Project management certifications have claimed a place in every top IT certification list for years. That's because project managers are important to IT operations of all kinds. Whether you are interested in becoming an IT project manager or just want to add project management to your list of soft skills, these five leading certifications will help you add to or boost those skills and, in turn, increase your value.
Project management skills extend from the project's initiation through its planning and execution. It's not just "hard skills" such as organizing timelines and defining deliverables; good project managers put a lot of emphasis on "soft skills" such as communication and empathy. Skilled project managers must do everything from setting strategy with the team to keeping upper management appraised of project progress; they must also keep a steady eye on short- and long-term goals.
" If you're a project manager, do you need to earn project management certifications? As with so many things in tech, that's a complicated question to answer. Certifications can highlight a project manager's abilities in ways that allow them to score promotions and future job opportunities; but they're also not necessary in all circumstances. "
Project management has everything to do with planning, scheduling, budgeting for, and then executing and reporting on projects of all shapes and sizes. In fact, anything and everything that IT does can be understood or handled as a project of some kind. It applies to one-of-a-kind activities that happen only once or very seldom (think hardware or OS upgrades or migrating from older to newer platforms or infrastructures). Ditto for a recurring series of activities that repeat regularly (think security patches, software updates or other regular maintenance tasks). Thus, project management is incredibly important and valuable to IT operations across the board.
Administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Certified Associate in Project Management is the precursor to the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (see below). For professionals without a college degree, or with only rudimentary project management experience or those who want to achieve their PMP certification in steps rather than all at once, the CAPM is a stepping-stone to the more rigorous PMP.
For more information, see "CAPM certification guide: Certified Associate in Project Management exam explained."
Organization: Project Management Institute
Price: $225 for PMI members; $300 nonmembers
Requirements: High-school diploma, associates degree or equivalent and at least 1,500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of project management education.
Overseen by Scrum.org, this certification covers the skills and knowledge of Agile, Scrum, and the role of the Scrum Master. There are three levels of certifications for PSM.
The GAQM's Certified Project Director certification is the credentialing body's highest-level project management certification. This designation is designed for experienced project managers who are involved in directing multiple, complex projects and programs. The program focuses on managing, budgeting and determining scope for multiple projects, multiple project teams, and assessing and mitigating interdependent risks to deliver projects successfully. The CDP program is only for those who have significant project management experience.
Organization: Global Association for Quality Management
Price: $300
Requirements: GAQM body of knowledge study and e-course; candidates must be familiar with principles and methodologies of project management and pass the Professional in Project Management (PPM) or equivalent exam (see below).
The EC-Council was formed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to address issues of cyberterrorism and the information security of nations at large. The EC-Council's Certified Project Management Practitioner course is for project managers who want to benchmark their skills through hands-on experience and across various management techniques and tools necessary to successfully manage complex projects efficiently. The objective of the CPMP course is to add value to management professionals by developing managerial, leadership and technical skills required to make any project, small or complex, a success.
Organization: EC-Council
Price: $199 for exam voucher
Requirements: No prerequisites, but it is recommended that candidates attend a three-day preparation course.
The International Association of Project Managers (IAPM) is a global professional association and certification body focused on the project management profession. There are four levels of certification within the IAPM, split into two disciplines, traditional project management and agile project management: Certified Junior Project Manager and Certified Junior Agile Project Manager; Certified Project Manager and Certified Agile Project Manager; Certified Senior Project Manager and Certified Senior Agile Project Manager; and Certified International Project Manager. IAPM's Certified Project Manager certification is for candidates with a foundational knowledge of project management, including the basics of planning, organization and implementation of various projects. The exam covers both the hard and soft aspects of project management.
Organization: IAPM
Price: Fee depends on candidate's nationality, as pricing is based on country-of-origin's GDP; in the U.S., the exam cost is $650, with a 20 percent discount for students, job seekers and active aid organization personnel, according to the IAMP.
Requirements: None, but IAPM offers workshops through global training partners, or recommended literature for self-study. Candidates can also take a self-test to benchmark their knowledge.
The use of agile methodologies has become standard, so it's not surprising that IT practitioners uniquely qualified to manage projects in agile environments are in high demand. While there are different Scrum master certifications available, the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from Scrum Alliance is a great jumping-off point for project managers getting started as Scrum practitioners. The Scrum Alliance, which offers this credential, is a nonprofit organization that encourages the adoption of Scrum and agile practices, promotes user groups and learning events, and provides resources for professional development. The organization boasts more than 450,000 certified practitioners worldwide.
