Interested in earning a project management certification?
A good project manager must be able to plan and manage multiple projects efficiently.
And becoming a certified project manager is one of the best ways to acquire the knowledge and skills for that.
To become a certified project manager, all you need to do is register for a certification exam and clear it. (You should be eligible, of course!)
But when there are tons of certifications, which is the best one for you?
Don’t worry.
In this article, you’ll learn what a project management certification is and why you need one. We’ll also highlight 6 key certifications you can earn and how you can use your certificate to become an effective project manager in 2023.
What Is a Project Management Certification?
A project management certification is a formal confirmation that an individual has the skills and abilities to manage projects efficiently.
Think of it this way:
Under regular circumstances, Mike needed a certification to get accepted into the Pearson Hardman law firm. That certification would’ve shown his employers that he has the necessary skills and knowledge for the job.
Lucky for him, Harvey – a senior partner there, saw his potential and hired him anyway – even though he didn’t pass the exam.
(We don’t recommend doing this btw!)
Obtaining a certificate in project management not only adds value to your resume but also equips you with the ability to manage projects like a pro.
But will this certificate only be recognized for a specific project management profession?
Nope.
Most project management certifications are valid across multiple professions in industries, like:
- Information technology
- Healthcare
- Banking and finance
- Construction
- Telecommunication
- Energy
- Aerospace
Top 6 Project Management Certifications
Here are 6 great project management certifications.
For each certification, we’ll highlight:
- Which project management body offers it
- Which domains the course covers
- What are its program prerequisites
- How much does it cost
1. Project Management Professional Certification (PMP)
The Project Management Professional Certification is a globally recognized project management certificate program. It’s a rigorous certification program designed to enable credential holders to manage all the phases of a project successfully.
The certification exam consists of 200 questions and is 240 minutes long.
Offered by
Project Management Institute
What domains does the PMP exam cover?
The PMP Certification covers three essential constraints of a project –– time, cost, and scope.
The PMP credential also covers all the phases of project management processes, like:
- Project initiation
- Planning and execution
- Monitoring and control
- Closing
As this is such a comprehensive course, anyone passing it is going to have what it takes to be a great project manager.
What are its prerequisites?
There are two sets of requirements for this professional certificate program (you need to satisfy either of them):
- Have a high school diploma or an associate’s degree (or global equivalent)
- 5 years of project management experience
- 35 hours of project management training/ project management education or be a Certified Associate in Project Management Certification (CAPM certification)
Note: CAPM certification is an entry-level project management program offered by the Project Management Institute. It’s more suited for practitioners who’d like to manage larger, complex projects.
OR
- Have a four-year degree
- 3 years of project management experience
- 35 hours of project management education/ project management training or are a Certified Associate in Project Management Certification (CAPM certification)
Pricing
- For members of the Project Management Institute: $405
- For non-members: $555
Note: To maintain this project management certificate, credential holders must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years.
What’s a PDU?
A PDU is a unit to measure an individual’s professional development. You can earn it by completing courses or undergoing training to improve your project management knowledge. Authoring articles, presenting webinars, or just doing your job are also some ways to earn PDUs.
2. Agile Certified Practitioner Certification (ACP)
With the ACP project management program, you learn the basics that are required to complete any Agile project successfully.
As part of the project management course and exam prep, examinees also get hands-on training modules over multiple Agile frameworks.
The certification exam consists of 120 multiple choice questions and is 3 hours long.
Offered by
Project Management Institute
What domains does the ACP exam cover?
This project management certificate exam covers domains like:
- Agile project management principles
- Value-driven delivery
- Stakeholder engagement
- Project team performance
- Problem detection and resolution
- Continuous improvement (of products, processes and people)
What are its prerequisites?
There are two sets of requirements for this certificate (you need to satisfy either of them):
- Have a secondary degree and 21 contact hours of Agile project management training
- 16 months of general project experience within the last 5 years
- 12 months of Agile project work experience within the last 3 years
OR
- Have a four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 12 months of general project experience within the last 5 years
- 8 months of Agile project work experience within the previous 3 years
Pricing
- For members of the Project Management Institute: $435
- For non-members: $495
Note: To maintain this management certificate, credential holders must earn 30 PDUs in Agile topics every three years.
3. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Okay, Certified ScrumMaster is probably the coolest sounding project management certification out there.
But the CSM certification isn’t just something you obtain to look good.
It’s a globally recognized project management certificate ideal for professionals who want to manage a Scrum team.
In the CSM project management program, you learn the entire Scrum framework, including the various project team roles, events, and artifacts.
This helps you grow into the perfect individual to manage a Scrum team.
The CSM credential process consists of a 2-day classroom training session ending with an open book exam. The exam contains 50 multiple choice questions with a time limit of 60 minutes.
