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Best management consultant certifications

The best certifications for a management consultant are Project Management Professional (PMP), IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL), and Six Sigma Green Belt.

Management consultant certifications demonstrate your competency as a management consultant to employers. However, not all management consultant certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best management consultant certifications. Obtaining a management consultant certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

20 best management consultant certifications

1. Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which you can competently practice project management.To be eligible for a PMP Credential, you must first meet specific educational and project management experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step to becoming a PMP is passing a rigorous multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, monitoring and controlling the project, closing the project, and professional and social responsibility. This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Project Management Certification Training + 2 Practice Exams
udemy
4
(144)

2. IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL)

The ITIL Foundations Certification course is designed for all IT service and support staff members. Whether you are just adopting ITIL or are working on continuous service improvement, you will gain a fundamental understanding of how IT service and support can be best organized to align IT with business needs, improve service quality, and reduce long-term costs. Course Benefits: 1) Gain an understanding of the ITIL framework and its relationship with the 10 foundational processes and Service Desk function, 2) Learn how ITIL processes can be utilized in any size organization, 3) Promote a common vision and language within the IT infrastructure.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? No

3. Six Sigma Green Belt

The IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB) is a professional who is well versed in the Lean Six Sigma Methodology who both leads or supports improvement projects, typically as a part-time role. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt possesses a thorough understanding of all aspects within the phases of D-M-A-I-C. They understand how to perform and interpret Six Sigma tools and how to use standard principles of Lean.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Six Sigma Green Belt
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Exam Practice Test
udemy
5
(280)

4. Certified Manager Certification (CM)

The Certified Manager Animal Resources (CMAR) certification program is designed to raise competency and professionalism in the field of Animal Resources Management. The CMAR designation involves a series of four examinations: three exams arranged via an organization called the Institute for Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), and the Animal Resources Exam offered by AALAS. Obtaining the CMAR designation is a sign of professionalism in the field of animal resources management.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 

5. Master Project Manager (MPM)

If you have 3+ years of Project Management Experience, you may apply for MPM™ Master Project Manager Board Certification.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
Master Project Manager
Certifying organization
American Academy of Project...
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Project Management Certification Training + 2 Practice Exams
udemy
4
(144)

6. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

7. Program Management Professional (PgMP)

Project Management Institute's newest credential is specifically developed to acknowledge the qualifications of the professional who leads the coordinated management of multiple projects and ensures the ultimate success of a program. You will benefit from the many advantages of this new designation. Candidates earning this credential will be internationally recognized as professionals with the knowledge and experience to make and implement the important decisions and accomplish the strategic objectives that enhance business results.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

8. Six Sigma Black Belt

The IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (ICBB) is a professional who is well versed in the Lean Six Sigma Methodology, who leads improvement projects, typically in a full-time role. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt possesses a thorough understanding of all aspects within the phases of D-M-A-I-C. They understand how to perform and interpret Six Sigma tools and how to use standard principles of Lean.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Six Sigma Black Belt
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Six Sigma: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Part 2) (Accredited)
udemy
4.7
(1,401)

9. ITIL Foundation

This LCS-accredited course outlines the ITIL best-practices framework and prepares the participant for the ITIL Foundation certification exam, a prerequisite for all other ITIL certifications. This course provides an understanding of the service lifecycle and processes as well as the best and common practices for IT service management.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying organization
HDI
Course that help you to prepare for certification
ITIL 4 Foundation Certification, 6 Exams Updated for 2023
udemy
4
(251)

10. Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)

Being a top marketer means continually enhancing your skills as well as highlighting your accomplishments. The American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) program gives you a tangible, convenient way to do both. You can earn the PCM designation by passing a comprehensive exam covering the key areas of marketing. Developed with input from hundreds of marketing experts, the PCM program meets strict national professional certification criteria and standards for excellence in marketing.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Marketing Association

11. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

By earning the Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR) certification you demonstrate that you have mastered the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR management as practiced in the United States. The credential is designed for the HR professional who plans, rather than implements, HR policy, focuses on the "big picture," has ultimate accountability in the HR department, has breadth and depth of knowledge in all HR disciplines and understands the business beyond the HR function and influences the overall organization.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

12. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

With experience, the RHIT credential holds solid potential for advancement to management positions, especially when combined with a bachelor's degree. Although most RHITs work in hospitals, they are also found in other healthcare settings including office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, and public health agencies. In fact, RHITs may be employed in any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

13. Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)

A Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) is a Certified Public Accountant recognized for his or her unique ability to provide business insight by leveraging knowledge of information relationships and supporting technologies.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

14. PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI)

PMI's Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® credential is a response to project management's increasing growth, complexity and diversity. Globally recognized and demanded, the PMI-RMP® fills the need for a specialist role in project risk management. It recognizes your unique expertise and competency in assessing and identifying project risks, mitigating threats and capitalizing on opportunities, while still possessing a baseline knowledge and practical application in all areas of project management.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Risk Management for PMI Certification
udemy
4.5
(642)

15. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

As project management grows in scope, importance and recognition, so do the related career and credential options available to you. The CAPM is designed for project team members and entry-level project managers, as well as qualified undergraduate and graduate students who want a credential to recognize their value to project team performance. A CAPM Credential can benefit professionals from all disciplines by demonstrating clear direction to their work and by gaining knowledge of project management processes and terminology.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
udemy
4.7
(396)

16. Certified Technology Manager (CTM)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 

17. Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

The Certified Construction Manager (CCM) is someone who has voluntarily met the prescribed criteria of the CCM program with regard to formal education, field experience and demonstrated capability and understanding of the CM body of knowledge.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

18. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

The CISA designation is a globally recognized certification for IS audit control, assurance and security professionals. Being CISA-certified showcases your audit experience, skills and knowledge, and demonstrates you are capable to manage vulnerabilities, ensure compliance and institute controls within the enterprise.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying organization
Information Systems Audit and...
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Technology Systems Auditing (Part 1 of 2)
udemy
4.6
(1,262)

19. Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)

Thousands of employers worldwide look for the CPIM designation when making critical hiring decisions. These companies know that CPIM designees have the proven knowledge and skills to strategically streamline operations.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

20. Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

HR professionals who implement policies and strategies, serve as point of contact for staff and stakeholders, deliver HR services, and perform operational HR functions, should take the SHRM-CP exam.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
Society for Human Resource...
Course that help you to prepare for certification
HR Analytics: HRM, HR Course 2023
udemy
4.2
(342)

What is the best certification for a management consultant?

The best management consultant certification is Project Management Professional (PMP). The Project Management Professional (PMP) is awarded by the Project Management Institute. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this management consultant certification:

  • To become a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 3 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for management consultants?

The most in-demand management consultant certification is Project Management Professional based on all active job postings. Having this management consultant certification will give you access to more management consultant jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a management consultant career and salary?

The IT Information Library Foundations Certification certification will help you to secure a senior project manager position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A senior project manager's average salary is $108,931 whereas management consultants make an average salary of $99,360.

Best certifications

The most common combination of management consultant certifications include: Project Management Professional (PMP), IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL), and Six Sigma Green Belt.

Online courses for management consultants to earn certifications

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Use Python, SQL and Statistics to advance your programming skills and refine your ability to work with messy, complex datasets...

4. Data Structures and Algorithms

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Get hands-on practice with over 80 data structures and algorithm exercises and guidance from a dedicated mentor to help prepare you for interviews and on-the-job scenarios...

5. Retail for Business Analysts and Management Consultants

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6. Project Management Office (PMO) for Management Consultants

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A practical guide on how to build and run PMO on the level of top consulting firm Mc Kinsey, BCG, Bain, Pw C...

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Discover if data is a career fit for you Regardless of your industry or role, fluency in the language of data analytics will allow you to contribute to data driven decision making. In this free, two-hour livestream, you’ll learn to understand, analyze, and interpret data so you too can join the data conversation. We’ll cover how to ask the right questions of your data and basic analytic functionality. Then you’ll apply your new found data analytic skills to a real-world dataset, allowing you...

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You will start by building data visualizations and dashboards, considering your audiences to be as effective as possible. Then, you’ll move into drafting presentations using storytelling techniques, visualizations, and animations to provide data-driven recommendations...

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Start your data science journey right with this hands-on introduction to the discipline of data analysis. In this course you'll learn the 5 key stages of the data analysis process and apply them to real data sets using Python libraries NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib...

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How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...

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Discover how data visualization can communicate insights far more effectively than text or tables. In this course, you’ll learn how to build data visualizations programmatically using Python, and how you can use visualization to both discover and convey trends in your data...

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Learn two of the most in-demand skills in the entire field of data science! By the end of this course, you’ll know how to generate personalized recommendations based on user data, as well as run statistically valid tests that produce clean, interpretable results...

14. Strategy for Management Consultants & Business Analysts

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Top advices from consulting practice with examples and case studies...

15. Performance Improvement Projects for Management Consultants

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A practical guide on how to conduct consulting projects on the level of Mc Kinsey, Bain, BCG, Pw C...

16. Business Analysis Fundamentals for Management Consultants

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A practical guide for Business Analysts and Management Consultants with exercises in Excel...

17. Supply Chain for Management Consultants & Business Analysts

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A practical guide how to improve supply chain in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel during consulting project...

18. Sales Analysis for Management Consultants

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A practical guide on how to improve sales and marketing of your customers during consulting projects like Mc Kinsey, BCG,...

19. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class

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12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...

20. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

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Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

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