Background

I worked on a lot of different software technologies and grew from being a junior software engineer to a senior software engineer. However, I could still not get a holistic view of the entire project from end-to-end. I was leading a small team of engineers but aspired to become a Project Manager because that could give me a complete different perspective of a project and a growth path into management.

This is when I talked to my manager, who was very supportive. He was willing to involve me in project management responsibilities, by delegating some of his responsibilities. This was a good start. But he did mention that in order for me to become a full-time project manager, I would need either a university degree in Project Management or a Project Management Certification; that could give me a jump start.

Options

That is when I started my research on the various project management courses and certifications available. A university degree on project management usually takes around 2 years and at this stage of my career, I was not keen to go for a residential program. Then I looked at the various Project Management Certifications and this is when I stumbled upon Project Management Professional (PMP). There were of course other certifications, but I realized that PMP was the most globally recognized and was also seen as important by my organization.

I spoke to some of my colleagues, peers and seniors who carried this certification and understood from them that it fit beautifully into the kind of projects that we do. In fact, it is a kind of certification that can be applied to any kind of project — big or small. This opens up a whole lot of new opportunities for me. This convinced me that PMP credentials are what I need to have on my CV.

PMP Certification Process

Once I made up my mind to go for the PMP Certification, I looked at the various pre-requisites and steps towards achieving it. First, let’s look at the two pre-requisites:



Your educational background decides how much Project Management experience you will need to show in your PMP application. If you have a Bachelor’s degree, then 36 months experience, which adds up to 4,500 hours of experience, is needed. If you do not have a Bachelor’s degree, then you need 60 months of experience, which adds up to 7,500 hours.

The pre-requisite of 35 contact hours of formal Project Management education is a mandatory requirement for everybody. This can be gained by taking ExpertRating’s online course on PMP Exam Preparation.

Once you gather the pre-requisites, you can start your application process. The diagram below shows the steps involved in the process.



The first step, after gathering pre-requisites, is to take Project Management Institute (PMI) Membership for $139. Then you need to apply for the PMP Certification exam by filling an online application form and by paying $405. Your application may or may not get audited by Project Management Institute (PMI). Once the audit is done or if not requested by Project Management Institute (PMI), you will receive your exam approval code, i.e. Eligibility ID. The final step is to schedule an exam by selecting a date and time of your choice and taking it at an exam centre near you.

Advice to Fellow Aspirants

In order to flourish in the field of Project Management, it is extremely important that you flash the word “PMP” along with your name. It goes a long way in realizing your dream of becoming a successful Project Manager.

Project Management Institute (PMI) has changed the way Professional Development Units (PDUs) are to be reported as a pre-requisite for PMP Certification Exam as well as for maintaining the PMP Certification. PDUs can be thought of as points that one needs. Let us first look at the PDUs required for PMP Certification Exam.

PMP Certification Exam Pre-requisites In order to be eligible for PMP Certification Exam, you need to have 35 PDUs, also called 35 Contact Hours. These can be gained by taking ExpertRating’s online course – PMP Preparatory. Once you have successfully completed the course, you will be issued a pre-approved PDU certificate. Details of this certificate will be required while filling your PMP Certification Exam form. The screenshot below shows how these details are to be filled in.



PMP Certification Renewal Renewal of PMP Certification has to be carried out every 3 years. During this 3-year period, you need to acquire 60 PDUs. These PDUs have to be gathered in two categories – Education PDUs and Giving Back PDUs. Education PDUs involve all those PDUs gained in activities related to continued education, whereas Giving Back PDUs are those that are gained in activities related to giving back to the project management profession. Education PDUs have to be a minimum of 35 and Giving Back PDUs have to be a minimum of 25.

Education PDUs

Includes any PDUs gained in learning opportunities that allow you to expand and enhance your technical, leadership, or strategic and business management skills. The Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle^TM below shows the three competencies.



You are required to gather at least 8 PDUs in each competency – Technical, Leadership, and Strategic and Business Management. The remaining 11 PDUs can be gathered in any of the categories.

The various eLearning courses offered by ExpertRating can help you gather the required PDUs.

Giving Back PDUs

Includes any PDUs gained in activities that enable you to share and utilize your knowledge and skills as a means to contribute to and help build the profession. It includes two categories — Volunteering Work and Creating Knowledge, and Working as a Professional. A minimum of 8 PDUs are required in Working as a Professional. Hence, the remaining 17 PDUs can be acquired in Volunteering Work and Creating Knowledge.

Renewal Process (CCR)

Step 1: Log in to CCRS system at https://ccrs.pmi.org/login/index
Step 2: Click on the link, Report PDUs, as shown below.



