Product management is an excellent skill to have if you’d like to break into tech without learning to code. You can become a product manager and help software teams streamline their production processes. Product management can help you advance to senior-level roles in tech companies.
According to PayScale, the average salary for software product managers is $98,773, which is much higher than normal. Discover how you can become a certified product manager with the bootcamp training, online courses, and flexible classes below.
What Is Product Management?
Product management (PM) is a strategic method within an organization that entails designing and executing plans to ensure the success of a particular product. A strategic product manager is accountable for supervising the development process and ensuring that all members of the product team adhere to corporate standards in order to meet goals and deadlines.
In addition, product managers explore market opportunities to develop efficient plans. They then ensure that all members of the product team follow that market strategy. Product managers should have excellent organizational skills, leadership skills, and knowledge of the tech world and processes within it.
Why Online Product Management Courses Are Important for Professional Development
Product management is a highly sought-after skill, and it’s not always taught in degree programs. In just a few months, you can expand your skillset and become more valuable to your current or potential employers by taking a product management course. A course or class will look good on your resume and prove your skills so you can get hired.
In an online product management course, you can work with actual products to learn about the product management lifecycle. There are courses of excellent quality that include access to an alumni community so you can network in the field. This is the perfect choice for busy professionals to learn every important aspect of product management.
Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn Product Management?
Yes, a coding bootcamp is one of the best ways to learn product management. A training program such as a course or a coding bootcamp can help you hone your skills and aspire better job opportunities in a leading role. The best project management bootcamps can teach you everything you need to know about these skills.
Overview: The Best Online Product Management Courses, Classes, and Training
In the following table, you will find a list of the best product management training programs, including courses, classes, and bootcamps. We chose them based on the outcomes, curriculum, and flexibility of the programs. All information below has been sourced from official course websites.
| Provider | Course | Price | Length | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley Executive Education | Product Management Studio | $3,750 | 8 weeks | Yes |
| BrainStation | Product Management Course Package | $3,250 | 5-10 weeks | Yes |
| Columbia Engineering | Product Management Boot Camp | $13,995-$14,995 | 18 weeks | Yes |
| General Assembly | Product Management Course | $3,950 | 10 weeks | Yes |
| Georgia Tech Boot Camps | Product Management Boot Camp | $8,995 | 18 weeks | Yes |
| Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management | Professional Certificate in Product Management | $6,500 | 6 months | Yes |
| Linky Product | Hands-on Product Management Online Bootcamp |
$1,499 | 9 weeks | Yes |
| Pluralsight | Exploring a Product Management Career | $399 per year | 1 hour | No |
| Product Faculty | Advanced Product Management Course | $4,500 | 7 weeks | Yes |
| Product Gym | Project Management Course | $6,000 | 45 days | Yes |
| Technosoft Academy | Product Management | $5,000 | 8-10 weeks | Yes |
| The Digital Academy | Digital Product Management Bootcamp | $600 | 1 day | Yes |
| UCLA Extension Boot Camps | Product Management Boot Camp | $10,495 | 18 weeks | Yes |
| University of Denver Boot Camps | Technology Project Management Boot Camp | $8,995 | 18 weeks | Yes |
| UT Austin Boot Camps | Product Management Boot Camp | $12,495 | 18 weeks | Yes |
In Detail: The Best Online Product Management Classes, Courses, or Training
Project Management Studio | Berkeley Executive Education
Learning Format: Online training
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: Data-driven decision-making, product ideas development, customer experience improvement
The University of California Berkeley Executive Education department provides a product management course conducted by industry experts. This program was designed for professionals in different areas who want to develop their leadership and organizational skills. This course is delivered entirely online and offers a certificate of completion.
Key Takeaway: This course is offered by a prestigious university and includes a digital certificate that you can use to enhance your online profiles.
Product Management Course Package | BrainStation
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Beginner
Subjects Covered: Minimum viable product, build-measure-learn, pivots, Agile methodologies, market plan
BrainStation’s product management program will help you use market analysis to identify sales opportunities, trends, and patterns. This course also covers fundamental PM topics like Agile practices and minimum viable product theories. It is a hands-on experience program that will prepare you to assume the role of a product manager in a matter of weeks.
