- Best for experienced project managers: PMP certification
- Best for intermediate project managers: CAPM certification
- Best for beginner project managers: PRINCE2 Foundation certification
- Best Agile project management certification: IAPM certification
- Best scrum project management certification: Certified ScrumMaster
Besides earning a degree, an aspiring or current project management professional can enroll in courses and earn certifications in project management to go the extra mile. Knowing which certificates are worth the time, energy and money can be challenging with so many choices. For those interested in receiving a project management certification, it’s worth researching which one will help improve their skills, build their knowledge and potentially advance their career.
The PMP and CAPM certifications are for more experienced professionals, covering advanced topics like project delivery tactics and communications. Meanwhile, the PRINCE2 Foundation, IAPM and Certified ScrumMaster certifications have fewer prerequisites, allowing more beginner professionals to master the analytical skills and strategic thinking necessary to jumpstart their project management career.
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PMP certification: Best for experienced project managers
In simple terms, the Project Management Professional certification is the most recognized in the project management industry. It’s considered the “gold standard” for project management and more than 1,200,000 professionals hold a PMP certification worldwide. Top-performing companies like ExxonMobil, Apple, Exelon and SAIC often hire project managers with a PMP certification. Those who earn this certification can typically work in any industry, use any methodology and succeed in various situations.
There are helpful online training courses available for professionals who want to sit for the PMP exam and earn the certification, but the training courses aren’t included in the cost of the exam. Giving the length and breadth of the exam, studying before is strongly encouraged.
Prerequisites
You must either have a four-year degree and 36 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years or a high school diploma or Associates Degree and 60 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years. You must also have 35 hours of project management education/training or a Certified Associate in Project Management certification.
Key skills tested
- Demonstrating the skills to lead and motivate a project team.
- Showing how the success of a project impacts overall strategic goals.
- Choosing whether a predictive, agile or hybrid approach will work best for a particular project.
Key differentiators
- Top ranked project management certification that is recognized globally.
- Excellent choice for experienced project managers who want a certification.
- Can be used with many different project management methodologies.
Duration of exam
The exam contains 180 questions and has a time limit of 230 minutes.
Cost of exam
The PMP exam costs $405 for members and $575 for nonmembers.
CAPM certification: Best for intermediate project managers
If you don’t have enough experience to sit for the PMP, the CAPM certification is a more suitable option for those early in their professional project management career. The CAPM certification demonstrates that an entry-level project manager has a strong foundation in project management and can help young professionals become more marketable to potential employers.
Before earning the PMP certification, many novice project managers will need to complete training and receive the CAPM certification. Earning the CAPM certification is easier as it has fewer requirements than the PMP, only mandating 23 hours of project management education.
Prerequisites
You must have a secondary degree, such as a high school diploma, GED (general educational development) or global equivalent. You must also have at least 23 contact hours of project management education completed before the exam, which can be fulfilled by taking a course from PMI or another organization.
Key skills tested
- Fundamentals of project management and the role of project managers.
- Project management environment and project integration management.
- Project scope, schedule, cost, quality and resource management.
- Project procurement, communication, stakeholder and risk management.
Key differentiators
- More suitable for early career professionals than the PMP exam.
- Training education is required but not included in exam price.
- Covers the fundamentals of project management, not tied to a specific methodology.
Duration of exam
The exam contains 150 questions and has a time limit of three hours.
Cost of exam
The CAPM exam costs $225 for members and $300 for nonmembers. The exam cost is separate from any training courses that you pay for.
PRINCE2 Foundation certification: Best for beginner project managers
The PRINCE2 Foundation certification is a highly sought-after certification for project managers. Government agencies and organizations often look for candidates with these certifications, which are delivered by AXELOS, a joint venture between the U.K. government and Capita.
The PRINCE2 Foundation certification focuses on managing a project from the start (initiation) to the finish (delivery), and there is no experience prerequisite for it, making it suitable for beginners. If you are more intermediate level, then you might also want to check out the more advanced PRINCE2 Practitioner certification. Many people choose to earn the Foundation certification first and then later go on to get the Practitioner certification.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for the PRINCE2 Foundation exam besides completing the accompanying course. In order to take the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam, you must provide proof of a current certification from the following list:
- PRINCE2 Foundation (5th Edition or 6th Edition version).
- Project Management Professional.
- Certified Associate in Project Management.
- IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director).
- IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager).
- IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager).
- IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate).
Key skills tested
- Understanding of PRINCE2 principles, methods and themes and how they are applied throughout the project.
- Applying and tailoring relevant aspects of PRINCE2 in context.
Key differentiators
- PRINCE2-specific training and testing.
- Training courses included in the price of both certifications.
- Available in self-guided online, virtual classroom and physical classroom formats.
Duration of exam
The PRINCE2 Foundation exam contains 60 questions and lasts 60 minutes. The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam contains 68 questions and lasts 150 minutes.
Cost of exam
The PRINCE2 Foundation course and exam starts at $1,116, and the PRINCE2 Practitioner course and exam starts at $1,176. This includes the price of the exam and access to the virtual training courses and resources for 12 months.
IAPM certification: Best Agile project management certification
The Certified Agile Project Manager certification is offered by the International Association of Project Managers. The IAPM recommends enrolling in online Agile courses, reading relevant literature and spending time researching some major topics. Scrum roles, product backlog, team building, conflict management and project environment are some examples of relevant topics for this certification.
