Project Management Certifications: Is It Worth It?

If you're looking to advance your career as a project manager or get started in project management, getting your hands on a project management certification is a good first step. Project management certifications can help propel your career forward. There are a few options to choose from when pursuing a certificate, but all have the same purpose: to show your ability to manage projects successfully. Each project management certification has its own requirements and experience levels. Let's explore project management certifications more in-depth and how you can prepare yourself to pass the exams.

The Value of Project Management Certifications

So, what is the value of a project management certification? For starters, a project management certification will increase your credibility. It shows how committed you are to professional development and that you have what it takes to perform at a high level. Many professionals agree, too, with more than 1.2 million PMP certification holders worldwide. However, not all project managers have these certificates. So, you can stay ahead of non-certificate holders by getting yourself a certificate and proving that you are dedicated to your career as a project manager.

The value of these certificates doesn't end there. But what are the other benefits? Well, by earning a project management certificate, you get the following certification benefits:

• Increase your average salary potential
• Advance your career and increase your market value
• Improve your skills and knowledge in key project management concepts
• Improve the success rate of your projects
• Become more professional in the world of project management
• Build more confidence in your career

Popular Project Management Certification Options

As a project manager or soon-to-be project manager, you have plenty of options for project management certifications. The main one you've probably heard about is the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Other popular choices include:

• Program Manager Professional (PgMP)
• Professional in Project Management (PPM)
• Certified Project Management (CPM)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM certification)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• CompTIA Project+
• Master Project Manager (MPM)
• Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

So, how do you decide which certificate to pursue? Well, there are a few factors to consider when choosing which project management certification to work towards. First, you'll want to consider the cost and time investment. What's your budget? How much time do you have to prepare? Each certificate differs in how much you'll be paying and the time it takes to obtain it, but you should consider things like exam fees, course fees, and study materials.

Something else to consider would be how the certificate applies to your career and industry. If you're not involved in Scrum or Agile, then it's probably not the best choice to pursue the CSM or ACP certificates.

6 Tips for Preparing and Passing Certification Exams

Now that we've covered the basics on the benefits and value of getting certified as a project manager, and the options you have to choose from, what about preparing and passing for the exams? The requirements for each certificate can vary, but here are some tips on preparing and passing your certification exam.

Take Your Time

Don't rush into an exam unprepared. The best thing you can do to make sure you are fully prepared and will pass your certification exam is to take your time. There shouldn't be a deadline for learning. But at the same time, make sure you set a realistic timeline for when you hope to take and pass the exam. For busy professionals, you'll need to work in study time that fits your schedule. Try to work in an hour or so of study time daily, and more on the weekends if possible.

Review the Exam Content

Next, you're going to want to review the exam content. Each certification will have different requirements, so make sure to look into what each exam will have. For the PMP certification from the PMI, the exam will consist of predictive project management approaches and agile or hybrid approaches. For other certification exams, look into their outlines and what content they will have.

Find the Right Study Materials

Once you know the content that will be on the exam, you can start looking for what study materials to use. Purchase books or enroll in a course that dives deeper into the certification content. For the PMP certificate, use the PMBOK Guide as your main study material. The PMBOK Guide will help you understand important concepts, processes, and definitions. It will explain best practices and guidelines as well. You can download a free version of the book in digital format from the PMI website.

Besides the PMBOK Guide book, you should also look into practice tests. A popular choice for practice tests is the PM PrepCast, which gives you 120 timed questions. The questions relate to specific project management areas and domains. Another great practice test is the PM Exam Simulator, which imitates the real exam. You can also create flashcards to help test your knowledge.

You can find plenty of free and paid resources. Some of the best study materials, besides what was listed above, include:

• Process Groups: A Process Guide by Project Management Institute
• Project Management: The Managerial Process by Erik Larson
• The Project Management Tool Kit by Tom Kendrick
• Agile Practice Guide by Project Management Institute
• PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy
• Choose between project management tools and software

You should also think about your learning style. Everyone is different in how they learn. If you're a visual learner, look into videos and courses with visual demonstrations. If you prefer interactive learning material, courses with actual interactive quizzes might be best for you. If you're someone who does better working under the guide of someone else, definitely pursue a course with an advisor.

Develop a Study Plan

After deciding on the best study materials to prepare you for your exam, it's time to develop a study plan. Set realistic goals and a realistic timeline, then create a schedule based on those goals and timeline. Your schedule should include other activities, too, like eating, sleeping, socializing, and other commitments.

Make sure to take plenty of breaks to avoid stress and fatigue. Don't study for more than a few hours at a time. Then, once a week, set aside some time to review your work. Prioritize your tasks, keeping the most important ones at the top of your list so you can tackle them first.

Join Study Groups or Workshops

Not everyone does well working alone. If you're finances don't call for enrolling in an actual course, you can look into local study groups and workshops. If you're not finding anything local, there's also the option of joining an online study group or workshop. By joining study groups and workshops, you can hold yourself accountable, stay motivated, and gain insights from others. It's a great way of making the learning process more engaging and effective.

Other benefits of joining study groups and workshops include:

• Less procrastination
• Faster learning
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Emotional and social support

Stay Calm and Focused

When it's finally time to take the exam, you'll likely be nervous and filled with excitement and anxiety. Anxiety can really trip you up. You may end up second-guessing yourself, especially when you sit down to take the actual exam. You might know the answer, but you start overthinking and doubting yourself. In the worst-case scenario, you might end up changing correct answers to incorrect answers.

Take a deep breath. Stay calm and focused. Remind yourself of how hard you've worked to get here and the things you've done to prepare. Stick with your gut when it comes to answers. If you're unsure, use the process of elimination, which involves removing unlikely answers and narrowing down your options. However, don't eliminate an answer without having an actual reason, as you may end up eliminating the correct answer.

Another tactic you can use during your exam time is to skip questions you're unsure of and come back to them at the end. If you start panicking and guessing at answers, you're more likely to do that with the following questions, too. When you skip over the questions you're unsure of, then you can focus on the ones you know for sure and make sure you get them right.

Finally, at the end of the exam, make sure you look over your answers and review them. Looking back over them may help you catch simple mistakes or reconsider answers you were initially unsure of. While reviewing, refrain from changing answers unless you're absolutely sure that in doing so it will make the answer correct.

Get Certified and Propel Your Project Management Career Forward

While pursuing a certification isn't always necessary, it can definitely help you in advancing your career or getting started as a project manager. Even if you're a seasoned project manager, getting a certificate can get you the raise you've been wanting, career advancement to a senior project manager, or even get you into a new industry. At the end of the day, getting a project management certification can help propel your career forward and make sure you stay competitive in your field.

Written by Amber Felton

Amber Felton is an accomplished content creator and copywriter. A creative soul at heart, she excels in crafting captivating pieces that resonate with readers. Amber's forte lies in thorough research, ensuring her content is both informative and engaging. Her ultimate goal is to leave a lasting impression on her audience by delivering compelling narratives that linger in their minds.