Project Management Certification - Why do I need it?
In the project management profession, there are fewer and fewer really good project managers available. The demand for project managers has increased by 500% in the last 10 years. On a daily basis, we receive requests from companies looking for experienced freelance project managers, even on a contract basis (often not even trying to become employees). Unfortunately, it is inevitable that in such a market, "project managers" who have no real project experience, although they claim to have it, will also appear. In order to detect this, clients and their representatives are increasingly asking for proof of experience and knowledge in addition to personal interviews, the most common way of doing this being the existence of various project management qualifications. Many companies and individuals come to us with the question: which certification is the best? As with many things, there is no clear answer to this question, and we recommend choosing the right qualification according to your objectives, which is what we are trying to help you with.
Certifications by type
So let's start at the beginning, there are a lot of certifications on the market, some that specialise in a particular industry, some that target a particular role or level of experience and some that focus on specific project management approaches.
When choosing a qualification, it is important to be aware of the prerequisites and to choose a qualification that is in line with your personal or organisational goals. For example, if someone is managing construction or property development projects, there is a good chance that (unless they are looking to change industry) agile qualifications will not add much value.
The list below is a non-exhaustive summary of available qualifications and their prerequisites that may be of interest to project managers.
General project management qualifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Insitute
The PMP is the best-known and most widely accepted "black belt" project management qualification worldwide. It is based on the PMBOK Guide (Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge), also known as the "project management Bible", which provides a good structure of project management processes and tools. The standard used is an iterative approach that is well suited to traditional, waterfall and more volatile environments. The advantage is that the methodology is updated every 3-4 years according to current market trends, the latest edition now includes a detailed description of the pre-project activities (feasibility, business case, and clarification of the measurement of expected results). The advantages of the certification are that it does not measure lexical knowledge but rather the ability to solve specific situations and it also certifies professional experience, thus guaranteeing to the client that the person concerned has a solid project management experience. According to recent surveys, project managers with PMPs earn on average 20% more than their non-certified counterparts.
Prerequisites: 4,500 hours (minimum 3 years) of project management experience (at tertiary level) within the last 8 years and 35 hours of project management training, which can be verified with the exam preparation programme we offer.
Exam: In English, 200 computer-based test questions in 4 hours. Price 555 USD, 405 USD for PMI members.
Maintenance: can be renewed every 3 years without a new exam by collecting PDUs
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) - Project Management Institute
The "little brother" of the PMP qualification, which is aimed at novice, less experienced project managers and project coordinators. The syllabus is the same as for the PMP (PMBOK Guide), but it is obviously more a matter of measuring lexical knowledge due to the lack of experience. It may be a perfect choice for beginner project managers.
Prerequisites: For secondary education 23 hours of project management training, certified by the exam preparation programme we offer, or 1.500 hours of project experience
Exam: In English, 150 computer-based test questions in 3 hours. Price 300 USD, for PMI members 225 USD
Maintenance: valid for 5 years, renewable for another 5 years with a new exam
Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) foundation/ practitioner - AXELOS
The methodology was developed by the UK Government's IT Centre, so this rating is most widely used and accepted in the United Kingdom. The foundation qualification is of interest to beginners and entry-level project managers, while the practitioner is of interest to experienced project managers. The disadvantage is that the practitioner qualification requires the foundation or PMI CAPM/PMP qualification, so it is more costly and time-consuming to obtain.
Prerequisites: No certification for Foundation level, Foundation, CAPM/PMP, or IPMA for Practitioner level.
Exam: In English, 75 questions in 1 hour for foundation and 80 questions in 2.5 hours for practitioner. The price varies, there is no standard fee, most often available in combination with a course at a price of 1.000-1.500 USD.
Maintenance: 20 CPD points per year for 3 years, or by retesting.
Professional in Project Management (PPM) - GAQM
A lesser known and accepted mid-range project management qualification. It may be of interest to project managers with minimal experience, as the exam covers the management and motivation of project teams, as well as change and risk management in addition to planning and monitoring.
Prerequisites: There is no formal prerequisite in terms of experience, but completion of an e-course is mandatory.
Exam: In English, 150 test questions in 2 hours. Price including e-course 340 USD.
Maintenance: It is valid for 5 years, after which the qualification can be extended by taking a new exam or completing an e-course.
IPMA A,B,C,D - International Project Management Association
IPMA certifications cover the project management field from entry level to experienced level. Although the number of people certified is lower than for PMI or PRINCE2, and perhaps not as widespread, it is definitely worth considering this certification. In the absence of English language skills, this qualification may be appropriate as there is the possibility to take the exam in Hungarian. The process of obtaining this qualification is much longer than the others on the list, with written, oral and workshop elements depending on the level.
