to start.

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5. How much do product management certifications typically cost?

Answer: There are many variables such as type of course, duration, level, etc., which affect the cost of a product management certification. For instance, Product Management 101 by Todd Birzer costs about $13 but The Certified Product Manager by the 280 Group costs about $3500.

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6. Which product management certification will get me a job?

Answer: If you are just starting out on your product management career, the first six foundational courses in this article will help. If you are looking for a senior-level position, then the last six are a great place to start.

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7. How long does it take to get a product management certification?

Answer: The length of a course varies from one month to six months and depends on the depth of its contents. For instance, beginner-level courses are shorter than advanced ones.

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8. Is product management entry-level?

Answer: It is possible for someone to start in an entry-level position in a product management role, but it is more common for candidates to have some prior experience in a related field such as marketing, engineering, or business development. That being said, the six courses for new product managers discussed above will help you kickstart your career without any prior experience.