Project Management Courses Online in Australia

AIPM offers a national project management certification called the RegPM (Registered Project Manager). Candidates must collect and submit evidence that showcases their competence and requires the completion of an Assessment Record Book (ARB). Automatic certification is also available for completing approved courses.

AIPM Certification Courses comes in several levels, and they all require you to be a member of the AIPM at an Associate, Member or Fellow level.

• CPPP – Certified Practising Project Practitioner – suitable for a team member who works on projects.
• CPPM – Certified Practising Project Manager – for those who lead teams and manage projects.
• CPSPM – Certified Practising Senior Project Manager – the CPPM is required for this certification who is meant for senior managers who manage difficult and high risk projects.
• CPPD – Certified Practising Project Director – for those who direct at a high level.
• CPPE – Certified Practising Portfolio Executive – for those who monitor at a high level.

PMP is an internationally recognised certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). PMP Certification is used globally, across fields and within most industries.

To be eligible, you need:

• a bachelor or higher degree, 36 months leading projects, and 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification OR
• if you have no degree, 60 months leading projects, and 35 hours of education/training or CAPM® Certification.

The exam takes 230 minutes to complete and consists of 180 questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, multiple responses, matching, hot area, and limited fill-in-the-blank. Questions are based on the PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO).

According to the PMI, successful PMP candidates typically spend 35 hours or more preparing.

PRINCE2 is a certification program offered by AXELOS. Different levels of certification are available.

• PRINCE2 Foundation is a beginner’s certification, used to access other PRINCE2 certifications. It consists of a 60-minute, 60-question, multiple-choice, closed-book exam, and there are no prerequisites for taking it. You need 33/60 = 55% to pass.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner is a certification that you’ll be able to apply to real projects. To be eligible, you need either the PRINCE2 Foundation or another PMI or IPMA certification (such as the PMP). The exam consists of 68 questions and you have 150 minutes available. It is open book and the official PRINCE2 manual can be used.
• PRINCE2 Agile is for managing projects combined with agile methodology. Two certifications are available: Foundation and Practitioner.

PMP and PRINCE2 offer different paths to similar outcomes: certification and PM techniques.

• PMP draws on the PMBOK Guide, a standard not a methodology. It details various processes and generally accepted techniques, making it more theoretical and a reference guide.
• PRINCE2 is a methodology with a detailed process model and templates, providing step-by-step instructions for organising and managing projects, making it more practical than the PMBOK Guide.

These frameworks differ enough to be complementary rather than competitive. You might consider doing both. PMP focuses on best practice guidance, while PRINCE2 is practical.

Managing projects is dynamic and challenging. It keeps you engaged. Each project is unique. Teams have diverse personalities. You learn, communicate, and solve problems constantly. Delivering well-executed projects brings satisfaction and recognition.

PMs who deliver on time, within budget, and scope — ensuring quality — often receive accolades, even press conferences and speaking engagements. Their work, creating something new or improved, adds extreme value to organisations.

The role's significant responsibility reflects in the pay. In Australia, Project Managers earn an average salary between $130,000 and $150,000. IT Project Managers earn between $135,000 and $155,000 annually, as per Seek job ads.

Sound technical skills are required to management projects well. On smaller projects, managers are expected to contribute technical expertise. On larger projects, you need an understanding of how different components are delivered.

The ability to make connections with people and maintain open communication channels is also essential. It's a coordination role after all.

Ultimately, you have to get things done. You should be energetic, and able to adapt to circumstances and find quick solutions to keep things on track.

Related: What Does a Project Manager Do in Australia?

Career opportunities may emerge in your industry naturally as you build experience. Even if they don't, you can gain an education or certifications and take other initiatives.

This discipline is one that you normally work your way into by becoming proficient in a related profession. Project managers are found in essentially all industries, including government services, finance and insurance, information technology, national defense, healthcare, engineering, construction, business services, energy and manufacturing.

If you have the necessary skills and qualities, opportunities to manage projects should emerge as your original career progresses.

By being a good worker who shows initiative, you can build credibility and gain extra responsibilities. It also helps to take on challenges and develop new skills. You can also go for coordination and assistant roles that better align with a PM career path.

Formal training gives you a competitive edge by demonstrating professional knowledge and a commitment to the discipline. Some people also start by doing non-commercial projects like managing a home construction build or starting a community website.

Related: How to Become a Project Manager in Australia

Academic qualifications (degrees and diplomas) carry value. You can distinguish yourself by earning all of the following credentials:

• a diploma or bachelor degree in your industry (e.g. Bachelor of Engineering)
• an academic qualification in project management (e.g. graduate diploma) and
• professional accreditation (e.g. AIPM, PMP or PRINCE2).

Job advertisements for project manager positions often don't mention qualifications. And professional experience is important. But you're still competing against other candidates and stronger formal qualifications can help you stand out and get ahead.