Program Management Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of program management specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for program management specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of program management specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for program management specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Program Management Specialists?
Do program management specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do program management specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for program management specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Program Management Specialists
Jobs Postings for Program Management Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 8,114 (41%)
- No Education Listed: 4,574 (23%)
- Master's degree: 3,386 (17%)
- High School or GED: 2,786 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 990 (5%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of program management specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 41% of positions. In 23% of job listings no education level was listed and in 17% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Program Management Specialists
Jobs Postings for Program Management Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,429 (23%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,541 (34%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,372 (23%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,027 (10%)
- 10+ Years: 1,127 (11%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for program management specialists. In 34% of job postings for Program Management Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 23% of job postings for program management specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Program Management Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for program management specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective program management specialists, and in 2021 a total of 115,307 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective program management specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Program Management Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Program Management Specialists (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 46,381 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 32,143 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 22,514 |
| Homeland Security. | 3,012 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,708 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 46,381 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 32,143 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 22,514 |
| Homeland Security. | 3,012 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,708 |
| Intelligence, General. | 2,261 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 1,640 |
| Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism. | 1,569 |
| Fire Services Administration. | 1,450 |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection. | 978 |
| Criminalistics and Criminal Science. | 419 |
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations. | 213 |
| Protective Services Operations. | 19 |
| Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations. | 0 |
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Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Program Management Specialists
Launch an exciting career as a police officer, corrections officer, or investigator by learning the ins and outs of the U.S. criminal justice system and all its interconnected components, including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your master's degree online and earn real-world skills to advance your career within public service.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Human Resources and build the leadership skills to advance a government or public service agency alongside an emphasis on strategic HR best practices.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Program Management Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by program management specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for program management specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Program Management Specialists
Based on 15,831 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Program Management Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 2,783 | 18% |
| Emergency Management | 2,776 | 18% |
| Emergency Response | 1,932 | 12% |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | 1,825 | 12% |
| Disaster Recovery | 1,657 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Program Management Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 8,283 | 52% |
| Communications | 6,384 | 40% |
| Operations | 5,471 | 35% |
| Leadership | 4,678 | 30% |
| Planning | 4,356 | 28% |
Based on 15,831 job postings related to program management specialists, project management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 18% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for emergency management, emergency response, federal emergency management agency (fema), disaster recovery and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for program management specialists, followed by communications, operations, leadership, planning and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 2,783 | 18% |
| Emergency Management | 2,776 | 18% |
| Emergency Response | 1,932 | 12% |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | 1,825 | 12% |
| Disaster Recovery | 1,657 | 10% |
| Finance | 1,388 | 9% |
| Emergency Preparedness | 1,234 | 8% |
| Accounting | 1,133 | 7% |
| Auditing | 1,133 | 7% |
| Nursing | 1,047 | 7% |
| Risk Analysis | 872 | 6% |
| Data Analysis | 853 | 5% |
| Program Development | 840 | 5% |
| Hazard Mitigation | 838 | 5% |
| Marketing | 823 | 5% |
| Social Work | 821 | 5% |
| Incident Management | 793 | 5% |
| Risk Management | 783 | 5% |
| Process Improvement | 771 | 5% |
| Incident Command Systems | 760 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 8,283 | 52% |
| Communications | 6,384 | 40% |
| Operations | 5,471 | 35% |
| Leadership | 4,678 | 30% |
| Planning | 4,356 | 28% |
| Coordinating | 3,468 | 22% |
| Writing | 3,445 | 22% |
| Presentations | 2,747 | 17% |
| Customer Service | 2,602 | 16% |
| Problem Solving | 2,002 | 13% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,992 | 13% |
| Microsoft Excel | 1,909 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,828 | 12% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,756 | 11% |
| Research | 1,699 | 11% |
| Resilience | 1,672 | 11% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 1,386 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,374 | 9% |
| English Language | 1,316 | 8% |
| Sales | 1,310 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about program management specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for program management specialists.
What do program management specialists do?
How much do program management specialists make?
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