Oct 082011
 

Project Management Institute’s prestigious Project Management Professional (PMP) credential shows employers you have the education, skills and experience needed to lead all types of projects successfully. PMI’s PMP program is recognized worldwide and throughout the project management industry, with over 400,000 project managers currently holding the certification across the globe. Certified project managers typically receive 10 percent more in pay than non-certified project managers, as shown on the sixth edition of PMI’s Project Management Salary Survey, a collection of pay data from thousands of PMP certification recipients all over the world. The PMP credential demonstrates your talents and abilities as a project leader and increases your value to employers. PMP certification is a valuable asset for all experienced project managers looking to solidify their place in the field, increase their earning potential and maximize their pool of possible employers.

You must meet PMI’s guidelines to apply for PMP certification. PMI provides two sets of qualification criteria for interested persons to apply under, taking into consideration the unique values of education and field experience. A candidate must have a four-year degree from an institute of higher learning or the equivalent and a minimum of three years’ experience directing or managing projects, with 35 hours of education in the project management field and 4,500 hours spent actually managing projects. An experienced project manager who does not have a bachelor’s degree can still apply for the PMP credential if she has a high school diploma or the equivalent, meets the 35-hour education requirement and demonstrates five years of project management or direction experience, with at least 7,500 hours spent leading projects.Even if you don’t currently meet the requirements for the PMP credential, you might be eligible to apply for PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management certification. The CAPM certification is for project managers who have at least a secondary diploma or its equivalent and either 1,500 hours of project experience or at least 23 hours of education in project management. CAPM helps you stand out among your peers and paves the way toward larger project management opportunities and higher pay in the future.

For more information on PMP certification visit Parallel Project Training PMP certification page

Aug 262010
 

Organisations and individuals have a wide range of choices for project management training and development. Three of the most widely recognised are Prince2 from the Office of government commerce, the PMP from the USA based Project Management Institute and the APMP from the UK based Association for Project Management. This decision guide will help you make the best choice for you and your organisation.

PRINCE2™

PRINCE2™ is a project management method sponsored by the UK government via the Office of Government Commerce. It focuses on describing the processes, products and responsibilities required to manage a project in a controlled environment. Its roots are in government contracts and if provides a consistent approach to the implementation of major projects. Some have criticised it for not being fully scalable for smaller projects.

With its background in the UK, PRINCE2™ is increasingly recognised across the world with over 400,000 project managers holding the qualification. The qualification has no prerequisites.

PMI PMP

This is the most widely recognised project management qualification in the world with over half a million holders of the qualification around the globe. It is based on the comprehensive PMI body of knowledge. This combines both processes and a tools and techniques. While comprehensive the PM BoK is a little over complex for smaller projects.

The PMI PMP has detailed pre-requisites including

  • 35 hours of directed study
  • Project management experience of :
    • With University – 4500 hours over at least 36 months
    • With High School – 7500 hours over at least 60 months

The fastest growth area for the PMP is in Asia.

APM

The UK APM has introductory (IC), foundation (APMP) and practitioner qualifications (PQ) qualification. These are based on the APM BoK. Unlike the PMI the APM body of knowledge provides a summary of the project management topic areas. The qualification is strongest in the UK with little recognition outside the UK. The APM has applied the for a Royal Charter so that it can award Chartered status to its members. It is strongest in the rail, construction and IT sectors in the UK.

How to decide

Questions to ask are:

  1. Are you interested in a global career in project management? PMP
  2. Do you work for an organisation (or client) working to a PRINC2 method? PRINCE

Are you based in a non UK PRINCE2 organisation? APM

For more information visit Parallel Project Managment Training