Top 6 Reasons How PMP Certification Will Advance Your Career

Working in project management requires careful attention to detail, inexplicable hands-on training, and credibility. However, planners and schedulers in project management roles often find themselves unable to provide proof of their accomplishments beyond previous roles as project managers.

To meet the growing demand for a streamlined, predictable means of ensuring a project manager’s credibility, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification was created. Ultimately, PMP certification is an examination of your past and current abilities as project manager, which gives reliability and credibility to your work around the globe. However, many fail to grasp the positive impact of PMP certification on a project management career.

If you have considered obtaining Project Management Professional certification, consider how PMP certification will enhance your career in the following 6 ways.


1. Globally Recognized Accreditation

Different cultures and demographics have different expectations of your role as a project manager. However, Project Management Professional certification is a recognized around the world. As a result, companies or corporations will be more apt to select you for their project management needs.

2. Increase in Salary

Depending upon your education and experience in the field, you may be eligible to take the PMP certification exam. If you have a high school diploma or an associate’s degree (or global equivalent), 60 months leading projects, and 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification, you may take the exam. Alternatively, you may sit for the exam if you have a four-year degree, 36 months leading projects, or 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification. Since you must meet these requirements to take the examination, your future salaries for specific projects will increase once you have the certification. This occurs as companies expect project managers to always be willing to learn more, which produces greater project success stories and a high return on investment.

3. Advanced Skills in Project Management

Although this is a topic of debate, project managers with Project Management Professional certification are generally believed to have higher quality skills for ensuring a successful project. Furthermore, project managers with this certification understand the care that goes into preparing and maintaining this certification. When you have a PMP certification, you must earn at least 60 professional development units, or PDUs, every three years. These units are a testament to your ongoing education in your field.

4. PMP Certified Project Managers Gain an Edge Over Non PMP Certified Project Managers

Consider a common scenario: two project managers of near identical backgrounds apply for a position on an upcoming or ongoing project. Since PMP certification speaks volumes about your recent work and education, the project manager with a PMP certification will beat out the non PMP certified project managers in most cases. While there are exceptions to this practice, PMP certification is the preferred standard for project managers.

5. PMP Certification Is a Must for Project Management Careers

If you plan on working in project management for the rest of your life or for an extended time period, you should invest in PMP certification. This will show your dedication and intention to keep your position in the long term.

6. Companies Benefit From PMP Certified Project Managers

In modernity, more companies and organizations want to assert their role as industry leaders or innovative thinkers. As a result, employees with certification of their skills will prove to be an added value to the company. Consider how PMP certification may effect on a marketing campaign for the creation of a new project.

With our PMP Certified Project Managers, we will ensure all standards of safety, quality, and environmental responsiveness is carefully monitored. Vote for the approval of our project with the upcoming election.

Our Project Managers will work to ensure all standards of safety, quality, and environmental responsiveness is carefully monitored. Vote for the approval of our project with the upcoming election.

Immediately, you are more intrigued by the title of Project Management Professional certification, and you gain a sense of trust and understanding of PMP certified project managers. Alternatively, the missing certification marketing strategy may bring up many questions about previous work as planner, scheduler, or other role in project management. Furthermore, it could open up a debate about the worthiness and value of such project managers.

As if our above example is not enough to convince you to obtain your PMP certification, ask yourself whether you can afford to not obtain the certification. As more schedulers and planners obtain this certification, you may be out of a job one day if you do not take steps for your own certification today.

Remember our discussion about Project Management Professional certification being worldwide? Well, it’s also industry wide in construction, architecture, transportation, oil and gas industries, energy, and structural engineering.  It’s time to take the lead and get your PMP certification.

Source: PMP Handbook

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Michael is an avid project controls blogger and is the Chief Learning Officer here at Plan Academy. Michael has taught 1000s professionals how to use project controls software like Primavera P6 over the past 10 years through his online courses and tutorials. Michael is a member of AACE, the Guild of Project Controls and holds his PMP certification from PMI.