Choose the Right PMI Certification for Your Career

As several project managers know, the project management field is packed with certifications, master's degrees, and technical training courses with a wide range of accreditations of utmost significance.

The world's largest association for the project management career - Project Management Institute (PMI), seeks to combine these programs and offer a uniform terminology standard and technical experience through globally renowned accreditation.

PMI's certification programs are drastically changing as the demand for project managers increases.

Today, we will discuss the certifications offered by PMI that will help you choose the right one for your career.

Currently, PMI offers 8 certifications designed to display the expertise of project managers' current careers and highlight a preparedness for advancement to their employers.

Let's see the 8 PMI Project Management Certifications in detail.

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

CAPM is an entry-level certification offered by PMI to individuals hoping to manage projects, take on more roles, or add project management skills to their resumes.

The CAPM credential is a stepping stone to PMP certification. Why? Because it’s known to be an entry-level credential that helps you gain knowledge on project management terminologies and concepts. Moreover, individuals with a CAPM tag can rule out PMP eligibility prerequisites.

This credential is also beneficial for those new to the project management field.

What are prerequisites to take CAPM Certification?

• Secondary degree - High school diploma, associate's degree or the global equivalent
• Project management education - 23 hours

What is the exam pattern of CAPM Certification?

• Number of questions: 150
• Pre-test questions: 15
• Question type: MCQs

• Exam mode: Online or center-based

• Duration of exam: 180 minutes (3 hours)

How to maintain the CAPM Certification?

• Earn 15 PDUs every 3 years

Project Management Professional (PMP)

PMP certification is a globally renowned and prestigious accreditation that exposes you to benefits such as increased credibility, higher salary perks, and high market value.

Acquiring PMP certification is a daunting task, as you will have to meet the eligibility criteria put forward by PMI. This is not the only case why PMP is known to be the most challenging credential test among project managers. Instead, its examination pattern and validation are stringent.

The PMP credential is excellent for individuals who have some experience managing projects and are keen on up-skilling their careers.

What are the prerequisites for PMP Certification?

• Secondary degree - High school diploma, associate's degree or the global equivalent
• Leading project experience: 60 months
• Project management education: 35 hours or CAPM Certification

OR

• 4-year degree
• Leading project experience: 36 months
• Project management education: 35 hours or CAPM Certification

What is the exam pattern of PMP Certification?

According to new PMP exam changes:

• Number of questions: 180
• Pre-test questions: 5
• Question type: Combination (multiple response, MCQs, hotspots, fill-in-the-blanks and matching)
• Exam mode: Online or center-based
• Duration of exam: 230 minutes (approx 4 hours)

How to maintain PMP Certification?

• Earn 60 PDUs every 3 years

Program Management Professional (PgMP)

The PgMP certification will help you develop a robust leadership approach to manage multiple projects and improve your efficiency in navigating complex activities.

You will learn to use the tools and techniques efficiently and understand business strategy and program processes.

The PgMP credential will take you through the PMI’s five management performance domains and use a scalable framework to manage varying-sized programs.

PgMP accreditation is designed for the senior-level practitioner who manages multiple related projects in a coordinated way.

What are the prerequisites for PgMP Certification?

• Secondary degree - High school diploma, associate's degree or the global equivalent
• Project management experience: 48 months or PMP Certification
• Program management experience: 84 months (within last 15 years)

OR

• 4-year degree
• Project management experience: 48 months or PMP Certification

• Program management experience: 48 months (within last 15 years)

What is the exam pattern of PgMP Certification?

• Number of questions: 170
• Pre-test questions: 20
• Question type: MCQs
• Exam mode: Center-based
• Duration of the exam: 240 minutes (4 hours)

How to maintain PgMP Certification?

• Earn 60 PDUs every 3 years

Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)

PfMP certification is considered to be the most advanced accreditation in project management field offered by PMI.

Suppose you have managed one or several portfolios for a company. In that case, a PfMP certificate can be highly beneficial to show your competency. Companies with mature project portfolio management methods complete 35% more successfully.

If you are a senior-level practitioner or professional executive managing a project and program portfolio aligned with company strategy, then PfMP is a significant step to take.

What are the prerequisites for PfMP Certification?

• Secondary degree - High school diploma, associate's degree or the global equivalent
• Professional business experience: 96 months (within last 15 years)
• Portfolio management experience: 84 months

OR

• 4-year degree
• Professional business experience: 96 months (within last 15 years)
• Portfolio management experience: 48 months

What is the exam pattern of PfMP Certification?

• Number of questions: 170
• Pre-test questions: 20
• Question type: MCQs
• Exam mode: Center-based
• Duration of the exam: 240 minutes (4 hours)

How to maintain PgMP Certification?

