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How popular isProject Management Professional?

In September 2026, people searched for Project Management Professional by name about 9,900 times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 10.7% of all global project management certification searches, placing Project Management Professional sixth out of nine certifications. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about project management certifications, Project Management Professional appeared in four of the five answers and was the most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Project Management Professional is the sixth most searched of 9 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Google Project Management CertificateShare of searches 24%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  2. Scrum AllianceShare of searches 19.5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. PRINCE2Share of searches 16%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. Certified Associate in Project ManagementShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. Project Management ProfessionalShare of searches 10.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

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Top project management certifications in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Project Management Professional was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Project Management Professional is the most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Project Management Professional1st
  2. PRINCE22nd
  3. Certified Associate in Project Management3rd
  4. Google Project Management Certificate4th
  5. PMI5th
  6. Scrum Alliance–
  7. APM–
  8. EXIN–
  9. Axelos–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • PRINCE25 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Project Management Professional4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Project Management Certificate3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Certified Associate in Project Management3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • PMI3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Scrum Alliance0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • APM0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • EXIN0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Axelos0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about project management certifications

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which project management certifications compete with Project Management Professional?

Project Management Professional against project management certifications worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Project Management Certificate, Scrum Alliance, PRINCE2, Certified Associate in Project Management, PMI, Project Management Professional, APM. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle Project Management CertificateScrum AlliancePRINCE2Certified Associate in Project ManagementPMIProject Management ProfessionalAPMEXINAxelos
Oct 202522%22%14.7%14.7%9.8%9.8%6.6%0.26%0.09%
Nov 202522.9%22.9%15.3%12.5%10.2%10.2%5.6%0.22%0.09%
Dec 202522.3%22.3%14.9%14.9%9.9%9.9%5.4%0.26%0.11%
Jan 202624.6%20.2%16.5%13.5%11%9%4.9%0.16%0.08%
Feb 202622.8%18.7%15.2%18.7%10.2%8.3%5.6%0.22%0.22%
Mar 202630.1%16.5%13.5%16.5%9%9%4.9%0.24%0.24%
Apr 202623.2%19%15.5%15.5%10.4%10.4%5.7%0.18%0.09%
May 202627.4%15%12.2%22.4%10%8.2%4.5%0.22%0.14%
Jun 202631.6%14.1%11.5%21.1%9.4%7.7%4.2%0.16%0.07%
Jul 202634%15.2%12.4%15.2%8.3%10.2%4.5%0.14%0.08%
Aug 202627%18%14.8%14.8%9.9%9.9%5.4%0.21%0.07%
Sep 202624%19.5%16%13.1%10.7%10.7%5.8%0.18%0.08%

  1. 1.Google Project Management Certificate

    24%

    Held 1st. 22.2K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -3.1 points.

  2. 2.Scrum Alliance

    19.5%

    Held 2nd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.

  3. 3.PRINCE2

    16%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  4. 4.Certified Associate in Project Management

    13.1%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.

  5. 5.PMI

    10.7%

    Held 5th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  6. 6.Project Management Professional

    10.7%

    Held 6th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  7. 7.APM

    5.8%

    Held 7th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  8. 8.EXIN

    0.18%

    Held 8th. 170 estimated branded searches, -19% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Axelos

    0.08%

    Held 9th. 70 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Project Management Professional and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Project Management Professional

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Project Management Professional changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Project Management Professional worldwide fell from 12.1K to 9.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Project Management Professional’s share of searches among project management certifications worldwide increased from 9.8% to 10.7%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Project Management Professional’s share of searches among project management certifications worldwide peaked at 10.7% in September 2026 and was lowest at 7.7% in June 2026.

How did search popularity change for project management certifications worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, PRINCE2 overtook Certified Associate in Project Management to rank 3rd among project management certifications worldwide, with 16% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Scrum Alliance gained share of searches among project management certifications worldwide, from 18% to 19.5%.

  3. In September 2026, PMI gained share of searches among project management certifications worldwide, from 9.9% to 10.7%.

  4. In September 2026, Project Management Professional gained share of searches among project management certifications worldwide, from 9.9% to 10.7%.

  5. In September 2026, Google Project Management Certificate lost share of searches among project management certifications worldwide, from 27% to 24%.

  6. In September 2026, Certified Associate in Project Management lost share of searches among project management certifications worldwide, from 14.8% to 13.1%.

How are Project Management Professional’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Project Management Professional’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • project management professional

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