Get the Best of Project Management Certifications

Project Management certifications have claimed a spot in each high IT certification listing for years. That is as a result of Project managers are essential to IT operations of every kind. Whether or not you are excited by changing into an IT project supervisor or need to add Project Management to the checklist of your comfortable expertise, these 5 leading certifications will make it easier to complement your technical skills, and in flip enhance your worth. Thanks in very giant half to the immensely standard and broadly pursued Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), this space has grown to be an incredibly invaluable "advantage badge" credential for IT professionals of all types. That is as a result of it enhances and expands on the worth of nearly another kind of professional credential.

In keeping with PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, Ninth Edition, IT professionals who maintain the PMP certification report median earnings worldwide of $81,000 yearly; nonetheless, the higher 25 p.c of survey respondents earn a minimum of $110,000. Relying on components such because the complexity and measurement of the Project, location and discipline of experience (IT, building, or healthcare, for instance), or expertise, salaries for PMP credential holders could also be a lot larger.

The Robert Half Expertise 2017 Salary Guide lists undertaking management as one of many "sizzling" certifications for 2016, citing a wage vary of $97,250 to $151,750 nationwide. This explains reasonably correctly why the PMP has appeared in almost each big 10 record of fashionable, focused or most fascinating certifications during the early 2000s.

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

The identical group that stands behind the PMP additionally backs the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. In reality, the CAPM is correctly thought-about a stepping-stone credential for individuals who want to attain PMP standing by phases, reasonably than in a single big certain.

That is why the Project Management Institute describes the CAPM as an "invaluable entry-level certification for Project practitioners" that's "designed for these with little or no project expertise."

The truth is, the PMP requires three to 5 years of documented on-the-job Project Management expertise, relying on the tutorial background of every applicant. Then again, the CAPM requires solely a high school diploma and both 1,500 hours of documented on-the-job expertise (about 9 months of full-time work) or 23 hours of undertaking management classroom coaching before taking the examination.

Except you're employed in a big group the place a Project Management crew is in place that features junior- in addition to other senior-level Project Management positions, the CAPM by itself is unlikely to supply a ticket to an undertaking management job. Nonetheless, the CAPM is right for IT professionals for whom Project Management is a part-time job function or who need to develop into full-time project management.

Project Management Professionals (PMP)

The Project Management Institute (PMI) not solely stands behind the Project Management Professional(PMP) certification, it works with academia and coaching firms to make sure correct protection and forex within the numerous curricula that exist to assist this and different PMI credentials. Boasting greater than 650,000 professionals in virtually each nation on the planet, PMI's PMP credential stays one of the vital prestigious Project Management credentials accessible. (Word: The PMP's precursor, the CAPM cert, is roofed within the subsequent part.)

The requirements for PMP certification are rigorous. Credential seekers must be ready to supply documentation relating to objects comparable to schooling, tasks labored on and hours spent in every of the 5 Project Management levels — initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and shutting out the project.

Whereas troublesome to realize, the rewards for PMP credential holders might be valuable. Based on PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, Ninth Edition, PMPs in America earn a mean of just about 20 % greater than their non-credentialed counterparts. The survey studies median salaries of PMPs in the US at $111,000, in comparison with $91,000 for non-PMP licensed project managers.

For these enthusiastic about program management or wishing to specialize in a selected project management space, PMI affords a lot of attention-grabbing further credentials together with:

• Program Management Professional (PgMP): Targets professionals who handle some tasks on an organizational degree. (Recommended Online Practice Test) 

• Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP): Targets professionals managing organizational project portfolios. (Recommended Online Practice Test)

• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): Targets undertaking management professionals working with the agile methodology of Project Management. (Recommended Online Practice Test)

• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA): Focuses on enterprise evaluation and talent to outline stakeholder necessities, project scope and the end result of enterprise options. (Recommended Online Practice Test)

• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP): A specialized credential specializing in danger evaluation, identification and mitigation.

• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP): A credential for management managers charged with the duty of growing and sustaining project schedules. 

The PMP stays a nonpareil certification for IT and different professionals whose obligations embody undertaking management. It's usual in opposition to which all different project management credentials are judged in the present day's market.

CompTIA Project+

CompTIA Project+ is one other entry-level undertaking management credential, roughly on par with PMI's CAPM. (Project+ fills roughly the identical area of interest that the CAPM does.) As a substitute of rising from a number one industry commerce group whose sole focus is Project Management and associated actions, Project+ comes from a computing-industry-spanning group that places its credentials collectively primarily based on enter from IT industry gamers, representatives from authorities, academia, analysis establishments, subject material specialists and different events who should pay to take part in credential design. 

Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

As firms search to ship more for much less, many are adopting agile methodologies as a solution to streamline processes, construct high quality into merchandise and make sure that the final construct meets buyer necessities. As the usage of agile methodologies has grown to be more pervasive and in style, it isn't stunning that we're seeing a high demand for IT practitioners uniquely certified to handle initiatives in agile environments.

Whereas there are entirely different Scrum grasp certifications out there, our decide is the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from Scrum Alliance. This nonprofit group encourages the adoption of Scrum and Agile practices, promotes person teams and studying occasions, and offers sources for skilled growth. The group boasts greater than 450,000 licensed practitioners worldwide.

Scrum Alliance offers an assist system for Scrum practitioners, together with Scrum Gatherings, person teams, digital communicates, teaching, on-line coaching and far more. Along with neighborhood and advocacy actions, Scrum Alliance gives quite a few Scrum-related certifications, together with 3 entry- degree credentials: the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) and the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM). On the subsequent certification tier you may discover the Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), adopted by the extra superior Certified Enterprise Coach (CSC) and Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). The Scrum Alliance additionally provides the Certified Agile Leadership (CAL) program, a credential primarily based on a mix of training and validated follow.

PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Qualifications

For those who plan on working as a Project Manager within the worldwide environment, a PRINCE2 project management qualification is a must have in your certification portfolio. PRINCE (which stands for Projects IN Controlled Environments) is most well-known abroad and extensively utilized in the UK, notably with authorities entities.

A process-based methodology, PRINCE2 processes give attention to three essential processes – directing, managing and delivering initiatives – which span the Pre-project, Initiation, Subsequent Supply Phases, and Remaining Supply phases.

PRINCE2 affords two primary qualifications: the PRINCE2 Foundation and the PRINCE2 Practitioner. The Basis qualification is an entry-level Project Management credential targeted on understanding fundamental undertaking management terminology and methodology. The Practitioner qualification targets superior practitioners who possess the Basis qualification or one other accepted project management certification. The Practitioner qualification has to be renewed inside 5 years by retaking the examination.

Other Project Management Certifications

Project management is a white-hot space for each certification seekers and employers. A number of different project management certifications can be found, for common IT Project Management in addition to software program growth Project Management.

Honorable point out goes to the Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP) certification, supplied by the EC-Council, finest recognized for its Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification. You must also pay attention to the World Affiliation for High-quality Management (GAQM) Project Management certifications, such because of the Skilled in Project Management.

Different sought-after certifications embody practitioners educated within the artwork of Six Sigma, which includes continuous enhancements in processes and practices, change management, and Project Management. Our favorites are the Six Sigma Inexperienced Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt from ASQ.

However when all is alleged and achieved, the CAPM and Undertaking+ stay the best-known entry-level Project Management certifications, with the PMP certification as the first skilled goal and capstone for would-be skilled IT project managers. Do not forget to look into PMI's different associated certifications as efficiently. For Project Managers searching for entry into the realm of Scrum, the CSM is one of the best entry-level certification for Scrum practitioners.