17 Best Project Management Certifications and Courses of 2021

Project Management certifications or a licensed professional aren't essential to an organization’s core structure, but their involvement makes a difference in ten folds. From the 1960s to the first 2000s, Agile Framework adoption was still in its infancy. Teams and organizations who were looking to expand unknowingly adapted to a specific set of daily rituals that were later termed as Agile Project Management, PMP, and other such condiments.

Today, technology and businesses have skilled a metamorphosis that has led to such organizations in dire need of certified project managers. These individuals are qualified to handle the requirements of ongoing projects; whether they are related to software development or physical boundaries.

The nature of the certification, in turn, determines how the skills of a certified IT Project Manager can be applied and benefited from.

Why Are Project Management Certifications Important?

The average certified project manager has undergone various vigorous project development units, with all being a training module of their own nature. As a result of these certifications, the project manager is eventually capable of handling a good sort of challenges and preset tasks to assist increase the flow of the business industry.

Likewise, based on IT Project Management Certifications, such as; Agile, Scrum, or PMP+ modules, the certified manager can overlook an entire workforce responsible for achieving a milestone. These project managers handle Scrum Masters and Product Owners who, in turn, are tasked to monitor “sprint” marathons within the organization.

Obviously, we don’t expect you to know the aforementioned terminologies. However, at the helm of every project, it comes right down to obtaining the concerned Project Management Certifications. Otherwise, you won’t be treated as an “accredited/ recognized” individual who is provided to handle the laborious tasks within the life cycle of a project.

The 17 Best Project Management Certifications of 2021

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A lot of organizations, especially in the IT sector, bit the bullet after the second quarter of 2020, and most of them are now offering project management certifications online. These organizations were during a minority because most of the main businesses had adopted the trend of hiring either a licensed Associate in Project Management or a highly skilled Project Management professional.

Needless to say, statistics revealed a noticeable slump in their budget overturn, project completion rates, and client satisfaction percentage. As a result of those findings, most of the leftover companies and institutes have shifted towards the present trend.

Some of the best Project Management Certifications and IT Project Managed Courses are highlighted below. Bear in mind that we encourage you to hold out your own research to weigh out the pros and cons of those certifications.

1. Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

Expected Salary: $100,000 – $110,000
Course Duration: 3 Years
Cost: $400 – $555
Accreditation: Project Management Institute (PMI)

Project Management Professional Certification cycles around three constraints: Time, Cost, and Scope. It is a challenging course that constitutes various modules to assist academia in identifying the weak spots within a project.

As a result, the project manager can brief his/ her team to return up with alternatives for completing the test sprint phase, and eventually achieve all the milestones towards a deliverable product.

The Project Management Professional certification is accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI). They work constantly to introduce new changes within the course contents to keep it up to date and aligned with the rapidly changing requirements of the industry.

Project Management Professional (PMP) Requirements

3 years minimum experience in the project management field
5 years or an equivalent 7,500 hours of experience as someone who directed projects in PM-related areas
Additional 35+ hours of project management education and a qualified person certification

Recommended Reading to prepare for PMP certification:

2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Expected Salary: $90,000 – $101,000
Accreditation & Significance: Project Management Institute
Cost: $200 – $300

As mentioned earlier during this post, the CAPM is a component of the essential level IT Project Management Certifications. The high-tier certifications not only carry prerequisites but also are demanding also.

The Certified Associate in Project Management is also administered by the PMI. It is a basic-level certification that’s lined up with many learning and growth opportunities for beginners.

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Requirements

Since this is an entry-level certification, it does not have a lot of prerequisites. On the smallest amount, interested candidates with a high school diploma or the same 1,500 hours of project management experience (without any previous certification) can apply.

If you are doing not qualify on the idea of the 2 aforementioned “requirements”, you'll still opt-in if you've got completed a minimum of 23 hours of cumulative project management education. Certified Associate in Project Management Examination is often taken at an entry cost of $225 for registered PMI website members. If you are a non-member, the test fee will be $300. In both cases, the fee is non-refundable.

3. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Agile Project Management Certification

Expected Salary: $85,000 – $80,000
Course Duration: 1 Year
Accreditation: The Scrum Alliance
Cost: $990 – $1,400

The CSM: Certified ScrumMaster certification enables the “certified professional” to overlook a team of people who are liable for performing on the behest of the assigned product owner. The majority of Scrum series certifications are related to The Scrum Alliance, a globally recognized institute that was initially founded to market an Agile mindset within the software industry.

