Do you need a Project Manager Degree in 2025?

Many of you are asking yourself if a Project Manager degree is needed. Short answer NO and I’m here to show you how I did it. In this article, I’ll break down the two essential steps you need to take to transition into this role—gaining the right experience and demonstrating your skills to employers.

The Demand for Project Managers is Higher Than Ever

My personal experience since I’ve been looking to transition into this role is a steady increase in openings year after year.

The U.S. Gov – Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% steady increase in the openings until 2033, which is way more than the average when compered to other roles.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), 25+ million new project management roles will be needed globally by 2030.

So what does that mean for you? Is a Project Manager Degree needed?

The demand is more than the offering, so Employers are willing to forfeit a project Manager Degree, like a Bachelors Degree, in exchange with relevant experience or key skills.

That is the strategy we will focus on in this articles, how to gain and showcase both the experience and skills that make you a strong candidate, without needing to worry about whether you have a Project Management degree.

But first I will share my story on how I became a Project manager without a degree.

How I Became a Project Manager Without a Degree

It was 2017, and I was 26 years old, working an entry-level job for the past three years. Let’s just say the future didn’t look bright for me. I attended university while pursuing my career, starting later and finishing my final year just a year before that moment.

I did not finished my studies so I decided to double down on my career. I began scouring Google for advice. All I found was a basic understanding of the role.

I reached out to my sister (she was already a PM at that point), and she guided me like a career coach every step of the way.

My first career move involved doing the same job but within a PMO department. We identified an opening and I seized it. She helped me prep for that interview.

A year later, in 2018, I aimed for a leadership position within the department, and I achieved it. A PMO role plus leadership experience formed the foundation I needed. I pursued certifications and accomplished objectives outside my current role to ensure I could get the Project Manager position I wanted.

All I needed was time.

However, careers aren’t linear. COVID-19 hit just when I was ready for my next steps. I made parallel moves and worked as an interim PM in different roles. Finally, in 2022, I landed my first official PM role.

As you can see from my experience, becoming a Project Manager without a degree is more than possible—it’s a matter of timing and strategy. With the demand for Project Managers outpacing the supply, employers are more focused on the skills and experience you bring than on your formal education. That’s why, in this article, we’ll dive into the practical steps you can take to build those skills and demonstrate your value to employers.

Step 1: Gain Experience & Skill that outshines the Project Manager Degree

Here’s how you can get started: Gain the Right Experience

Say “Yes” to New Tasks: when your manager offers what seems like extra work—asking yourself a few key questions can reveal that this is actually a project management task in disguise.

You can look to expand your current role with tasks in project management that intrigue you, these are disguised as tasks most people shy away from. Taking on these responsibilities not only sets you apart but also provides learning opportunities.

Action Plan 1: Say “Yes” to the Right Tasks

Before you say ”Yes” ask yourself these 5 Questions:

Does this activity resemble a project?

• Is there a clear goal or outcome?
• Is there a need for coordination between different people or teams?

Does this activity benefit a larger group?

• Does it involve solving a problem that affects multiple people?
• Will it require me to communicate or collaborate across different teams?

Does it have a timeline, and does it involve planning?

• Do I need to create a structured plan to ensure success?
• Will I have to manage resources (time, people, or tools) effectively?

Does it help me develop project management skills?

• Am I organizing or prioritizing tasks?
• Does it require me to track progress and make adjustments along the way?

Do I have a certain degree of independence?

• Am I making decisions that impact the outcome?
• Do I have the flexibility to define how the work gets done?

If you can say yes to even one of these questions—Go for it!

Early on, you need to say yes more than no because you’re still figuring out what you’re good at. Plus, you’re young—you don’t know any better! Worst case? You make mistakes and learn.

The key is to take the opportunity now and along the way figure out how to showcase the skills and experience.

Action Plan 2: Volunteer for Tasks

If your manager does not offer you any assignments you can look to create opportunities yourself.

I volunteered to become the Champion for a CRM tool that many avoided. I reached out to a specialist within the company to learn how they got involved with the tool. They mentioned that they were actually looking for more people to support the rollout and that, with my manager’s approval, I could contribute. After gaining some understanding, I approached my manager and got the green light to participate.

This led to me becoming the go-to person for questions about the tool, giving me hands-on project management experience, such as:

• Hold presentations, where I shared insights and best practices with my colleagues.
• Negotiated updates with the vendor to ensure our team’s needs were met
• Plan the training calendar to onboard team members effectively.

This role helped me develop key skills like:

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Leadership

By volunteering for tasks others avoid, you’ll stand out and gain real-world experience without the need for a Project Manager Degree.

Step 2: Demonstrate Skill & Experience

Here’s how you can get started: frame your work so that it aligns with project management skills and responsibilities

In this step we are not just trying to: Prep for an Interview.

It is a habit, all about constantly showing your skills—first to yourself, then to everyone else.

• If you believe you’re doing PM work, it will show, and others will see it too.

• If you’re always assessing what you’re doing, you’ll know exactly where you stand.

• If you keep the big picture in mind, you won’t get lost or sidetracked.

This isn’t just something you think about when prepping for an interview—it’s a habit. Make every task an opportunity to prove (to yourself and others) that you’re already doing project management.

Even if external opportunities don’t come your way, you’re internally positioning yourself for a future promotion that aligns with your goals. With each step, you’re gradually becoming a Project Manager.

By doing this you are transforming your current role beyond the default JD your manager assigned.

Action Plan: Use ChatGPT as a Personal Assistant

1. Copy 10 Project management JD’s from Linkedin into ChatGpt
2. Copy your CV with the responsibilities you currently handle
3. Use this Prompt:

”I want you to look over the details in the job and tell me if I have any relevant experience and skills. Additionally I want you to give me 3 more skills and perhaps roles I could have my eye on further developing based on what you notice I am lacking when compared to the job requirements. Provide this as a comprehensive report I can use as a one pager”

This is the report it gave me based on my experience prior to the PM roles:

Why The Report Works

• It shows your Strengths -> Double down on these
• It shows your Weaknesses -> Exposes Blind Areas
• Gives personalized next steps -> Plan your next career move

My Results:

1. I followed the next steps by acquiring: relevant certifications.
2. And my next job was as an Analyst, followed by a PMO role.

By consistently positioning yourself this way, you’ll stand out, build confidence, and naturally transition into a Project Manager role.

Conclusion

Just because you don’t have a Project Manager Degree, don’t rush to say ”Yes” to tasks your manager offers or to identified opportunities to volunteer. Make sure to:

• Ask the 5 Questions to evaluate if you Will gain the right experience.
• Use the Chat GPT Report to evaluate if you Made the right choices and to Plan your next career move.

Regardless of whether you volunteer or your manager offers an opportunity, take the initiative. Find ways to contribute, start today.

If you have an upcoming interview check out: