20 Best + Free Product Management Certificate Courses [MIT | Kellogg | Virginia] [2024 April]
Product Management is a multifaceted discipline that stands at the crossroads of business strategy, technology, and user experience. A product manager’s role is diverse and critical, blending strategic vision with tactical execution. As gatekeepers of a product’s lifecycle, they bridge the gap between user needs and business objectives, necessitating a solid educational foundation for success. Where technology and consumer preferences are ever-evolving, continuous learning and formal product management training are beneficial and crucial for career growth and organizational impact.
This expert compilation by DigitalDefynd offers an authoritative curation of top-tier Product Management Certificate Courses. These courses are designed to serve a broad range of learners, from budding product managers eager to make their mark to seasoned professionals looking to refine their skills. These educational programs offer theoretical knowledge and hands-on project experience, equipping you with the practical skills necessary for real-world application. With a focus on topics ranging from market analysis to agile methodologies, these courses aim to offer a 360-degree view of product management. Our expert list of certificate courses is designed to prepare you for the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities in product management. Whether you’re a start-up entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or a business strategist, these training programs offer a pathway to professional excellence and a credential that holds market value.
20 Best + Free Product Management Certificates & Courses [2024 April][UPDATED]
Product Strategy (Northwestern | Kellogg School of Management)
Are you involved in making decisions about a new product launch or updating an existing product or service? Are you a part of the product lifecycle from its inception to its market launch? Then this program on Product Strategy provided by Kellogg School of Management is the right fit to help you in developing and managing product strategies that are technology-driven. Even if your company is not into technological solutions, using technology in your existing processes can help you scale and improve your products and services. Product managers and executives involved in product development and management should sign up for this course to enable digital disruption in the organization. You may also want to take a look at Chief Product Officer Programs.
Highlights-
– Identify the loopholes in your existing product lifecycle to update and optimize it
– Understand different business models along with their benefits and drawbacks
– Learn various buyer personas and create the same for your business to qualify them in your sales funnel
– Using the tools from Kellogg School of Management, design and channelize messages to reach out to prospects
– Explore industry examples of different companies such as Apple, Uber, Microsoft and Cisco and more.
– Complete the program with over 80% marks to pass and earn the certification.
Duration: 2 months, 4 to 6 hours per week
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Professional Certificate in Product Management (Kellogg School of Management)
This professional certification program is ideally designed for business leaders, managers, and product managers to help them gain adequate knowledge about product management. Joining this particular course will enable you to develop an aptitude for the end-to-end process of creating, designing, discovering, delivering, and managing products. During the live video sessions, you’ll build and manage a product roadmap via user research, prototyping, and product analysis. The prospectus is prepared by the experienced faculty of Kellogg School of Management, which means you’ll be learning from experts. At the end of the prospectus, you’ll have a broad understanding of product management and all its essential aspects. You can also check out some of the Best Product Management Executive Programs.
Highlights –
– A perfect program to help you master the end-to-end process of designing, developing, discovering, and managing products
– Improve your communication, negotiation, and influencing skills to manage people and relationships effectively
– Earn advanced and professional certificates in product management tools and methodologies, including project management, A/B testing, wireframing, and analytics
– Know about strategic thinking and tactical implementation skills required to become a professional product manager
– Work your learnings through real-world applications, a wide range of case studies, company examples, and capstone project
Duration: 6 months, 15-20 hours/week
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Related: KPIs Every CPO & Product Manager Should Know
Free Course Trial – Digital Product Management Specialization by University of Virginia (Coursera)
Individuals interested in learning how to implement a modern approach to product management can take help from this curriculum. Offered incorporation with the University of Virginia, this subjective program will enable you to master the fundamentals of digital product management to create great teams and products. In this course, you’ll learn how to create and manage a team charter to drive alignment and autonomy while leading your team effectively. The syllabus is ideal for both current and new product managers working in the digital era of product development. After concluding the syllabus, a badge of achievement signed by the University of Virginia will be shared with you via email. Don’t forget to check our list of Best Digital Business Courses.