Step 3: Click on Course or Training and on the page shown below, enter education PDUs gathered from ExpertRating’s eLearning courses.





All the details required on this page will be mentioned on the certificate you receive from ExpertRating, once you have successfully completed the course.

Projects

Projects are carried out in every industry, in varied ways – some are small, some are big, and others are huge. After all, projects are the only vehicles to bring about a change. There is a great saying – “Change is the only constant”. This means that projects are abundant, and will continue to be there as long as we embrace changes.

Project Management Profession

One of the key aspects of any project is the Project Manager. S/he is the person who binds all the pieces of a project together, into a cohesive whole. Without the Project Manager, the various pieces of the project may work, but the project will not be successful, as there will be nobody to put the individual pieces together.

Several people have a dilemma over whether or not they should pursue a career in Project Management. If you are keen to take a holistic view of a project and are willing to take the overall responsibility of a project’s success, then you are interested in Project Management. PMP Certification is one of the most useful vehicles in getting you to build a career in Project Management. Let’s look at the various benefits that you get by building a Project Management career through PMP Certification.

Global Recognition

PMP is one of the best and also one of the most recognized Project Management Certifications globally. In several parts of the world, Project Managers are mandated to go for this certification. One of the main reasons is that this certification confirms a person’s knowledge and skills in Project Management using the global best practices defined by Project Management Institute (PMI). By acquiring a PMP Certification you open up new avenues, not only at home but across the globe.

Networking and Best Practices

One of the major benefits of PMP Certification is that you join a group of several like-minded Project Managers. This helps in improving networks that could have far-reaching benefits. One study of Project Managers stated that the most successful Project Managers spend most of their time on networking. One-on-one networking and group networking through seminars conducted by Project Management Institute (PMI) and others, also help in sharing the industry specific or the contemporary best practices used by your peers. This can be immensely useful in your success. The beauty of PMP Certification is that you don’t learn just another framework or methodology of managing projects but also acquire the skills of managing projects – it is all about application, not mere theory.

Promotion

The recognition of PMP Certification is so high in several companies that many of them fast-track promotions on the basis of this certification. Some other companies might not give a promotion just on the basis of the certification, but they provide you with greater Project Management responsibilities. This, in turn, leads to a promotion in the medium term.

Job Security

In today’s world of fast-paced changes and topsy-turvy business cycles, job security is always a big concern. Having experience in doing a particular job is obviously a great way of ensuring job security, but another important way is to acquire PMP Certification. Without the certification, the company might think that the time to re-skill you might be long, and hence they may be forced to let go of you. But, with a PMP Certification, you can manage any kind of project, and during a slowdown, the company would be able to deploy you in other, more critical projects and still retain you within the company.

Job Change

Another reason for getting a PMP Certification is if you are looking for a job change. Nowadays companies are looking for professionals not only with the right experience but also with the relevant certifications. By flashing PMP on your CV, you ensure that your job application will be read and given due importance in hiring decisions by companies. Several companies include PMP Certification as a mandatory pre-requisite for applying for jobs that relate to Project Management.

Conclusion

Based on the above points, it is extremely important that you go for PMP Certification if you plan to further a career in Project Management. It is a career that is here to stay for as long as companies need to innovate. PMP on your CV acts like a crown jewel, without which the crown would be incomplete.

Situation – Your senior manager is trying to decide promotions for the year. He has two front-runners for the promotion to the job of project manager – you and one of your colleagues. Both of you have been top performers this year and are fit for the position, but your manager has been asked to nominate only one candidate for the promotion. He is in a dilemma as for whom to nominate. So he looks for other differentiating factors. An obvious choice for another factor would be a relevant certification. Your promotion now depends upon which certifications you have that set you apart!!

In today’s competitive environment, having or not having a relevant certification can make a huge difference in your professional career. Experience and performance are obviously critical factors, but a certification could give the needed push to your career.

There are several Project Management Certifications. Let’s have a quick look at some of the most popular ones:

PMP: Project Management Professional is a certification given by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is one of the most sought-after certifications across the globe. It is based on the global best practices of project management. It requires a minimum of 3 years experience in managing projects.

CAPM:Certified Associate in Project Management is another certification given by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is similar to PMP certification but is more appropriate to those who are fairly new to project management because there is no experience needed in managing projects to apply for it.

PRINCE2: This certification is issued by AXELOS, which is a joint venture involving the UK government. It emphasizes on a project management framework to manage projects in a controlled environment. It has high acceptance in the UK.

There are some other certifications that cover specialized areas as below:

Project Management Institute (PMI)-RMP (Risk Management Professional): For specialization in Project Risk Management.
Project Management Institute (PMI)-SP (Scheduling Professional): For specialization in Project Scheduling.
Project Management Institute (PMI)-ACP (Agile-Certified Practitioner): For specialization in Agile Project Management.