Offered by
The Scrum Alliance
What domains does the CSM exam cover?
This management certificate program covers topics such as:
- Scrum and Agile frameworks
- Scrum values
- Scrum team roles
- Scrum events and artifacts
What are its prerequisites?
There are no prerequisites for this credential.
Pricing
$1000–1400
4. Projects in Controlled Environments Certification (PRINCE2)
The PRINCE2 certification covers the project management essentials for managing projects of any size or complexity.
It offers two levels of certifications:
- PRINCE2 Foundation: An entry-level certification that deals with basic project management principles
- PRINCE2 Practitioner: An advanced certification meant for an experienced project manager who already has the PRINCE2 Foundation graduate certificate
The certification exam format for the Foundation course is a 60 question closed book exam for 60 minutes. For the PRINCE2 Practitioner course, it’s a 68 question open book exam for 150 minutes.
Offered by
AXELOS Ltd.
What domains does the PRINCE2 exam cover?
This project management certificate program covers all the aspects (project risk, planning, quality analysis etc.) required to run an effective project.
What are its prerequisites?
There are no requirements for the PRINCE2 Foundation certification.
But for the PRINCE2 Practitioner management certificate, you must have cleared one of these exams:
- PRINCE2 Foundation (5th or 6th edition version)
- Project Management Professional (PMPcertification)
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM certification)
- International Project Management Association Level A, B, C or D
Pricing
- For Foundation & Practitioner Certification online training and exams bundle: $300
- For classroom training and certification bundle: $1000
5. CompTIA Project + Certification
CompTIA Project + certification provides basic project management skills. It’s ideal for professionals who manage small to medium-sized, less complex projects.
The certification exam consists of a maximum of 95 multiple-choice questions. The duration of the exam is 90 minutes.
Offered by
CompTIA Project Co.
What domains does the CompTIA Project + exam cover?
This management certificate program is composed of domains like:
- Project basics and constraints
- Communication and change management
- Project tools and documentation
What are its prerequisites?
There are no set prerequisites for the certification exam. However, a minimum of 12 months of cumulative project management experience or equivalent education is recommended.
Pricing
$329
6. ClickUp University Project Management Certificates
ClickUp University Project Management Certificates are designed to provide an in-depth understanding of project management topics such as project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure. Learners will gain an extensive background on the fundamentals of project management, and once the course is completed, they will receive a certificate to demonstrate their expertise.
Offered by
What are its prerequisites?
There are no prerequisites to obtain ClickUp certifications.
Pricing
ClickUp University offers free foundational learning paths for guests, members, and admins to learn the basics of ClickUp
Benefits of Having a Project Management Certification
Regardless of the type of project management certificate you choose, you get tons of benefits!
Here’s a look at some of the benefits you’ll get:
1. Enhances your skillset
Managing multiple projects teaches you a lot of things over the years, like:
- Effective project planning and execution
- Task prioritization
- Resource management
- Project team collaboration
However, in a project management certificate program, you learn these things over a shorter span of time.
Look we’re not saying you only need to take one course to become the next Harvey Specter. You need tons of experience, determination and hair gel for that:
But what a certificate can do is add depth and value to your management skills to give you a headstart for project manager roles. Moreover, it makes managing project teams a less stressful experience, especially in remote project management.
This way, you’ll become an experienced project manager in no time!
2. Help you transition into an effective project manager
A project manager is expected to handle any challenge that comes in the way of successful project completion.
But how do you know how to tackle these project management challenges?
Project management certification courses teach you strategies to deal with those hurdles properly.
Certification courses, you receive the knowledge you need to handle tricky situations the right way. It also makes you organized and better equipped to catch problems before they snowball, saving you time and other resources!
3. Shows your dedication towards the role
Most companies require you to have a certification for two reasons:
- It shows them that you have the necessary skills for the job
- Obtaining a certificate in project management indicates your dedication as a project manager
How?
Through hands-on experience, you’ll learn the techniques needed to manage and complete multiple projects efficiently — which, in turn, boosts your skills, abilities, and knowledge.
Sure, this requires some time and effort.
But eventually, your knowledge area and skills will be advanced enough for you to handle even complex projects efficiently.
Which Project Management Certification is Best for You?
Obtaining a certificate in project management not only adds value to your resume but also enhances your management skills. Just go through the six courses we listed here to find the certification that “suits” you best.
But remember, without the right project management tool, even an experienced project manager can’t take full advantage of that management certificate!
And as ClickUp has all the features to assist you in putting that certification to use, why not sign up for it today?
You’ll become an amazing project management professional in no time — and might even rival Harvey in terms of efficiency!
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