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In today’s article, we want to cover all the ten PMI certifications.
By the end of this informative read, you’ll have known the different PMI certifications, the entry requirements, and what exactly you need to do to maintain the certifications.
Specifically, we’ll cover:
And that’s not all.
We’ll go further and talk about five more PMI certifications.
So, sit back and enjoy this educational post.
Project Management Professional (PMP)
PMP certification is a globally recognized certification for project management professionals.
Project Management Institute (PMI) claims there are over 1 million PMP-certified project managers worldwide.
The PMP certification is based on the PMBOK guide and covers a wide range of topics, including project management methodology, processes, and principles.
The certification is ideal for project managers who already have work experience and want to take their careers to the next level.
To be eligible for the PMP exam, candidates with a bachelor’s degree must have three years of experience leading project implementation.
Those with an associate degree or high school diploma are required to have five years of experience in leading project teams and managing projects.
Additionally, both candidates must have 35 hours of project management training.
PMP certification is $405 for PMI members.
Non-members pay $555.
The certification coursework is broken down into three domains, people, business environment, and processes.
The new PMP certification course is even more comprehensive, as it includes agile, predictive, and hybrid project management approaches.
Given its depth, the certification equips project managers with the leadership skills and knowledge required to meet project deliverables within the constraints of time and budget.
This certification is coveted among experienced project managers because it’s a sure way to command a higher salary, stand out in the industry, and manage projects effectively.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
This certification program is for junior project managers getting started in the industry.
In fact, it’s the only entry-level PMI certification.
The certification is a perfect choice for project managers who want to boost their resumes, grow their experience, and learn about project management processes.
CAPM certification exam covers the fundamentals of project management since its applicants are just getting their feet wet in the industry.
Earning the CAPM certification is a sure sign to employers that one is committed to the industry and ready to undertake more responsibilities.
This PMI certification doesn’t have comprehensive requirements like PMP.
Applicants only need a high school diploma or its global equivalent to apply for the CAPM exam.
Additionally, candidates should strive to earn 23 hours of project management education before sitting for the exam.
One can substitute project management education with 1500 hours of project management experience.
The certification is $225 for PMI members, while non-members pay $300.
Certified CAPM project managers are required to maintain the certification by re-sitting for the exams every five years.
Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
PMI-PBA is a PMI certification ideal for professionals working in product development, requirement management, or generally working with a project team and want to grow their knowledge in business analysis.
The certification focuses on managing business requirements.
The exam covers monitory and evaluation, planning, needs assessment, and a dozen other business analysis aspects of project management.
By taking this certification, project managers acquire skills to effectively collaborate with stakeholders in defining project requirements, which is vital for successful project outcomes.
Professional in Business Analysis certification goes for $405 for PMI members.
PMI non-members pay $505.
When it comes to qualifications, professionals with a bachelor’s degree must have 4500 hours of business analysis experience.
On top of that, they must have 35 contact hours in business analysis education.
The prerequisite for candidates with a high school diploma, a secondary degree, or an associate degree includes 7,500 hours of experience in business analysis and 35 hours in business analysis education.
PMI-PBA certification expires after three years.
Thus, certificate holders must earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three years to maintain the certification.
Program Management Professional (PgMP)
Program Management Professional certification is an advanced certification for project managers tasked with managing multiple complex projects across different geographical locations, cultures, and organizations.
It’s the highest PMI certification.
The PgMP is designed to help program managers gain insight into managing multiple projects with complex tasks.
The prerequisite for PgMP for individuals with an associate degree or high school diploma is four years’ experience in project management and seven years of experience in program management within the last 15 years.
Applicants with a four-year degree are required to have four years of experience in project management and program management within the last 15 years.
PgMP candidates go through three assessment levels, panel review, exam, and 360 assessment to earn the certification.
The PgMP exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions.
The exam is perceived as tough, but it only requires a strategic reading plan and a positive attitude.
More than its toughness, the PMI exam is fairly expensive, costing a whopping $1000 for non-PMI members and $800 for members.
And just like other PMI certifications, candidates must maintain their project Management Professional certification by earning and reporting 60 PDUs every three years.
Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
PfMP is the perfect certification when it comes to professionals with experience in managing one or multiple portfolios.
The certification is ideal for portfolio managers who’ve climbed the career ladder to senior-level management.
It’s a sure proof of one’s competency in the coordinated management of portfolios to achieve organizational strategic objectives.
The certification equips candidates with the skills and knowledge they need to ensure programs, projects and operations align with the overarching organizational goal, such that resources are only invested where they are needed.