Highlights –
– A perfect blend of theory and practical implementation of real-world applications to help you understand critical aspects of product development
– Learn how to create a culture of experimentation with hypothesis-driven development while leading from the front with actionable design narrative on your customer
– Know how to incorporate instrument relevant, actionable analytics into your product program without any errors
– Cover advanced applications of product design, hypothesis-driven development and agile, that relies on the core of modern product management
Duration: 5 months, 3 hours/week
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Chief Product Officer Executive Education Program (Kellogg School of Management)
This curriculum is organized in partnership with Northwestern University to help you become a professional chief product officer. Taking this comprehensive online learning journey will help you cover core modules and electives, followed by in-person interactions. You’ll get introduced to the tools and frameworks required to drive product strategy and help your organization gain a competitive advantage. It focuses on covering the four overarching pillars of chief product officer, including Product Vision and Strategy, Leadership and Communication, Product Discovery and Market Insights, and Business Acumen. The program is ideal for senior to mid-level product leaders and C-level executives to align product strategy with business strategy.
Highlights –
– Gain a solid understanding of the implications of technology on the product portfolio and manage cross-functional teams in your company
– Work with small groups or individually to ideate, make strategic decisions, and deliver an actionable solution
– Get to interact with industry experts and gain firsthand into evolving product trends with plenty of opportunities
– Learn to create and articulate a strong vision and align product strategy with the company’s business objectives, and use customer data analytics to measure performance
– Be able to expand your skill set in financial analysis, talent development, and product leadership
Duration: 12 months
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Free Course Trial – Software Product Management Specialization (University of Alberta)
Offered in collaboration with the University of Alberta, this practical course will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of software product management. Signing up for this program will enable you to master agile software development practices while teaching you the critical aspects of product development. This specialization comprises six learning modules, including an introduction to software product management, client needs and software requirements, agile planning for software products, and more. During the video lectures, you’ll also get to work with real-world case studies, graded quizzes, and assignments provided to help you expand your knowledge. At the end of the curriculum, you’ll also receive a digital certificate of completion to share with employers. Check out our curation of Best Software Product Management Courses.
Highlights –
– Enroll yourself on a long learning journey to understand the basics and advanced concepts of software product management
– Gain practical experience in a safe, simulated software production setting with an applied learning project available at the end of the curriculum
– Apply your agile practices and techniques to a real-world project to conquer industry-inspired challenges and problems
– Learn to share your experiences with others while gaining insights from others as a part of the software product management community at the University of Alberta
Duration: 6 months, 3 hours/week
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Related: Top Product Management Interview Questions and Answers
Free Course Trial – Real-World Product Management Specialization by AWIT (Coursera)
This specialization program from Coursera is designed to help you understand how elite PMs work backward from their customers utilizing personas, journeys, market sizing, interviews, and competitive analysis. It is organized in collaboration with Advancing Women in Tech and sponsored by Amazon Web Services to provide you the best learning experience. During the sessions, the instructor Nancy Wang will share the critical business, technical, design, and leadership skills required for success in PM roles. The program covers four authentic courses, including business product management, the art & science of product management, and acing the product management interview. After completing the courses, you’ll be able to lead your team as a professional product manager. You may like to check our take on the Best Business Strategy Courses.
Highlights –
– A practical specialization designed with the same curriculum used by Google and Amazon PMs for their project management
– Gain knowledge and insights from 20+ product leaders at Amazon, Facebook, Alphabet, and Silicon Valley startups, who will teach you extensive skills
– Learn how to work with customers, designers, engineers, data scientists, AI, and ML while practicing technical skills
– Work with real-world applications and an applied learning project to test your knowledge and learning capabilities
Duration: 4 months, 4 hours/week
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Brand and Product Management by IE Business School (Coursera)
Organized in partnership with IE Business School, this comprehensive syllabus will teach you how to classify the valuable information required to develop a product and brand strategy that can generate quick-qins and long-term value. The instructor of the course, Luis Rodriguez Baptista, will guide you throughout the learning journey to help you get acquainted with the encounters of managing products. You’ll gain knowledge through six learning modules encompassing various aspects of product management, such as launching products, developing compelling brands, communicating with stakeholders, etc. At the end of the sessions, you’ll have to work through an applied learning project to obtain your certificate of completion. Check out our curation of Best Business Analytics Courses.
