Technology

How to become an IT Project Manager

From it specialist: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

3–6 years

Typical pay

$92k–$125k

Starting from

IT specialist

The steps

1. 1

   Come from a technical role

   Managing developers without technical grounding rarely goes well.

   2–4 years

2. 2

   Learn agile and traditional delivery

   Scrum in practice, plus enough waterfall for enterprise clients.

   2–4 months

   Course that covers thisPMP Practice Tests 2026: Project Management ProfessionalUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   Run a real project

   Take a small one end to end. This is what the certification asks you to evidence.

   1 year

4. 4

   Get PMP or a Scrum credential

   PMP needs documented project hours; CSM is a faster first step.

   PMP or CSM

Course links are Udemy affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Licences and exams named above are issued by state boards and certifying bodies we have no relationship with; we list them because they are what the job actually requires.