All applicants must have eight years of professional business experience within the last 15 years.
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree should also have four years experience in portfolio management, while their counterparts with high school diplomas should have seven years of experience.
Those who meet the requirements go through a panel review for evaluation before enrolling for the exam.
Getting the certification will require passing the 170 multiple-choice questions, which take 4 hours to complete.
And just like the PgMP, the PfMP exam costs $800 for members and $1000 for non-members.
Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
The PMI risk management professional certification is specifically designed for experienced risk management professionals seeking to advance their careers.
Since risk is an inevitable part of projects, risk management professional certification equips applicants with the expertise to identify, assess and mitigate risks.
The certificate holders prove that they have project risk management credentials required to complete complex projects successfully.
The certification also covers general project management knowledge.
In essence, it distinguishes risk specialists.
To be eligible for this certification, high school diploma holders must have three years of experience in project risk management in the last five years and 40 hours of project risk education.
Risk managers with a four-year degree are required to have 2 yrs experience in risk management and 30 hours of project management education.
The certification costs $670 for PMI non-members and $520 for members.
Once done with the exam, candidates are required to maintain the certification as it expires after three years.
PMI-RMP certificate holders are required to earn 30 PDUs every three years to maintain certification.
PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
This is the perfect certification for project managers who want to demonstrate their expertise in project scheduling.
Projects are increasingly becoming complex, and thus project teams require scheduling specialists with deep knowledge to create schedules for complex, virtual, local, and even global projects.
The credential ascertains one’s advanced experience, expertise, and knowledge in scheduling tools and developing and maintaining project schedules.
PMI-SP requirements for applicants with an associate degree or its global equivalent include 40 months’ project scheduling experience in the last five years and 40 hours of project scheduling training program.
Project managers with undergraduate qualifications should have 28 months of experience in project scheduling in the last five years and 30 hours of project scheduling education.
The PMI Scheduling Professional exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions and takes 3 hours and 50 minutes to complete.
Applying for the exam costs non-PMI members $670.
PMI members pay $520.
Certificate holders must report 30 PDUs in project scheduling programs every three years to maintain the certification.
PMI Project Management Ready
PMI Project Management Ready is an introductory certification ideal for high school and post-secondary school students interested in the basics of project management.
The certification introduces learners to project management skills and concepts, which gives them exposure to the project management profession early on.
The knowledge acquired in this certification is not necessarily for teenagers who aspire to take the project management career path.
The certification equips young people with skills that they can apply to their daily lives and even as they move on to internships, the military, further education, or even employment.
Teenagers or anyone interested can gain practical project management skills that will come in handy when searching and settling for a career path.
Anyone who can read at the level of a 7th grader, has computer skills, and can take part in a training program is eligible for this certification.
The certification costs $120.
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
PMI-ACP certification is designed for project managers that have experience in agile project management methodology and want to polish their expertise.
The agile methodology is relatively new in project management.
It emphasizes working in short bursts, also known as sprints.
The methodology is ideal for projects that are highly unpredictable, as it allows project teams to adopt changes as the project progresses.
This approach is quickly being adopted in different industries because of its iterative nature.
As such, PMI-ACP equips project managers who want to continue using agile with agile techniques, methods, and processes.
The certification is open for candidates who already have experience in the agile approach since applicants must have at least eight months of agile experience during the previous three years.
In addition, they should have one year of experience in project management within the last five years and 21 hours of agile coursework.
The certification goes for $435 for PMI members and 495 for non-members.
The exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions and takes 3hours to complete.
More importantly, PMI-ACP certificate holders must report 30 PDUs in agile programs every three years.
Disciplined Agile Certifications
PMI offers four disciplined agile certifications.
- Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM)
- Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM)
- Disciplined Agile Coach (DAC)
- Disciplined Agile Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC)
The four certifications are designed for varying levels of professional experience and cover different levels of agile methodology.
Beginners can learn the basics of agile methodology, while experienced project managers can deepen their skills further.
The disciplined agile certifications are open to project managers starting out with zero experience to those with up to 3 years of experience or more.
The certifications’ cost varies depending on the specific program and the training partner one has settled for.
Conclusion
Getting a PMI certification gets one ahead of the pack.
It gives one a competitive advantage in landing high-paying jobs, getting promotions, or even changing careers.
And so, instead of waiting for the right moment, it’s time to sieve through the many PMI certifications and choose one.
The good thing is that whether one has experience or not, there’s a certification that’s right for them.
So, step forward, sign up and boost your career growth.
