Everything You Need to Know About Online Project Management Certification

A project management certification is a kind of recognition, a formal one awarded to some individuals who have demonstrated a high level of competence and proficiency in the field of project management, especially. The certification signifies that the individuals have a comprehensive understanding of project management starting with methodologies, tools, and best practices.

In this digital era, with the increasing complexity of projects across various industries, the certification grows to become a valuable asset to enhance their skills, and also advance their careers. It validates an individual’s ability to plan, execute, monitor, and complete projects, ensuring a consistent and recognised level of expertise in the competitive job market. Not only does the certification enhance one’s credibility in terms of project management, it also contributes to the success and effectiveness of the team's projects and the organisations.

When we want to appoint a project manager to be the head of the project, we need to make sure that the person we want has the capabilities and competencies. One way to look at it is through the project management certification that they have.

Even though having a project management certification is not a must, for a project manager to be able to prove that they indeed have the ability to tackle any problem, it’s best to provide themselves with one. Not having the certification is like passing up a big opportunity to spread the wings of your career in various industrial spheres.

The certification certainly helps you to show the competence and capabilities you have as a project manager. It shows that the project manager has whatever it takes to be one of the best in this field, is packed with the experience and knowledge of a qualified project manager, and has a bigger chance to succeed in the project they are handling.

What is project management certification?

According to PMI, the certification validates that project managers are highly skilled in motivating people and teams through all phases of a successful project. Not only that, they also have the ability to use predictive, agile, and hybrid approaches to determine which way of working is best for each project. The project manager can also highlight the success of a project and its impact on overall strategic organisational goals.

Not only skilled, the certification made a huge impact, such as a significant increase in salary among project managers, which was also shown when the project manager had been certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). The records of survey respondents' results said that the average salary increase for project managers holding PMP certification was around 22%, compared to project managers who did not have the certificate.

Another interesting fact is that Indonesia came in second as the country with the highest percentage increase in salary for project managers who are PMP certified. Not to mention that the increase is 80%! The first position is held by the Philippines, with a salary increase of up to 84% for PMP certified project managers. In 3rd position, there are South Africa and Colombia, with salary increases of up to 42%.

Popular Online Project Management Programs

1. PMP (Project Management Professional)

The PMP Certification is one of the oldest and most well-known project management certifications. It was first launched in 1984, and by 2015, it was in the top 10 in the 2015 edition of the Certification Magazine Salary Survey (PMI.org). The respondents in this survey reported an average salary of around £50,000 (approximately Rp 973 million).

While being appointed as one of the most well-known project manager certifications certainly comes with good reasons, the process to obtain it is not an easy road. Project managers who wish to take certification are required to have at least 3 years of practical experience in project management, including a minimum of 4,500 flight hours leading a project.

Additionally, prospective participants who want to take this certification are also required to take a minimum of 35 hours of project management education classes before being able to take the PMP certification exam. If you haven’t had at least 4 years, there will be more stringent requirements pending previous experience.

For the exam, the participants will have to answer 200 multiple-choice questions in about 4 hours. The weights of all the questions are the same, and the good thing is that there are no negative scores for wrong answers. To pass the exam, the participants must obtain an answer score of at least 75%. However, PMI itself does not officially announce what the minimum score is to pass this certification. The ones who passed the exam will receive a pass notification. Later, monitor PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Behavior. This certification will be valid for three years.

2. Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)

Certified Scrum Professional (CSP) is a special certification for scrum masters, a leading certification that demonstrates the recipient has extensive knowledge and experience of Scrum, both practical and theoretical. Slightly different from any certifications we mentioned before, the participants are not required to take an exam.

Instead of an exam, they must successfully complete 3 preceding entry-level credentials, which are Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), and Certified Scrum Developer (CSD). To make it simple, in total, participants who want to get CSP certification must complete at least 70 Scrum education classes and 36 months of managing Scrum, all of which were submitted in the last 5 years.

3. Projects In Controlled Environments (PRINCE2)

The next project management certification is the PRINCE2 certification (Projects In Controlled Environments), also has wide popularity around the world. Handled by AXELOS, the certification comes with several levels, which are PRINCE2 Foundation, PRINCE2 Practitioner, and PRINCE2 Professional. The methodology used in certification is quite unique and different from that of the PMP which emphasises basic and general knowledge of project management. Following this certification will be very beneficial for you to get PMP certification.

When you decide to choose this certification, you should be prepared to observe 70 multiple-choice questions, alongside 5 trial questions. The time given is about 60 minutes. To be able to pass the PRINCE2 exam, the participants must get at least 35 correct answers from the 70 questions, or 35/70.

4. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is the next popular project manager certification that we need to mention. The CAPM certificate has a lower level of difficulty than PMP, and is designed for entry-level project managers. In short, it is safe to say that the CAPM certificate is ideal for project managers who still have minimal experience in the field but still want to reach more value through credentials.

CAPM certification does not officially announce the minimum score participants must get to pass. They encouraged the participants to be able to get a correct answer score of at least 70% for all the existing questions. The participants will meet 150 questions with multiple choice types to answer, and they have 3 hours to complete them.

Benefits of Pursuing an Online Project Management Certification

In today’s competitive job market, pursuing an online project management certification is necessary if one wants to reap numerous benefits. Obtaining a certification will allow a project manager to validate their skills and knowledge and show their commitment to boosting ongoing professional development. Recognition through certification could enhance your credibility as a project manager, even opening doors to new career opportunities and higher salaries.

Another benefit pursuing certification is flexibility in learning. It provides the participants with the flexibility needed to balance their professional and personal commitment while learning essential skills for project management. Flexibility can also accommodate a variety of diverse learning styles, ensuring a more personalised educational experience.

Additionally, online project management certification programs usually incorporate interactive and multimedia elements, starting with virtual simulations or case studies and discussion forums, allowing the participants to apply their knowledge and experience to real-world scenarios.

Obtaining Online Project Management Certification

To obtain an online project management certification, participants are usually asked to meet given criteria and follow a structured certification process. The criteria often include a certain level of structured certification process. Some certifications may also require participants to complete a number of project management education hours.

Typically, the certification begins with the candidate submitting an application, including the basic data needed for the requirement. After they pass, the candidates need to complete a certification exam, and each exam usually has a different format and scores needed to pass.

The candidates may be required to participate in professional development activities, such as workshops or training programs, to enhance their knowledge and skills in project management. After successfully completing all certification requirements, candidates are awarded the project management certification, and usually it has a validity period.

Conclusion

A project management certification is a certification that signifies that the individual has a comprehensive understanding of project management. To obtain online project management certification, a project manager needs to complete all requirements to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the dynamic field of project management.