Know the Certifications to Boost Your Career: CAPM Vs. PMP

If you currently manage or plan to manage projects in the future, the CAPM and PMP certifications will improve your ability to manage projects effectively.

In this section, we’ll look at all the knowledge needed to apply for and pass the two most popular certifications in the world, the CAPM and PMP.

What is Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)?

The Project Management Institute (PMI) creates and manages the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. It is a certification acknowledged in the business and shows that the holder is knowledgeable about and comprehends project management methods, procedures, and principles.

It is intended for aspiring project managers or those at the beginning level of the profession. Those who want to demonstrate their understanding of the field but need more project management experience can benefit from the CAPM certification. Additionally, it’s an excellent way to enhance your career and get recognized.

The certification is also meant to assist individuals in gaining the credibility and assurance required to work in the project management sector. It shows that a person understands project management and is prepared to progress to more advanced certifications like PMP or PgMP.

Benefits of CAPM Certification

The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification is a widely recognized credential that gives project managers the information, abilities, and skills they need to interpret, organize, and execute projects.

It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge and provide a competitive edge in the employment market.

The CAPM certification can also boost your self-assurance in your current position because it will give you more excellent knowledge of the abilities necessary for effective project management. Additionally, having a CAPM certification can put you ahead of your competition regarding promotions and pay raises.

The certification assists project managers in managing their team, risk, budget, and other elements necessary for a project to complete within timelines successfully. Additionally, it gives project managers a method to demonstrate their expertise, professionalism, and attention to their tasks.

The CAPM certification also demonstrates a project manager’s familiarity with current trends in project management and gives them the resources they need to keep on top of developments. Increased employment security, higher income potential, and more incredible industry reputation are all advantages of CAPM certification.

Requirements to Obtain a CAPM Certification

The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification is a credential that aspirants increasingly seek.

Let’s look at the prerequisites for taking the CAPM exam.

• Possess a secondary degree, such as a high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent.
• Before the exam, you must have completed at least 23 project management training contact hours.

Candidates who complete the CAPM certification can anticipate starting in entry-level project management positions like associate project coordinator, junior project manager, project coordinator, etc.

Additionally, earning the CAPM certification will count toward the 35 hours of project management experience needed to take the PMP exam.

The CAPM identifies your abilities and gives you the power to create the project management profession of your dreams, whether you’re trying to expand on your present skill set or explore an exciting new career.

The below section will look at PMP (Project Management Professional) details.

What Is Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification?

The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a widely recognized credential in project management. It proves a person’s proficiency in project management and verifies their capacity to lead projects successfully. The Project Management Institute (PMI) grants the certification, regarded as the pinnacle for project managers.

The highest level of certification for project management experts is the PMP designation, which shows that the applicant thoroughly understands the concepts, instruments, and methods required for efficient project management. It is certified by the widely accepted ISO 9001 and ISO/ANSI 17024 standards.

The capacity to successfully manage large, complicated projects, as well as knowledge of project management concepts and practices, are both demonstrated by the PMP certification.

Additionally, the PMP certification offers valuable information that can be applied to raise organizational effectiveness and benefit stakeholders.

The ability to successfully manage projects of any size and complexity makes PMP-certified managers highly sought-after by employers. The certification gives project managers a competitive advantage in the employment market.

The certification is based on a challenging exam that measures understanding project management principles and application skills.

Benefits of PMP Certification

Employers will need to fill almost 2.3 million new project-oriented roles annually through 2030, according to PMI. There will be a significant need for qualified project managers.

For those wishing to develop in project management, the PMP certification denotes a high degree of knowledge and experience in the subject. Possessing a PMP certification communicates to potential employers that the holder is trustworthy, experienced, and capable of managing simple to complicated projects of any size.

The PMP certification is a widely accepted certificate that shows proficiency in critical procedures and optimal management techniques. It is beneficial to keep abreast of best practices and to foresee emerging project management trends and styles.

Due to their ability to deliver the project efficiently in terms of managing resources, budget, risk, schedules, etc., PMP-certified experts are highly sought after in many top firms across several industries.

Project managers can differentiate themselves in a crowded job market by earning the PMP certification, a sign of expertise in project management’s guiding principles and practices.

Additionally, those who have earned the PMP certification are more likely to be regarded as authorities in their industry, which can help them get paid more and advance in their careers.

Requirements to Obtain a PMP Certification

A particular level of experience is required to pass the demanding certification process. The PMP certification exam assesses project initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing competencies. A lot of effort, preparation, and focus are required to pass this test.

To become a PMP-certified professional, a person must prove they have the required training and work experience, pass a challenging exam, and adhere to a rigid code of ethics.

Education and Experience Requirements

The requirements for taking the PMP test are shown below. Candidates who plan to take the exam must adhere to the following criteria:

The ability to lead projects for any organization and industry makes the PMP certification highly sought after by many employers, so managers who obtain it can anticipate landing more lucrative jobs.

