Online Project Management Course – Level 1 Certificate

At BOLC Academy, we help you build a practical understanding of how projects are defined, organised and prepared. Our online project management course at QLS Level 1 introduces the language, responsibilities and planning documents used by project teams. It is designed for beginners, new project team members and employees who collaborate with project colleagues but do not yet manage projects themselves.

You will study three structured units, from defining a project and understanding its lifecycle to communicating a project vision and preparing a statement of work. You can explore our wider course catalogue to compare learning opportunities or browse our project management courses to see the progression from introductory certificates to more extensive diplomas.

About This Level 1 Project Management Course

A project is a temporary piece of work intended to deliver a specific outcome. Unlike everyday routine activity, it has defined objectives, stakeholders, resource needs and a beginning and end. Understanding these distinctions is useful even if you support a project only occasionally. A team member who understands scope, milestones, responsibilities and communication can make more informed contributions and recognise when a decision needs to be escalated.

This Level 1 course concentrates on three early-stage capabilities: describing project work clearly, gaining support for a proposed project and translating an idea into a basic planning document. It introduces cost and scheduling estimates without presenting them as substitutes for specialist project controls or professional certification. Approximately 80 hours of online study allows you to build familiarity with the terminology at a manageable pace.

What You Will Learn

• Distinguish temporary project work from routine operational activity and explain the role of a project manager.
• Identify the basic stages of a project lifecycle and the benefits that a well-defined project should deliver.
• Explain how a project vision, goals and target chart help communicate the intended result.
• Describe the purpose of a statement of work, stakeholder list, communication plan and planning worksheet.
• Recognise why preliminary time and cost estimates should reflect the proposed deliverables and constraints.

How This Knowledge Applies at Work

You may use the principles when supporting an internal improvement, helping to coordinate an event or contributing to a small operational change. For instance, a new team member who understands stakeholder requirements can prepare more useful progress updates; someone familiar with a statement of work is better positioned to identify when a requested activity falls outside the initial agreement. The course develops introductory awareness, rather than claiming to qualify you to lead complex projects independently.

Certificate of Achievement and Quality Licence Scheme Endorsement

When you successfully complete the Level 1 course and its required assessments, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme together with a Learner Unit Summary. The summary identifies the units you have completed, providing a useful record of the specific subjects covered in your learning.

The Quality Licence Scheme has endorsed this course as non-regulated training. Its endorsement concerns the quality of the learning provision; it does not make the course an Ofqual-regulated qualification, an academic degree or a professional project management licence. The certificate provides evidence of your structured introductory learning, including project definitions, planning, communication and preparation. You can use that evidence to support a CV, learning record or discussion about further development, while checking any specific employer or professional-body recognition requirements directly with the relevant organisation.

For learners beginning to explore project management, the value of the award lies in demonstrating that you have engaged with a coherent syllabus and met the course completion requirements. It does not replace the experience, practical competence or separate credentials that some project management roles require.

Professional Development and Next Steps

After this foundation, you may wish to explore our Level 2 Project Management Certificate, which develops additional planning tools, scheduling and project risk concepts. If you prefer to compare course depth first, review the full project management training collection. Each programme has its own syllabus and purpose, so you can choose a next step that aligns with your current role and learning needs.

For a closer look at everyday responsibilities and the skills needed in project teams, read our guide to project manager roles and responsibilities.

Unit 1: Defining Projects and Project Management

Begin by examining what makes an activity a project, how project management supports an agreed outcome and where a project manager’s responsibilities begin and end. You will explore the benefits organisations seek from projects, such as introducing a service, delivering a change or creating a specific result. The unit introduces the project lifecycle and the main stages through which a project progresses, giving you a framework for understanding how work moves from an initial idea to completion.

The distinction between project objectives and everyday tasks is particularly important. For example, organising a one-off office relocation involves a defined scope, planned dates and coordinated resources, while maintaining the office afterwards is ongoing operational work. By the end of this unit you should be able to describe a basic project, identify its stakeholders and explain why a staged approach makes responsibilities and progress easier to understand.

Unit 2: Selling a Project

This unit explores how a proposed project is presented and explained before detailed delivery begins. You will consider the vision process: expressing what the project is intended to achieve and why its outcome matters. Project goals make the vision more concrete by describing the result the team is working towards, while a target chart helps communicate key priorities and intended progress.

