Obtaining a Project Management Certification

Introduction

Project management is a vital aspect of any successful business operation. It requires the skills and knowledge to plan, organize, and execute projects efficiently, effectively, and on time. To achieve this, many organizations and individuals opt for a certification in project management to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed. Throughout my research, I have determined what project management certifications are available, the steps required to obtain these certifications, benefits of these certifications for a career in operations and supply chain, determined the challenges you may face, and highlighted my future plans with these certifications.

What is a Project Management Certification?

Obtaining a Project management certification allows companies to ensure you have the qualifications to lead and manage projects of all types in the most efficient way possible. These certifications assess and verify the skills and knowledge required to plan, execute, and close a project. The certification program aims to evaluate the applicant's ability to manage projects, analyze project risks, manage project budgets, and implement project management methodologies. There are several types of project management certifications available, but the most common are the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.

Steps to Obtain a Project Management Certification

While both certifications can benefit your future career, they each have unique paths and requirements to obtain and maintain the certification.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

1.    Educational requirements: To be eligible for the PMP certification, an applicant must have a secondary degree (high school diploma, Associate’s degree, or the global equivalent) and at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education. Alternatively, applicants can have a four-year degree and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education.

2.    Application: Once an applicant meets the eligibility requirements, they can submit their application through the Project Management Institute (PMI) website. The application requires detailed information on an applicant's project management experience, including specific project details such as the project’s duration, budget, and scope. Per the Project Management Institute website, the price varies depending on whether you are a member of the Project Management Institute or not with members paying $405 and non-members paying $555.

3.    Examination: After the application is approved, an applicant must pass the PMP certification exam. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and lasts four hours. The exam covers five domains: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing.

4.    Continuing education: To maintain their PMP certification, applicants must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years. These PDUs can be earned through various professional development opportunities such as attending conferences, taking courses, and participating in online training.

Certified Associate in Project Management

1. Educational requirements: To be eligible for the CAPM certification, an applicant must have a secondary degree (high school diploma, Associate’s degree, or the global equivalent) and have completed 23 hours of project management education. Alternatively, applicants can have a four-year degree and have completed 1,500 hours of project experience or 23 hours of project management education.
2. Application: Once an applicant meets the eligibility requirements, they can submit their application through the PMI website. This application requires personal information, previous experience as a project manager, references, and a fee of $225 for members of the Project Management Institute and $300 for non-members.
3. Examination: After the application is approved, an applicant must pass the CAPM certification exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and lasts three hours. The exam covers five domains: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. The exam is computer-based, and results are provided immediately.
4. Continuing education: To maintain their CAPM certification, applicants must retake the exam every five years or transition to the PMP certification. Alternatively, they can earn 15 PDUs every three years to maintain their certification.

Benefits of a Project Management Certification for a Career in Operations and Supply Chain

As I am pursuing a career in operations and supply chain, I thought it would be best fit for me to research how a certification like this could benefit my future endeavors. Through my research I found that these project management certifications provide numerous benefits for individuals in my field. Here are some of the benefits:

1. Enhanced project management skills: A Project management certification ensures that individuals have the necessary skills and knowledge required to plan, execute, and close a project successfully. This enhanced skillset is not only highly valued in operations and supply chain but in any industry.
2. Increased job opportunities: Many organizations require project management certification as a prerequisite for job applicants. This means that certified individuals have access to a broader range of job positions as well as oppurtunities for growth within the company.
3. Higher earning potential: According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), certified project management professionals earn 22% more than non-certified professionals.
4. Improved project success rates: Project management certification ensures that individuals have the necessary skills to manage projects effectively, leading to a higher success rate for projects.

Challenges Associated with Obtaining a Project Management Certification

While a project management certification provides numerous benefits, it also comes with some challenges. Here are some of the challenges:

1. Cost: Project management certification programs can be expensive, and the cost can be a significant barrier for some individuals.
2. Time commitment: The certification process can be time-consuming, and it may take several months or even years to complete. It requires intensive studying which can deter professionals who want to pursue these certifications.
3. Exam difficulty: The certification exam is challenging, and some individuals may find it difficult to pass. The PMP test is 200 questions long over 4 hours and the CAPM test is 150 questions over 3 hours. Applicants must take the test in the allotted amount of time with a score of 61% or higher to earn the certification. Due to the high cost as well, several people may only take the test once.
4. Continuing education: Most project management certifications require certified professionals to complete continuing education units to maintain their certification, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

Future Plans

Through my research, I am heavily considering pursuing either the Project Management Professional (PMP) or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification down the road. I believe that these certifications would provide remarkable benefits for me long term in several unique ways. As I mentioned before, prerequisites for both these certifications require extensive experience in this to even apply for the exam so I would like to have a few years under my belt to start this process.

To wrap up, I am very thankful for the opportunity to be able to spend time researching and discovering the opportunities and benefits that having a certification in project management would entail. It has become clear to me how IS certifications of any kind will benefit your professional career no matter the industry you are in.

Video

Attached is a video link to a YouTube video I made that goes in depth of my findings throughout this project.

https://youtu.be/Vcb3ylfn5Rs