Organization: The Scrum Alliance
Price: Varies by training provider, but approximately $995 to $1,395
Requirements: General familiarity with Scrum; completion of two-day CSM training course
This entry-level certification is roughly on par with PMI's CAPM credential (above), though the requirements are less stringent. CompTIA's Project+ solicits feedback from the computing industry, government representatives, research institutions, academia and independent experts to design the certification.
Organization: CompTIA
Price: $285
Requirements: One year of experience managing, directing or participating in small- to medium-size projects is recommended.
The American Academy of Project Management (AAPM) has modeled the Master Project Manager (MPM) after the "professional licensure" model that many professions such as pilots, engineers, doctors and lawyers follow. The AAPM focuses on professional project managers, but also includes professionals with business and technical management responsibilities.
Organization: American Academy of Project Management
Price: $300 for application, review, processing, review, initiation and certification
Requirements: Three years of project management experience and training; waivers available for professionals holding a master's degree, with other qualified training and experience, the military or project management instructors
Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) is most well-known outside the U.S., especially in the U.K. and its government entities. The PRINCE2 certifications are delivered by the ILX Group and focus on directing, managing and delivering projects across all phases, pre-project, initiation, delivery and final delivery.
There are two primary qualifications, PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner. The Foundation certification is an entry-level credential that tests basic project management terminology and methodology, whereas the Practitioner certification tests advanced project managers who have already achieved PRINCE2 Foundation.
Organization: ILX Group
Price: Foundation: $200; Practitioner: $340
Requirements: PRINCE2 Foundation: PRINCE2 Foundation course; PRINCE2 Practitioner: one of the following: PRINCE2 Foundation, Project Management Professional (PMP), CAPM, or an IPMA certification
The Professional in Project Management (PPM) is a mid-tier project management credential from the GAQM. The GAQM's project management certifications are focused on a broad knowledge base and emphasize effective resource allocation, clear direction, adaptability to change, effective communication and assurance of quality deliverables at minimal risk. The PPM is targeted towards intermediate to experienced project managers who are involved in risk and crisis management, and who are involved in the day-to-day management of projects.
Organization: Global Association for Quality Management
Price: $300
Requirements: GAQM body of knowledge study and e-course; no formal education or experience requirements, but candidates should have at least some project management experience to pass the exam.
The EC-Council's Project Management in IT Security (PMITS) explores the complexities of managing an IT security project. The certification helps candidates reinforce their existing project management skills while tailoring them to the unique requirements of implementing and managing IT security within their organizations.
Organization: EC-Council
Price: $250 (PMITS courseware)
Requirements: At least two years of experience in information security and an educational background that shows a focus on security (bachelor's degree or higher preferred); candidates may also opt to attend an EC-Council training program before attempting an exam.
The gold standard in project management certifications, the Project Management Professional certification is a rigorous test that covers absolutely everything you need to prove your knowledge and skill in managing the "triple constraints": time, cost and scope. The PMI is this credential's parent organization, and works continuously with businesses and academia to ensure relevance for the certification.
For more about the PMP, and tips on how to pass it, see "PMP certification: How to ace the Project Management Professional exam."
Organization: Project Management Institute
Price: Computer-based exams: $405 for PMI members, $555 for non-members; paper-based exams: $250 for PMI members, $400 for non-members
Requirements: Four-year secondary degree plus three years of project management experience, 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours project management education; or a high-school diploma, five years of project management experience, 7,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education
Many colleges and universities offer project management certificates through their existing business, management or professional education programs. Schools such as Villanova, University of New Haven, Stanford University and others (check your local college or university's course offerings) have excellent project management programs and certificates. There also are IT vendor-specific project management certifications available, such as the Microsoft Project Certification. Requirements and price vary based on institution.
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500swhen an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500swhen an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
$450
Project Management Professional certification is a rigorous test that covers absolutely everything you need to prove your knowledge.
$450
As an IT professional, being CISA-certified demonstrates that you have rigorous audit experience .
$450
IT certifications can open many doors throughout your career, especially when you're searching for your next opportunity.