Highlights –
– Learn to define the right metrics for determining success in implementing your product and strategy to the market
– Learn to equip your employees with knowledge of how to deliver on your brand promise and culminate a learning environment
– Included with feature interviews with consumers and industry professionals that will illustrate the importance of brand strategy
– Understand the importance of brand and product management while using brand development, architecture, and portfolios
– Get access to practice quizzes, shareable certificates, graded assignments, programming assignments, and more
Duration: 14 hours
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Review: This course has been very helpful in learning about managing a brand and their products. It has given me free insights on techniques and strategies on how to become a better brand and product manager. – MT
Become a Product Manager (Udemy)
This is the most inclusive course available on product management that will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of the product development lifecycle. You’ll learn the skills to make up an entire product management job and process more accessible in this course. From ideation to market research, prototyping, to launching a product, you’ll gain knowledge of every aspect in detail. The course is planned by Cole Mercer and Evan Kimbrell, who are professional product managers with years of experience in this field. During the video lectures, they will assist you in understanding how to build a product with user stories, scoping, project management, and leadership.
Highlights –
– Learn fundamental concepts of software development, such as APIs, mobile development, front end, back end, MySQL, and programming frameworks
– Learn how to structure and run a customer interview while navigating different customer interviews
– Know about the varying role of a product manager via different types and sizes of companies, the product lifecycle, and how it applies to every product
– Understand the difference between Agile and Waterfall development, two popular Agile frames – Scrum and Kanban
– Be able to communicate effectively with designers while focusing on the things they care about the most
Duration: 12-13 hours
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Review: The course is completely worth. The instructors gave practical instances and interviewed two successful PMs. In short it taught me all the necessities. The resource PDF is treasure. – Ashish Singla
Related: Traits of Product Leaders
Product Management 101 (Udemy)
This 101 course can help you become a strategic product manager by building extensive management skills. In this syllabus, you’ll cover the spectrum of product management work from market intelligence, strategy, new product development, and lifecycle management. It is prepared with a step-by-step guide to learn and understand the best practices for product management. It comprises a few learning modules covering essential topics like market intelligence, strategy, new product development, lifecycle management, etc. The course instructor Todd Birzer is a professional product management consultant who helps organizations manage their product effectively. Upon completing the course, you’ll receive a badge of achievement to share with employers.
Highlights –
– A step-by-step curriculum to help you learn the best practices for the work of product management, spanning market intelligence, and new product launch
– Understand how to best position, price, and manage your products in the market to get the maximum returns
– Learn to manage the entire lifecycle of products and services to create exceptional customer value, generate long-term competitive advantage, and deliver continuous profitability
– Understand how to support your team members during any negative feedback or new product release
Duration: 5-6 hours
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Review: Great experience going through this course journey. Discovering concepts which I was not aware of previously. This will immensely help me to do my job efficiently and effectively. – Sanjay Saha
The Complete Product Management Course (Udemy)
If you are willing to learn the skills, tools, and processes required to become a professional product manager, this course is an ideal choice for you. In this prospectus, you’ll learn the core skills that can make the entire product management lifecycle successful, from ideation to market research to wireframing. You’ll understand how to analyze the market landscape, discover weaknesses in your competitors, spot trends that can hyper grow your product, and more. The course is designed by one of the best instructors of Udemy, Charles Du, who is an award-winning product manager. He will help you during the session to overcome the challenges involved in product management learning.
