A brief introduction to Project Management Professional (PMP) certification reads thus:

• It is the world’s leading project management certification
• People across several industries take it to boost their careers and skillsets in project management
• It is a blend of the predictive, Agile, and hybrid approaches

With such an illustrious legacy, PMP is not just desirable, but a must-have certification for those who want to make a mark in project management. Let us explore some of the aspects of the PMP certifications.

The PMP certification

So, what is it that makes PMP such a valued certification? In today’s corporate world, project management is critical. It helps organizations stay the course with their business goals, because, ultimately, the difference between an organization that builds a reputation as one that delivers on time and one that fails to do so, is their respective project management skills.

Because of this, organizations look for project managers with special skills, which will help them stand out from the rest. The PMP certification is a validation of a manager’s expertise in project management.

Benefits of getting PMP certified

A Project Management Professional is a highly coveted position in a swathe of organizations across various industries. With the stamp of the most popular project management institution in the world, it is not difficult to guess the benefits that accrue from becoming PMP certified.

These are some of them:

• Four out of five organizations consider PMP certification a valuable supplement to their project managers’ core skills
• Job offers to pour in for PMP professionals from around the world
• Worldwide, a whopping 80-90 million people are expected to be working in the project management domain by 2027
• Project managers with Project Management Professional certification earn at least a fifth more than those without
• Salaries and other benefits for PMP-certified managers are greater than for those without;
• They are preferred for plum projects over others

What jobs do PMPs take up?

PMPs take up a number of positions across the spectrum of businesses. These are some of the designations they work as:

• IT Infrastructure Project Manager
• Chief/Principal Project Manager
• Project Coordinator
• Senior Project Manager
• Technical Project Manager
• Project Manager

PMP salaries

With the average certified Project Management Professional being someone who brings so much to the table, it is not surprising that they are highly paid. The average annual pay of a PMP-certified professional is $123,000, whereas that of a non-PMP with the same experience is $93,000.

Eligibility Criteria of PMP Certification

Getting a Project Management Professional is not the easiest of things. It is a long journey. To take up PMP, you need the following:

Option 1:

You must possess the following:

• A four-year degree
• Spent 36 months leading projects
• Have had at least 35 hours of project management training or CAPM® Certification

Option 2:

• A high school diploma or an associate’s degree, or its global equivalent
• Spent as many as 60 months leading projects
• Have had 35 hours of project management training or CAPM® Certification

Further, maintaining your PMP certificate through what is called is called the Continuing Certification Requirement cycle, or CCR, is a must. You should earn 60 PDUs every three years, starting right from the day of passing the PMP certification exam.

Is the PMP exam tough?

It is generally admitted that the PMP exam is tough. Its entry barriers are stiff, as just examined, and it is considered generally uphill, as it requires enormous amounts of preparation. Although the PMI does not dole out official figures, it is understood that less than half the people that take up this exam get through.

What makes the PMP challenging is that the aspirant should go through these project management-related areas of knowledge:

• 35 different tasks relating to the three PMP domains: People, Process, and Business Environment;
• Different skills expected and required of qualified project managers across almost any industry:
• Deep knowledge of waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid project management approaches
• Perceptive understanding of PMP concepts and mathematical formulas

The exam structure

The PMP certification exam is structured in the following manner:

• A total of 180 questions with 230 minutes’ time for answering them in multiple formats such as multiple choice fill-in the blanks, and others
• 42 percent of the paper allocated to the people aspects of project management
• 50 percent to process
• 8 percent to business

Cost of earning a Project Management Professional certification

Being a premier certification, it is understandable that almost all the financial aspects of PMP are steep, the cost of the exams being one of them. The PMP certification costs $405 for PMI members and $550 for nonmembers.