How to Be A Project Manager Without a Degree: The 2025 Guide

Good at handling a team and processes? Hold an excellent track record of solving problems? Then, Project management can be a fitting career choice for you. 

Being an aspiring project manager, you may begin your career with an entry-level job and develop experience and skills to grab a management-level position within years. Basically, you need to have a bachelor’s degree with a relevant major. However, building a lucrative career in project management without a degree is also possible. 

How?

Go through this guide! “How to be a project manager without a degree” is perfectly explained in the following section. Keep scrolling!

Key Responsibilities of a Project Manager

In any organization, a project manager is responsible for overseeing several projects, handling a team of experts and taking full accountability for the project. However, a project manager's duties and responsibilities significantly vary based on several factors. They are the industry you're working on, the organization and the type of project. 

Generally, project managers must fulfil the following core responsibilities:

• Interacting with the management and senior stakeholders to evaluate the scope project and set the deadline.
• Handling a team of experts working on the project and assigning tasks
• Making project plans and schedules
• Performing tests to ensure quality
• Conveying progress report to stakeholders
• Determining and managing a budget
• Ensuring that the project will be completed before deadlines and fulfil targets
• Addressing issues quickly and decisively 
• Effectively connecting with team members.

How to be a Project Manager Without a Degree in India 2025?

According to market surveys, almost 68 per cent of project managers boast a bachelor's degree. Surely, the percentage is noteworthy. Still, there is a high possibility of achieving success being a project manager without a formal degree in 2025. 

What does it require?

That is exactly what we are going to discuss in the following section:

1. Gain Knowledge of Project Management

Aspiring candidates who want to become a Project Manager without a degree must educate themselves in the topic of Project Management. Start reading books and opt for online courses which include process guidelines, professional terminology, and best practices. 

Online professional courses will help you launch a career as a Project Manager and build a successful career ahead. Course courses that cover topics such as project planning and organization, cost estimation, budgeting, and measurement of risk.

2. Acquire Experience

Having relevant and impactful experience is necessary if you wish to become a project manager without a degree. Start with entry-level roles and gradually acquire skills, knowledge and experience handling several projects. 

This practice will help you develop essential skills, such as time management, decision-making and leadership. If you find a scarcity of scope in your current position, apply for other related positions like project coordinator or project administrator. In short, do not miss any chance of gathering experience working on projects. 

3. Get Certified

To establish a thriving career in project management without a degree, this is the other key you must use. Look for professional certification in project management from some reputed sources.

There are several entry-level online courses in Project Management, which you can pursue without a traditional bachelor's degree. These curricula are designed to offer a deeper understanding of core project management competencies, help in project planning and make you familiar with project control systems.

4. Develop Essential Skills

Building a lucrative career as a project manager requires various skills, both workplace and technical. You can only develop workplace skills by working in a company and handling a team. On the contrary, technical skills can be acquired through a boot camp or course. 

These include:

• Technical Skills: Budgeting, process management, risk management, conflict management, resource management, project management methodologies, performance management, etc.
• Workplace Skills: Leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, time management, adaptability etc.

5. Look for a Mentor and Network

Another vital step in your "how to be a project manager without a degree" journey would be to look for a mentor or build a strong network. You can easily do so when enrolling your name in a project management course. These courses will enable you to meet other Project Managers.

Also, you will have the chance to build a strong network with other aspiring candidates. In addition, look for people associated with the project management field in your networks, online and offline. If online, follow them, send emails or DMs, share your willingness to meet them personally and ask for strategies to build a successful career.

6. Create Your Resume

Last but not least significant- build a strong resume. Having a professional resume is so important before applying for jobs, internships, and entry-level positions in project management.

Craft your resume as it demonstrates your skills clearly and showcases your experience and certifications. Ensure to customise your resume for the specific position by including relevant keywords from the job description.

Unlocking Project Management Positions in India

After you've sorted out the tips for becoming a Project Manager without a degree, this segment is dedicated to unlocking project management roles.

With no prior experience in this specific field, you'll find numerous project-related roles that enable you to secure a project manager role in the near future, including:

• Project Coordinator
• Project scheduler
• Team leader 
• Assistant project manager
• Project Administrator

Expected Salary in the Project Management Field

According to GlassDoor, the Project Manager salary range in India as of February 2025 is between ₹4 LPA - ₹10 LPA with zero to one year experience. This could go up to ₹6 LPA  - ₹12.6 LPA per year if one candidate has 2-3 years of experience. Note that the salary ranges vary from candidate to candidate depending on several factors. They are the location, skills of the candidate and the organization. 

Bottom Line

With the right tips on “how to be a project manager without a degree,” you can easily achieve your career goals. Now you are well aware that it is entirely possible with dedication and the right approach.

By gaining hands-on experience, networking, self-study and getting enrolled in an online certification, you can ensure success. Hence, enroll in Amity University Online’s MBA course with a specialization in project management and get ahead of the curve with India's best online degree programs.

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