Nowadays, every industry offers an endless number of certifications to help professionals obtain new skills and prove their level of expertise and proficiency. The value for each certification or license varies amongst different fields, according to the level of complexity, the skills it teaches, as well as the current demand of that credential in the market.
Similarly, Project Management Professional (PMP)® is a highly regarded professional certification for project managers across the globe. The industry considers it as the most sought after and rewarding certifications in the area of project management.
Eager candidates pursue the PMP® certification to strengthen their profile as a project manager and earn recognition in the international market. To qualify for the certification, these candidates much pass the PMP exam. Learning key principles of project management during the PMP exams helps them enjoy several benefits.
In this article, we will explore 6 ways PMP certification benefits your project management career.
How PMP Helps Project Managers Grow Their Career
PMP is a premium certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, an international institute recognized worldwide. The reason why PMP stands out from other exams and certifications its acceptance in various industries across the globe and the fact that it delivers value far greater value to a project manager’s career.
CIO magazine recognized the PMP as the best project management certification as it validates core project management skills and experience, something that all employers seek. Certified PMPs can earn as much as 25% more compared to uncertified PMPs.
As the demand for project managers continues to grow, we can expect PMP will continue to benefit project managers in the future.
5 PMP Certification Benefits for Project Managers
Provides Access to New Opportunities
Some project managers are not able to achieve the growth they want because their existing field has limited opportunities. However, earning PMP can change that. The certification is recognized by a wide range of industries worldwide.
According to a McKinsey and Co. report, 60% of senior executives consider strong project management skills as an essential part of their future strategy. Therefore, if you are a certified PMP, then you have the chance to switch to a new industry and acquire a more lucrative position.
By 2027, businesses will may 87.7 million project management roles vacant worldwide. In the US alone, there will be 8.8 million positions available in the following ten years. Considering project management-oriented professionals are expected to earn 82% higher than non-project management professionals, investing in project management now will be a promising career choice.
Even if you haven’t worked in a position where “project manager” was part of your title, PMP can still apply to you as long as you helped bring projects to completion. Just like a CPA is responsible for validating expertise for accountants, the PMP validates your project management skills, abilities, and experiences, qualifying you for endless opportunities.
Sharpens Your Communication Skills
Effective communication is a big part of strong leadership. To be a successful project manager, you also need to be an excellent communicator. According to research, ineffective communication is the primary reason for project failure. Therefore, your ability to communicate with clients and understand their needs plays a crucial role in project success.
More than 90% of a project manager’s daily activities is communications: phone, meeting, email, reports. While studying for the PMP exam, candidates will learn how to manage and lead a team, how to resolve conflict, and how to manage stakeholders. Being PMP certified signifies de facto that you are an excellent communicator with strong leadership skills.
Trains You to Tackle Complex Projects
Certified project managers are assigned more complex projects. It can be multi-year projects, multi-millions projects, international projects with teams spread across the world, and speaking different languages.
At the same time, those projects may also require a more complex risk assessment and cost structure. PMP holders are equipped with all the tools to tackle those projects confidently. That is the beauty of it, and that is why in order to work on most US government projects, you are required to be PMP certified.
Offers Opportunities for Networking
Once you pass the PMP exam, you will become part of an ever-expanding professional network that is dedicated to bringing innovation into project management. The number of active holders of PMP is close to 1,000,000, and you can expect it to grow even further in the future.
The PMI Institute organizes several meetings of these professionals regularly. These events and meetings allow you to meet with experts across different fields and build contacts. By engaging with accomplished project managers in these meetings, you can strengthen your network within your industry and expand to other industries as well.
Helps Master Project Management Concepts
The main goal of the PMP exam is to help project managers master the foundational concepts of project management. The exam evaluates a candidate's knowledge in five different performance domains. These performance domains are:
1. Initiating the project (13%)
2. Planning the project (24%)
3. Executing the project (31%)
4. Monitoring and controlling the project (25%)
5. Closing the project (7%)
However, from July 2020, the performance domains will be as follows:
1. People (42%)
2. Process (50%)
3. Business Environment (8%)
Preparing for the PMP exam will compel you to study from different sources and learn the latest techniques for managing projects effectively. It will also allow you to study project management methodologies, processes, techniques, and tools, as well as leverage the current trends and best practices.
Unless you learn to merge the foundational concepts of project management with your practical experience, you will not be able to pass the exam with flying colors. Hence, the PMP exam ensures that you stay in touch with the core concepts of project management.
Are You Up for The Challenge?
Throughout this article, we discussed the benefits of PMP exam and training. However, to qualify for the exam, PMI requires months of disciplined studying for the PMP exam, as well as formal project management training.
While attending project management training yourself is difficult because of social distancing and quarantine restrictions, you can still opt for an online project management course.
An online project management course can prepare you for the PMP exam. As a result, you can test and refresh the knowledge you have gained from months of disciplined studying for the PMP exam.
Putting in the time and effort to pass the PMP exam is worth the trouble. If you are eager to take your project management career to the next level, feel free to pursue our robust online project management course.