Can Free Online Project Management Courses from Coursera or Alison Lead to CAPM or PMP Certification?

The Project Management Institute (PMI) requires specific educational requirements to be met in order to earn the prestigious Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications. Let’s break down what you need to do to become eligible for these certifications.

CAPM Certification

Eligibility Requirements:

Education

A secondary degree, high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent.

Project Management Education

23 hours of project management education completed before the exam. This can be fulfilled by taking relevant courses from platforms like Coursera or Alison.

PMP Certification

Eligibility Requirements:

Education

A four-year degree and 36 months of project management experience. Or a secondary degree, high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent and 60 months of project management experience.

Project Management Education

35 hours of project management education. This can be satisfied through courses from accredited providers, including those offered by Coursera or Alison.

Meeting the Requirements

While taking project management courses on platforms like Coursera or Alison can certainly help you meet the educational requirements for both CAPM and PMP certifications, for PMP you will also need to have the required project management experience. Always ensure that any courses you take are recognized by PMI for the hours of education needed.

Certification Proof and Audits

To ensure you meet the requirements, be prepared to print out the certificate of completion that shows the necessary hours on the PMP prep application (35 hours) or the CAPM prep application (23 hours). Without a certificate of completion, PMI will consider it as if you have not taken the course, rendering you ineligible for certification.

Be aware that although Coursera courses are free, you typically need to pay for a certificate. Additionally, you must have the certificate of completion with the date of completion PRIOR to your PMP application submission date. If you don’t have this document, you won’t be able to take the exam.

Furthermore, 50% of all applications are audited by random selection. If you are audited, you may need to submit your completion certificate.

In summary, while free online courses can be a great way to start your journey towards CAPM or PMP certification, they must be paired with the right educational and experiential requirements and a valid completion certificate to ensure your eligibility.