Charting the course: project management certifications

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What is the best project management certification?

Transcript

Welcome aboard the Knowledge Train. In this podcast, we explore insights and tips to help you manage your way to success in your career and business. I’m Simon Buehring, your conductor on this journey to knowledge and I’m thrilled to have you with us today.

We’ve got a timely topic on our agenda: navigating the bustling landscape of project management certifications. It’s a question many of you may be grappling with—what is the best project management certification for you? We’ll be guiding you through this maze of possibilities, shedding light on the various certifications that could brighten your professional path.

In the realm of project management, an array of certifications await, such as PRINCE2, the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP), and AgilePM, each vying for your attention. While holding any project management certification is undoubtedly beneficial, they are not one-size-fits-all. Some are more specialised, targeting particular industries or methodologies—a PRINCE2 Agile certification, for example, is perfect for those with a PRINCE2 foundation looking to blend it with Agile practices. Every certification has its distinct purpose and prerequisites, which means the pivotal question for you is: What project management certification is truly the best match for your professional narrative?

When considering what certification to pursue, think of them as falling into three tiers: beginner, intermediate, and expert certifications. For those brand new to the field or without any prior project management accreditation, a beginner certification would be the ideal starting point. Intermediate certifications offer a more complex challenge and are generally intended for those with some project management experience under their belt. The expert certifications, though few in number, are less about learning and more about signalling a high level of mastery in the intricacies of project management theory.

Starting with the beginner certifications, these are accessible to anyone regardless of experience and are tailored for those embarking on the project management journey or looking to formalise their existing experience with certification.

The Association for Project Management presents the Project Fundamentals Qualification or APM PFQ, which serves as a gateway to the field, grounding newcomers in essential project management concepts. It’s gained traction in the UK for its affiliation with the APM, a Chartered Institute synonymous with project management excellence. Typically, candidates follow a structured learning path, culminating in a two-day intensive course or a 25-hour online program.

Meanwhile, the PRINCE2 Foundation is the UK’s go-to industry standard, designed to navigate you through the core principles of the PRINCE2 methodology. Its popularity stems from its relevance to those new to project management, with the learning path involving either a two-day course or a 20-hour online study program.

The PRINCE2 Agile Foundation is tailored for professionals in Agile settings, merging PRINCE2 methodology with Agile concepts. To gain this certification, expect to set aside two days for the course or allocate 12 hours for online study.

Venturing further, the AgilePM Foundation from the Agile Business Consortium is notable for being the world’s most recognised Agile project management certification, not just within the UK. Based on DSDM, one of the pioneer Agile methodologies, this certification focuses on the fundamental Agile project framework. The route to certification comprises either a three-day course or 20 hours of online learning.

On a global scale, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) from the Project Management Institute makes its mark, particularly across the USA, Canada, Africa, and Asia. It calls for a secondary degree and at least 23 hours of project management education. A 35-hour online course is a typical pathway to attaining this credential.

Moving up to intermediate project management certifications, these are characterised by more stringent entry requirements and aim to deepen your project management understanding, challenging you to apply principles and techniques to real-world scenarios.

The APM offers the Project Management Qualification or APM PMQ, which requires a deeper dive into project management than its PFQ counterpart. This certification is approachable even without prior APM credentials and involves either a five-day course or 35 hours of online study.

The PRINCE2 Practitioner is a step up from the Foundation level, contingent upon first earning the Foundation certificate. It tests your capability to adapt PRINCE2 principles to simulated project scenarios. Following the PRINCE2 Foundation, the Practitioner level is highly esteemed in the UK, with a typical learning path of two days onsite or 15 hours online. It’s important to note that the prerequisites for this certification were updated with the release of the PRINCE2 7th edition.

For those seeking to marry PRINCE2 with Agile, the PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner certification is next in line, requiring prior PRINCE2 Foundation or PRINCE2 Agile Foundation certification. To become certified, one would typically engage in a two-day course or dedicate 21 hours to online study.

AgilePM Practitioner certification demands an AgilePM Foundation certificate as a prerequisite, catering to those looking to implement Agile frameworks in project management. The typical course runs for one full day or 15 hours online.

Shifting our gaze to the IT industry, we find CompTIA Project+, which is aimed at IT project management and zeroes in on industry-specific tools. Although there are no formal prerequisites, some IT project experience is recommended before taking on this certification.

The PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) is arguably the most rigorous certification on our list, with extensive requirements including several years of project management experience and a 4-year degree, or alternatively, five years of experience without a degree. The PMP certification encompasses the entire project management process and requires ongoing learning through Professional Development Units.

As for expert project management certifications, they are the pinnacle of professional achievement. These credentials are substantial but are most meaningful for those who have already achieved a significant level of expertise in the field.

The APM’s Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) standard is one such certification. Spanning three days, including coaching sessions and a board interview, it requires candidates to demonstrate how they’ve successfully navigated complex project management challenges.

To wrap up, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the project management certification landscape—there are plenty more out there, each with its unique flavor and potential benefits. Regardless of where you stand in your project management career, chances are there’s a suitable certification waiting for you. And if you’re ready to embark on your learning journey, Knowledge Train is here with a suite of project management courses designed to set you on the path to certification.

Thank you for joining us on the Knowledge Train as we explored the best project management certifications to boost your career. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insight-packed episodes, and swing by the Knowledge Train website for resources galore. Until the next episode, keep learning, keep managing, and I’ll see you further down the track. Goodbye!