Choosing Project Management Specialization

Are you an IT professional who would wish to add value to your resume? No matter what IT specialization you are in, a project management certification is of use to your profession. project management certification will help and candidate to be lynchpin successful in their projects. You will be able to organize your project to run smoothly within the stipulated time and budget.

Project management acts as aback up course to your area of IT specialization. To increase your value, candidates need to enroll for the certification course that are recognized globally. These certifications include:

Project Management Professional

This is a gold standard type of certification that is accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI). This certification usually covers mostly three: scope, time and cost. Apart from the three areas, certified project management professionals also gain expertise and skills risk management, strategic planning and communication.

The following requirements are essential to candidates who are interested in PMP certification:

Candidates should have four-year secondary degree

Candidates should have 4500 hours directing and leading projects

Candidate should have 3 years work experience

Candidates should have 35 hours project management education

Candidate should have attained a high-school diploma

Candidate should have 7500 hours directing and leading projects

Candidates should have 5 years work experience

To be certified, candidates will sit for either paper based or computer-based exams. The cost of paper-based exam is approximately $400 for non-members and $250 for members. For computer-based exams, candidates will pay approximately $555 for non-members and $405 for members.

Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

Certified Scrum Master is a certification that deals with agile and is accredited by the Scrum Alliance. This certification is the stepping stone for candidates who are getting started with as Scrum Professionals. It is recommended to IT professionals because they deal with projects in the agile environment. Therefore, the professionals need agile methodologies to help the run the projects. Candidates have expertise to help promote user groups by understanding their roles, rules, events and artifacts. They also have a chance to acquire knowledge on how to provide resources for any type of professional development.

Candidates who wants to be certified should have the following requirements:

Complete a two-day Certified ScrumMaster training course

Knowledge of Scrum

The cost of training varies depending on the country of residence and also by the training provider.

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

This is a certification that acts as a prerequisite to PMP administered by Project Management Institute (PMI). This certification is offered to candidates without college degrees, or those who candidates who wishes to take their certifications in bits or candidates with rudimentary experience. This certification is meant for candidates who wishes to gain more responsibilities and manage large projects.

Candidates who wish to enroll for CAPM should have the following requirements:

Attain high- school diploma, associate degree

1500 hours of project management experience

23 hours of project management education

Candidates should prepare for an online exam which will cost $225 for members and $300 for non-members. The exam contains 150 multiple choice questions which takes 3 hours to be completed. Once certified the certification is valid for 5 years upon which the candidate will retake exams for the certification to be valid.

CompTIA Project+ Certification

This is an entry level -certification accredited by CompTIA’s Project+. Certified candidates are able to manage small-to-medium-size projects. This certification is not only meant for IT professions. Candidates will acquire expertise in proper communication, project life cycle, resource and stakeholders’ management, and project documentation maintenance.

Candidates who are interested on CompTIA Project+ certification needs a requirement of having one-year work experience as a manager to a small-medium-sized project.

To be certified you have to score at least 710 on a scale of 1-900. The exam contains 95 multiple choice questions and drug and drop question. This certification exam takes 95 minutes and it cost approximately $300.

Associate in project management

This certification is an entry level course to project managers and is accredited by Associate in Project Management (APM) offered to IT specialist. Candidates who are certified in Associate in Project Management have expertise and skills in adaptability to change, effective resource allocation, effective communication, clear direction and minimal risks at delivering quality assurance.

Candidates preparing to take Associate in Project Management certification should have knowledge of the certification.

This certification exam is taken online using a webcam. It contains 50 multiple choice questions and the candidate need 1 hour for them to complete the exam. Candidates need to score a 70% to be certified. Once certified, the certification has no expiration hence it is valid for a life time.

Professional in Project Management (PPM)

This is a globally recognized certification that is accredited by Global Association for Quality Management. Certified PPM candidates can plan, execute and knows how to control and complete projects. The candidates will gain expertise and skills on developing projects measures, scheduling projects, designing approaches to project control. Certified candidates are also at a position of knowing how to motivate, lead and develop their project teams. Once certified, candidates will earn 6 credits and 80 learning hours towards MBA in project management

Candidates who wish to take this certification needs no formal education although, they need to have a background knowledge on project management by gaining experience.

Candidates enrolled for this exam should expect 150 multiple questions. This exam is done online using a webcam and it takes 2 hours. Candidates need a 75$ score to pass PPM exam. This certification is valid for 5 years upon which the candidate should renew their certification.

What are you waiting for?

Many colleges are offering project management certification. This can either be in the professional education program, business management or IT vendors for specific project management. Every employer need that extra income on their paycheck which you can have ones you have project management certification. Be the best amongst those in your profession by starting your project management certification today.