Prerequisites: 0-5 years of proven project management experience, depending on level.
Exam: Depending on the level, a written exam of 4-5 hours with test and essay questions, presentation of a case study of your own project and a personal interview. Exam fees range from €500 to €2700 depending on the level.
Maintenance: Valid for 5 years, after which the certification can be renewed, accompanied by a 360-degree assessment, a list of projects, a list of references and a list of continuing training (35 hours per year).
Agile-based certifications
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) - Project Management Institute
The PMI certification is currently the fastest growing certification in terms of the number of people certified, and in 2017 it became the highest paid certification in international surveys. PMI has developed this certification for project managers and experts who do not only work according to an Agile orientation, as the exam also covers Lean, Scrum, XP and Kanban, among others. The exam is a difficult one, similar to other PMI exams, where you have to choose the right reaction and response to a given situation. If you want to be a project manager or an expert in an agile environment, this qualification may be the right choice.
Prerequisites: 2.000 hours of experience in traditional projects (can be replaced by PMP certification), 1.500 hours of project experience in an agile environment and 21 hours of training covering Agile trends, verified by the exam preparation programme we offer.
Exam: 120 test question in 3 hours, exam fee 495 USD, 435 USD for PMI members.
Maintenance: valid for 3 years, which can be extended by obtaining PDUs without retaking the exam.
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) - Srum Alliance
This certification is not typically a project management certification, as it targets Product Owners in Scrum terminology. Nevertheless, project managers may find themselves in a situation where they need to act as POs. In the PO field, it is a widely known and accepted qualification, exclusively for Scrum. A serious criticism is that the qualification is not subject to an exam, but only to training.
Prerequisites: 2 days of certified training.
Exam: No, you will automatically be certified on completion of the training. The training costs approximately USD 1.000-2.000.
Maintenance: valid for 2 years, renewable for a fee of USD 100.
Certified Scrum Master (CSM) - Scrum Alliance
Although, like the previous certification, this is not a "real" project management certification, as a project manager you may find yourself in a situation where you need to act as a Scrum Master. Given the role of Scrum Masters, this focuses on supporting teams and Scrum processes and ceremonies. Although, unlike the CSPO certification, we have to take the exam online, the seriousness of the certification is reduced by the fact that the exam can be stopped on the go or resumed later.
Prerequisites: 2 days of certified training.
Exam: 35 test questions in 1 hour, the exam fee with training is about 1.000-2.000 USD
Maintenance: valid for 2 years, renewable for a fee of USD 100.
Business analyst certifications
Although business analyst and project manager are not overlapping, in many cases project managers benefit from being able to function as business analysts, as successful project management involves successfully managing and controlling requirements.
Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) - Project Management Institute
The PMI-PBA certification curriculum, created by PMI, is summarised in The PMI Guide to Business Analysis. The standard created by PMI provides a structure for the BA processes, tools and techniques to be used before and during projects. In 2017, the curriculum was aligned with the PMBOK content, so that the PBA and PMP qualifications form a rounded and complementary system. Highly recommended for individuals with a strong process orientation.
Prerequisites: 2,000 hours of project experience (can be replaced by PMP certification), 4,500 hours of business analyst experience, and 35 hours of BA education, verified by the exam preparation programme we offer.
Exam: 200 test questions in 4 hours, exam fee 555 USD, 405 USD for PMI members.
Maintenance: valid for 3 years, which can be extended by obtaining PDUs without retaking the exam.
Certified Business Analysis Professional (IIBA-CBAP) - International Institute of Business Analysis
The other common advanced BA qualification is based on the BABOK Guide (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge), which is more about knowledge areas than processes. This is why, in our opinion, BABOK is a more difficult book to process than the PMI publication. Nevertheless, it is highly regarded and recommended for BAs.
Prerequisites: 7.500 hours of business analyst experience over the last 10 years and 35 hours of BA education.
Exam: 120 test question in 3.5 hours, exam fee 450 USD, for IIBA members 325 USD.
Maintenance: valid for 3 years, which can be extended by obtaining CDUs without having to take another exam.
To summarise, there are many available certifications on the market that offer different benefits. Whichever we choose, they have a good chance of supporting our careers or opening up new opportunities in the market. The choice is for each person to make for themselves, we opted for the PMI qualifications because, although the exams are particularly difficult, they are globally accepted and of a high standard in all areas, and the process of obtaining and maintaining qualifications is relatively simple.
If you have questions about qualifications or exam preparation, contact us!
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