The CSM also works as a jump-off/ tipping point for basic level Scrum Practitioners who wish to advance to the next level. As of the foremost recent statistics, there are over 450,000 Certified ScrumMasters around the world. Most of these individuals started on Agile Project Management Certifications back in 2,000. This certification is accredited with Scrum Alliance. They are a nonprofit organization that has been volunteering mostly in the IT industry for a number of years now.

Ironically for a nonprofit organization, The Scrum Alliance charges a whopping $1,000 to $1,400 as examination and training fee. The training course spans over two days, followed by a test, which is held on the next available immediate date, or whichever schedule suits the candidate.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Requirements

Basic level familiarity with Scrum and Agile mindset. You also need to complete The Scrum Alliance introductory module to better orientate yourself towards the requirements of the Certified ScrumMaster program.

Additional Reading to prepare for CSM certification:

Scrum – A Pocket Guide – 2nd edition

4. CompTIA Project+ Certification

Expected Salary: $80,000 – $85,000
Course Duration: Not Applicable
Accreditation: CompTIA Project Co.
Cost: $285

CompTIA Project+ is yet another certification within the realm of Project Management Certifications. However, its requirements are slightly less stringent, and it mildly correlates to the computing industry. It is safe to say that the CompTIA Project+ certification is scaled within the same league as that of Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). CompTIA Project+ mostly has to deal with aggregating feedback from respondents, government representatives, and research institutes.

Later on, the qualified professional points the organization in the right direction to hunt experts who’d be ready to complete the project at hand. CompTIA Project+ and other associated IT Project Management Certifications are accredited with CompTIA Co. They are an institute like PMI and therefore the Scrum Alliance. The only difference is that CompTIA Co. is targeting a selected mindset of the IT business industry. CompTIA Project+ certification fee is $285. Some accredited training centers also organize CompTIA-recognized training classes and mock test programs. You can make sure by consulting together with your nearest CompTIA Co. branch.

Study guide to prepare for CompTIA Project+ certification:

Certification Study Guide – EBook

5. Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Certification

Expected Salary: $110,000 – $123,000
Course Duration: 24 Hour Approval & Eligibility Period
Accreditation: Project Management Institute (PMI)
Cost: $490 – $640

The Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Project Management certification is run by the PMI. This certification strictly follows Agile mindset businesses; mostly companies that believe in identifying core problems than doing more in less capacity. “Agile” itself is a vast description. The PMI instructors provide a brief walkthrough of the Agile philosophy through a ground-up approach. The certification further delves into a practical hand-on strategy where different training modules are conducted to further equip the individuals with Agile frameworks.

Speaking of Agile frameworks, Scrum is part of the Agile mantra. Scrum is also a specific systematic approach to getting things done, but it is related to Agile – you can also call it a subcategory of Agile. A major perk of seeking certification as an ACP is that this is a globally recognized achievement. Students are enrolled to explore different tools then apply their skills in real-life issues concerned with Agile hurdles. Agile Project Management – ACP Certification is run by PMI. They are also heading various other PM certifications, degree programs, and courses to help aspiring individuals from all walks of life.

Speaking of Agile frameworks, Scrum is a component of the Agile mantra. Scrum is additionally a selected systematic approach of getting things done, but it's associated with Agile – you'll also call it a subcategory of Agile. A major perk of seeking certification as an ACP is that this is often a globally recognized achievement. Students are enrolled to explore different tools then apply their skills in real-life issues concerned with Agile hurdles. Agile Project Management – ACP Certification is run by PMI. They are also heading various other PM certifications, degree programs, and courses to assist aspiring individuals from all walks of life.

Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Requirements

ACP is scaled as an advance tier certification within the Agile Project Management Certifications lineup. To be ready to take the ACP exam, you would like to satisfy the subsequent requirements:

High School Diploma, associate or Equivalent Experience
Over 2,000 Work Hours of Experience or Cumulative 2,000 Hour Work Experience.
Prior Experience in Agile Work Teams/ Companies

If you've got references from Agile Business Industry, you ought to use them to decorate up your chances of enrollment within the PMI ACP program. As part of the PMI’s recognized certification, the ACP enrollment fee is $495. You can shave off an additional 60 bucks if you're already registered at the PMI website.

Signing up as a Project Management Institute member incurs payment of $135. In exchange, they provide a flat $60 discount on all certifications and the other way around. PMI also makes up for the spike in registration fees by offering online freebies to make students feel right at home. Occasionally, they introduce “dumps” that have previous year examination questions, lab exercises, and far more.

