When you sign up for a PMP course, you’ll get your certificate and a name tag that identifies you as a PMP (practitioner) certified. However, what if you want to work in the industry but you don’t have the PMI or ACP credentials? Don’t worry; you can still become a certified practitioner without taking any PMP courses or passing an exam. Here’s how:

Take classes online. Yes, you can study at home during the hours you have to work. This allows you to fit your PMP course around your other life activities like family, work, and school. You’ll also save money because you won’t have to pay for classroom tuition.

Join a study group. If you’ve already taken and passed the PMP exams, you may be able to find a local study group that meets on a weekly basis. These groups usually meet once or twice a week, so you’ll have plenty of time to study and refresh. You can also meet at local coffee shops or library locations.

Attend online courses. Online study groups are also a great way to get certified as a PMP. You can study at your own pace with no set schedule and no set class times. However, some online groups have study groups with prerequisites such as certain software or certain skills. So, it depends on the group and the course you’re studying whether you can get certification there.

Get certified by another organization. One option is to get certified by PMI itself. They do have their own online site with plenty of information about becoming a PMP. However, they don’t endorse any particular training companies, so it’s hard to tell which ones are legitimate. So, you might want to look elsewhere for your PMP certification.

Take the PMP practice exams. You can get practice exams for most of the exams on the PMP website. You can also contact the vendor for more detailed information. The PMP practice exams will help you prepare for the real thing. So, it’s worth taking even if you don’t feel you have a good understanding of what the PMP exams will involve.

Join a training program. It’s not uncommon for companies to offer PMP training online or to offer a PMP certification to get people interested in the field. Some of these programs will cost you money but many are supported by industry leaders and they’ll help you get the skills you need to be a great PMP.

Look for other ways. If you’re feeling discouraged because you think you can’t get certified as a PMP, you might want to consider becoming a PMP consultant. This way, even if you feel you can’t get your foot in the door with the PMPs, you can still do the same thing as someone who has certification. With consultants, you get to work on and off site with the company. And when you have a chance, you can present your case to the board for certification. Just remember, you’ll still have to get hands-on experience before you get your Certified Practitioner designation.

Look online. While it might seem easier to just find a list of online classes, don’t underestimate the value of actually taking an online class on PMP courses. There are many reasons you might want to study online, whether it’s to save time or to get more affordable prices. Many people find that taking an online course helps them stay up to speed with their career and gives them the information they need to get a certification. Taking this step also shows employers that you know what you’re talking about and shows them that you’re committed to your profession. Online courses are often cheaper than traditional classroom courses, which is another reason you may want to consider this route.

Get hands-on training. It may seem counter-intuitive to consider hands-on training when you’re looking to get a PMP certification, but it’s really not. A good training program will help you understand the materials and understand how to apply them. Hands-on learning gives you confidence and the ability to apply what you’ve learned in a real world situation. This will help you get the most out of any training, whether online or in a classroom setting.

Know your goals. When you know what you want out of the course, you’ll have an easier time finding a program that will help you get there. If you want to become an AMP then you’ll need to take a course that covers that topic, for example. If you’re interested in a different area like data quality or strategic management, then you’ll need a different PMP course. A good training program will help you make the right choices before you start your certification training.

You’ll want to make sure that whichever course you take that it covers what you’re trying to accomplish. This is especially important if you’re pursuing PMP certification for the first time, since you’ll probably be learning new skills that you don’t know anything about yet. If you do all the research you can, you should be able to get the very best training available, whether you’re trying to get started on your career or you’re just looking to improve your skills.