Highlights –
– An ideal course for intermediate learners to understand Agile product management and learn how to use industry tools like Axure, Pivotal Tracker, and Popplet
– Have a look at the case studies like the NASA app to get better insights into product management while improving your knowledge
– Build a solid product portfolio with step-by-step exercises that can take your product idea from ideation to specification
– Be able to lead developers/designers effectively while managing stakeholders and other individuals involved in the product
Duration: 5-6 hours
Rating: 4.3 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Review: Being a beginner in product management and a creative person, I am totally able to relate and understand the thought process. I am not just learning something new but also enjoying this one. – Pooja Doifode
Become a Product Manager Nanodegree (Udacity)
The course is designed to help you envision and lead the product strategy of products that defines an industry and bring them successfully to the market. Enrolling in the course will help you influence the execution of product development as a Product Manager, and you’ll learn to define KPIs and product strategy based on market analysis and much more. You can also develop an execution timeline and build a comprehensive market plan that focuses on product KPIs. Once the course is finished, you will attain a certificate shared with employers and your resume. Do have a look at our compilation of Best Product Strategy Courses.
Highlights –
– Learn to make a product strategy that identifies the right issues to solve through the target user definition, market research, and market sizing.
– Know how to do product design and learn the concept, design, and user validation phases to build a spec to handoff to Engineering for development.
– Learn about the Product Development and critical soft skills requirements to manage the development and execution phase of the product.
– Gain knowledge about a product launch that implies creating a plan, identifying the launch risks, and computing how to lessen their effect on your launch.
Duration: 4 Months (10 hours/week)
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Review: I like the program, especially that it is divided in this short chapters which you can go through easily as it fits to the schedule. The project assignments are interesting and the feedback is very valuable. I just completed the first project and have already learnt a lot of new methods and tools! – Clara H.
Related: Reasons Why Product Managers Quit
Professional Certificate in Product Management by The University of Maryland (edX)
Created by professional associates of the University System of Maryland, this program from edX will deliver you everything you need to become an experienced product manager. Signing up for this proactive program will enable you to understand the keys to navigate the roles and responsibilities of a product manager successfully. You’ll learn how to translate product ideas into tangible assets by creating wireframes, 3D renderings, prototypes, and minimum viable products for validating customer insights. The syllabus is organized in a step-by-step format with recorded video lectures, quizzes, practice exercises, and assignments to help you learn everything effectively.
Highlights –
– A comprehensive program to learn about customer’s behavior, underserved needs, their value proposition, and your product feature set
– Learn to build techniques for designing and modeling for last feedback and idea-sharing, system optimization with open architectures, and more
– Understand how to validate functions, verify performances, optimize systems with open architectures, and leverage the system designs, platforms, and ecosystem
– Work through comprehensive case studies, real-world applications, and other projects to improve your overall understanding
– Be able to align your product teams, product design, and product development for better speed and innovation at pace
Duration: 5 months, 2-3 hours/week
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Advanced Product Management: Vision, Strategy & Metrics (Udemy)
This advanced product management course focuses on developing extensive skills that you need every day as a product manager. In this course, you’ll learn how to use a visual framework for your company and product, how product development hierarchies work, and how to tie your metrics to your overall business strategy. You’ll gain knowledge of advanced skills and techniques that successful product managers use in their daily lives. The course is also prepared by Cole Mercer and Evan Kimbrell, professional product managers at leading companies. They will assist you during the classes to offer additional help related to the courses. On concluding the course, you’ll earn a badge of achievement to share with employers.