Preparation material for ACP certification:

ACP Handbook

6. PRINCE2 – Projects in Controlled Environments

Expected Salary: $90,000
Course Duration: 3-5 Yeas
Accreditation: AXELOS Ltd.
Price: $900

PRINCE2 is an advanced tier degree in the project management certifications chain. You need to clear a few of the pre-requisites; otherwise, the governing administration won't allow you to take a seat in the exam. However, that’s not bad news; it just means that you will be able to complete this certification after clearing a few basic milestones first.

PRINCE2 Certified engineers are highly reputed in their concerned field. Organizations expect a lot from these individuals since they are well equipped with the knowledge of validating employees, core project management skills, concepts about IT project management lifecycle – and yes, business development tools as well.

PRINCE2 Certification Requirements

Since we already mentioned that PRINCE 2 is one of the top-level project management certifications, sitting the exam does have a couple of requirements. Take them as perquisites, because there’s no other way of taking the paper if you don’t have one of the following certifications in hand:

Any of the IPMA Level A to B Certifications
Certified Project Management Associate Certification
PRINCE 2 Foundation Course
PMP Project Management Professional Certification

Please bear in mind that if you have not previously cleared the above-mentioned project management certification course, you could go for the easy ones. The basic requirement for PRINCE 2 exam is that you simply got to have a minimum of one certification that qualifies you as “eligible” for the examination.

Recommended book to prepare for Prince2 certification:

PRINCE2 Agile® Guidance

7. Certified Project Director – CPD

Expected Salary: $138,000 – $173,000
Course Duration: Not Applicable
Accreditation: GAQM
Price: $400 – $555

CPD is a directorial level project management certification where it is not only hard to take the exam, but the accredited institute also has certain requirements to keep the CPD course validated. As a Certified Project Director, you are obligated to “maintain” your certification by completing a preset number of hours in field duty.

Likewise, training sessions conducted for subordinates also count as an added plus point. CPD has two modules; formal CPD and informal CPD. They are not to confused with one another since a Formal Certified Project Director is deemed a professional who has earned structured online education, a proper certificate, and supporting documentation.

Regardless, CPD is one of the foremost prestigious certified project management courses. As much as CPD itself may be a daunting venture, it rewards qualified personnel with equal employment and salary-related opportunities.

Certified Project Director Requirements

Since CPD is accredited with the GAQM, they have mandated having strong knowledge about the principles & methodologies of project management. In addition, you would like to demonstrate hands-on knowledge within the field of project management as a director to qualify for the exam.

8. Certified Project Manager – CPM-IAPM

Expected Salary: $65,000 – $96,000
Course Duration: Not Applicable
Accreditation: CCPC Global
Price: $630 – $800

Certified Project Manager – CPM has introduced over a decade ago when 9/11, 2001, terrorist attacks rocked the foundations of the United States government. The presiding body at that time introduced the Certified Project Manager course because of the unforeseen nature of the disaster at hand.

Besides buildings and other physical devastations, the attack also sent jolts through IT infrastructure. Businesses weren't equipped to handle such pressure and needed certified project managers to benchmark their skills through hands-on experiences. Since then, this certification is globally recognized by project management training institutes.

Certified Project Manager Requirements

CPM and CPM-IAPM are relatively easier to complete. There are no prerequisites to sit the exam, other than proof of taking 3 days’ duration training course.

E-Books to prepare for CPM certification:
PM Guide 2.0
The Agile PM Guide 2.0

9. Professional in Project Management – PPM

Expected Salary: $104,000
Accreditation: PMTI/PMI
Price: $135 – $555

Although it is not as challenging to get a certification as a PPM, companies prefer hiring experienced professionals as compared to those who have just completed their courses. Regardless, Professional in Project Management (PPM) is treated as a mid-level project management certification course where individuals are taught various skills.

As a certified PPM professional, if you are looking to step into the job market, a lot of businesses will expect you to have knowledge/ skill concerning resource allocation, quality deliverance n’ maintenance at minimal risk, effective communication, and tenacity to bring change in the company.

Just like CPM, the Professional in Project Management Certification is lined up with risk and crisis management training.

