Before we move on to talk about various project management certification requirements it’s crucial for you to understand something: whyexactly do one needs certification?
Over many years project management has developed from a simple set of tools to advanced processes as projects themselves also got more complicated. Truth be told, project management as a specialized field started in the aerospace, construction, and defense industries, all fields that deal with complex projects.
Why do you need project management certification?
Staying on top of your game to handle high-level (and high-paying) projects today is one good reason to get certified. A project management certification gives you four benefits to stay competitive:
It arms you with the right project management tools and techniques (and possibly cloud solutions) to get things done
It provides you with a framework to achieve project goals
You get to use the best practices culled from actual experiences by other project managers
It demonstrates your skills and competencies to stakeholders (clients, senior management, investors, etc.)
Where do you get certification?
Some universities may offer project management certifications, but in our review of project management certification requirements, we recommend the programs of Project Management Institute (PMI) or any PMI-certified programs. These certifications are recognized worldwide whatever the enterprise is. Although they’re not free, PMI certifications give you an easy way to highlight your competencies whatever your university background.
Who is PMI?
PMI is the world’s largest non-profit association of project managers. Its global standards are widely accepted, making it at the forefront of developments in project management tools and techniques.
It started in the sixties when project managers and stakeholders in the construction, aerospace, and defense industries in the U.S., along with the academe, realized the importance of standardizing project management procedures and approaches to professionalize their ranks. Founded in October 1969, PMI developed the first Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) in 1986, which became the main reference for project management tools and techniques. Today, more than 590,000 project managers in the world are PMI certified.
7 Types of project management certifications
A comparison of project management certification requirements is, in essence, a question of which PMI certification is for you. To apply online or know more about the details, visit the PMI certification page. Here are seven types of PMI programs, their project management certification requirements and ideal candidates:
1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
An entry-level certification for new project managers.
What it demonstrates:
You have fundamental understanding of project management terms and processes
Ideal for:
Managers with no experience in project management
Managers who have started to handle project teams and want to elevate their skills to the next level
Main requirements:
Secondary degree or global equivalent
At least 1,500 hours of project experience or 23 hours of project management education
Continuing education:
No professional development unit (PDU) required
Re-examination before the end of five years
2. Project Management Professional (PMP)
Most widely recognized certification for project managers.
What it demonstrates:
You are experienced, educated, and competent to manage projects
Ideal for:
Project managers who want to increase their marketability or salary
Main requirements:
For managers with secondary degree, associate’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least five years or 7,500 hours of project management experience
At least 35 hours of project management education
For managers with four-year degree, bachelor’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least three years or 4,500 hours of project management experience
At least 35 hours project management education
Continuing education:
Earn 60 PDUs every three years
3. Program Management Professional (PgMP®)
Certification for advanced project management.
What it demonstrates:
You have an advanced and proven competency to handle complex projects and align them with strategic business goals
Ideal for:
Managers who design projects, assign project managers, or oversee multiple programs
Managers who want demonstrate their capability to handle more complex projects
Main requirements:
For managers with secondary degree, associate’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least four years or 6,000 hours of project management experience
At least seven years or 10,500 hours of program management education
For managers with four-year degree, bachelor’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least four years or 6,000 hours of project management experience
At least four years or 6,000 hours of project management education
Continuing education:
Earn 60 PDUs every three years
4. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
Certification for portfolio managers.
What it demonstrates:
Your proven ability to coordinate or manage project portfolios to achieve organizational goals
Ideal for:
Portfolio managers who want to highlight their competency to achieve organizational strategies and objectives
Main requirements:
Minimum of eight years of professional business experience.
For managers with secondary degree, associate’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least seven year or 10,500 hours of portfolio management experience in the last 15 consecutive years
For managers with four-year degree, bachelor’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least four years or 6,000 hours of portfolio management experience in the last 15 consecutive years
Continuing education:
Earn 60 PDUs every three years
5. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
Certification for agile projects, a fast-growing project management approach to handle flexible projects amidst a highly disruptive environment, usually useful for information tech projects.
What it demonstrates:
Your competency about agile principles, practices, tools and techniques
Your level of specialization on agile management
Ideal for:
Managers who need to implement agile management style
Main requirements:
General Project Experience:
2,000 hours working on project teams earned within the last 5 years
Active PMP or PgMP will satisfy this requirement
Agile Project Experience:
1500 hours working on agile project teams or with agile methodologies
2,000 hours required in “general project experience” earned within the last 3 years
Training in Agile Practices:
21 contact hours
Hours must be earned in agile practices
Examination:
Tests knowledge of agile fundamentals
Continuing education:
Earn 30 PDUs every three years
6. PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
Certification for project risk management.
What it demonstrates:
Your specific competency to identify project risks, mitigate threats, and capitalize opportunities
Your core knowledge of project management tools and techniques
Ideal for:
Managers who want to specialize on project risk management, an increasingly important asset in any organization
Main requirements:
For managers with secondary-degree, associate’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least 4,500 hours of project risk management experience
At least 40 hours of project risk management education
For managers with four-year degree, bachelor’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least 3,000 hours of project risk management experience
At least 30 hours of project management risk management education
Continuing education:
Earn 30 PDUs in project risk management every three years
7. PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
Certification for the specialized field of project scheduling to handle growing, diverse, complex projects.
What it demonstrates:
Your specialist role in handling complex project schedules
Your core knowledge of project management tools and techniques
Ideal for:
Managers who want to specialize in project scheduling, an increasingly important asset in any organization
Main requirements:
For managers with secondary-degree, associate’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least 5,000 hours of project scheduling experience
At least 40 hours of project scheduling education
For managers with four-year degree, bachelor’s degree, or global equivalent:
At least 3,500 hours of project scheduling experience
At least 30 hours of project scheduling education
Continuing education:
Earn 30 PDUs in project scheduling every three years
CONCLUSION
Great leaders never stop educating themselves. They hone their skills and knowledge to the limits and then hone them even further. As a project leader or manager, you, too, should not stop learning. Getting the right certification ensures you get to know the latest project management tools and techniques and enjoy the best practices developed around the world.
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