Highlights –
– A step-by-step guide for beginners and intermediates to learn and understand the significance of product management in an organization
– Learn how metrics differ in multiple industries, e-commerce, mobile, and marketplaces while understanding the difference between leading and lagging metrics
– Learn how to tie your metrics to your overall business strategy, debug metrics with origin source sorting, and design a cohort analysis
– Get access to all the tools and techniques required to make better, informed, and more profitable decisions in your organization
Duration: 5-6 hours
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Review: I had blur image of vision and strategy in product space. Advance Product management course does provide clarity with good example in terms what vision and metrics means, what is best way to use it. – Ajit Kumar
The Certified Product Manager Credential (AIPMM)
Prepared by skilled tutors of AIPMM, this practical course focuses on teaching you the essential aspects of product management. In this applied learning program, you’ll get familiar with the standards of excellence and a way to demonstrate a commitment to your product management career. This certification program differs from an education or methodology designation, as it is based on global best practices determined by real practitioners. Moreover, the program comprises various learning modules, case studies, graded assignments, quizzes, and other study material to help you expand your knowledge. You can access the course both virtually and with in-person classes at your convenience.
Highlights –
– An on-demand course specifically designed for busy individuals who want to expand their skills n the product management field
– Get a thorough understanding of the functions that are responsible for championing new products during the entire product development lifecycle
– Gain advanced skills in various areas of product development, such as product specifications, develop product launch plans, competitive analysis, etc.
– Learn about creating business case studies, writing business plans segmented for each major function, and developing product launch plans
Duration: Variable
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Related: Will AI Replace Product Manager’s Jobs?
Optimal Product Management (280 Group)
Individuals interested in understanding and gaining expertise in the complete product lifecycle can take help from this course. Offered by 280 Group, this program will enable you to learn all the core skills required to build and manage products at your organization. You’ll learn about product development lifecycle essential aspects from scratch while understanding how to handle obstacles faced by PMs at leading companies. The course is available in three modules, Live Online, Self-Study, and In-Person; you can choose an option that best fits your requirements. Moreover, the classes are equipped with high-quality video lectures, graded quizzes, and practical assignments to understand the concepts better.
Highlights –
– Learn and understand all the core skills required in a product development lifecycle and become a professional product manager
– Gain additional knowledge from 280 Group’s Optimal Product Success, which embodies best practices required for maximizing your product’s success
– Know about every important task in each phase of the product lifecycle while understanding the core skills required for adequate product management
– Utilize critical case studies and examples to prepare deliverables that can help you develop a practical framework for product development
Duration: variable
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Product Manager Certification with Lean, Agile and System Design Thinking (edX)
This course on product management introduces you to the frameworks of decision making based on both economic and organizational considerations. Through these classes, you will understand customer co-creation needs and become a leader for user-centric development in digital technologies. Additionally, you will also play a significant role in shaping the direction of the product based on experimentation and system design thinking by gaining insights from roadmaps, competitive considerations and more.
Highlights –
– Learn how to launch a product and create a go-to-market strategy to make it successful.
– Explore alternative approaches for lean, agile and waterfall development along with tools for assessing task, project and business risks at scrums or at stage gates.
– Generate ideas, perform customer need assessments, co-create, define and validate the minimal viable product.
– Complete the graded assignments to earn the completion badge.
– The videos and study material is available for free and the certification can be added for an additional fee.
Duration: 6 weeks, 4 to 8 hours per week
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Professional Certificate Programme in Product Strategy (Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode)
This professional certification program in product strategy is prepared to help individuals learn how to develop business models with a customer-centric, value-driven product at the center while efficiently navigating each stage of the product life cycle. Joining the course will guide you through the entire process of product management and product strategy. You will learn how to identify a market opportunity, conceptualize a customer-centric product, manage the various stages of the product life cycle, and more. Moreover, the program is covered with high-quality videos, graded assignments, practice exercises, and hands-on projects to improve your learning.
Highlights –
– Learn how to develop, test, and refine the product to maximize results and create a disruptive business model while keeping the product at the center.
– Experience and immersive learning journey with real-world case studies, simulations, and a capstone project available within the course.
– Interact with the eminent IIM Kozhikode faculty, renowned industry experts, and thought leaders via live video sessions.
– Covers multiple learning modules, such as elements of strategy formulation, new product development, estimating the value of product features, and more.
