Project management certifications: let's take stock
In recent years, we often hear about project management certifications. In fact, with the development of online courses and trainings, more and more organizations and institutes are offering courses to improve skills in project management .
Who are these trainings aimed at? What are the costs? In what cases do they prove useful?
After briefly looking at the characteristics of project management within companies, let's try to answer all these questions.
The importance of project management in business
Project management: definition
Project management concerns the organization and management of the resources necessary for the implementation of corporate projects.
In any organization, of any size, project management is one of the most important activities in the company, as it enables the achievement of strategic goals set by means of good management of resources and costs.
The project manager
Starting with the goals to be achieved, a good project manager is able to define a clear and precise roadmap, detailing timelines and resources needed. Here are some of the main skills and abilities required to be a good project manager:
- define measurable metrics,
- develop a management plan,
- conducting cost-benefit estimates,
- allocate available resources,
- monitoring progress over time,
- manage risks and issues, etc.
The skills required are many. That's why, if you want to make a career in this field, obtaining a certification attesting to project management skills can be very important.
Project management certifications: what are they?
Most project managers hold a bachelor's degree in management and business administration. However, depending on the type of project manager you want to become, you can also specialize in a specific area (marketing, information technology, engineering, etc.).
To increase and refine subject matter expertise, it is also possible to participate in specific training. In addition to increasing individual knowledge, obtaining a certificate can make all the difference on a resume.
But what are the most well-known PM certifications in Italy? Let's look at them together.
The PMP certification
Issued by the Project Management Institute, this is probably the most prestigious certification. To enter project manager roles, many companies require PMP ® certification as a prerequisite.
The PMP (Project Management Professional) provides several benefits:
- internationally recognized certificate,
- increased project management skills,
- opportunities for career growth,
- greater reputation, authority and credibility inside and outside the organization, etc.
Open to both high school and college graduates (but with different job requirements depending on the 2 profiles), the exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 4 hours. The questions cover the 5 processes of project management:
- Initiation,
- Planning,
- Execution,
- Control,
- Closing.
You can take the exam in Italian, online or at a specialized center.
The cost of the exam is as follows:
- 340 € for members of the Project Management Institute,
- 465 € for non-members.
☝ Once the certificate is obtained, there is a renewal every 3 years at a cost of €50 for members or €150 for non-members. The required membership fee is around 100 €.
CAPM certification.
Also issued by the Project Management Institute, the CAPM ® (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification is particularly suitable for people who do not meet the professional requirements to take the PMP.
The exam, sustainable in Italian both online and in-person, consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 3 hours. Here are the topics covered in the questions:
- Introduction to project management,
- Role of the Project Manager,
- Project Integration,
- Project Scope,
- Scheduling,
- Project costs,
- Project Quality,
- Resource allocation,
- Communications,
- Critical issues,
- Project procurement,
- Project Stakeholders.
Junior project managers interested in this PMI certification, must incur a cost of:
- 185 € for members,
- 250 € for non-members.
The only requirement for membership is knowledge of the PMBOK ® standard, or the international customs used for project management.
PMI-ACP Certification.
Also organized by the Project Management Institute, this is a certification that is increasingly in demand year after year. Indeed, obtaining it certifies knowledge and application of some of the best-known " agile" methodologies (particularly Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Extreme Programming and Test Driven Development).
All that is required to enroll is a high school diploma (as well as some experience within an agile team). The exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, to be completed within 3 hours. Topics range from the agile framework to so-called " knowledge domains":
- Agile methodologies,
- Value-Driven Delivery,
- Stakeholder Engagement,
- Boosting Team Performance Practices,
- Adaptive Planning,
- Problem detection and Resolution,
- Continuous Improvement.
Again, costs vary by status:
- 365 € for PMI members,
- 415 € for non-members.
💡 For all PMI certifications, candidates have a maximum of 3 attempts to pass. If these are not enough to pass, it is necessary to wait 12 months before re-enrolling.
The great growth of project management certifications.
According to the Italian Project Management Institute (ISIPM), nearly 90 percent of project management certifications, come from the Project Management Institute. In 2018, the latest available data, there were 7434 PMI agile® certifications issued in Italy.
With the rise of e-learning, more and more online courses make it possible to prepare for these exams in comfort. We have no doubt: the number of certifications issued in the years to come, is bound to grow!
What about you, do you own one of these certifications? Or do you plan to prepare to earn one? If you would like, you can comment below.
Article translated from Italian