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Behind every successful IT project, you'll find a highly skilled project manager. From hardware and software upgrades to ongoing security patches, to application development and the rollout of software itself, project managers keep your teams on task and productive.
Almost any IT pro can benefit from adding a project management certification to their list of IT credentials; showing you have the know-how to plan, schedule, budget, execute, deliver and then report on IT initiatives. Here, CIO.com outlines the most popular project management certifications that will add value and help you hone your skills this year.
PMP: Project Management Professional
The gold standard in project management certifications, the Project Management Professional certification is a rigorous test that covers absolutely everything you need to prove your knowledge and skill in managing the "triple constraints": time, cost and scope. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is this credential's parent organization, and works continuously with businesses and academia to ensure relevance for the certification.
[ Find out how to pick the right project management methodology and beware the most common project management mistakes to avoid. | Get ahead with the top certs for big data, agile, and the cloud. | Get weekly career tips by signing up for our CIO Leader newsletter. ]
Organization: Project Management Institute
Price: Computer based exams are $405 for PMI members; $555 for non-members. Paper-based exams are $250 for PMI members; $400 for non-members.
Requirements: Four-year secondary degree plus three years of project management experience, 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours project management education OR a high-school diploma, five years of project management experience, 7,500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education.
CAPM: Certified Associate in Project Management
The Certified Associate in Project Management is the precursor to the PMP certification and is also administered by the PMI. For professionals without a college degree, or with only rudimentary project management experience or those who want to achieve their PMP certification in steps rather than all at once, the CAPM is a stepping-stone to the more rigorous PMP.
Organization: Project Management Institute
Price: $225 for PMI members; $300 nonmembers
Requirements: High-school diploma, associates degree or equivalent and at least 1,500 hours of project management experience OR 23 hours...