Top 13 project management

certifications for 2020

No matter what your IT role, a project management certification
can add value to your role. Here are the top project management
certifications, their requirements and cost.
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By Sharon Florentine
Senior Writer, CIO | 20 DECEMBER 2019 14:00 AST
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Behind every successful IT project, you'll find a highly skilled project manager.
From hardware and software upgrades to ongoing security patches, to
application development and the rollout of software itself, project managers
keep your teams on task and productive.

Almost any IT pro can benefit from adding a project management certification
to their list of IT credentials, showing you have the know-how to plan,
schedule, budget, execute, deliver and then report on IT initiatives. Here,
CIO.com outlines the most popular project management certifications that will
add value and help you hone your skills this year.
 [ Get ahead with the top certs for big data, agile, data science, IT
management and the cloud, as well as the top-paying certs and emerging
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Top project management certifications

 Associate in Project Management

 BVOP Certified Project Manager

 Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

 Certified Project Director

 Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

 Certified Project Manager (CPM)

 Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

 CompTIA Project+

 Master Project Manager (MPM)

 PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner

 Professional in Project Management (PPM)

 Project Management in IT Security (PMITS)

 Project Management Professional (PMP)

Associate in Project Management

The Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM), which administers
the Associate in Project Management (APM) — as well as a Professional in
Project Management and a Certified Project Director certification — is a
global, not-for-profit certification body that offers credentials across a variety
of IT specialties. The GAQM's project management certifications are focused
on a broad knowledge base and emphasize effective resource allocation,
clear direction, adaptability to change, effective communication and
assurance of quality deliverables at minimal risk. The APM program is
designed for the entry-level project manager, or for those who want to start a
career in the field.

Organization: Global Association for Quality Management

Price: $300

Requirements: GAQM body of knowledge study and e-course; no formal

education or experience requirements
BVOP Certified Project Manager
Business value-oriented principles (BVOP) is a newer, agile-based framework
growing in popularity in the U.K. BVOP emphasizes business value in all
project management activities and practices. The BVOP Certified Project
Manager is for senior practitioners with experience in both project
management and people management. The focus on a people-oriented
culture sets it apart from other project management certification programs.

The BVOP approach helps to develop professionals’ collaboration skills, and

candidates for certification gain not only project and product management
skills, but also learn to become more people-focused leaders. The exam
includes questions from the project management, program management, and
product management sections of the course materials.

Organization: BVOP.org

Price: $130

Requirements: No previous professional project management experience

required; free study guides and preparation materials available online

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Certified
Associate in Project Management is the precursor to the Project Management
Professional (PMP) certification (see below). For professionals without a
college degree, or with only rudimentary project management experience or
those who want to achieve their PMP certification in steps rather than all at
once, the CAPM is a stepping-stone to the more rigorous PMP.

For more information, see "CAPM certification guide: Certified Associate in

Project Management exam explained."

Organization: Project Management Institute

Price: $225 for PMI members; $300 nonmembers

Requirements: High-school diploma, associates degree or equivalent and at

least 1,500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of project
management education

Certified Project Director

The GAQM's Certified Project Director certification is the credentialing body's
highest-level project management certification. This designation is designed
for experienced project managers who are involved in directing multiple,
complex projects and programs. The program focuses on managing,
budgeting and determining scope for multiple projects, multiple project teams,
and assessing and mitigating interdependent risks to deliver projects
successfully. The CDP program is only for those who have significant project
management experience.

Organization: Global Association for Quality Management

Price: $300

Requirements: GAQM body of knowledge study and e-course; candidates

must be familiar with principles and methodologies of project management
and pass the Professional in Project Management (PPM) or equivalent exam
(see below).

Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

The EC-Council was formed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to
address issues of cyberterrorism and the information security of nations at
large. The EC-Council's Certified Project Management Practitioner course is
for project managers who want to benchmark their skills through hands-on
experience and across various management techniques and tools necessary
to successfully manage complex projects efficiently. The objective of the
CPMP course is to add value to management professionals by developing
managerial, leadership and technical skills required to make any project, small
or complex, a success.

Organization: EC-Council

Price: $199 for exam voucher

Requirements: No prerequisites, but it is recommended that candidates

attend a three-day preparation course.

Certified Project Manager (CPM)

The International Association of Project Managers (IAPM) is a global
professional association and certification body focused on the project
management profession. There are four levels of certification within the IAPM,
split into two disciplines, traditional project management and agile project
management: Certified Junior Project Manager and Certified Junior Agile
Project Manager; Certified Project Manager and Certified Agile Project
Manager; Certified Senior Project Manager and Certified Senior Agile Project
Manager; and Certified International Project Manager. IAPM’s Certified
Project Manager certification is for candidates with a foundational knowledge
of project management, including the basics of planning, organization and
implementation of various projects. The exam covers both the hard and soft
aspects of project management.

