Top 12 business process management certifications for 2025
These certifications and courses can help you gain the specialized knowledge you need to bolster your credentials and marketability as a BPM professional.
One unique element of the technology industry is that it does not demand formal education and is open to self-taught professionals. Many industry leaders -- Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, for example -- never finished college, and more than a few top programmers -- such as John Carmack -- are self-taught.
However, the one thing they all have in common -- besides lacking a degree -- is they all started their own businesses. For those not feeling the entrepreneurial spirit, getting a job with an established organization might require more formal education. And nothing says education like an industry certification. Whether the position is in security, IT management or business process management (BPM), the right certifications can open doors.
In addition, professionals with a BPM certification earn approximately 20% more than those who are not certified; a BPM-certified professional earns in the low six figures, while a noncertified professional's salary is in the high $90,000 range.
There are four primary reasons to take a certification program:
- Credibility. Certification from a well-regarded school, program or course offers proof of your expertise and is a prestigious credential that shows your commitment to the job. Top certifications from accredited schools provide validation that you have been trained and educated in the right skills for a particular industry.
- Marketability. Having a certification in a specific field can help you stand out in a competitive market. While a self-taught individual can be quite knowledgeable, employers naturally gravitate toward someone with a Certified Information Systems Security Professional certificate, for example.
- Staying current. Technology is always evolving, so many programs require recertification on an annual or regular basis. Learning current tech increases your value to an employer and separates you from the competition.
- Increased earning potential. BPM-certified professionals earn, on average, 20% more than their noncertified counterparts.
What is a BPM certification?
Business process management employs methods to discover, model, analyze, measure, improve, and optimize business strategy and processes.
BPM is broader and more involved than simple task and project management. Task or project management focuses on individual tasks, while BPM observes, analyzes and upgrades the process from end to end. Project management refers to a one-time project, while BPM focuses on processes that are repeatable and can be used from one project to the next -- with the processes tweaked and modified as needed.
Many organizations offer BPM training and certification, but their education processes vary. A best practice is to evaluate offerings from the biggest associations, such as the BPM Institute and the Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) International.
BPM certification also helps employers define job objectives, evaluate candidates, assess employee performance, and motivate employees to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Business process management certification courses
The following 12 certification programs offer online classes and in-person tutoring at local education centers. Tests are also administered online and in person. Most classes offer video on demand, so you can download and watch lectures at your own pace.
1. ABPMP International
Course details/course(s) offered: ABPMP International offers the Certified Business Process Associate (CBPA), Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP) and Certified Business Process Leader (CBPL).
Who should take this course: Anyone wanting a career in BPM.
Requirements:
- CBPA: 1,250 hours of documented working experience in a business process-related area or a four-year qualifying university degree, complete application, pass exam and sign ABPMP code of ethics.
- CBPP: Four to 10 years of business process experience, six months credit for other certifications, complete application and pass exam.
- CBPL: 10 years of business process experience, five years of business transformation project management, CBPP certification and six months credit for other certifications, complete application and pass exam.
2. Six Sigma Belts
Course details/course(s) offered: The certifications validate varied levels of skill in Six Sigma, ranked by martial arts-style colored belts with different assignments. They are as follows:
- Master Black Belt: Trains and coaches Black Belts and Green Belts.
- Black Belt: Leads problem-solving projects, trains and coaches project teams.
- Brown Belt: Brown Belt is not traditionally used in Six Sigma and is not recognized by most organizations or accrediting agencies. However, some organizations might classify a person as a Brown Belt if they have a Green Belt and passed the Black Belt certification exam, but haven't completed a second Six Sigma project.
- Green Belt: Assists with data collection and analysis for Black Belt projects.
- Yellow Belt: Participates as a project team member.
- White Belt: Entry level. Can work on local problem-solving teams that support overall projects, but might not be part of a Six Sigma project team.
Who should take this course: Anyone looking to improve organizational operation, reduce errors, improve compliance and rise to a management position.
Requirements: Web-based or in-person exam from Council for Six Sigma Certification and achieve a minimum score of 70%.
3. ITIL 4 Foundation
Course details/course(s) offered: ITIL Foundation offers ITIL Specialist, ITIL Strategist, ITIL Leader and ITIL Master certifications.
Who should take this course: Any professionals working within an organization, or alongside an IT department, that has adopted the ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) framework; professionals who want to understand ITIL better; non-IT workers who want to learn ITIL and anyone wishing to be certified in IT service management.
Requirements: 17 hours over three weeks of instruction.
4. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Certification
Course details/course(s) offered: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification is a professional certification offered by the Project Management Institute. It teaches you Agile practices, principles and tools. The PMI-ACP certification validates an individual's ability to apply Agile principles and practices to successfully manage projects.
PMI offers several resources including study guides and practice tests. Candidates are also encouraged to take an Agile Certified Practitioner training course from an accredited provider. The test costs $495 for non-PMI members and $435 for members. There might also be a fee for taking a training course if one is chosen to prepare for the exam.