CAPM Vs. PMP

You have already seen a brief overview of CAPM and PMP certification, including its benefits.

In this section, let’s look at the key distinctions between CAPM and PMP:

Cost

CAPM: Members of the PMI will pay $225, while non-members will pay $300.

PMP: Members of the PMP will pay $405, while non-members will pay $555.

Exam Questions and Duration

CAPM

• Examination: There are 150 questions on the CAPM examination, 15 of which are regarded as pretest questions. Pretest questions are used in exams as an efficient and legal technique to test the validity of subsequent examination questions, even if they have no bearing on the final score.
• Duration: 180 minutes are allocated for finishing the center-based test.
• Break: The exam will take a 10-minute break. After you’ve finished questions 1-75 and gone through all your responses, a break will occur. Please be aware that you can only return to the questions from the previous exam section once you’ve finished reviewing your answers and begun your break.
• Exam Retake: You have a year during which you can retake the exam as many times as necessary if you fail to pass it the first time. You must wait one year from the final exam date after three failed attempts before reapplying for the certification.

PMP

• Examination: There are 180 questions, of which five are regarded as pretest questions. Pretest questions are used in exams as an efficient and legal technique to test the validity of subsequent examination questions, even if they have no bearing on the final score.
• Duration: 230 minutes are allocated for finishing the center-based test.
• Break: There are currently two 10-minute breaks in the test. After you finish questions 1 through 60 and review your responses, the first one will appear. The second break will start when you have finished question 120 and verified that you have reviewed each response. Please note that you will only be able to return to the questions from the last portion of the exam once you’ve reviewed your answers and begun your break.
• Exam Retake: Same as that of CAPM

Salary

The salary boost with PMP and CAPM certification will vary according to the employer, job description, and country, but the certificate is a plus for any resume.

PMP

According to Earning Power Project Management Salary Survey, the median compensation for PMP holders worldwide is 16% higher (and 32% higher in the USA) than those without certification.

According to Glassdoor, the average project manager in the United States earns $90,060 annually. 

CAPM

According to Payscale, a CAPM-certified professional’s annual salary is approximately $68,000. 

Topics Covered in the Examination

The topics covered in CAPM and PMP exam and their percentage coverage are listed below.

CAPM

• Introduction to Project Management (6%)
• Project Environment (6%)
• Role of the Project Manager (7%)
• Project Integration Management (9%)
• Scope Management (9%)
• Schedule Management (9%)
• Cost Management (8%)
• Quality Management (7%)
• Resource Management (8%)
• Communication Management (10%)
• Risk Management (8%)
• Stakeholder Management (9%)

PMP

• Plan and manage your finances, resources, timeline, scope, procurement, and transitions.
• Planning, executing the project, involving stakeholders, and integrating the governance framework.
• Management of Project modifications, deliverables, challenges, communications, and risks
• Choose the best project methodology, techniques, and methodologies.

Business Environment ( 8%)

• Plan and oversee project adherence.
• Deliver project benefits and value after evaluating them.
• Assess the impact of changes to the external business environment on the scope.
• Support organizational change

Maintenance

Let’s examine how the certification holder can keep their PMI credentials current. Candidates must acquire PDUs (Professional Development Units) to maintain their credentials.

You devote only one hour to education, volunteer causes, or other activities. You can keep your certification status with PMI by accumulating and monitoring these during your certification cycle.

CAPM

You must acquire 15 PDUs in a 3-year cycle if you hold the Certified Associate in Project Management Professional (CAPM) certification. These 15 PDUs can be divided up into the following categories:

• A minimum of 9 PDUs in Education, including business acumen, power skills, and ways of functioning (2 PDU each). ) (Once you earn 3 PDUS in each section, you can earn the remaining PDUs from any of the three areas.)
• A maximum of 6 PDUs for giving back may be earned through volunteer work (2 PDUs) and Creating Knowledge (4 PDUs).

PMP

To maintain your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, you must accumulate 60 PDUs over three years. The breakup of these 60 PDUs is stated below:

• A minimum of 35 PDUs in Education, including business acumen, power skills, and ways of functioning (8 PDU each) (Once you earn 8 PDUS each section, then the remaining PDUs you can make from any of the three sections.)
• A maximum of 25 PDUs for Giving back may be earned through volunteer work (8 PDUs) and Creating Knowledge (17 PDUs). Please note that Giving back PDUs is optional. Candidates can earn all PDUs through Education, meaning they can make all 60 PDUs for PMP certification in Education and all 15 PDUs for CMAP certification in Education. 

Final Words

The world-recognized PMI certifications are versatile across industries and regions and have a track record of advancing your career in project management. The information on the CMAP and PMP certifications covered above will assist you in successfully completing the certification process.

Next, check out online project management courses to grow your career.