Organization: IAPM

Price: Fee depends on candidate’s nationality, as pricing is based on country-

of-origin’s GDP; in the U.S., the exam cost is $650, with a 20 percent discount
for students, job seekers and active aid organization personnel, according to
the IAMP.

Requirements: None, but IAPM offers workshops through global training

partners, or recommended literature for self-study. Candidates can also take a
self-test to benchmark their knowledge.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

The use of agile methodologies has become standard, so it's not surprising
that IT practitioners uniquely qualified to manage projects in agile
environments are in high demand. While there are different Scrum master
certifications available, the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from Scrum Alliance
is a great jumping-off point for project managers getting started as Scrum
practitioners. The Scrum Alliance, which offers this credential, is a nonprofit
organization that encourages the adoption of Scrum and agile practices,
promotes user groups and learning events, and provides resources for
professional development. The organization boasts more than 450,000
certified practitioners worldwide.

Organization: The Scrum Alliance

Price: Varies by training provider, but approximately $995 to $1,395

Requirements: General familiarity with Scrum; completion of two-day CSM

training course

CompTIA Project+
This entry-level certification is roughly on par with PMI's CAPM credential
(above), though the requirements are less stringent. CompTIA's
Project+ solicits feedback from the computing industry, government
representatives, research institutions, academia and independent experts to
design the certification.

Organization: CompTIA

Price: $285
Requirements: One year of experience managing, directing or participating in
small- to medium-size projects is recommended.

Master Project Manager (MPM)

The American Academy of Project Management (AAPM) has modeled
the Master Project Manager (MPM) after the "professional licensure" model
that many professions such as pilots, engineers, doctors and lawyers follow.
The AAPM focuses on professional project managers, but also includes
professionals with business and technical management responsibilities.

Organization: American Academy of Project Management

Price: $300 for application, review, processing, review, initiation and

certification

Requirements: Three years of project management experience and training;

waivers available for professionals holding a master's degree, with other
qualified training and experience, the military or project management
instructors

PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner

Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) is most well-known outside
the U.S., especially in the U.K. and its government entities. The PRINCE2
certifications are delivered by the ILX Group and focus on directing, managing
and delivering projects across all phases, pre-project, initiation, delivery and
final delivery.

There are two primary qualifications, PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2

Practitioner. The Foundation certification is an entry-level credential that tests
basic project management terminology and methodology, whereas the
Practitioner certification tests advanced project managers who have already
achieved PRINCE2 Foundation.

Organization: ILX Group

Price: Foundation: $200; Practitioner: $340

Requirements: PRINCE2 Foundation: PRINCE2 Foundation course;

PRINCE2 Practitioner: one of the following: PRINCE2 Foundation, Project
Management Professional (PMP), CAPM, or an IPMA certification

Professional in Project Management (PPM)

The Professional in Project Management (PPM) is a mid-tier project
management credential from the GAQM. The GAQM's project management
certifications are focused on a broad knowledge base and emphasize
effective resource allocation, clear direction, adaptability to change, effective
communication and assurance of quality deliverables at minimal risk. The
PPM is targeted towards intermediate to experienced project managers who
are involved in risk and crisis management, and who are involved in the day-
to-day management of projects.

Organization: Global Association for Quality Management

Price: $300

Requirements: GAQM body of knowledge study and e-course; no formal

education or experience requirements, but candidates should have at least
some project management experience to pass the exam.

Project Management in IT Security (PMITS)

The EC-Council’s Project Management in IT Security (PMITS) explores the
complexities of managing an IT security project. The certification helps
candidates reinforce their existing project management skills while tailoring
them to the unique requirements of implementing and managing IT security
within their organizations.

Organization: EC-Council

Price: $250 (PMITS courseware)

Requirements: At least two years of experience in information security and

an educational background that shows a focus on security (bachelor's degree
or higher preferred); candidates may also opt to attend an EC-Council training
program before attempting an exam.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

The gold standard in project management certifications, the Project
Management Professional certification is a rigorous test that covers absolutely
everything you need to prove your knowledge and skill in managing the "triple
constraints": time, cost and scope. The PMI is this credential's parent
organization, and works continuously with businesses and academia to
ensure relevance for the certification.

For more about the PMP, and tips on how to pass it, see “PMP certification:
How to ace the Project Management Professional exam.”

Organization: Project Management Institute

Price: Computer-based exams: $405 for PMI members, $555 for non-
members; paper-based exams: $250 for PMI members, $400 for non-
members

Requirements: Four-year secondary degree plus three years of project

management experience, 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35
hours project management education; or a high-school diploma, five years of
project management experience, 7,500 hours leading and directing projects,
and 35 hours of project management education

Additional project management certificates

Many colleges and universities offer project management certificates through
their existing business, management or professional education programs.
Schools such as Villanova, University of New Haven, Stanford University and
others (check your local college or university's course offerings) have
excellent project management programs and certificates. There also are IT
vendor-specific project management certifications available, such as the
Microsoft Project Certification. Requirements and price vary based on
institution.