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Navigating the world of project management certifications can be overwhelming, especially if you’re just getting started in the field.
With a variety of certifications available, it can be hard to know which one is right for you.
If you’re looking to break into project management, earning an entry-level certification is a great way to build foundational skills and stand out in a competitive job market.
Certifications demonstrate your commitment to the profession and provide you with recognized credentials that can boost your resume. But with so many options, which certification should you pursue? Well, it depends. Here are some questions to ask yourself
What is your current level of experience?
Do you meet the prerequisites for the certification?
Which industry do you want to work in?
Are you interested in Agile or Scrum or Waterfall?
What certifications do your current or future employers require?
How much time and money do you have to dedicate to pursuing a certification?
What are your future career goals?
This article will share 4 entry-level project management certifications for you to consider as someone breaking into project management from another career or industry. The project management certifications below require little to no required prerequisites. There could be lower training and exam costs. Each certification varies in time commitment, so consider what you are willing to invest moving forward.
Great place to start your project management certification path
Issued by industry leader Project Management Institute®
Requires a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, or equivalent)
Requires completion of 23 hours of project management education
The exam is 150 questions, that must be completed in 3 hours
You must retake the exam every 5 years to stay certified
A natural next step would be to complete the PMP
Covers the fundamentals of project management, agile practices, and tools
Issued by Google through Coursera
Prepares you for the CAPM
Must complete 6 courses through Coursera
Recommended time commitment is 6 months, with 10 hours of study per week
There is no final exam, but several assessments throughout the course and has a capstone project
No need to recertify
Project management certification more popular within Europe
Issued by AXELOS
Training includes a structured project management method
There are 2 levels available: Foundation and Practitioner
There is no prerequisite for the Foundation exam
Foundation Level exam consists of 60 questions that must be completed in 1 hour
Foundation Level requires no recertification
A natural next step would be to complete the PRINCE2 Practitioner level certification
Project Management certification used within the international community
Issued by the International Association of Project Managers (IAPM)
Focused on both traditional and agile project management knowledge
There are no prerequisite for this exam, however, candidates can take a self-assessment test to gauge their readiness for the exam
The exam consists of 120 questions that must be completed within 80 minutes
Certified Project Manager (IAPM) requires no recertification
About the Author
Lori Schoenhard is the Founder and Principal of Athena Project Consulting, LLC.
Lori possess two decades of IT leadership expertise, building and leading Project Management Offices (PMO), managing complex global enterprise programs across cross-functional teams, spearheading change management initiatives, and providing coaching to program and project managers. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, SaaS companies, digital agencies, and SMBs to deliver impactful results.
Lori holds several project management and industry certifications: PMP, CSM, CSPO, SAFe, ITIL. Lori holds a Masters Degree from Boston University in Computer Information Systems and IT Project Management.
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