In an the midst of an economic recession, many companies and organizations find themselves scurrying to streamline their operations and practices for increased productivity, better cost efficiency, and more practical use of available resources. As a result, there are many project management certification programs available worldwide. Here we will highlight some of the certification options available across the globe.
Project Management Institute
The Project Management Institute, also known as the PMI, provides two project management certification options. The first is designed specifically for project management professionals. The PMP Certification (Project Management Professional Certification) is geared towards highly experienced project management professionals with a wealth of education, training and experience in the five components of project management.
Requirements needed for this project management certification are largely dependent on the highest level of education achieved and prior project management training or experience. A high school graduate or someone with an Associate’s Degree must have 7,500 hours of time already put into some kind of legitimate project management experience. Whereas someone that holds a Bachelor’s Degree only needs 4,500 hours worth of previous project management experience.
All applicants for this project management certification must successfully pass the four-hour PMP exam that contains 200 multiple-choice questions. Additionally, PMP certification has to be maintained in the form of Professional Development Units (PDU’s). Every three years, certification maintenance is dependent on having 60 total professional development units. For a clearer picture, one professional development unit is the equivalent of one contact hour of training. So, to maintain project management certification, these 60 PDU’s must be earned every three years through classes, global congress attendance, contributing to research or the composition and publishing of project management papers.
PMI also offers the Certified Associate In Project Management (CAPM) certificate is for anyone that seeks entry-level or beginner project management certification.
Advanced Project Management Certification
This particular project management certification, known as the APMC, is intended for senior management and advanced project management professionals that already hold PMP certification. The certification program revolves around two courses, with two short online tests at the conclusion of each course, along with four elective lessons built around the “Kerzner Approach To Best Practices.” The emphasis of this certification is to train professionals in highly advanced elements of project management.
American Academy of Project Management
Known as the AAPM, applicants for this project management certification must have project management education and training at approved educational institutions rather than education and training through private business. The AAPM’s certification credentials tend to stay clear of commercialism. Qualified candidates can earn project management certification and charter as a Master Project Manager (MPM), Certified International Project Manager (CIPM), Project Manager E-Business (PME), CPE Certified Planning Engineer (CPE), MQM Master of Quality Management or Master Quality Manager, CPRM Certified Project Risk Manager, and CEC Certified E-Commerce Consultant.
Australian Institute of Project Management
The AIMP has been progressing the field of project management in Australia since 1976. The RegPM (Registered Project Manager) is the AIPM project management certification program. Candidates participate in a workplace assessment that measures their competency and overall understanding of project management. The project management certification is rewarded at three levels: the CPPP or Certified Practicing Project Professional, the CPPM or Certified Practicing Project Manager, or the CPPD or Certified Practicing Project Director.
BrainBench
The BrainBench project management certification program reflects the same standards and guidelines used by the Project Management Institute and is heavily based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Over 100 countries recognize the BrainBench project management certification.
CompTIA Project+
The CompTIA Project+ project management certification is intended to increase project management skills and abilities within IT (Information Technology) teams and organizations. This certification doesn’t carry much market value but is often used by IT companies to ensure that all employees have a basic understanding of project management fundamentals. This is one project management certification with no prerequisites, no complicated application, and no necessary ongoing maintenance to stay certified.
Projects IN Controlled Environments (PRINCE2)
Prince2 is a project management method used widely in the United Kingdom and more than 50 other countries. This controlled approach to project management provides a valuable means of managing projects within a defined agenda.
Project management certification and accreditation is determined by the passing of two exams. The Foundation exam is a multiple-choice test that lasts for up to one hour. The Practitioner test is a bit more complex, mixing in objective testing with multiple-choice questions, and clocking in at approximately three hours. Practitioners must also retake the exam every five years to maintain accreditation.
International Project Management Association
The IPMA is a Swiss organization and may be the oldest service in project management development. The project management certification offered through the IPMA involves a third party assessment based on the IPMA’s Competence Baseline. This assessment revolves around an in-depth interview, self-analysis, written examination and the composition of a report on project management.
Project Management Certification 