Key Takeaway: This bootcamp program offers hands-on training from the comfort of your own home.
Product Management Boot Camp | Columbia Engineering
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: A/B testing, product analysis, SQL
This immersive product management course delves into essential elements of the product design and execution processes. You will learn about product analytics, feature prioritization, product marketing, and user stories. During this 18-week program, you will work on real-world projects to develop your product management skills.
Key Takeaway: This advanced program combines leadership training with technical skills such as SQL and data analysis.
Product Management Course | General Assembly
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Beginner to advanced
Subjects Covered: Agile methods, metrics monitoring, data analysis
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
This online product management program from General Assembly will help you prepare for real-world challenges in the workplace. You will explore the most popular and efficient Agile techniques and learn how to oversee metrics and analyze data. You can read reviews of General Assembly’s PM program to learn more details.
Key Takeaway: General Assembly’s flexible online program will help you go from beginner to expert.
Product Management Boot Camp | Georgia Tech Boot Camps
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: User story creation, product roadmap, product lifecycle management, cross-functional teams, SQL
This PM program by Georgia Tech Boot Camps is an intensive course that will help you develop the core skills you need in product management. You will learn about product analytics, A/B testing, and SQL. This program is offered entirely online, so you are not required to attend in-person classes.
Key Takeaway: This is an immersive program with a highly reputable certificate that will help you get a job in the field.
Professional Certificate in Product Management | Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: A/B testing, Google Analytics, competitive analysis, negotiation, product marketing plan execution
This bootcamp course offered by Northwestern University will help you understand PM core principles such as business analytics, Agile methodology, and product marketing plan execution. This program also includes hands-on projects from industry experts, allowing you to practice as you go.
Key Takeaway: The capstone project in this program will look great on your resume, especially because it’s from a university program.
Hands-on Product Management Online Bootcamp | Linky Product
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Beginner
Subjects Covered: Role positioning, product design, Agile and Scrum methodology
This nine-week online training program in project management will provide you immediate access to training resources in topics like Scrum, product design, MPV, and Agile methodologies. You will also learn in an interactive environment that simulates real-life classrooms.
Key Takeaway: This program from Linky Product offers a verified certificate of completion for your resume.
Exploring a Product Management Career | Pluralsight
Learning Format: Online course
Level: Beginners
Subjects Covered: Product discovery
Pluralsight offers a short product management course covering fundamental topics like product discovery, popular frameworks, and data science. This program is self-paced and includes interactive practices. It only takes an hour to complete, and your Pluralsight membership will give you access to many other courses as well.
Key Takeaway: This short course from Pluralsight is perfect for beginners and busy people.
Advanced Product Management Course | Product Faculty
Learning Format: Online course
Level: Advanced
Subjects Covered: User psychology, product strategy, metrics management, product features
This short-term course is designed for experienced product managers seeking career advancement. This program delves into advanced PM fundamentals using a practical approach. Additionally, you will collaborate with your team on a capstone project to develop real-world strategies.
Key Takeaway: If you already have a job in product management and you want to advance your skills, this course is a great choice.
Project Management Course | Product Gym
Learning Format: Online Program
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: Strategy application, negotiation, product management interviews, case studies
Product Gym’s flagship program is focused on providing comprehensive PM training. In 45 days, you will learn the most fundamental principles of digital product management. This includes acquisition strategy, Agile teams, product prototyping, and other ways to bring products to life.
Key Takeaway: This career-oriented training program will give you all the skills and tools you need to succeed in product management.
Product Management | Technosoft Academy
Learning Format: Online course
Level: Beginner
Subjects Covered: Analytics, testing, release management
Technosoft offers an online eight-week or 10-week program that will help you in developing a solid foundation in the product management field. This course will also teach you how to use high-end software to manage PM operations. It includes three projects that will allow you to put your newly acquired skills into practice in the real world.
