Project management is a much sought-after skill for most organizations, irrespective of their business, size, or location. The reason is simple: almost all the work that organizations do eventually gets siloed into projects, which become the building blocks of the enterprise.
Certifications from the various accredited certifying bodies validate and confirm the candidate’s knowledge, skill, and finesse in project management, which is very vital to ensure that projects are planned, implemented, and closed on time, meeting the requirements and the budget allocation.
This article lists 17 project management certifications that will enhance these skills and help you grow into project management.
Certifications give me an edge in project management. With project management has become a specialized skill in itself, certifications and courses in project management are a great fillip in honing one’s skills in this area.
You should consider suitable training from among the 17 project management certifications for other reasons as well, because, in addition to being of value in helping organizations implement projects, certifications can also do a world of good to project management professionals at the individual level:
- Organizations look for candidates with certifications because it is acknowledged that they carry higher skills than those without certifications
- Candidates that are certified are paid higher than noncertified employees that carry the same level of skill and experience
- Most certifying bodies are known all over the world, which means that once you earn these certifications, your profile is sought after globally
- Certifications also mean that the candidate has better insights into the subject and can be trusted to handle projects better
So, let us get down to the 17 Project Management Certifications:
1. PMP: Project Management Professional
In combining the predictive, Agile, and hybrid approaches, PMP has earned a reputation of being the world’s leading project management certification, highly valued across most industries. It elevates project managers into highly prestigious roles such as IT Infrastructure Project Manager, Chief/Principal Project Manager, Project Coordinator, and others.
Prerequisites
- A four-year degree
- 36 months in leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification.,
OR
- A high school diploma or an associate’s degree, or its global equivalent
- 60 months in leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification.
Fee
- Member: US $405.00
- Non-member: US $555.00
Click Here to Know More About PMP Certification
2. CAPM: Certified Associate in Project Management
Being a CAPM places you in an elite company in project management, as it shows that your grasp of all the aspects of your skill is right up there. The CAPM certification is a Project Management Institute (PMI)-issued entry-level project management skill certification that tests a candidate’s understanding of the concepts, methods, terminology, and processes of project management.
Prerequisites
- A globally accepted secondary degree
- At least 1,500 hours of project work
OR
- 23 hours of project management education.
Fee
- Member: $225.00
- Non-member: $300.00
Click Here to Know More About CAPM Certification
3. CSM: Certified ScrumMaster
As more and more organizations move towards the use of Agile methodologies, it is natural that they look out for those with Scrum certifications.
Being an entry-level certification, CSM offers learners an understanding of the fundamental concepts of Scrum. A Scrum Master imparts core Scrum values, practices, and principles to the team, with the purpose of bringing about teamwork, productivity, and an environment of conviviality in the organization.
Prerequisites
- General familiarity with Scrum
- Should have taken up an in-person, two-day (16-hour) CSM course.
Fee
- Varies from $995 to $1,395
Click Here to Know More About CSM Certification
4. CompTIA Project+ Certification
CompTIA (The Computing Technology Industry Association) + certification is for IT professionals that lack the major skills needed for managing small or midlevel projects. A CompTIA Project + Certification gives the candidate the skills needed to manage the project life cycle, communicate at various levels, handle stakeholders and resources, and document the project.
Prerequisites
Broadly, 12 months of project management experience or a corresponding level of education.
Fee
- $338
Click Here to Know More About CompTIA Project+ Certification
5. PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner
This certification has gained considerable popularity as a project management methodology. With the PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, candidates are known to better their skills and capabilities across many business disciplines, which leads to higher performance. With this certification, managers are in a position to deliver projects quickly and efficiently.
Prerequisites
A candidate must have one of these: PRINCE2 Foundation; Project Management Professional (PMP); Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM); or an IPMA certification.
Fee
- PRINCE2® Foundation: 363 USD
- PRINCE2® Practitioner: 488 USD
Click Here to Continue More About PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification
6. CPMP: Certified Project Management Practitioner
Next on our list of 17 project management certifications is the CPMP. This certification, issued by the EC-Council, is mid to low level of project management certification. It was formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and is primarily tasked with cybercrime prevention.
With this course, candidates develop the technical, leadership, and managerial capabilities that help them successfully conceptualize and complete a cybersecurity real-time project of any size or complexity.
Prerequisites
A three-day preparation course (recommended)
Fee
$200.
Click Here to Continue More About CPMP Certification
7. APM: Associate in Project Management
An entry-level certification, the Associate in Project Management (APM)™ certificate is recognized globally.
By familiarizing the candidate with the concepts, tools and technologies, and principles of project management, the APM gives an understanding of the trends, best practices, and regulations in project management.
Prerequisites
None relating to education or experience.
Fee
$300
Click Here to Continue More About APM Certification
8. MPM: Master Project Manager
American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)- awarded Master Project Manager (MPM) certification helps technology professionals refine the technical, as well as the business and ethical areas relating to project management.
With this certification, project managers get a fair amount of insight into project management, albeit with a slightly added emphasis on the technical and business sides of a project.
Prerequisites
Three years of experience and training in project management.