• Earn 60 PDUs in portfolio management topics every 3 years.

PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)

PMI-RMP certification helps in project management practice to deal with risks, i.e., identifying, evaluating, analyzing and controlling risks. Right from risk assumptions to risks forecast, risk mitigation and risk management, the credential will help you in taking informed decisions in the face of uncertainty that prevails in any project.

If you have in-depth knowledge and experience in risk management, or you're a project manager focusing on project risk management, then PMI-RMP is for you.

What are the prerequisites for PMI-RMP Certification?

• Secondary degree – High school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent
• Project risk management experience: 36 months (within the last 5 years)
• Project risk management education: 40 hours

OR

• 4-year degree
• Project risk management experience: 24 months (within the last 5 years)
• Project risk management education: 30 hours

What is the exam pattern of PMI-RMP Certification?

• Number of questions: 115
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Exam mode: Online or center-based
• Duration of the exam: 150 minutes (2.5 hours)
• Language: English, Arabic

How to maintain PMI-RMP Certification?

• Earn 30 PDUs in risk management topics every 3 years.

PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)

PMI-SP certification verifies your potential as a professional to develop optimal schedules for projects and teams in a global, virtual, and highly sophisticated environment.

Suppose you have in-depth knowledge and experience developing, managing, and maintaining project schedules. In that case, PMI-SP is the best choice.

What are the prerequisites for PMI-SP Certification?

• Secondary degree
• Project scheduling experience: 40 months (within last 5 years)
• Project scheduling education: 40 hours

OR

• Four-year degree
• Project scheduling experience: 24 months (within last 5 years)
• Project scheduling education: 30 hours

What is the exam pattern of PMI-SP Certification?

• Number of questions: 170
• Pre-test questions: 20
• Types of questions: MCQs
• Exam mode: Center-based
• Duration of exam: 210 minutes (3.5 hours)

How to maintain PMI-SP Certification?

• Earn 30 PDUs in specialized topic of project scheduling every 3 years

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

PMI-ACP is an industry-recognized certification that proves your net worth as an Agile practitioner. It empowers you with the knowledge and confidence in a framework gaining traction and adoption by leading corporate.

This course is most pursued by project managing enthusiasts following Agile practices and trains them about the concepts, tools, and techniques employed in project management.

What are the prerequisites for PMI-ACP Certification?

• General Project Experience – 12 months (within the last 5 years) or active PMP/PgMP certification.
• Agile Project Experience – 8 months (within the last 3 years). This is in addition to General Project Experience.
• Agile Practice Training - 21 contact hours must be earned

What is the exam pattern of PMI-ACP Certification?

• Number of questions: 120
• Pre-test questions: 20
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Exam mode: Online or center-based
• Duration of the exam: 180 minutes (3 hours)

How to maintain PMI-ACP Certification?

• Earn 30 PDUs in agile topics every 3 years

Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

Business Analysis (BA) has become a competitive field of project management. Becoming one can shift your career in a fresh direction while the BA opportunities are on the rise.

The PMI-PBA certification tests you in assessment, planning, evaluation, monitoring, and other requirements related to BA aspects of project management.

Suppose you work with a project team and manage product development, or you are a project/program manager who performs BA in the role. In that case, PMI-PBA certification is for these individuals.

What are the prerequisites for the PMI-PBA Certification?

• Secondary degree - High school diploma, associate's degree
• BA experience: 60 months
• BA educational training: 35 contact hours

OR

• Bachelor's degree or the global equivalent
• BA experience: 36 months
• BA educational training: 35 contact hours

What is the exam pattern of PMI-PBA Certification?

• Number of questions: 200
• Pre-test questions: 25
• Question type: MCQs
• Exam mode: Online or center-based
• Duration of the exam: 240 minutes (4 hours)

How to maintain PMI-PBA Certification?

• Earn 60 PDUs in BA topics every 3 years

Conclusion

Choosing the right PMI certification is important. Though it may be confusing and daunting to determine which is good for your career and which isn't. However, having a basic idea like provided in this blog will help you brainstorm which certification to go for.

Are you looking to create a change in your career with PMP certification? If yes, enrol iCert Global's PMP certification training course now!

We would be privileged to play a part in your journey towards achieving a globally recognized PMP Certification from The Project Management Institute, Inc. 

Benchmark your current level of preparation for the latest version of the PMP Exam. 

Download Free PMP® Exam Practice Test with 200 PMP® Questions.

You may also be interested in Sample PMP® Exam Prep Questions before you download the Free PMP® Practice Test.

Download our Free PMP Brochure for more information. Do visit our Corporate Training to know more about core offerings for enterprises in empowering their workforce.

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