Do You Need PMP Certification?

When it comes to professional certification, there are those who strive to obtain as many certifications as possible and others who strive to attain the highest certification possible. Still others see little value in certification, but rely on experience and formal education. If you are a project manager and are unsure about professional certification, this article is for you.

You may be considering the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). This is the gold standard of certification for project managers, and requires significant preparation and experience to achieve.

Is it worth the time, study, and professional development needed to prepare for and maintain PMP certification?

Career Potential

If you do an informal analysis of the job boards, you can gauge the potential of your certification in helping you to find your next job. Do a search for "project manager" and see how many results are returned. Next, do a search for "project manager pmp" and compare the results. Make sure that you use the same criteria, like type of position, geographical area, age of postings, etc.

I looked at Dice.com and found that of the 12,764 project manager positions posted in the last 30 days, nationwide, 813 of them (6.4%) required PMP certification. I did similar searches for CISSP and MSCE, and found that they were 5% and 4% respectively.

From this experiment, you can see that it is required for about one in twenty jobs. If you want a shot at these jobs, and an advantage at the other nineteen, consider the edge that PMP certification will give you.

Skills Development

There are many skills and techniques in the project management profession that you will not develop without a goal in front of you. Many project managers have achieved their titles because they know how to get people to work together, to track tasks and owners, and to work through issues. While these skills are important for all project managers, larger, more complicated projects require a honed set of formal skills.

Obtaining the formal education that may be missing from your skills will help you to become a significantly better project manager.

Reputation

Let's face it. There are a lot of project managers. There are just as many who want to become project managers. If you differentiate yourself with professional certification you will gain the respect of your peers, both inside and outside of your company. People who share a common prestigious certification hold a common respect for one another. Those who don't hold it look up to those who do.

Reputation is not built on certification alone; it must be backed with a solid track record of project leadership. But certification is a great place to start, especially certification that combines experience with testing, such as the PMP.

Getting Started

The PMP certification requires you not only to prepare yourself for the six domains of the exam, but also requires 4,500 hours of experience. If you are interested in going further, consider one of the many preparation guides available at Amazon.com and preparation courses. Good luck!

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Project Management Degree Programs

If you are preparing for a full-time career in project management or want to improve your marketability, consider a degree that specializes in project management. But how do you select a program that provides you with the most opportunity?

Undergraduate vs. Graduate

Start by looking at where you are in your education. If you have not already completed your undergraduate degree, you may want to consider a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management. These programs are not always easy to find, but they are available -- many in online format.

Your best bet, if it fits with your educational aspirations is to earn a Master's degree in Project Management. The focus of a graduate program will allow you to major in Project Management, rather than have it as a specialization. A Master's degree will give you an edge in finding your next job.

If you are already working as a project manager and are looking to improve your marketability, consider a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Project Management. This will not only help you in your current position, but it will also prepare you for advancement.

Convenient Format

You may be lucky enough to have a local college that offers a degree in project management, but they are not as abundant as other programs. Consider an on-line or distance education format. Whichever format you choose, pick one that best fits your schedule, location, and priorities.

There is a definite benefit to graduating from a top ranked college or university. You will be in higher demand early in your career. But don't rule out a less prestigious program that is better suited to your family situation, work schedule, and time constraints. If you already have a good, progressive career in project management, this may be more favorable to potential employers than the college you chose for your degree.

Regional Accreditation

More important than the rank of the college is the accreditation. Regionally accredited colleges and universities give you more options than those that have other accreditations or none at all. With a regionally accredited degree, you may be more qualified for employer tuition assistance and financial aid. If you choose to pursue further education after your degree, accreditation is critical to being able to transfer credits and even gain admission.

The regional accrediting agencies to look for are:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools The Higher Learning Commission
• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contribution to Professional Certification

Finally, look into how the program contributes to your certification. The gold standard in project management certification is the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential, from the Project Management Institute (PMI). You will want to make sure that the program you choose helps you to either prepare for or maintain certification. PMI also has a Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC), which provides accreditation for schools that meet certain quality standards for project management.

In an increasingly competitive job market, the well-prepared project manager has a significant advantage. Combining a degree and certification with a track record of successful projects will keep you busy for many years.

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