Whether you are making an internal move towards a Project Management role or applying for a new role in Project management, there is usually a requirement to have one or more PM certifications. In this blog, I will review some of the more frequently mentioned PM certifications I have seen in my years of applying and interviewing for PM roles.
Side Note - Most of the recognized PM certificates from the likes of Project Management Institute (PMI) or Axelos can range in cost from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand (depending if you go down the route of instructor led courses), so in this blog, I will also mention some of the cheaper or free introductory courses that you can do online, before making the commitment and signing up for some of the more recognized certifications.
Introductory Courses
If you are looking to dip your toe into the world of project management, there are a few online avenues that you can explore before deciding to pursue any of the recognized certifications mentioned below.
Coursera
This is probably my favorite resource as they have an extensive catalog of courses from well-recognised educational institutes, such as Harvard, Stanford and Oxford University. However there is a monthly subscription fee to avail of these resources, but it’s money well spent.
Additionally, they also have a lot of courses directly from some of the largest tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and IBM. I’ve personally found these company-specific trainings are ideal to add to your CV in order to help you get to the early interview stages with a company, for example, the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning has a great catalog of PM foundation courses that you can do, along with some longer format courses that can help you with exam preparation courses for some of the PM certifications. I think this is a great introduction for anyone considering PM as their next career move. Should also be noted similarly to Coursera LinkedIn Learning requires you to subscribe to avail of the service, but it is a small investment to make in progressing your career that one step further.
Udemy
Similar to LinkedIn Learning Udemy has a good range of courses, however, these are user-generated content so requires a lot of research into the course you want to sign up for to ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck. I’ve used Udemy for certification preparation and had mixed results. But it is still a good resource to have and to use, depending on the style of learning you benefit from.
Professional Certifications
There are a few more certifications that I did not mention below, but the certifications discussed are the most sought-after ones that I have seen over the last few years of working and interviewing candidates for PM roles.
PMP (Project Management Professional)
Overview 🔎: Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) the PMP certification is the most globally recognized certification for Project Managers.
Requirements 📋: In order to sit the PMP exam you will need either:
- 4-year degree, 36 months of project management experience and 35 hours of project management education (or the CAPM certificate - mentioned below)
- Secondary school degree, 60 months of project management experience and 35 hours of project management education (or the CAPM)
Examination Process 🎓: The PMP exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions over 230 mins, covering various aspects of project management, including the PMI's PMBOK Guide.
PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments)
Overview 🔎: Offered by Axelos, PRINCE2 is a process-driven project management methodology widely used in the UK and Ireland. There are two PRINCE2 certifications, Foundation and Practitioner.
Requirements 📋: There are no prerequisites for the PRINCE2 Foundation certification however, to sit the Practitioner level, you need to have passed the Foundation exam.
Examination Process 🎓: The PRINCE2 Foundation exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions over 60 min, while the Practitioner exam consists of 68 multiple-choice and multiple scenario-based questions over 150 mins.
CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)
Overview 🔎: Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) CAPM is a foundational certification in project management that can be used as a pre-requisite for the PMP certification.
Requirements 📋: 23 hours of project management education (PMI also offer a Project Management Basics course that can help you achieve this)
Examination Process 🎓: The CAPM exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions over 180 mins, covering project management fundamentals and terminology.
CSM (Certified SCRUM Master) / PSM (Professional SCRUM Master)
Overview 🔎: CSM offered by SCRUM Alliance and PSM offered by SCRUM.org are certifications for Scrum practitioners, emphasizing Agile project management principles.
Requirements 📋:
- CSM: You must attend a two-day Certified ScrumMaster training course conducted by a certified trainer.
- PSM: None
Examination Process 🎓:
- CSM: The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions over 60 mins
- PSM: The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions over 60 mins
Agile Certified Practitioner
Overview 🔎: Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) the ACP certification shows a practitioner's knowledge and experience with various Agile methodologies beyond just Scrum.
Requirements 📋: 21 hours of Agile training, 8 months of Agile project experience and 12 months of general project management experience or PMP certification.
Examination Process 🎓: The ACP exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions over 180 mins.
Education Institutions
Lastly there are plenty of Universities and Colleges that are offering Project Management courses both online and in person, these can range from Professional Certifications, Pg (Post Graduate) Certs, Pg Diplomas, and Masters. While not essential, these are a great way to get some exposure to Project planning and documentation as these courses usually range from 3 - 12 months in duration and throughout this period your course assignments will guide you through examples of documentation and project plans that are required for varying types of projects.
Conclusion
As a PM I think it’s key to not only balance real-world experience from working on projects day to day but also upskilling and obtaining one or more of these certifications above in order to have the theoretical knowledge in place to know when and where to use different principles of frameworks. If you find yourself more interested in moving into the World of Project Management please reach out.