– Be able to develop an innovative, product-centric mindset for accelerated career growth in your organization.
Duration: 5 months, 3 hours/Wednesday
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Related: Product Manager Checklist for Product Launch
Product Management Training Bootcamp: Career Preparation for Success
Are you wonder whether PM is the right career path for you? This training will not only solve that doubt but will also help you prepare for success on this path. An ideal guide for aspirants, we highly recommend this one if a Good Job is high on your priority list. Product managers can start earning about $69,000 and salaries can go as high as $140,000. An industry that’s growing at 12% year on year is quite a lucrative one if you ask us. This bootcamp will help prepare you to be a part of the Product Management profession and you can then take up one of the other courses mentioned on this list to further build your expertise. Sounds like a plan?
Duration : 4 hours
Rating : 4.2 out of 5
You can Sign up here
Review : I have not yet completed the course but till now whatever I have gone through is excellent. I could see the real experience from the instructor helped this course to take it to the next level and the concepts were explained in great manner. Still to complete, but till now its been a great course
Master the Product Manager Interview – The Complete Guide (Udemy)
With the evolution in the area of product management, the job of a product manager is quickly becoming one of the most sought after roles. This course is designed in such a way that it can be taken by anyone without any prior experience in this role. The lessons will prepare you for the challenging interviews at some of the most innovative companies in the world. Learn to answer behavioral, estimation and vision questions, upgrade your resume, optimize your online profile and more. Upon the completion of the lectures, you will be ready to ace your interviews and get your dream job.
Highlights-
– Deliver perfect answers to common interview questions and create an online market for yourself.
– Learn to work with developers and stakeholders.
– Understand the steps to answer different crucial questions.
– Avoid the commonly made mistakes that most candidates make during the interviews.
– Use body language to make a positive impression.
– 77 Lectures + 12 Downloadable resources + Full lifetime access
Duration: 5 hours
Rating: 4.3 out of 5
You can Sign up Here
Product Management Certificates (Product School)
If you’re finding it challenging to find an ideal product management certification program for your career, this list of comprehensive programs can help you in your quest. Product School is a well-established e-learning resource that provides individuals with multiple product management certifications. You can enroll in any product manager certification program that best fits your current skills and requirements. Each of these programs will be delivered via live video sessions with direct interaction with your instructors every week. You’ll get to study at your own pace while absorbing lessons created by senior product managers from to-tech companies like YouTube, Facebook, and Slack.
Highlights –
– A list of comprehensive product management certification programs designed to help you achieve maximum success in product development
– Get yourself into the mind of Silicon’s Valley’s best instructors and learn how they succeed in their product management journey
– Avail free access to product management tools used by leading product managers in their organization, such as Pendo, Atlassian, Heap, etc.
– Get lifetime access to the global community of Product School, where you can connect with others for career advice
Duration: variable
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Product Management (Cornell)
Ideally designed for software engineers, designers, and business managers, this productive curriculum will help you develop the strategic mindset required to bring viable products to market. It comprises various learning modules, including product vision and goals, product road mapping, product analytics and iteration, and more. Completing these modules gives you a deeper understanding of what it takes to bring a product from idea to future iteration. During each session, you’ll get the opportunity to learn important facets of product road mapping decisions and prototyping via a number of product management activities. At the end of the curriculum, you’ll get to work with real-world applications and case studies to improve your overall understanding.
Highlights –
– A perfect combination of theory, real-world examples, and practical implementation to help you understand the product management lifecycle
– Explore how to build and develop a product from scratch while identifying the customer’s needs and problems
– Learn the art of developing a compelling roadmap that will help you stay focused and bring into line your stakeholders
– Understand how to lead and guide your team daily to work on the needed things to get results and confirm a successful product
Duration: 3 months, 3-5 hours/week
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
So this was our list of the Best Product Management Courses and Training for 2024. We hope it helps you choose the best one for you. Wish you all the best in your professional journey, and if you liked this article, don’t forget to share it with others.
