A project management certification demonstrates your capacity to manage various projects in a context of an organization from start to completion while navigating, optimizing, and leading them.
The correct certification can aid in developing the skills you'll need because project management professionals must exhibit extraordinary agility, innovation, and flexibility in various settings.
Project management is known as planning and coordinating an organization's assets to advance the completion of a particular work, event, or duty.
The managed assets include people, money, technology, and intellectual property, which may involve a one-time project or continuing work.
This is frequently related to industries like engineering and construction, as well as, more recently, healthcare and information technology (IT), which often require a complicated set of components to be finished and assembled in a specific way in order to produce a utilizable product.
8 Top Project Management Qualifications
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- Certified Project Manager (IAPM)
- Google Project Management Certificate
- PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Associate in Project Management (APM)
- CompTIA Project+
- PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
We've analyzed the top project management certification courses offered online to provide a list of good possibilities to assist you in selecting the most appropriate certification for your needs.
Let's get to know each one by one.
1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
The PMI "Certified Associate in Project Management" (CAPM) is a different well-respected choice if you're searching for the top project management certification.
It's perfect for showing your abilities. The CAPM certification helps showcase your grasp of key project management concepts and is mainly geared toward newcomers in the field.
Key Features
- Ideal if you have some experience with project management or have finished the Project Management Fundamentals course
- A Project Management Institute award
- A retest is necessary every five years to maintain certification.
How to get certified
You must have completed high school or have at least a secondary degree, such as an associate's degree, to take this project management qualification for beginners.
Before taking the exam, you must complete a minimum of 23 hours of project management training. This requirement can be satisfied for you by taking the Project Management Basics online course offered by PMI.
You can take the CAPM exam online from your home or office, and the instructions will help you prepare for it. The exam contains 150 questions in total, and the time is 3 hours to complete the exam.
Cost
PMI members pay a discounted rate of $225 to access this course; otherwise, the total cost is $300.
Validity of the certification
In order to keep their CAPM certification with the PMI, holders must accrue 15 PDUs in every three years.
2. PRINCE2 Practitioner
The second of two exams necessary for anyone wishing to become a "PRINCE2 Practitioner" is the PRINCE2 Practitioner course. A process-based approach to project management is PRINCE2.
This course will guide you through the fundamentals of adapting and implementing PRINCE2 themes and processes, as well as applying PRINCE2 concepts in context.
How to get certified
You must show documentation that you cleared the PRINCE2 Foundation test in order to take the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam (5th or 6th edition). You might alternatively sign up with one of these alternatives:
- Project Management Expert
- Associate in Project Management Certified
- Level A, B, C, or D of IPMA.
Once you've demonstrated your prior expertise, you can start the complete course, where you'll navigate through PRINCE2 themes, procedures, and shared ideas.
You will receive an email invitation to enroll on a particular site for the remote proctored PRINCE2 test. After registeration, you can schedule your examination at the most convenient time.
You have 150 minutes to complete the 68-question test; to succeed; you must receive at least a 55 percent. You may utilize the PRINCE2 manual during the test.
Cost The cost of the course and exam is $935
Validity of the certificate
Although this course doesn't have a set end date, you might need to refresh your memory when new PRINCE2 guides are released.
3. Certified Project Manager (IAPM)
The IAPM certification offers a fundamental understanding of project management techniques and processes and is one of the most prestigious projects management certifications for beginners.
The Certified Project Manager certificate is ideal if you're interested in a career in project management because it explains what a PM role entails.
Key Features
- Open to any learner
- Focuses on the fundamental project management principles
- A prerequisite for the more advanced Certified International Project Manager (IAPM)
- The final exam takes place over 80 minutes with 120 questions How to get certified
The Certified Project Manager course does not require any prior training or credentials; however, having fundamental knowledge in this field will be beneficial.
You will have access to a wealth of recommended reading when you enroll in the course, as well as the IAMP "Project Manager's Guide," which offers a comprehensive overview of the whole test topic.
The "self-test" mini-test, which gives you 20 minutes to respond to 25 questions, can help you study for the exam by giving you feedback on your understanding.
When you're prepared, you can sign up to take the comprehensive certification exam, which has a passing score requirement of 65%.
Cost
The actual cost of this certification may vary depending on your country of residence, ensuring that project managers from various backgrounds can obtain the necessary PM abilities. People United States can anticipate paying $479.
Validity of the certificate
The IAPM certification is regarded as a lifelong credential that does not require renewal.
4. Google Project Management Certificate
Google provides a great place to start learning for a project management certification that is beginner-friendly. Without prior experience or education, you can use the Google Project Management Certification to become job-ready in less than six months.
Even some of the most crucial project management ideas, like agile planning, will be covered.
How to get certified
The Google Project Management training can be completed without prior training or credentials. After enrolling, you'll have access to 6 courses covering everything from the basics of project management to advice for launching a profitable project and how to chart the progress of your project.
The classes also teach how to apply efficient, agile project management techniques. You'll do a capstone project at the end of the course in which you'll show off the abilities you've acquired through the numerous Google videos, quizzes, and practical exercises.