This certification is best suited for managers looking to enhance their skills and grow their knowledge, specifically in Agile project management. IAPM provides access to a web learning platform that you can use to prepare for the exam.
Prerequisites
You need to have a basic understanding of Agile, but no specific amount of project experience is required for this certification.
Key skills tested
- Scrum roles, scrum charts and daily scrum practices.
- Sprint backlog, planning, review and retrospective.
- Team building, motivation and conflict management.
- Product vision and project environment.
Key differentiators
- Covers the fundamentals of agile project management, including different methodologies.
- Web learning platform available for self-guided exam prep.
- Available around the world, exam prices are based on location.
Duration of exam
The IAMP exam contains 120 questions and lasts 80 minutes.
Cost of exam
The cost of the exam fluctuates depending on what country you live in and the exchange rates. Right now, it costs about $535 for United States residents.
Certified ScrumMaster: Best scrum project management certification
Offered by Scrum Alliance, the Certified ScrumMaster certification is an introductory course designed for professionals leading teams who are looking to learn more about the scrum framework and agile project management methodology. This is one of the most well-regarded scrum certifications, which is why it made both of our lists for the best overall Scrum certifications and the best Agile certifications. Participants must complete a minimum of 14 hours of live virtual training spread across two to four days before sitting for the exam.
Those looking for a more advanced scrum certification should check out other offerings from Scrum Alliance, such as the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster and Certified Scrum Professional ScumMaster courses. Scrum Alliance also offers other certifications in the product owner and developer tracks.
Prerequisites
You need to have a basic understanding of Scrum, but no specific amount of project experience is required for this certification because the training is included.
Key skills tested
- Fundamentals of Scrum framework and roles.
- Basics of Agile principles and how they apply to Scrum.
- Team leadership and collaboration skills.
Key differentiators
- Focused specifically on Scrum concepts and tactics.
- Suitable for early career project management professionals.
- Includes live virtual training courses as well as the exam.
Duration of exam
The CSM exam contains 50 questions and lasts 60 minutes.
Cost of exam
The CSM training and exam cost between $405 and $695, with additional exam sitting costing $25 each.
Benefits of getting a project management certification
Earning a project management certification can benefit you in a variety of ways. If you are early on in your project management career or looking to switch into project management, getting a certification will help you get some experience and show potential employers that you are serious about this career path. If you are already working as a project manager, earning a project management certification can increase your chances of getting promoted and also help you level up your managerial skills.
Many companies either prefer or require their project managers to have some kind of certification, so earning one will make it easier to both get hired in the first place and also get promoted after you’ve been hired. Certified project managers also tend to have higher salaries than those who do not have a certification. If you are looking to give your project management career a boost without having to take time off to go back to school, then getting a certification is an excellent option to explore.
Project management certifications are also extremely versatile, since pretty much every industry requires some kind of project management. Even if you’re not sure whether or not you want to stay in the same industry for a long time, earning a project management certification now can open up opportunities down the line to move into new roles at new companies.
How do I choose the best project management certification?
The best project management certification will depend on where you currently are in your career as well as where you want to work. If you are early in your project management career, then you should choose a certification that does not require much experience and is designed for beginners. If you are an intermediate or advanced project manager, then you should look for a certification that does have prerequisites and is tailored towards project managers with more experience, so that you’re not rehashing topics you already know about.
When choosing a project management certification, you should also think about the industry that you currently work in or want to work in. Certain certifications are more common in particular industries than others. For instance, scrum certifications are sought after by software development teams but may not be as popular in other industries. When thinking about future career opportunities, see what kind of certifications your peers and supervisors have to get a sense of what’s expected in your industry.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PMP exam hard?
The Project Management Institute does not publish pass rate data, so it’s difficult to know how hard the exam is. Many test takers do anecdotally report that the exam is hard since you have to answer 180 questions in less than 4 hours. Studying well in advance and signing up for a PMP prep course can increase your chances of passing the exam.
Is the PMP exam worth it?
If you are wondering whether the PMP exam is worth it, the Project Management Institute reports that people with a PMP certification earn salaries that are 33% higher on average than people without the certification. Many survey participants also reported that obtaining PMP certification has been valuable to their careers, in addition to contributing to a higher salary.
Can you get a PMP without a degree?
Yes, you can get a PMP certification without a college degree, but the experience requirements are a little different in that case. If you have a four-year college degree, then you must have a minimum of three years of non-overlapping project management experience, during which at least 4,500 hours were spent leading projects, in order to sit for the PMP certification. If you do not have a four-year college degree — for instance, if you have only completed high school or have a two year associate’s degree — then you must have a minimum of five years of overlapping project management experience, during which at least 7,500 hours were spent leading Projects, in order to sit for the PMP certification.
Which certification is better: CAPM or PMP?
Well, both cabin and PNP are offered by the same company, the project management institute, they are two separate certifications. The cap M exam is shorter, has less questions and is less expensive than the PMP exam.
Review methodology
For the best project management certifications, we wanted to not only offer the best certifications but also provide a variety in the type of certification. To choose the best certifications, we looked at multiple factors, including whether the certification is well-recognized across the industry and whether the certification providers are reputable. In addition, we looked at the certification websites to gather information about the learning material, training, exam and cost of each certification.