Professional in Project Management Requirements
Unlike its counterparts, the PPM certification examination does not require you to have a formal college degree
Candidates need to have at least some experience in the field of project management. If that’s not an opportunity, you would like to demonstrate your knowledge and familiarity with project management in one form or another

10. Master Project Manager (MPM)

Expected Salary: $85,210
Accreditation: American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)
Price: $300

Project Management is growing at a quick pace and it's utilized in all industries be it health, telecom, chemical, energy also within the social sector. Master Project Manager – MPM Is modeled for professionals who aim for greater productivity at the workplace.

The MPM is primarily focused on professional project managers, but in addition, it also supports those professionals in the technical and business management roles.

MPM is one certification that helps you earn additional points for IT professionals who are within the project management domain of their companies. It provides an easy but effective training environment for professionals with a technical background by defining and associating the teachings of management with engineering.

Professional in Master Project Manager Requirements

Three years of coaching and project management experience make applicants eligible for waivers who hold a Masters Degree, with relevant job experience
Graduates with but 3 years of project management experience also are eligible to seem for this certification.

Recommended reading to prepare for MPM certification:

PM Executive Handbook

11. Associate in Project Management (APM)

Expected Salary: $55,000 – $66,000
Price: $128

The Associate in Project Management (APM)™ certificate is an entry-level certification within the field of Project Management. it's a crucial globally recognized credential within the field of project management that demonstrates that the candidate has the specified knowledge within the field confining to the entry-level of project management.

The exam comprises 50 Multiple Choice Questions out of which the candidate needs to score 70% (35 out of 50 correct) to pass the exam and the total duration of the exam is 1 hour (60 Minutes).

Professional in Project Management Requirements

No formal education or experience required

12. Certified Project Management Practitioner

Expected Salary: $50,000 – $88,000
Course Prep Duration: 3 Days Max
Accreditation: EC Council
Cost: $199.00 Per Exam/ Per Attempt

Right after the EC-Council was founded in 2001, the govt wanted to deal with a number of the core issues that resulted from the infamous surprise attack. For that matter, the CPMP certification was created as a benchmark for those that had a knack for managing post-disaster recovery operations.

People having a Certified Project Management Practitioner certification are expected to take on a number of projects related to infrastructure development, managerial obstacles, and leadership hurdles. Although CPMP certification is not a high-tier degree, it does serve to work as a very strong foundation for anyone looking to get into a field that requires hands-on experience.

As a result, value over time to managerial experience, leadership traits, and technical skills is added.

Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP) Requirements.

The requirements for the CPMP course are fairly simple. There are no pre-requisites to this certification. You are, however, required to submit a non-refundable fee of $200 for the exam. CPMP is taught at various training companies over a span of 2 – 3 days. They do charge a hefty fee for those classes, so, set aside a huge chunk of your budget in advance.

13. Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)

Expected Salary: $97,200
Course Duration: Several years or until you have demonstrated 2 projects at least.
Accreditation: ASQ
Cost: $540 Per Exam/ Per Attempt

The next one on the list is CSSBB – also referred to as Certified Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Yes, it does have a flowery name, which name is amid a pleasant fat paycheck and an entire lot of challenges.

Another interesting thing about CSSBB is that it's not the sole certification during this tier. If you're not up to the challenge or don’t meet the pre-requisites, you'll check in for Certified Six Sigma Green Belt certification. This one’s a lower-level certification and works as a stepping stone for those that are looking to urge the “Black Belt.”

CSSBB is recognized globally, and it’s accredited by the ASQ institute. Other than the CSSBB certification, the ASQ Body of data is embellished with 18 other certifications. Three of these certifications structure for project managers, while others escalate the PM level expertise to a more professional level.

CSSBB certification is tough. The path is rigorous because of complex prerequisites and a varying fee structure. The good news is that once you are done with it, you will enjoy the benefits of a decent pay scale and many other perks that professionals are offered by big companies.

Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) Requirements:

In order to require the exam, or be eligible for a minimum of, you would like to point out that you simply have completed two different projects before. The ASQ will ask you to supply past project affidavits additional to 3+ years of experience within the field. The deal-breaker during this entire certification is that it remains valid for 3 years only. That’s not the bad part. In order to retake the exam, you would like to retake all 18 certification exams that are a part of the CSSBB structure! Sounds, cool, right?

Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP) Requirements.

The requirements for the CPMP course are fairly simple. There are no pre-requisites to this certification. You are, however, required to submit a non-refundable fee of $200 for the exam. CPMP is taught at various training companies over a span of two – 3 days. They do charge a hefty fee for those classes, so, put aside an enormous chunk of your budget beforehand.