Fee
$300 with the applicable waivers
Click Here to Continue More About MPM Certification
9. PPM: Professional in Project Management
Awarded by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM), the Professional in Project Management (PPM) course is a mid-level certification that offers the skills required for all the areas of project management, rather than focusing on any one specialized skill. It refines the broad, core areas of project management, which include how to plan, execute, oversee, and complete projects.
Prerequisites
Compulsory E-Course completion requirement, plus at least a little project management experience.
Fee
$300 to $555
Click Here to Continue More About PPM Certification
10. CPD: Certified Project Director
This is one of the most senior-level certifications that is aimed at very experienced project managers who have very nearly scaled all the levels of project management.
The Certified Project Director is sought after by highly experienced project managers who need the tools and techniques for overseeing very high complexity, high-intensity projects of very huge size.
Prerequisites
Mandatory E-Course completion requirement.
Fee
$300
Click Here to Continue More About CPD Certification
11. CPM: Certified Project Manager (IAPM)
The CPM-Certified Project Manager (IAPM) is so called because it is a certification offered by the International Association of Project Managers (IAPM). The CPM-Certified Project Manager (IAPM) certificate is the ideal launchpad for those beginning a career in project management, and from which they can attain higher levels of project management.
Prerequisites
None, since it is an entry-level certification
Fee
The examination fee is not fixed or standard but is decided based on a candidate’s nationality.
Click Here to Continue More About CPMCertification
12 BVOP: Business Value-oriented Principles
BVOP™: Business Value-Oriented Principles originated in the UK as a novel approach to Agile, waterfall, and other methods of project management. What makes this certification different is that It is holistic and yet customizable. It can be implemented in its entirety, as an ensemble package, or as a bespoke Agile and waterfall solution that addresses the organization’s unique needs and requirements. It offers certification in 8 areas.
A project manager who is BVOP™ certified carries the skill needed to overcome the deficiencies of using a single method by balancing it with the advantages of other methods since this training covers the areas of the project, product, and people management.
Prerequisites and fee
Vary according to the type of certification sought.
Click Here to Continue More About BVOP Certification
13 Project Management in IT Security (PMITS)
As can be understood from the name of the certification, The Project Management in IT Security (PMITS) certification, offered by the EC-Council, sharpens a candidate’s grip on how to manage IT security projects.
PMITS features in our list of Next in our list of 17 project management courses because it enhances the power of IT security in organizations. This was done by building layers of security into the overall system. The aim of taking a project management approach to cybersecurity is that the IT is strengthened in stages, which helps deal with cyberattacks before they happen so that damage can be prevented.
Prerequisites
- A minimum of two years of experience in information security, which includes having worked in designated positions
- A security-related higher educational background.
Click Here to Continue More About PMITS Certification
14. ACP: Agile Certified Practitioner
“Created by agilists for agilists”, as described by its certifying body, the PMI, the ACP: Agile Certified Practitioner is an out-and-out Agile training.
A PMI-ACP: Agile Certified Practitioner certification arms and enhances a candidate’s Agile skills by offering knowledge that can be put to use by organizations.
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree
- A minimum of 21 contact hours of training of which Agile practices are a part
- At least one of the five previous years of work experience in general project management. A current PMP® or PgMP® can waive this prerequisite
- Work on Agile projects for at least eight months out of their previous three years.
Fee
- For PMI members: $ 435
- For non-PMI members: $ 495
Click Here to Continue More About ACP Certification
15. CSSGB: Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate
Part of the set of lean Six Sigma standards, the Six Sigma Green Belt rates third in the list of six tiers of Six Sigma levels or belts. It is lower than the Black Belt and Master Black Belt, but above the Brown, White, and Yellow belts. It is awarded by both the ASQ and the IASSC.
A Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate implements the organization’s Six Sigma and thus improves the processes by adapting the DMAIC parameters.
Prerequisites
The IASSC requires no formal prerequisites, but to take this certificate from the ASQ, the candidate should have three years of experience in Lean Six Sigma project management.
Fee
$295 from the IASSC, while the ASQ charges $438 from nonmembers and $338 from members, and $238 for every retake
Click Here to Continue More About CSSGB Certification
16. CSSBB: Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
A Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) gives project managers the ability to lead the organization’s lean Six Sigma processes, which help increase efficiencies, reduce waste, and optimize resources.
The CSSBB course gives candidates a solid understanding of how to instill the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) model into the organization’s lean Six Sigma processes.
Prerequisites
Two completed projects with signed affidavits
OR
One completed project with a signed affidavit and three years of work experience in one or higher areas of the Six Sigma Black Belt Body of Knowledge.
Fee
$538 for an ASQ member; $438 for a non-ASQ member, and $338 for each retake.
Click Here to Continue More About CSSBB Certification
17. GPM-IPMA Levels A–D
Let us wind up our article on the 17 project management courses by making a quick dash at the GPM-IPMA levels. The German Association for Project Management (GPM)’s certifying body, the PM-ZERT, issues GPM-accredited project management certificates. A GPM-IPMA Levels A–D project management certificate is issued at four levels, A to D, with A being the highest and D being the entry-level, based on expertise standards.
Fee
Varies according to the level sought
