13 Product Management Certifications For Professional Growth

Updated 11 April 2023

Product management courses and certifications can enable managers to advance in their careers and enhance their skills. A variety of specialised product management certificates are available in the market. Knowing about the different certifications in this field can help you grow professionally as a product manager. In this article, we discuss the importance of product management certifications, list some courses to consider, discuss their benefits and share how you can choose a suitable one.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

What Are Product Management Certifications?

Product management certifications are specialised courses that teach you how to manage a product at each stage of its lifecycle. Product managers are responsible for conceptualising, designing, prototyping, developing, launching and scaling products. Many reputed educational institutes and online learning platforms offer these certifications. Some courses have pre-requisite eligibility conditions, such as an educational qualification or an amount of working experience. People with certified product management skills often find it easier to validate their competencies and expertise when applying for jobs. They may even qualify for better-paying jobs.

These accreditations can impart the following skills to learners:

Domain-specific knowledge: Besides technical knowledge, product management includes specialised, domain-centric expertise about the industry.
Analytical skills: A product manager's role involves analysing data from different sources to make decisions, so these skills are beneficial to cultivate.
Project management skills: Managing deadlines, delegating tasks, providing feedback and solving problems are some abilities that can help product managers perform their roles effectively.
Communication and interpersonal skills: Communicating with team members, clients and other stakeholders requires strong interpersonal skills.
Leadership: Leadership skills, such as persuasion, decision-making, conflict resolution and motivation, help product managers successfully execute their duties.

5 Product Management Certifications

Here is a list of five certifications in product management that you can consider:

1. Product School's Product Manager Certification

This global certification has three courses that you cover consecutively. This sought-after course includes subjects such as assessing target opportunities, building software solutions and product launches. Besides DevOps and data analytics, learners also acquire user research and user interface/user experience skills. Product School provides comprehensive resources to prepare for this certification along with instructor-led sessions. Some of the world's leading companies recognise this certification.

2. The Indian School of Business's Professional Certificate in Product Management

This online course lasts 24 weeks, and any graduate or diploma holder can register for it. It focuses on developing the key concepts of product management, technique and strategy that can help learners build innovative products. The faculty for this course employs leading experts and academic researchers. Upon completing the certification, you become part of the Indian School of Business's Executive Group. Access to this group provides you with exclusive industry updates, networking opportunities, invitations to events and a discount on the course fees of ISB Executive Education programmes. You can also participate as a guest speaker at ISB Executive events through this group.

3. The AIPMM's Certified Product Manager credential

As one of the more challenging certifications to complete, the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM) offers this course that comprises 18 modules, quizzes, exercises and study materials. Some subjects included in this certificate are market planning, competitor research and lifecycle modelling. This is a reputable international certification that can show evidence of your knowledge and expertise in product management on your resume. The AIPMM is the largest globally recognised association for product managers, with a presence in more than 65 countries.

4. Executive Development Programme in Advanced Product Management by the Xavier School of Management

This 10-month course has live online sessions and includes over 100 learning hours. There are 11 modules in the course, four case studies and one intensive project, which helps learners acquire practical skills. Students receive an Executive Diploma from the school's Virtual Interactive Learning programme and a lifelong alumni status and networking opportunities along with a five-day visit to the campus. The school designs the course for managers in sales, marketing, product and programming functions.

5. Product Management Certification by the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode

This is a 39-week-long online course that helps learners understand the commerciality, usability and value of products. Some subjects included in the course are product strategy, market structure analysis, concept development, solution design and brand positioning. Ideal for mid and senior-level managers, the course offers over 200 recorded video lectures, 22 assignments, 21 quizzes and more than 15 case studies to help learners develop a product-based mindset.

Other Product Management Certifications

Here are some more certifications you can consider pursuing regarding product management:

Post-Graduate Programme in Product Management and Analytics by Simplilearn
Post-Graduate Certificate in Product Management by upGrad
Professional Certification in Product Management by Simplilearn
AI Product Management Specialisation by Coursera
Product Management Certification by Great Learning
Executive Programme in Data-Driven Product Management by the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
Certificate Programme in New Product Development and Management by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Professional Certificate in Product Management by the Kellogg School of Management

Benefits Of Pursuing Management Certifications

Here are some prominent benefits of pursuing certifications:

Upskilling: Certifications for career development offer knowledge and training based on in-demand skills. This can provide an excellent opportunity for product managers to learn new skills that add value to their professional offerings.
Career development and mobility: Becoming a certified product manager can help you access new jobs, become eligible for promotions and consider new projects. It can boost your job applications and resume to create a positive first impression on potential employers.
Access to industry experts and mentors: The instructors providing training and guidance in such courses are usually industry experts, academicians and senior leaders. This can help you gain access to mentors for professional development.
Personalised learning: Many certifications offer online classes with a self-paced style of learning, where you can dedicate time to suit your availability. This is particularly helpful for people who want to complete such courses while pursuing full-time employment.
Commitment to self-improvement: A structured approach to learning can often instill a sense of dedication and motivation. Additionally, completing such certifications may indicate your discipline and enthusiasm for your work, which can be beneficial when looking for a new job.
Diverse programmes: With a variety of programmes available, you can choose one that best suits your needs. Learning platforms offer courses for all price points, specialisations and expertise levels.

How To Select The Right Certification?

Follow these steps to find a course that best suits your goals:

Analyse the course content and structure. Review the course content, subjects, assessment options and practical exercises of different certifications to find suitable alternatives. Also, consider the design of the programme and if it is entirely online or has flexible submission deadlines.
Find reviews and recommendations. To check the credibility and reputation of the certification, ask people in your network for their feedback. Also, look for reviews and ratings online from learners who previously registered for the course.
Compare instructors' qualifications. Research the trainers and instructors of the course and examine their qualifications or experience to determine who you are most likely to learn the most from. You can also contact the instructor or course provider with specific queries before signing up for a certification.
Check pricing and flexibility options. The price and flexibility of certifications can vary significantly depending on the provider and the specialisation. As this can be a significant investment in your future, make sure it directly contributes to your career enhancement.
Discuss with mentors and supervisors. If there are trusted mentors or guides in the company you currently work for, you can discuss different options with them. This can also give you a better idea about which courses might benefit your skills and career the most.