Project Management Certifications

Anyone have any experience with Project Management certs. I hear that PM is a good field to get into...lotsa jobs. I vaguely recall something about "tiers". Any help would be appreciated.

 

My understanding is that the PMI is the big dog of PM certs. It's not easy to get and one needs to be a PM for some time just to take the exams.

Website is here.

 

spmoran is correct, the PMP is the most widely recognized certification in the field of Project Management.

 

The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute is probably the most recognized credential in the project management field. I received my PMP back in 2000. It was highly encouraged when I was in the Air Force managing DoD weapon system programs and contracts, and is well regarded as a "must have" for professors by some universities that have graduate project management programs such as MBA in PM or a MPM.

One note of clarification--the PMP is a credential for anyone who works "in the field of project management", not necessarily individuals who have been or are "project managers". There is a difference between "project management" and a project manager. You don't need to be a project manager to be certified as a PMP.

 

Dr-
Is that line clearly defined, or blurred?

Just curious, because I've got plenty of project experience but not as the PM. I've got the education/class-time requirements done, but figured I needed "x" amount of hours on-the-job as a PM before I could test.

What/who determines whether or not you the experience is applicable and meets requirements?

 

Lurker,

http://www.pmi.org/info/PDC_PMPHandbook.pdf

Dr. Rene is correct. If you can establish the required areas of competencies then you meet the minimums for testing.

Further, as careers migrate and projects vary you may not function as a PM but as some member of a team responsible for a process associated with one of the PM functional areas.

PMI determines if your experience is qualifying.

I would state that a PM position requiring a PMP would most likely require you to have held a PM position vice a role in a project.

The PMP is one of the certifications I recommend, as well as the CISSP. Because they meet ANSI or ISO standards which makes them recognized on a broad scale versus a manufacturer certification which is narrowly construed.

If you pass the PMP UW-Platteville will grant you 6 hours of graduate credit towards a MS in PM.

http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted/degrees/pm/index.html

Good luck,

Kevin

 

PMP cert........

As a previous post said, go to the PMI web site and their are tiers above and below the cert.

I go my cert in 2003. It goes for three years and you have to have so many "PDU's" in order to be re-certified. You have to meet certain standards if you do not have a 4 year degree and others if you have a four year degree or above.

I have to say, it was the hardest 4 hours of my life taking the exam.

Good luck with it all if you wish to obtain and keep the cert!

 

this might help///////

http://pmi.org/prod/groups/public/documents/info/PDC_CertExamPrepFAQ.asp

 

Aspen University (www.aspen.edu) has a good and low-cost project management certificate programme. They are an authorized trainer for the PMI according to their web site and during the prject management certificate programme you learn about the PMBOK in the event you choice to sit for the PMP examination. There are PMP exam prep courses available at other schools too.

 

PMP Exam

Also, keep in mind that the PMP exam will be changing this year. I believe the cutoff date for the older exam based on the PMBOK 2nd edition is around the end of August. Check the PMI site for exact dates. After that date, the exam will be based on the newer PMBOK, 3rd edition. So, if you are going to take any training for the PMP exam, make sure you check the PMBOK edition that they will be teaching from. There are multiple changes/additions with the 3rd edition. PMI also has the CAPM exam that does not require as much experience but will prepare you for the PMP exam when you gain the experience.

 

PM Classes are everywhere here in So Cal. You can get them at community colleges to well known providers such as UCI. A PM degree is of little more value than a certificate program in my view. A business degree, PMI cert and experience are all key elements to be in the field. A PMP cert is nice to have and becoming more recognized but not a requirement.

Question: Should they create a certification as a
(P)roject (I)nternational (M)anagement (P)rofessional?
Just a passing thought.

 

I work as a project manager about 30% of the time. I’ve looked at PMI and consider it a paper chase, even though I agree it is the most widely recognized credential.

Other than the Aspen program, does any one know of any others that are 100% on-line, and about the same price (2k or less)?

I agree that a PM Certificate is a nice to have, and honestly about the same credential as a PM degree if you already have another degree.

I’ve wanted to add a Masters level PM Certificate to my resume for a couple years.

 

Take a look at Amberton University. Its a four course certificate, can be taken for either undergraduate or graduate credit, and is about $2400. I like this certificate because the classes can then be used towards one of their degrees.

http://www.amberton.edu/PMC.htm

Kevin

 

Thanks for this post guys. My plan is to finish my business degree by July, enroll in a PM cert curriculum at UT extended studies or Aspen, and then, possibly do the one year MBA in technology commercialization at UT...if I am not burned out before then. I was struggling with the cert. vs. MBA dilemma and you guys helped me decide. Thanks. Oh, and if anyone knows where I can take a decent Business Policy course without breaking my back/bank I would appreciate it.

 

Keep in mind that there is a difference between "professional certifications" and "certificate programs".

The PMP is a professional certification offered by PMI that requires a certain level of experience and educational background, as well as passing an extensive examination. Once you pass the exam, you are required to re-certify (every three years, I believe) and to maintain currency in the field. You must submit documentation to verify your currency. The professional certification is backed by the reputation of the professional association that exists to support the profession and help maintain the body of knowledge for that field--thus a very focused organization.

Certificate programs are typically offered by community colleges or universities as part of their extension programs, (or maybe as part of a degree program) and consist of completing a series of courses within that area. There are no re-certification requirements or requirements to maintain currency within the field for certificate programs. The certificate program is backed by the reputation of the school that offers it.

Just my opinion.

 

I put a great deal of wight on the PMI exam. To me, a PMP certification is a mark of legitimacy on one's MS in PM program. Passing the PMI is not a cakewalk, however passing quite some number of PM courses at various institutions can be close to a cakewalk.

While I do put significant value on a MS in PM, I double the value if the graduate has PMP after the MS.

 

You may wish to look at the University of Denver. They have an MAS program in project management, as well as a certificate. The programs are supposed to parallel the Project Management Institute’s (PMI®) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) Guide.

 

I agree that a the PMP has value as does any degree and certificate based on the school but, the PMP is a one size fits all. It tests knowledge of the PMBOK but not project management by area or specialty which is very different depending on discipline. One can easily pass the exam and never managed a single project.

bah

 

I'm a manager and I've worked on many things that are "projects" but I have no idea if they would be applicable to project management hours as defined by PMI. Is the CAPM test a good idea? I don't see it being nearly as well known as the PMP, but does anyone think it will have more utility in the future? That is, do you think it's going to get more widely known as the "junior PMP" certification?

 

I would challenge both of those assertions. First, one cannot so easily pass the exam as it is not an "easy" exam. Second, were it even easy to pass, one cannot take it without documented project management experience of either 4500 hours or 7500 hours, depending in the category in which you fall. To posit that one can easily pass the exam and never manage a single project would be information counter to the requirements established by PMI.

While many universities offer Certificates in PM, they have no relationship or comparison to the PMP certification requirements, even though their content may be driven by PMI and the PMBOK. One can choose their school, take a set of three of four courses and be awarded a Certificate in PM. PMI criteria and requirements are so far and away different than these academic certificate models as to bear very little resemblance.