The project management certifications have become the signifiers of competency and commitment of the project managers to the field. But with so many PM certificates available, it can be hard for you to know which ones you should pursue. In this blog post, we hope to help you by highlighting some of the highest paying project management credentials that are also predicted to be very popular and sought-after in 2020 and beyond. The certifications we are about to discuss are based on ongoing research and rigorous standards to meet the current real-world needs of any organization.
Any project management certificate demonstrates that you are ready and able to meet the demands of both employers and projects across the globe. By having one on your resume, you can work in almost any industry with any PM methodology anywhere in the world. Without wasting time, here are the top project management certifications of 2020.
1. PMP – Project Management Professional
Recognized and demanded by the companies all over the world, the Project Management Professional credential is the gold standard of the project management sector. This certificate confirms one’s competence to perform exceptionally in the project manager role, directing teams and leading projects.
The PMP certification adds value to your career. It is ranked as one of the top project management certificatesbecause it demonstrates that you possess the specific skills, commitment, and experience that the employers seek. It is reported by reliable sources that the holders of this credential earn up to 25% more than those who are not certified.
Prerequisites:
To be eligible for this PMI certificate, you need to have real-world project management experience. Other requirements include the following:
- A four-year degree or a high school diploma;
- At least 35 hours of project management training/education or the CAPM badge;
- At least 3-5 years of leading projects.
Potential candidates:
The PMI PMP certification is perfect for any individual who helps bring a project to its successful completion. It validates your ability to manage projects and proves that you have the specific skills and knowledge that the employers need.
2. PgMP – Program Management Professional
Program Management Professional is a sought-after certification designed for those specialists who manage multiple complex projects to achieve good organizational and strategic results. The program managers are the senior-level practitioners at the forefront of advancing the strategic goals of their organizations. As such a professional, you manage several related projects in a very coordinated manner, achieving the benefits that otherwise could not be realized if the projects were processed separately.
The projects of any organization are usually far more successful with program management maturity than without it. This means that your leadership is very instrumental. The PgMP certificate is a tangible proof of your advanced skills and experience. It gives you an advantage in promotion and employment.
Prerequisites:
- A high school diploma (a secondary degree or an associate’s degree) or a four-year degree;
- About 6,000-10,500 hours of program management experience;
- More than 6,000 hours of project management experience.
Potential candidates:
If you have proven your skills and ability to successfully manage multiple related projects, navigate the activities that span the organizations, functions, cultures, or regions, as well as align the results with the goals of your company, then you can pursue PMI PgMP. To obtain this credential, you have to pass the four-hour exam, which contains 170 multiple-choice questions. To maintain your Program Management Professional certificate, you have to earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) every 3 years.
3. PfMP – Portfolio Management Professional
Portfolio Management Professional is a highly valued certification that recognizes the advanced skills and experience of the portfolio managers. The credential confirms that they have the proven ability specifically in the coordinated management of at least one portfolio to achieve the objectives of an organization. According to surveys, the companies working with the certified professionals and implementing mature project portfolio management best practices usually complete most of their programs successfully.
As a portfolio manager, your role is to ensure that your organization does the right work. The formal portfolio management is an excellent efficient way of implementing strategic initiatives since it bridges the gap that exists between implementation and strategy. The companies that are effective in this sector usually exceed the expected products meet. So, your task is to align projects, operations, and programs with the strategic objectives and invest resources in the appropriate work as to deliver the expected value.
Prerequisites:
- 8 years or more of professional business experience;
- 6,000-10,500 hours or longer of portfolio management experience;
- A high school diploma (a secondary degree or an associate’s degree) or a four-year degree.
Potential candidates:
If you are a senior-level or executive practitioner managing a portfolio of programs and projects aligned with the strategies of your organization and are focused on ensuring that your company is doing the right work, then PMI PfMP is your perfect choice. To get this credential, the applicants must pass the four-hour exam, which consists of a total of 170 multiple-choice questions. To maintain your badge, you will have to earn 60 PDUs in the portfolio management topics every 3 years.
4. PMI-PBA – Professional in Business Analysis
Professional in Business Analysis is one of the highest paying project management certificationsyou should go for. It validates your expertise in business analysis and demonstrates your ability to effectively work in collaboration with the stakeholders to define the requirements of your business, shape the project output, and drive successful business outcomes.
Prerequisites:
- A four-year degree or a secondary degree;
- 35 contact hours of training in business analysis;
- At least 36-60 months of experience in business analysis.
Potential candidates:
PMI-PBA is intended for those individuals who work with teams in the organization and manage product development or requirements. It is also a good choice for the program or project managers who perform analysis in their role.
5. PMI-RMP – Risk Management Professional
The last credential in our list is the Risk Management Professional certification. It highlights the specialists’ expertise in the specialized area of identifying and assessing project risks and developing plans to mitigate threats and also capitalize on opportunities.
Prerequisites:
- A high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree;
- 30-40 solid hours of project management training;
- 24-36 months of experience in project risk management.
Potential candidates:
The PMI-RMP certificate is designed for those individuals who possess advanced experience in risk management or for project managers who are focused on project risk management such as complex environments or large projects.
Conclusion
As you can see, each of the credentials we mentioned has certain requirements that you need to fulfill. So, if you are ready to learn with great deliberation, you should go for the certification you are interested in.
