PMP  Certification Requirements

Gaining PMP certification is a tough journey, but the rewards at the end usually make it all worth while.  Increased job prospects and enhanced financial benefits are just two of these rewards that can make life much more enjoyable.  But what are the PMP certification requirements for the 3 most well known types of certification available? What is the basic prerequisite for PMP certification that you want?  Which one is the best fit for where you are now?  Well let’s have a look at the choices ahead of you.

The choice of certification you can get will depend upon your current level of skills, as well as being able to fulfill the PMP certification requirements for entry into that training program.  Fortunately the Project Management Institute has developed their certification through various levels to suit the different criteria sets.

The Certified Associate in Project Management

This is your basement entry level certification and thus it has the lowest requirements for PMP certification.  If you don’t really have any experience in project management, or in fact know very little at all about it then this is for you.  It is an excellent primer.  This certification will give you all the grounding you need in the fundamentals and principles of project management

To get accepted for this the PMP certification requirements you are going to need either 23 hours of project management education by the time the PMP certification exams come around or 1500 on the job experience.  Either that or a secondary diploma from a high school

The Project Management Professional Certification Requirements

A step up from the CAPM, this globally recognized professional qualification is for those who have actually managed and directed projects successfully, building up their experience.  This is the real first marker that gives you salary and job power, potential increasing your salary up to 10% by latest figures. It is good for those managers looking to build up their existing skills and competency.

As you would expect the PMI PMP certification requirements increase here in line with the power of the actual certification.  As a minimum you are looking at having done a bachelors four year degree, plus an additional 3 years of project management experience.  You will have to show that during those 3 years you were involved in 4500 hours in leading projects and directing them to completion.  Oh and you need 35 hours of education for project management as well.

The PMP Certification Requirements For The Program Management Professional Certificate

Of the three main most common certification levels, this is the highest.  After fulfilling the PMP certification requirements there will be a recognition that you can control, direct and coordinate related multiple projects at once.  You will be proven to be able to effectively manage the individual, combined and shared resources across the projects as well.  It affirms that you are able to see and action the benefits that can be realized from integrated multiple projects as opposed to running each separately

This PMP training course and examination is aimed at an established PM of many years experience, demonstrating enhanced organizational competence and value and able to be a manager and not an employee.

This really aimed at the well established and experience PM.  The PMP certification requirements and criteria are much more demanding to exclude those who are not ready for this yet.  Four years of project management together with at least four years of complex program management experience is essential.  Then you need to add in a four year bachelor’s degree again.

If you only have a secondary high school diploma, then you would have to show that you had at least seven years of program management experience instead of four.

So you can see that the PMP certification and certification requirements are well structured to make sure there is a tiered way to progress through PMP training, exam, courses and competence.  You have to cut your teeth before you just come in and take an examination.  It sustains the integrity and respect for the accreditation globally and that is no mean feat at all.

So when you are looking at what is the PMP certification requirements you need to be careful.  Even if you are a project manager of many years, you may have to go obtain your diploma before you can go further.  This means that there is always a nice blend of raw intellectual ability and hard nosed real world experience.  This is why PMP certification is so well respected and long lived.