Cost Enrolling in a project management course through Coursera costs about $39 per month, which comes to about $156 if you finish the system in the allotted 4 months with 10 hours of training per week.
Validity of a Certificate
This course's validity is unbounded in time. However, given how quickly the field of project management is evolving, you might need to consider renewing your education in a few years.
5. PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)
The Project Management Professional (PMP), a top-tier PM credential, examines a variety of predictive, hybrid, and agile project management techniques.
The PMI certification is regarded as one of the best project management certifications and provides excellent advice for aspiring leaders in the field.
Key Features
-Excellent for midlevel managers
- Emphasizes the fundamental and sophisticated aspects of project management
- The final exam has 150 questions and is two hours long.
How to get certified
You require a four-year degree, 35 hours of project management training, a CAPM certification, or 36 months of project management experience to be eligible for the PMI project management certification online.
You can also apply if you have a high school diploma, an associate's degree, or its equivalent in another country, as well as 60 months of project management experience, CAPM certification, or business management training for 35 hours.
Once you are eligible, you can register to take the test and study using various tools made available by the PMI team.
Cost
For those who are not PMI members, the training costs $555. You can get your education for $405 less if you are currently a member.
Validity of the certificate
For PMI certificates, candidates must accumulate a minimum number of "PDUs" over three years. You'll require 60 PDUs to keep your PMP certification up to date and in good standing.
6. Associate in Project Management (APM)
Students gain familiarity with the more typical vocabulary, frameworks, and tactics used by project managers through the Associate in Project Management (APM) course.
In order to demonstrate your dedication to project management quality for future opportunities, this course will award you with a credential in the field of project management that is recognized throughout the world.
Key Features
- There is no prerequisite for the foundation-level course.
- Four stages of qualifying
- 47 competencies to learn in the required timeframe
- Registered practitioners of PRINCE2 take a condensed course and exam.
- Won the fifth award from Association for Project Management
How to get certified
You don't need a degree or qualification to take this course, but you will need to have a working knowledge of project management at the very least. Working on a project and being interested in the subject matter are advantages.
You will go through a series of three modules in the APM course where you can define the basics of project management, establish project goals, look at project planning opportunities, and assess potential hazards.
After completing the three modules, you'll take a test with 50 multiple-choice questions; you must receive at least a 70% on this test to pass.
Cost
Although there is a $70 access package for the course, it does not come with an e-voucher for the certification exam, and you must pay $175 to access the course and the exam.
Validity of the certificate
This course has no expiration date because it merely covers the fundamentals of project management.
You might occasionally need to think about updating your expertise, in any case.
7. CompTIA Project+
The CompTIA Project+ course might be the best option if you are searching for a project management certification.
The CompTIA Project+ will enable IT professionals to swiftly advance through various projects, and it is designed for novices who need to manage smaller projects effectively.
Key Features
- Available to all students, both inside and outside the IT sector
- The CompTIA Project+ accreditation is perpetual.
- Places particular emphasis on starting, running, and sustaining projects inside various frameworks
- The final exam lasts 90 minutes and consists of 95 questions.
How to get certified
Although this course has no prerequisites, you should have some fundamental project management knowledge. The ideal amount of time in project management is at least 12 months.
After enrolling, you'll have access to the CertMaster Practice environment, which includes study materials and training delivered by instructors. You can use the resources available to learn about project fundamentals like defining roles and responsibilities.
Along with these topics, you'll study risk management, Agile methodologies, communication strategies, and change control procedures. When you're through studying, you can take the 90-minute multiple-choice exam, which has a passing score requirement of 710 on a range of 100-900.
Cost
The cost of this course as a whole is $348. For $559, you can also access a package that includes an exam retake, study materials, and an eBook guide.
Validity of the certificate
The CompTIA Project+ certification does not require revalidation. With CompTIA, you can get additional continuing education credits, but they will need to be renewed.
8. PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
The PMI Professional in Business Analysis course, taught by experts at the Project Management Institute, is designed for those with a fundamental understanding of project management who want to advance their skills.
This course will ensure you're ready to handle all the challenges involved in working with stakeholders and planning projects.
How to get certified
To apply for this course, you must have at least a secondary education degree, such as an associate's degree or high school diploma, 60 months of business analysis experience, and 35 hours of business analysis training.
You can also apply if you have a bachelor's degree and 35 hours of business analytics schooling or 36 hours of business analysis experience. You must submit an application, schedule your examination, and read the certification manual before moving on to the certification procedure.
You will have four hours to complete the 200 multiple-choice questions in the certification.
Cost
Existing PMI members can enroll in the course for $405 instead of the total $555 cost, while non-members must pay the full amount.
Validity of the certificate
Every three years, you must obtain at least 60 professional development units (PDUs) in business analytics subjects to keep your PMI-PBA certification current.
The Final Message
Above mentioned certifications are renowned and are being considered at a very high rate. If you want to high your game and become a skilled management professional, you can go for other certifications such as Google Project Management Certificate (GPMC). GPMC is ideal for entry-level jobs.
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