For example, a team proposing an improved customer enquiry process might identify the need for faster responses, define what a successful new process would look like and outline the milestones required to introduce it. The learning is about making a proposal understandable and purposeful, not promising that every proposal will be approved. You will gain a clearer appreciation of how shared goals support engagement and help colleagues discuss whether an idea is sufficiently defined to move forward.

Unit 3: Preparing your Project

The final unit moves from the project idea to the basic information needed for a coordinated start. You will examine the statement of work, which describes the work to be delivered and provides a reference for project expectations. The unit introduces cost and schedule estimates, highlighting why assumptions, available resources and the work involved influence the estimates produced.

You will also learn why a stakeholder list matters: people who commission, perform, influence or are affected by a project may need different information at different stages. A communication plan clarifies who needs updates, what should be shared and when. The project planning worksheet brings these preliminary elements together, helping you see the connection between objectives, tasks, time, cost and communication. These concepts give you a practical vocabulary for supporting planning conversations and recognising missing information before work begins.

At the end of this course successful learners will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the components the learner has completed as part of the course).

This course and/or training programme has been endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme for its high-quality, non-regulated provision and training programmes. This course and/or training programme is not regulated by Ofqual and is not an accredited qualification. Your training provider will be able to advise you on any further recognition, for example progression routes into further and/or higher education. For further information please visit the Learner FAQs on the Quality Licence Scheme website.

Frequently Asked Questions
 

Is this course suitable if I have never worked on a project?

Yes. The Level 1 syllabus begins with the meaning of a project, the role of the project manager and the project lifecycle. No specific entry requirements are listed.

What is the difference between a project and routine work?

A project is a temporary effort created to achieve a defined outcome. Routine operational work continues as part of an organisation’s ongoing activity. The course introduces this distinction in Unit 1.

How many units are included?

There are three approved units: Defining Projects and Project Management, Selling a Project, and Preparing your Project.

How long does the course take?

The course duration is approximately 80 study hours. It is delivered online, allowing you to organise study around your commitments.

Do I need project management experience before enrolling?

No. The programme is intended for newcomers and people who support project teams without having formal project management training.

Will I learn how to create a full professional project plan?

You will study introductory planning documents, including a statement of work, stakeholder list, communication plan and planning worksheet. The course is a foundation, not an advanced planning qualification.

Does the course explain project goals and vision statements?

Yes. Unit 2 covers the vision process, project goals and target charts, with attention to how a proposed project is communicated.

Are cost and time estimates included?

Yes. Unit 3 introduces cost and schedule estimates as part of preparing a project, alongside the information and assumptions needed for early planning.

How is my learning assessed?

Each of the three units includes an assessment covering the relevant subjects. Successful completion of the required course assessments forms part of the certificate arrangements.

What certificate will I receive?

Successful learners receive a Quality Licence Scheme Certificate of Achievement and a Learner Unit Summary showing the units completed.

Is the Level 1 certificate an Ofqual-regulated qualification?

No. This is QLS-endorsed non-regulated training. It provides evidence of learning but is not an Ofqual-regulated qualification or a professional licence.

Can I continue to a higher-level project management course?

Yes. BOLC Academy further courses, including a Level 2 certificate, with broader coverage of project planning tools and risk. Compare the syllabuses to choose the next appropriate level.

Begin developing your project knowledge with BOLC Academy and build a clear foundation in project language, planning and communication.

A secure, rewarding and enjoyable career in project management begins with a strong educational foundation. This entry-level course paves the way for higher-level studies, ultimately leading on to roles in business analysis and research, project coordination and high-level business management. With the required skills, knowledge and experience, salaries between £20,000 and £50,000 are highly plausible prospects. 

We designed this course for people new to project work, employees who communicate with project teams, junior administrators or coordinators, and individuals exploring whether project management is a suitable area for further study. There are no specific entry requirements. If you already lead large, complex projects, a more advanced programme may be a better match for your experience.

Related Links:

Certificate in Project Management (Level 2)

Certificate in Construction Management (Level 3)

Certificate in Risk Management (Level 3)