Top courses to gain mastery in MS Project

So, you’ve decided to tackle Microsoft Project — kudos to you! It’s great project management software, facilitating task, schedules, and resource management at a pro level. But let’s face it, diving into this tool can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded.

Mastering MS Project may not come naturally, and it’s likely you’ll need to invest some effort before feeling like a pro. In this article, we’ve gathered the best courses and tutorials for Microsoft Project.

Whether you’re a newcomer grappling with the interface or aiming to enhance your skills, you’ll find something tailored to your needs. And if not, no worries! There are much easier Microsoft Project alternatives that do not require so much effort and you can always switch to them.

1. Udemy’s Microsoft Project Tutorial

This course is designed for project managers of any experience level and covers fundamental concepts applicable to any version of MS Project. It includes 22 sections, 138 lectures of around 10h total length, PDF documents, quizzes, and hands-on exercises. You will learn all the essential concepts required to work in MS Project (WBS creation, dependencies, milestones, etc.) as well as how to:

• Develop a project plan
• Identify and mitigate risks
• Track progress and variance
• Create reports
• Manage resources
• Resolve over-allocations
• Identify critical paths

To participate, basic proficiency with the Windows user interface is necessary. You can use the Microsoft Project trial version, available on Microsoft’s Office site with registration. While some familiarity with MS Office is beneficial, it is not mandatory. Additionally, a grasp of basic project management concepts including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure is recommended.

Upon its completion, you will get a certificate. Prices vary depending on the discounts available at the moment. As of February 2024, the Personal course cost €11.99.

2. GoSkills Microsoft Project Fundamentals

This online course on MS Project Fundamentals is aimed at beginners or those needing to brush up on the basics. It includes 44 lessons that total to 19 hours. The structure is quite logical and moves forward from the initial steps to specific concepts. You will get acquainted with:

• User interface
• Project creation and scheduling
• Project estimations
• Project tracking
• Views
• Reporting
• And some tricks and advice

The course includes a certificate of completion and the possibility to earn PDUs for PMI certification​​. The platform offers a seven-day free trial and $29 per month if billed monthly and 15$ per month if billed annually.

3. LinkedIn Learning

The platform provides a variety of courses designed to guide you through Microsoft Project right from the basics. If you’re entirely new to the tool, consider kicking off with the course titled “Microsoft Project Step by Step: Planning for Successful Project Management” by Cindy M. Lewis. It will:

• Familiarize you with the tool
• Explain how to create a project plan
• Describe how to work with tasks and milestones
• Provide details on how to work with costs and resources
• Lay out the basics of MS Project baselines

At the end of the course, you can obtain a certificate. With a 1-month trial, you can complete a course for free.

For a more in-depth exploration, consider delving into the course “Advanced Microsoft Project” by Bonnie Biafore, offering over 2 hours of comprehensive content. You will gain a more professional understanding of resource and cost management through this course. Additionally, delve into other materials that elaborate on earned value tracking, linking and embedding data, customization of fields, and the generation of reports.

4. MS Project Tutorials of Tom Stephenson

If you’re in search of free video tutorials, consider exploring this course. Tom Stephenson has dedicated his YouTube channel to project management, specifically emphasizing the construction industry. Among numerous valuable videos, you’ll discover a comprehensive series of 40 tutorials on Microsoft Project, each lasting around 20 minutes. The topics he covers are:

• Tasks
• WBS
• Critical path
• Timelines, schedules and calendars
• Baselines
• Resource allocation and tracking
• Cost management

5. Learnit

Here’s another excellent opportunity for individuals seeking free resources to learn MS Project. Leranit offers a beginner’s course titled “Project 2021 Beginner Tutorial”, More seasoned users can explore the other one “Project 2021 Advanced Tutorial.”

The advanced course comprises a 3.5-hour-long video divided into distinct topics, covering:

• Synchronization of work with SharePoint
• Gantt view possibilities
• Using the Variance table and project statistics
• Custom Fields
• Network Diagram possibilities
• Advanced options for task management
• Baselines
• Different types of reports
• And others

The beginner course is slightly shorter, and covers all the initial steps required to create and set up the first project. You will discover how to work with tasks, timelines, calendars, resources and all the other basic features essential for project management.

It’s worth noting that all the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising both the format and content of the course. Therefore, if you’re focused on honing your skills rather than obtaining a certificate, this is a valuable option to consider.

Key factors to consider before starting the course

There are some factors to consider before you start the course:

1. If you have experience with project management concepts and have used similar software before, learning Microsoft Project may be easier for you. Familiarity with Gantt charts, task dependencies, resource management, and project scheduling will expedite your learning process.

2. If you’re already comfortable using other Microsoft Office applications like Excel or Word, you’ll find the interface and navigation of Microsoft Project familiar. So, the learning may seem easier.

3. The complexity of the projects you’re managing can also affect the learning curve. Simple projects with few tasks and resources may be easier to manage initially, while more complex projects with multiple dependencies and resource constraints can require a deeper understanding of the software’s features.

Conclusion

These resources offer a range of instructional materials to suit different learning preferences, from video tutorials and hands-on exercises to comprehensive course materials. Depending on your specific needs and learning style, you might find one of these options particularly well-suited to mastering MS Project.