Another interesting thing about CSSBB is that it is not the only certification in this tier. If you are not up to the challenge or don’t meet the pre-requisites, you can sign up for the Certified Six Sigma Green Belt certification. This one’s a lower-level certification and works as a stepping stone for those that are looking to urge the “Black Belt.”

CSSBB is recognized globally, and it’s accredited by the ASQ institute. Other than the CSSBB certification, the ASQ Body of data is embellished with 18 other certifications. Three of those certifications make up for project managers, while others escalate the PM level expertise to a more professional level.

Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) Requirements:

In order to require the exam, or be eligible for a minimum of, you would like to point out that you simply have completed two different projects before. The ASQ will ask you to supply past project affidavits additional to 3+ years of experience within the field. The deal-breaker during this entire certification is that it remains valid for 3 years only. That’s not the bad part. so as to retake the exam, you would like to retake all 18 certification exams that are a part of the CSSBB structure! Sounds, cool, right?

Recommended Books for Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) certification preparation:

The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Handbook, Third Edition
The ASQ CSSBB Study Guide
Statistics for Six Sigma Black Belts
The ASQ Pocket Guide To Statistics for Six Sigma Black Belts

14. Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Certification:

Expected Salary: $77,000 – $80,000
Course Duration: 1 Year or until the prerequisite requirement has been met
Accreditation: ASQ
Cost: $440 Per Exam/ Per Attempt

This certification is a component of the opposite certification within the Certified Six Sigma Black Belt certifications group. There are a total of three certifications, and CSSGB is one of them. The three certifications are essential for anyone who’s looking to hone his/her skills as a project manager.

As usual, the CSSGB certification is accredited by the ASQ institute. Prior to the exam, candidates are expected to have at least three years of experience in the Six Sigma projects field. In addition, the work experience has to be full-time and paid for. Therefore, internees or part-time workers aren't ready to take the certified six sigma green belt exam.

The good news is that within the confines of green belt body certification, you will be able to do one of the following with great ease and comfort.

Handle phase-related projects. Phases in Six Sigma could be customer voice, PM basics, project identification, planning and resource management, team dynamics, and vice versa. Each “phase” is a legacy on its own.
You will also be able to do process analysis, measure the performance and capabilities of team members in a project, and collect data crucial to the existing Six Sigma setup.

Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (CSSGB) Requirements:

The requirements for CSSGB certification are a little complex. As mentioned earlier, you would like to point out affidavits or contracts for a minimum of 3 years of experience as a full-time working individual on Six Sigma projects.

Recommended Books for Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSBB) certification preparation:

Process Improvement Using Six Sigma: A DMAIC Guide
Six Sigma Green Belt, Round 2
Transactional Six Sigma for Green Belts: Maximizing Service and Manufacturing Processes

15. Project Management Certificate (PMC)

Course Duration: 1.5 years.
Cost: $11,360
Accreditation: Harvard Extension School

The Project management certificate (PMC) may be a part of the knowledgeable graduate certificate offered by Harvard. This certification can help you in the entire project management process from planning, initiation, project execution, evaluation, monitoring, and closing project. You can gain both management and technical skills in the project field. This certification is aligned with the PMI’s experts and provides you the specified leadership skills to form others accountable.

With the PMC course you will learn the following:

Learn the project life cycle to manage the project from start to finish
Gain technical and leadership skills to effective project completion
Project strategy and success
Change management in project innovation

Requirements for PMC certification

To gain the PMC certificate, you are required to complete at least 16 credits for certificates at the graduate level, get a minimum B grade, and complete it within 3 years’ time.

16. BVOP Certified Project Manager

Course Duration: Not Applicable
Cost: $130
Accreditation: BVOP.org

This project management certification is quite new but gained much traction in recent times, especially in the United Kingdom. The Business Value-Oriented Principles (BVOP) Certified Project Manager Certification is predicated on the agile framework. This certification gives value to the business by emphasizing the simplest project management practices and activities needed for business success.

The BVOP Certified Project Manager is useful for program directors, cross-teams, business persons, and other stakeholders. This certification will help you build processes that are efficient, transparent, and agile for project management. You will not only develop project management skills but also get familiar with people and product management for business.

In the BVOP Project Management certification, you will learn:

Business-oriented project management
Program management
Product management
Help improve project processes
Learn to make quick project-related decisions

Requirements for BVOP Certified Project Management:

There is no strict prerequisite for the BVOP project management certification, but you'll get to have a basic understanding of project management principles, terminologies, and best practices.

