The Project Management Professional is the most recognized certification for Project Managers. With the certification, you will be able to meet the standard of global project management standards and get connected to other PMPs worldwide. A person with PMP certification has the experience, education, skill, and competency to lead and direct projects in various fields of industry. Since a PMP certificate gives an unbiased proof of the certification holder’s project leading talents and expertise, this remains one of the most important certifications for career growth.
A PMP certification is accepted worldwide and not only helps boost career opportunities but also increased income. As of August 2019, over 930,000 individuals have active PMP across 218 countries and territories worldwide. The need for a certified PMP is in high demand in companies like Cisco, Jacobs, Accenture, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase. etc. The Project managers are expected to undertake various projects on system reorganization, turning strategic vision into solid goals, and ensure effective outcomes and balance project constraints.
Even though a project manager doesn’t need to have a PMP certification, having one definitely helps in improving career growth opportunities, and an increase in pay. The certification also signifies that an individual can work comfortably in any industry, including Healthcare, FMCG, Software, etc.
Eligibility criteria for applying for a PMP certification
There are certainly educational and professional requirements that one might need to meet before applying for a PMP certification. Even though it is a certification for Project Manager, the individual does not require to have managerial experience. Anyone who has worked in marketing, programming, or even management can apply for the PMP certification. The eligibility criteria as set by PMI, the governing board of the PMP certification is as follows-
- If a person has a high school diploma and has experience of a minimum of 5 consecutive years in project management in a professional setting, along with 7,500 hours in leading and directing a project and 35 contact hours of project management education, then they can apply for PMP certification.
- A person who has done a 4-year degree course will require to have a minimum of 3 years of experience working in project management in a professional setting. Along with the degree and working experience, they need to have spent 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
Structure of the PMP examination:
There are 200 multiple-choice questions in a PMP exam, of which 25 questions are pretest questions. It means that out of the 200 questions the candidate answers only 175 will be counted, the remaining 25 will be treated as trial or sample questions. However, there is no way to know which 25 questions will be treated as such. The questions will be placed randomly within the exam. The time duration to complete all the 200 questions is 4 hours. The PMP tests are taken to determine the skill and competency of the candidate. There are five performance domains that a PMP exam tests the candidates on:
- Project Initiation
- Project Planning
- Project execution
- Project monitoring and controlling
- Project closure.
From applying for the PMP examination to getting the study materials, the cost for the PMP certification will be anywhere between $600 and $6000. This cost varies depending upon retest, online learning, and training programs one chooses to undergo.
Benefits of having a PMP certification for your career
The PMP certification not only validates the competency and project management skill of a candidate, but it also is useful for them to network with experts, professionals from various top-notch organizations from across the world. Some of the major benefits are:
- Credibility: Attracting a potential employer while having a PMP certification has become easier. The PMP certifications help you stand out from the crowd, as having the certification is the definite proof of your abilities and skills. With the certification, a candidate comes off as a trustworthy expert, adding credibility to the skill set, experience, and knowledge.
- Increase in chances of getting hired: Since a PMP certification serves as a proof of abilities and skills, the certificate holder has a higher chance of getting hired than the one without it. According to a study conducted by PMI, various employers will need around 87.7 million individuals working in Project-oriented roles, by 2027. With a PMP certification, the chances of being hired will be substantial.
- Establish an influential relationship: Once an individual gets their PMP certification they become a member of the PMI club that has over 790,000 PMP certificate holders. It allows them to build acquaintances with other members who could help them find a job or recommend them to various employers.
- Skill enhancement: Clearing a PMP test is a tough nut to crack. So while preparing for the exam the candidate will be required to go through hundreds of study materials, planning for the exam, implementing and monitoring the skills. These hours of practice, research, and reading will help them brush up on their existing skills.
- Increased marketability and salary: According to a report, an individual with a PMP certificate tends to earn 23% more than the ones without the certificate. A project manager with certifications earns up to $1,08,000.
Apart from all the above-mentioned ones, a person with a PMP certificate not only sees career growth on a personal level but also helps the company to handle problems easily. A PMP certification holder adds value to the organization they work with, thus increasing the customer base, with cost-efficiency. Even though it seems like PMP certification is a time consuming, expensive, and difficult credential to acquire, it adds credibility to the person’s resume unlike any other, thus increasing the potential of career growth.