Key Takeaway: Technosoft’s online course gives you tangible projects to show to prospective employers.
Digital Product Management Bootcamp | The Digital Academy
Learning Format: Online class
Level: Beginner
Subjects Covered: Market viability, business cases, product opportunity identification
This is a short training program provided by the Digital Academy that will give an introduction to product management. You will study the fundamentals of PM, such as frameworks, digital marketing, product cases, and market viability. This product management training course will give you critical skills in only a day.
Key Takeaway: This option from the Digital Academy is a short course that could help you decide whether product management is the career for you.
Product Management Boot Camp | UCLA Extension Boot Camps
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: Feature prioritization, SQL, product lifecycle, story creation
UCLA Extension offers bootcamps as part of Trilogy Education Services and offers different programs in programming and cyber security. The product management course will teach you core skills such as A/B testing, product idea development, and analytics. Graduates from this program become project managers, product marketing managers, and even technical mentors.
Key Takeaway: This program from UCLA combines technical and non-technical skills to prepare you for a successful career in product management.
Product Management Boot Camp | University of Denver Boot Camps
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: Software development lifecycle, Agile methodologies, Scrum framework, hybrid product management
This 18-week program offered by the University of Denver Boot Camps is a part-time program that will teach you about the fundamentals of product management. This option has an emphasis on software development. You will learn about the product development process using the Agile and Scrum frameworks.
Key Takeaway: This university-level bootcamp will train you in product management in a part-time format.
Product Management Boot Camp | UT Austin Boot Camps
Learning Format: Online bootcamp
Level: Intermediate
Subjects Covered: Product roles, Agile methodologies, business goals
This PM training program prepares students to become product management professionals by teaching them fundamental concepts such as prioritization, Scrum, product vision, Agile, and SQL. You will also learn how to transform raw data into insights by using data analytics. It is a hands-on experience program with a part-time schedule.
Key Takeaway: This program can prepare you for a professional product management certification to help you get a job in the field.
Online Product Management Classes, Training, or Courses: Which Is the Right Option?
There are multiple product management training programs available if you’re interested in becoming a product manager. You can enroll in an online course, a bootcamp, or a massive open online course (MOOC). This depends on your career goals and your previous education. You can read below to learn how to choose the best program for you.
How to Choose the Right Online Product Management Course, Class, or Training Program
Certificates
Not all training resources provide a certificate of completion. If you want a certificate, you can look into bootcamp courses or paid online training programs. A certificate is one of the best ways to prove to employers that you completed a program and have all the skills you need to be a successful product manager.
Schedule and Format
If you are a busy person, you may prefer a more flexible option, such as a part-time coding bootcamp or a self-paced training program. This way, you’ll be able to learn at your own pace and enjoy the experience without having to sacrifice other activities. You should also work on a real-world project and get experience with development teams.
Level of Difficulty
Some people simply want to learn the foundations of product management to understand what it’s like to work in this field. If you’re one of them and you’d like to get a basic understanding of PM, it may be a good idea to start with an introductory course and then progress to something more advanced as you gain new skills.
Product Management Course Certificates vs Certifications
It is important to know the distinction between professional certifications and certificates. You can get a certificate from one of the courses above, but you can only get a professional certification after passing an exam from a specific organization. For example, you can get a certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Importance of Product Management Certifications
A product management certification is an industry-recognized credential that authenticates your skills and experience in PM. They are provided by industry-leading third-party validators. Having a professional certification is a great way to stand out from others in the job market and add more value to your resume.
Why You Should Take Online Product Management Courses or Classes
If you already have experience in the product development process but want to take a leadership role, you should enroll in online product management training. It is very common to see software engineers enter the world of management if they have good leadership and organization skills.
Along with bootcamps like Product School and Product Gym, online courses are the best way to learn product management and experience the product life cycle. You’ll be able to build a professional network and connect with current product managers to learn about the field. If you want to work in Silicon Valley or another tech hub, you should try one of these courses.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
