All organizations often come to a cross road where they pose a question, ‘Why is project management important?’ The preconceived mindset is that, if a team is briefed regarding managing work and themselves, then there won’t be a requirement for project manager. Many organizations think it will be cheaper not to invest in project management or a single entity with the versalite prowess for managing different projects in an organization. In this blog we’ll discuss CAPM® Certification and PMP® Certification to give you a glimpse of the best project management certification for you.
These certifications are handed out by globally recognized Project Management Institute, a notable non-profit organization that enables individuals usher into project managers. Before getting into discussing the best project management certifications PMP and CAPM, let’s discuss the misconception and myths that surround project management.
Busting Project Management Myths
On paper, it seems project manager is an unnecessary role and would ultimately lead to wasting resources which requires repetitive work. There is yet another misconception that project managers aren’t capable of delivering anything substantial and they often get in the way of teams to function optimally.
Nevertheless, the truth is far from these misconceptions, no organizations cannot run a project successfully without a good project manager. Project management is a versatile role and doesn’t cause an unnecessary burden on an organization’s budget and RoI. The most important question you need to ask is, could you afford not having a project manager?
Having project management certifications like PMP and CAPM will help an individual like you help businesses achieve measurable goals. It also showcases to your current and potential employers that as a professional you’ve the qualification and the expertise when it comes to providing profound inputs and delivering successful outcomes.
Without further ado, let’s dive into what makes PMP® Certification different from CAPM® Certification.
What is PMP® Certification?
PMP, popularly known as Project Management Professional certification, is an industry-recognized course that offers a much broader spectrum of Project Management techniques and skills. The certification enhances the overall career prospect and increases the earnings of a Project Manager. Taking up this certification enables you to work in many industries and apply more advanced methodologies.
The certification was first introduced in the year 1984 by PMI, and it’s known as the gold standard project management certification. Moreover, the popularity of PMP® certification knows no bounds as it is the most sought-after certification for the aspirants of project management as well as experienced professionals. PMP primarily focuses on validating the core skills and competencies to lead and direct projects to get better solutions considering time, scope, cost, and quality.
What is CAPM® Certification?
CAPM, or the Certified Associate Project Management certification is an entry-level certification. CAPM is apt for you if you are just starting your career in Project Management. It distinguishes you from your peers. Professionals undertake this course to improve their credibility while they are working across different teams in an organization.
CAPM, on the other hand, was introduced back in 2003 and it is also part of PMI’s project management certifications for this is for the individuals who are looking to get into entry-level project management roles. The certification covers the fundamentals of project management, basic terminologies and processes as your career starts out.
Now that you are clear about CAPM and PMP, let's compare them in detail to figure out which one is best for you!
CAPM vs PMP Requirements
PMP: It is ideal for professionals who already have experience in leading projects in organizations. For PMP® certification, the prerequisite requirements are:
Individuals with secondary degree (associate degree or high school diploma):
- PM experience of 60 Months at the very least
- CAPM Certification or 35 contact hours of Project Management education
Individuals with 4-year degree need to have:
- 36 Months of Project Management experience
- CAPM Certification or 35 contact hours Project Management education
CAPM vs PMP: Exam Difficulty
As mentioned earlier, the CAPM® certification is made for project managers who are looking for entry-level jobs. Furthermore, this suggests that the exam is significantly much simpler and difficult. According to our renowned trainers, the certification covers on the following process from PMBOK, the official guide by PMI:
- Professional Knowledge
- Effective Processes for Project Management
- Terminologies in Project Management
However, as PMP® Certification is for the experienced professionals and seasoned veterans, it covers different aspects of project management, such as:
- Execution
- Planning
- Monitoring & Control
- Initiation
- Closing
The exam difficulty with PMP® Certification can be said to be challenging. For the latter, you’re required to procure knowledge from additional materials such as questions designed for testing knowledge-type simulation which is missing with CAPM examination. Additionally, questions for the PMP examination require knowledge of taking the best possible action to overcome certain complex situations. During the PMP preparation, you’ll learn to apply everything that you’ve learned throughout your overall experience and knowledge to ace the exam.
CAPM vs PMP - Certification Cost
For both certifications, PMI charges a fee that’s meant for administering exams. However, the fee is significantly low considering both exams. If an individual is already a PMI member, then the registration fee is different from that of a non-member. As a career enabler, Simpliaxis advises all future project managers to procure a membership first and then make a payment for the exam to gain an advantage in-terms of cost.
Certifications Exam Cost | For PMI Members | For Non-PMI Members |
CAPM | $225 | $300 |
PMP | $405 | $555 |
For more details about our training cost kindly contact us at: www.simpliaxis.com
CAPM vs PMP - Salary
When it comes to Salary Compensation, these certifications do help you procure a substantial salary for the investment that you make through certification training and examination. With credentials like CAPM® certification and PMP® Certification, you not only increase your overall earning potential, but also increase your job stability, and procure a respectable role in any organization.
In addition to this, you’ll also increase your chances for notable salary increments in the present and future job role, let’s explore the salaries for CAPM® and PMP® certification holders:
CAPM® VS PMP® Certification: Salary Compensation by Experience | ||||
S. No. | Criterion | CAPM Certified Professionals | PMP Certified Professionals | Non-certified Professionals |
| 1 | Average Salary (US) | $65,000 | $125,000 | $77,000 |
| 2 | Salary <5 Years | $46,000 | $108,000 | $73,500 |
| 3 | Salary 5-10 Years | $67,000 | $120,000 | $85,000 |
| 4 | Salary 10+ Years | $80,000 | $140,000 | $95,000 |
CAPM VS PMP: Benefits
There may be several differences between the two certifications, but the popularity of both certifications knows no bounds. They’re not only sought after in the IT Industry, but the skills and knowledge that comes from both of these certifications are in great demand throughout Oil and Gas, construction, KPO, BPO, and manufacturing industries. The following are the reasons why:
- The certifications are offer global exposure and recognition
- Better salary increments and compensation packages
- Exposure and understanding of different projects in real-time
- Builds a robust professional network for you
- Opens doors to several opportunities for building careers
CAPM VS PMP: Career Path
CAPM paves the way for aspirants to get on the project management journey. The job roles that comes with CAPM are:
- Project Coordinator
- Project Expeditor
- Project Manager - Level 1
- Project Executive
- Assistant Project Manager
- Associate PMO Executive
- Project Management - Analyst
- Project Management - Intern
PMP® certification opens the avenues for the following job roles:
- Program Manager
- Agile Leader
- Senior Project Manager
- Portfolio Manager
- Delivery Leader
- Customer Success Manager
- Agile Leader
- UX Manager
- Senior Project Consultant
- Senior Project Analyst
- PMO Specialist
CAPM VS PMP: Which certification is better?
If you’re looking for an answer to which certification is better, the answer isn’t straightforward as you’ve to choose the certification based on your interest and preference. Choosing a career is a personal choice and the professional trajectory of your career should be in your control. However, it is important to point out that both CAPM and PMP are recognized widely and are popular across the world.
If you’ve trouble choosing between these two certifications, reach out to our expert career enablers, they will guide you and make the decision easier for you!
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