Project management doesn’t need much of an introduction to professionals. If you’ve been wondering about making a strategic shift in your career path, an ambivalent post-pandemic world is an ideal springboard to leap forth into a new orbit.
The modern-day project team appears to be something out of a Marvel’s Avengers flick. A group of high performing individuals, nothing less than superheroes, come together to achieve a singular objective. The project managers are driven, goal-oriented, passionate, and organized ‘leaders’ who flourish in a team. They understand a project’s vulnerabilities, common interests in various projects, and their strategic roles in driving the project and organizations on the course of success and change.
A project manager is the change agent of an organization. If you’ve been dreaming about pushing your enterprise on a steep climb to success, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Certification is the best place to start. It’s easier said than done. The first step in the process is knowing how to get your CAPM certificate, and where you will be taking the exam. After that, it’s all about acing the CAPM Certification examination, which is a comparatively painless process when you follow the stringent curricula and invest in smart preparation.
Why the CAPM Certification a Great Investment
Staying current and relevant to an increasingly divergent audience requires a lot of work. Constant collaboration, newer technology, latest information are some of the weapons in a project manager’s arsenal. A project management training with a focus on critical education is requisite to avoid silos in projects. A series of successful projects are the building blocks of a flourishing business.
CAPM Certification involves financial investment. A Project Management Institute (PMI) member pays $225.00 and a non-member pays $300.00 as an examination fee. The cost can run into multiples, depending on your training, study materials, practice, and the number of times you take the examination. However, this is a valuable investment you make for a more positive and upwardly-mobile future.
You will be paying the money upfront for CAPM Certification. However, the opportunities unlocked with your brand new certification will provide a positive boost to your earnings. There is a significant increase as the average salary for a CAPM hovers around $65,000. The figure gets even more impressive when entering specific spheres of engineering or Information Technology.
CAPM is also the pathway to your Project Management Professional (PMP)® or even more specialized certifications in the field. The projects were undertaken or the educational hours learned can be utilized as PMP eligibility requirements. Furthermore, CAPM paves the way for earning those endless hours required for directing projects to qualify for the ultimate PMP Certification.
How the CAPM Certification Can Create Efficient Project Managers
A project manager has the responsibility of leading teams toward business results. They love new challenges and take them head-on. Complex dynamic environments and changing scenarios are where project managers thrive. Winning project managers possess a flexible and broad arsenal of techniques to resolve inter-dependent and critical activities into tasks that are monitored, controlled, and documented. Your CAPM Certification provides you the precise tools to address these pertinent business challenges in a changing environment.
CAPM recognizes a participant’s knowledge of the global standard of practices of such a differentiated profession. Qualified practitioners are in high demand. Research predicts that a whopping 1.57 million project management jobs will be created through 2020. With CAPM Certification you will learn the standardized practices. It will put you on track to new opportunities and attain better, targeted results.
CAPM Certification is also Great for New Professionals
CAPM Certification does not require either a four-year college degree or mandatory project management experience. However, there are plenty of educational resources that can further provide evidence and examples on the importance of getting your certification earlier than later. Therefore, it is perfect for recent college graduates or even students who want to reinforce their resumes for a calling in project management. If you are a professional, the cost of CAPM Certification can be borne by your organization.
A CAPM Certification demonstrates your knowledge of PMI’s project management framework and processes, which certainly benefits aspirants when applying for project management jobs against candidates without any certification. In addition, a CAPM-certified candidate having a working knowledge of the crucial PMBOK® Guide is more prepared to eventually pursue a PMP certification.
CAPM Practice Exams and Prep Courses for Candidates
If you’ve opted for PMI training rather than reporting 1500 hours of project management experience, training costs must be factored into your budget. Factoring in the training costs is imperative. Proper and in-depth training can set you on a path to success.
Exam prep courses are the vital step you need to take to complete the CAPM certification examination. The first part is reviewing the certification handbook as well as the content outline of the exam. Reading current articles and books in your domain area. And smart studying a lot! Consider enrolling for exam prep courses as they provide the much-needed insight into the assessment procedure.
As referenced by Forbes in a recent article, a PMI Registered Education Provider (P.R.E.P) will also help you earn the necessary contact hours. Look for a course that has qualified audits and reviews. You must learn the charts, formulas, and theories of project management. The prep sessions will provide you with the indispensable resources to qualify for the exam. Project management knowledge areas, complex project network diagrams, contrast and comparison of theories and best practices, and complete hands-on exercises and assignments – these are some of the key components of a CAPM prep course.
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The Project Management Basics Course offered by PMI is another option. The course is entirely self-paced and gears you up both for the exam and an ensuing career in project management. With easy-to-digest 20-minute modules; each module has model exam-prep questions; a 3-hour practice CAPM examination; and a digital copy of the latest PMBOK® Guide. Non-members can avail of the course for $400, but PMI members receive an additional $50 discount on the same training.
Most successful CAPM candidates usually employ multiple study tools – including study groups, self-study, and courses – and typically spend many hours getting ready for the examination. No matter how advanced your education or project experience might be, you must still prepare vigorously for the CAPM exam. Earning the CAPM Certification takes hard work and lots of preparation.
A CAPM Certification can help you stand out in any industry and effectively orchestrate, plan, and control different complex projects.
