Here's how to make the most of OPEN
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1
Create an account
Setting up an account is free. It allows you to track your progress through the course.
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2
Get started
You will get an accredited certificate of completion for each Unit and Module you complete. The whole course takes about 30 hours.
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3
Get certified
The level at which you certify will depend on how many years of project experience you have.
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Validate and share
Your certificates of completion and official certification can be validated and shared online.
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit recognizes excellence in project management knowledge. Certification holders who attain an overall grade of 100% in the OPEN quizzes will be automatically entered into the Center for Project Innovation's Order of Merit.
About OPEN
OPEN is the online learning portal for the Center for Project Innovation. It's also the most comprehensive, free-to-access project management resource hub available online.
We've made our learning materials free-to-access because we believe in creating opportunities for people and making project teams a better place to be.
We're funded by students and organizations who choose to 'make it official' and elevate their learning experience with professional certification with us.
Get Started
Register for OPEN
Take a moment to create your account. This will give you free access to our learning materials and allow you to track your progress towards certification. Access to OPEN will always be free.
Register now
Questions answered
How hard is OPEN?
OPEN is designed to be clear and practical.
We do not dumb the content down by removing important ideas—we instead make it easier to understand.
Lessons are short and focused, using simple language and supported by a robust glossary of key terms to help learners and make translation easy.
Students can also learn at their own pace, repeat quizzes as many times as needed, and access all digital content permanently through their OPEN account.
This includes any notes or updates they make during the course. Our goal is to challenge learners in a way that builds real skills without unnecessary complexity.
What project management methodology do you teach?
We do not teach a single, prescriptive project management methodology.
Our experience across diverse global industries shows that organizations inevitably adapt and develop their own frameworks to suit their unique environments.
Rather than focusing on rote memorization of formulas or rigid process maps, we emphasize critical thinking and practical application.
Using proven good practices drawn from leading methodologies—such as PMBOK, PRINCE2, PM², Agile, and others—we equip practitioners to creatively evaluate and apply what works best for their projects and operating context.
Tell me more about OPEN…
OPEN stands for Online Project Education.
It’s our proprietary online learning platform designed to deliver contemporary project management education through an innovative microlearning approach.
Microlearning consists of short, focused lessons—typically 3–5 minutes—each targeting a specific learning outcome. This reduces cognitive load, making knowledge easy to access, revisit, and apply.
Rather than promoting rigid adherence to any single methodology, OPEN emphasizes good practice principles to help practitioners optimize performance and develop critical thinking skills.
OPEN follows a lifecycle approach with 12 online units, each featuring 10 topics and 2–5 microlessons per topic, covering all aspects of modern project management.
It serves as an active learning repository that is continually updated by our global working group of industry and academic advisory groups.
Each topic includes a dynamic quiz drawn from a question bank of over 1,200 questions using multiple formats.
Learners can attempt quizzes unlimited times, and those achieving 80% or higher across all quizzes are eligible to be admitted to the Center of Project Innovation as a Certified Project Officer (CPO)—a foundation-level certification that can articulate into advanced certifications.
Exceptional certification holders scoring 100% overall are recognized in our Order of Merit.
OPEN is available as a free, self-paced resource, typically requiring around 30 hours for full completion. Learners can progress linearly or use it as a reference tool long after certification. It also underpins our instructor-led training—both face-to-face and online—and all content is downloadable for offline use.
What recognition do I get for completing OPEN?
OPEN provides recognition at two levels:
- Unit-level microcredentials – Each unit you complete earns a digital award that demonstrates your knowledge of that topic.
- Module-level certificates – Completing all topics within a module earns you a certificate for that module.
There is no single certificate for the entire OPEN program. To earn a formal credential, you should complete the certification process.
Note, too, that entry into the Center for Project Innovation’s Order of Merit is only available to certification holders.
Do I need to complete OPEN to get certified?
You are welcome to use formal training from another provider to meet the 30-hour knowledge requirement for certification. However, you must submit clear evidence of that training as part of your application.
The Center for Project Innovation may also contact your course provider to verify these details or confirm your successful completion.
Please ensure your submission is clear, complete, and from a recognized project management education provider.
What are the minimum browser and computer requirements for OPEN?
If you can read and access this page, you can access OPEN and all our learning resources.
The platform is mobile-friendly, disability web standards compliant, and designed for easy use on most modern devices.
We also welcome feedback to improve accessibility and user experience.
How do I migrate my account from the Institute of Project Management?
In December 2023, the Institute of Project Management became the Center for Project Innovation.
Your OPEN progress and certifications from IPM can be migrated to the Center for Project Innovation by following the instructions below.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Get started
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