Based on your interest, you may select from the above certifications. The selection should be based on the following factors:

Your interest.
Career prospects.
Interested growth areas.
Differentiator.
Company/client recognition.

Benefits of getting a Project Management Certification are several. Let’s look at some of the most evident ones:

Differentiator

A relevant certification works as a very effective differentiating factor. It sets you apart from your peers with a similar level of experience and expertise.

Builds Knowledge and Skills

While preparing for a certification, you go through the framework and its usage, which enhances your learning. This new-found knowledge and skills can be applied on your projects for greater success.

Promotion

When your organization looks to promote employees, they look at several factors such as performance, experience, knowledge and skills. Lately, several organizations have also started looking at relevant certifications while deciding on promotions.

Higher Salary/Perks

Organizations often link promotions, salary hikes and perks with goals specific on acquiring new skills and certifications. If you are unable to get certified, you lose out on these benefits.

Recognition

A certification gives you recognition amongst your peers, managers and sub-ordinates. It even earns you greater respect from external parties such as your customers.

Broadens Your Horizon

If you are looking for a change in job or profile, then certifications can be very useful to get you that change. Some companies mandate certain relevant certifications for critical jobs such as PMP for Project Management. Without this certification, you might not get through the screening stage.

Client Preference

Some clients might mandate or prefer a Certified Project Manager. In such cases, you become the front-runner to get that position if you have the certification.

Increase of Success Rate on Projects

Certifications teach you the best practices of Project Management. When applied to projects, these practices give the best possible results. This increases the success rate of your projects.

Networking

After getting certified, you join a global community of certified project managers. This helps you keep track of the most contemporary practices of project management and can also assist in finding you a more lucrative job.

Job Security

In times of a slowdown, companies often prune their workforce. While making this decision, the company usually tries to retain those employees who can be put on projects that will continue. With a Project Management Certification, you can very easily be re-skilled to manage other projects that the company retains. This could increase your job security.

At the outset of this discussion, let’s look at some of the well-known statistics about the Project Management profession.

As per a research study published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), between the year 2010 and 2020, an estimated 15.7 million new project management jobs will be added globally. The geographical breakup is expected to be as per the chart below.



These are no small numbers. The Project Management profession is also a well-paying one as compared to other professions. This is seen in the chart below. It shows the median salaries across last several years.



In order to prove your Project Management expertise, PMP Certification is an excellent option because companies look for candidates with proven expertise.

It has also been seen that PMP Certified managers usually earn a higher salary than the ones who do not have this certification. In the USA, the average salary of a Project Manager without PMP Certification is $91,000 as against $111,000 of a PMP Certified Project Manager — 23% higher.

Now that we have established that the profession is expected to grow and PMP can be extremely beneficial, let’s see how PMP Certification can be useful for you to get a job.

Get Noticed by Employers — PMP Gives You Visibility

It has been increasingly seen that employers looking to fill in positions of Project Management often put PMP Certification as a pre-requisite for applying for the job. Not having the certification makes you lose out on a lot of potentially good opportunities.

Off to the Interview — PMP Takes You to the Interview

Having PMP credentials on your résumé significantly increases your chances of being called in for an interview. There are, obviously, several other factors involved, such as your experience, education qualification, etc. but having a relevant certification such as PMP can make an employer overlook some other aspects. This is because PMP Certification proves your competence in the field of Project Management and convinces the employer that you can be a good fit for the role of a Project Manager.

Impress the Interviewer — PMP Gives You an Edge in the Interview

In an interview for a Project Management role, you are expected to know the best practices applied on projects. This also involves a lot of Project Management jargon used in the industry. While you prepare for the PMP Certification, you will learn the global best practices of Project Management. This knowledge and skill learnt on your certification journey can prove to be invaluable to crack an interview.

Grab Your Dream Job - PMP Can Seal the Deal

Several potential candidates might be interviewed by the employer for a particular job. When it comes to making a decision on the final selection, once again, PMP Certification can be one of the deciding factors, if all the other factors are on the same level. The certification gives you an edge to get a job offer.

Look for New Opportunities — PMP Helps in Networking

There is a global network of PMP Certified professionals. Once you get certified, you become a part of this network. This network can prove to be very useful to dig out opportunities in Project Management. Several Project Management job listings are posted only to this network or groups to which they belong.

Conclusion

The Project Management profession is in a phase of rapid growth and PMP Certification is the de-facto global benchmark in this field. PMP Certification can help you get a job faster and with a higher salary. So, if you are keen to build a career in Project Management and are seeking good high-paying opportunities, then you should get PMP Certified at the earliest!!