Recommended reading to prepare for BVOP project management certification:

BVOP Guide

17. GPM-IPMA Levels A – D

Expected Salary: € 80,251
Course Duration: Around 7 days
Accreditation: International Project Management Association

Cost:

For the basic certification: for GPM member €203, for students €150
For level A certification: €2,475
For level B certification: €1,935
For level C certification: €1,530
For level D certification: € 567 for GPM members, €250 for students

GPM-IPMA certifications are those that are issued by the German project management association “Gesellschaft für Projektmanagement” (GPM). The GPM is a component of the industry association International Project Management Association (IPMA). Therefore, the GPM’s certifications are on par with certifications offered by national associations and are also mutually recognized by them.

GPM offers five levels of certification the essential certification, Level A certification, Level B certification, Level C certification, and Level D certification. The foremost popular GPM certification being Level-D certification. The exam comprises both oral and written papers attested by GPM examiners in Nuremberg. However, there's also a choice to hold this exam at a corporation site, granted there are enough candidates which the corporate supports this.

This certification is mentioned by the IPMA as “Certified Project Management Associate”.

Successfully passing the extent D certification qualifies a candidate as “Zertifizierte(r) Projektmanagement-Fachmann/-frau” (Certified Project Management Associate).

Requirements for GPM-IPMA Levels A-D:

There are not any specific requirements for starting the GPM-IPMA certification. However, you would like to pass the respective levels to urge full certification.

Comparison of Project Manager Salaries

An important question to consider is what effect does project management certifications and other factors have on a project manager’s salary?

It is easy to see the rise in median incomes for project managers by looking into salary reports published by industry associations such as:

Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey
Project Management between 2010 to 2020

The median salary for project managers within the US is around $116,000 across all industries. This average salary however differs counting on certain factors including location and industry. Let’s consider a number of the factors which will affect your earning capacity.

1. Years of Work Experience

The years of work experience you have had an impact on the salary you will earn. Project managers that have but three years of labor experience earn a significantly lower salary compared to those individuals who have quite ten years of experience. The salary factor is also impacted by the relevant experience in the industry. The more experience you have in project management, the higher the salary you can expect.

2. Your Position

Another factor that affects your salary is your job position. The higher your job position; the greater your salary will be. Consider, for instance, a portfolio or program manager or the director of a project management office. These individuals are managing several complex projects rather than one project that another individual might handling.

3. Industry

The industry that you simply add also has an impression on the salary that you earn. If you check out the PMI salary report highlighted earlier during this post, you'll find the difference within the salaries of these project managers working in several industries per the location they are in.

4. Your Status as a Project Management Professional

Acquiring a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification can deepen your project management knowledge and also increase your salary prospects. On average individuals who are PMP certified earn 20% more than those project managers that do not have the certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Prepare for Project Management Certifications?

There are different approaches to preparing for Project Management Certification Courses. Some people wish to partake in study programs conducted at globally recognized institutes, while others believe in self-taught skills.

The key approach to reaping the most benefits from any range of Project Management Certifications is to make an informed decision on getting the “right” certification. It can only happen if you have taken the right course after evaluating its scope in the market, return on investment, and many other job-related possibilities.

PMI tests are usually based on 200 questions. According to experts, 25 out of those 200 questions are spontaneous. These questions define the difficulty curve of the computer-generated PMI Certification exam(s). Moreover, a majority of these certifications are based on closed book policies. Some institutes allow their students to bring reference material to consult with, but PMI strictly prohibits such an approach.

Where to Start with Project Management Certifications

Consult with an expert from the industry to see which certification holds the most value for you in years to come. According to some experts, the only reason they took up ScrumMaster, Agile or Lean Business certifications was due to the sheer excitement factor. They were able to innovate business and impact the “means to an end” philosophy in a positive manner.

Regardless, project managers are highly rewarded for their skills. Their pay scale easily levels against that of CEOs and high-profile business designations.

Why is a project management certification important?

Having a project management certification has many benefits. Here are just a few:

Your resume will stand out. Such certifications are in high demand by recruiters. Having such a credential increases your credibility for hiring managers.
You can earn a higher salary. Such certifications enhance your marketability and permit you to expect a salary hike of around 20%.
You add to your knowledge and skill. Such certifications require you to create your knowledge in project management, and thus this may assist you to manage your next project.

How long does it fancy get a project management certification?

Depending on how prepared you're and therefore the prerequisites of your program, getting a project management certification can take up to eight t 12 weeks.