Who should take this course: Any manager looking for certification in Agile.
Requirements: To qualify for the PMI-ACP exam, candidates must have either a secondary degree (high school diploma or equivalent) or 2,000 hours of general project experience within the past five years. In addition, 1,500 hours of Agile project experience within the past three years is required.
5. Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
Course details/course(s) offered: The CBAP certification training course features 13 online lessons taken at your speed.
Who should take this course: Anyone looking for a career path with specialized knowledge of the technology industry.
Requirements: 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience in the last 10 years, 900 hours of which should be in four out of the six Business Analysis Body of Knowledge Guide Version 3 knowledge areas. You also need a minimum of 35 hours of professional development in the past four years and must provide two references.
6. Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
Course details/course(s) offered: The CITP training program offers 20 hours of continuing professional development, half of which are structured learning activities approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy or a legally constituted state authority; up to half can be unstructured or nontraditional.
Who should take this course: Certified public accountants (CPAs) looking to bridge business and technology and looking for training and experience in IT assurance, risk, security and privacy, analytics and technology.
Requirements: CPA license in good standing and Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) membership. You must have at least 1,000 hours of experience working on IT projects in the past five years and complete 75 hours of continuing professional development courses.
The CITP Exam is a four-hour computer-based exam composed of multiple-choice questions. The exam fee is $400 for AICPA members and $500 for nonmembers.
7. Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Course details/course(s) offered: The CSPO course is a two-day certification course that teaches students to guide their teams and build successful products at Agile speed, while creating customer satisfaction.
Who should take this course: Product owners looking to decide what an Agile team will create next to deliver more value to the customer.
Requirements: A two-day (16-hour) in-person course or a 14- to 16-hour live virtual course. Cost depends on virtual or in-person classes, ranging from $299 to $795 for online to as much as $1,250 for in-person training as of December 2024.
8. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Course details/course(s) offered: The CMA exam comes in two parts, with 150 to 170 recommended hours of study per part. Study includes planning and budgeting, performance analysis and management, investment decisions and financial reporting.
Who should take this course: Accountants looking to learn the "why" behind financial figures. Unlike most certifications, CMA designation holds global recognition, making it valuable for accountants who want to work outside the U.S.
Requirements: 12 to 18 months to complete both parts, on average, with up to three years allowed to complete both parts. Additionally, there is a two-part test covering 12 competencies.
9. PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Certifications
Course details/course(s) offered: PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments) is a process-based approach for project management. It is recognized as one of the most popular project management methodologies worldwide and is used extensively in both the public and private sectors.
The PRINCE2 Foundation certification provides an introduction to the PRINCE2 methodology, including its principles, processes, themes and techniques. The PRINCE2 Practitioner certification builds on the knowledge acquired during the Foundation course by focusing on how to tailor and apply PRINCE2 within a specific project environment.
Who should take this course: Current and aspiring project managers as well as other key staff involved in project management.
Requirements: 12 hours to complete Foundation, 20 hours to complete Practitioner, either online or in classrooms. It typically takes about two months to complete both certifications, depending on study time commitment and availability of exams or assessments.
10. AWS Certified Security - Specialty
Course details/course(s) offered: This certificate offers advanced knowledge on cloud security and the skills to secure the AWS platform. The certification validates a practitioner's abilities in managing AWS security, identity and compliance; AWS architecting; and AWS security engineering. It also demonstrates your expertise in AWS-based data classifications, protection mechanisms and secure internet protocols, among others.
Who should take this course: Anyone with at least five years of IT security experience in designing and implementing security solutions, and two or more years of hands-on experience in securing AWS workloads.
Requirements: Five years of experience designing and implementing IT security solutions, two years of experience in securing AWS workloads, and basic knowledge of security controls for AWS workloads. Exam prep includes two exam study guides.
11. Lean Business Process Management Change Skills
Course details/course(s) offered: The course helps professionals learn Lean business processes to improve efficiency. Lean businesses are those that operate with maximum efficiency and minimal waste of effort.
Who should take this course: Any manager looking to reduce waste associated with a project.
Requirements: Applicants must be involved in a business at a supervisory level or above and need a basic understanding of business principles. Five sections, 21 lectures, two hours and 26 minutes total length.
12. Google Professional Cloud Architect
Course details/course(s) offered: The Google Professional Cloud Architect exam certifies your ability to design and plan cloud architectures; develop, manage and provision cloud infrastructure; design for security and compliance; analyze and optimize technical and business processes; and maintain reliable infrastructure and operations. Training and an exam guide with a list of topics that might be on the test are offered.
Who should take this course: Any manager looking to advance their skills in Google Cloud.
Requirements: At least three years in the industry. At least one of these years needs to include solution design and management with Google Cloud.
Andy Patrizio is a technology journalist with almost 30 years' experience covering Silicon Valley who has worked for a variety of publications on staff or as a freelancer, including Network World, InfoWorld, Business Insider, Ars Technica and InformationWeek. He is currently based in Southern California.
