The 6 Top Project Management Certifications That You Should Take

The Top Six Project Management Credentials

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You'll find the right project management certification below, whether you're looking to advance your career, pursuing a certificate for personal growth, or are just entering the market.

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1. Professional in Project Management (PMP®R)

One of the top certifications for project managers is the PMP designation. In fact, it is acknowledged as the industry's gold standard, ensuring your global acceptance wherever you work.

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Although the exam is challenging, passing it demonstrates that you have the knowledge and abilities necessary to effectively manage the three main "triple constraints" of any organization or institution: time, cost, and scope.

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You must either have a secondary degree, 7,500 hours of experience leading and managing projects, and 35 hours of project management education in order to become a PMP, or you can choose the second option if you already hold a four-year degree.

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In that case, you’ll be required to have 4,500 hours of experience in leading and directing projects along with the same 35 hours of project management education. 

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The PMP certification is accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which works round the clock to update the course contents and ensure its relevance to the evolving industry.

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Price:

Computerized Exams

$405 for PMI members

$555 for non-PMI members

Paper-Based Exams

$250 for PMI members

$400 for non-PMI members

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2. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Agile Project Management

If you’re an entry-level Scrum practitioner looking to take your career to the next level, the CSM certification is exactly your tipping point. Precisely, this certification empowers you to manage and oversee a team of members working on a project by understanding team roles, events, and rules.

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As indicated by its name, this certification is associated with The Scrum Alliance, an established institute promoting the concept of “agile” mindsets, particularly in the software industry.

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To attain a CSM certification, you take a two-day, 16-hour training course followed by an exam. Requirement-wise, you just need to have a basic familiarity level with Scrum and the agile mindset in general. Furthermore, you must complete The Scrum Alliance’s “Introductory Module” to entirely orient yourself to the program’s requirements.

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Price:

$1,000- $1,400 for examination and training

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3. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

The CAPM certification is an entry-level one that affirms your credibility and qualifications in managing projects. By showcasing your understanding of the fundamentals, terminology, and processes involved in effective and successful project management, this certification is enough to boost your career readiness and distinguish you in the job market.

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In terms of prerequisites, the CAPM certification requires a secondary degree (like a high school diploma) along with 1,500 hours of project management experience. Alternatively, you can complete 23 hours of project management education before you take the exam.

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Like the PMP certification, the CAPM certification is under the umbrella of the PMI. 

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Price:

$225 for PMI members

$300 for non-PMI members

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4. PRINCE2 – Projects in Controlled Environments

PRINCE2 is among the advanced certifications that are widely recognized in the U.K. Namely, there are two main certifications: PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner, both tackling skills and capabilities across a diverse range of business disciplines, ultimately driving business success.

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If you’re looking to boost your grasp of project management from A to Z, PRINCE2 revolves around how projects are managed and delivered from the moment they start (initiation) to the moment they’re completed (delivery).

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To obtain the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, you must have either completed the PRINCE2 Foundation, PMP, CAPM, or an International Project Management Association (IPMA) certification.

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Since you may be wondering how the PRINCE2 certification differs from the PMP, which is a common dilemma for applicants, you might want to read more about the differences between them here.

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Price:

PRINCE2 Foundation: $200

PRINCE2 Practitioner: $340

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5. Professional in Project Management (PPM)

Offered by the PMI, the PPM is a mid-level certification, including project management modules that equip you with project scheduling techniques, project measures, leading and managing projects, and quality control.

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If you already have several years of experience in project management but looking to take it a step further and better handle risks and crises, this is the one for you. By the end of this course, you’ll have extensive knowledge about resource allocation, delivering quality projects at minimal risk, and how effective communication works.

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To sit for the PPM exam, you need to take a mandatory E-Course and have hands-on experience in project management or, alternatively, demonstrate your familiarity with project management. No education requirements whatsoever!

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Price:$300

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6. CompTIA Project+

The CompTIA Project+ certification is targeted at business professionals in charge of small to medium-sized projects. If that’s what your current role entails or you have at least one year of project management, you’ll want to consider this one.

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What makes the CompTIA Project+ certification quite unique is that it tends to be rather versatile than other certificates. Thoroughly, it covers the essentials of project management and explores concepts rather than focusing on a specific methodology or framework.

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When you opt for this certification, you gain comprehensive knowledge about project management, including the basics of projects, constraints, documentation, tools, and change management. 

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The requirements are pretty simple; you just need to have one year of knowledge or experience with projects’ life cycles, be able to manage resources, and enjoy communication skills.

Price:$285

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