Over 15 million new jobs in the field of project management are anticipated to be created by 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing professions. Businesses in a variety of industries are looking to hire new project managers to fill these positions who have the training and experience needed to have a positive impact on their organizations.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® and Project Management Professional (PMP)®, two specialized credentials that boost credibility and present professionals with chances to develop their skills, take on bigger projects, and advance their careers. Aligning the type of certification with a person’s intended career goal requires a thorough understanding of the differences between CAPM and PMP certification. Prerequisites, cost, level of difficulty, and how the credentials are viewed across industries are some of these variations.
How to Get CAPM® Certified
How to earn your CAPM certification
If obtaining CAPM certification is something you’re interested in, the following steps can help:
1. Earn a secondary degree or global equivalent
The PMI requires professionals to have a high school diploma or a global equivalent, such as a GED, in order to be eligible for the CAPM certification exam. You can take the exam without having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field, though doing so may help you prepare for this certification process and the job of project manager. The ability to pursue certification without having a degree in project management makes this credential a great opportunity for nontraditional students who do not have such a degree.
2. Pursue formal project management education or professional experience
The PMI mandates that certification candidates complete 23 hours of formal project management education in addition to a secondary education. Professionals can take this institute’s online course to complete their formal education requirements.
Because it can introduce the field and lay out its core duties, this course may be especially beneficial for those with little prior project management experience. If you have relevant work experience, you might be able to substitute 1,500 hours of project management or teamwork for the 23 hours of required formal education.
3. Apply for the exam and prepare
You can apply to take the CAPM certification exam once you’ve met the prerequisites. Although PMI members might be eligible for a discounted exam fee, the exam costs $300. You can increase your chances of succeeding on the test by purchasing CAPM certification study materials or taking various practice exams. You can enroll in a variety of preparatory classes in addition to the 23-hour formal education course provided by the PMI to learn more about the subject matter that the exam may cover and advance your project management abilities.
4. Complete the CAPM certification exam
You can take the CAPM certification exam after the PMI approves your application. There are 150 questions on the exam, and each candidate has three hours to finish it. Only the answers to the remaining 135 questions are used to determine your final score because the PMI considers 15 of these to be pre-exam questions.
The number of questions candidates must correctly answer in order to pass the exam is determined by a team of subject matter experts, such as project professionals from various disciplines, since there is no set value for a passing score.
5. Maintain your certification
Project managers must obtain 15 project development units (PDUs) every three years in order to keep their CAPM certification, according to the PMI. The institute states that in order to successfully complete the 15 PDU requirement, certificate holders must take a minimum of nine education PDUs and a maximum of six giving back PDUs.
PDUs in education focus on three main areas: technical knowledge, leadership, and strategic and business management. Instead, PMI divides the giving back PDUs into two groups: professional work and volunteering and knowledge creation.
What is the CAPM certification?
This certification can help candidates land entry-level project management jobs, making it possible for people with little professional experience to be considered for a variety of positions. This certification can also benefit established professionals with a strong background in project management as this field continues to expand and more people may decide to pursue credentials that set them apart from other candidates.
Benefits of earning your CAPM certification
Although earning the CAPM certification may require more time and money, it may have a long-lasting effect on your career and be a crucial step in your professional development. Some benefits of earning your CAPM certification include that it:
CAPM vs. PMP
The following are the main distinctions between the CAPM and PMP certifications:
Prerequisities
The prerequisites needed to take the exam are different, despite the fact that both certificates can advance your professional development and possibly qualify you for a variety of professional roles. While the PMI only requires a secondary degree and 23 hours of formal project management education, or 1,500 hours of professional experience, for CAPM candidates, the PMI requires more stringent requirements for PMP candidates before they are allowed to sit for the exam.
A secondary degree, 35 hours of formal project management training, and 7,500 hours of project management experience are requirements for PMP certification. Alternatively, the PMI only requires 4,500 hours of project management experience if the candidate has a four-year post-secondary degree and 35 hours of formal education.
Exam difficulty
The CAPM certification exam may be less demanding and cover less material than the PMP exam because people who have less formal project management training and work experience can take it.
Although professionals who are new to the industry may benefit from having a CAPM certification, PMP candidates typically have extensive experience. Although the PMP certification process may also test a candidate’s familiarity with handling real-world project management situations, both exams may cover fundamental concepts.
Professional impact
Although they may open up different career opportunities, both certifications can attest to a person’s comprehension and mastery of project management concepts and techniques. When applying for a variety of entry-level positions, such as associate project manager, project coordinator, and junior project manager, a CAPM can demonstrate a candidate’s proficiency with basic frameworks and procedures.
As an alternative, PMP certification can assist people in getting hired for higher-paying project management and leadership positions by demonstrating a professional’s capacity to manage challenging tasks and control real-world situations.
Please note that Indeed is not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned in this article.
FAQ
How do you qualify for CAPM?
- A four-year degree.
- 36 months leading projects.
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification.
How long does it take to get CAPM certified?
For those looking to work as project managers, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers the Certified Associate in Project Management, or CAPM, as their entry-level credential. The entire procedure typically requires one month to three months of preparation time and costs $395 on average.
How much does a CAPM course cost?
The CAPM exam is based on PMI’s framework, making preparation for it reasonably straightforward. Passing the CAPM is possible as long as you use the proper study materials and retain enough information.
Is it hard to get CAPM certification?
The CAPM exam is based on PMI’s framework, making preparation for it reasonably straightforward. Passing the CAPM is possible as long as you use the proper study materials and retain enough information.
