CAPM Certification: What Is It, And How Will It Benefit You?

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The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification is a globally recognized, entry-level credential accepted across many industries. This professional designation is ideal for students, recent graduates and professionals seeking to gain project management experience or manage larger projects.

The CAPM certification can be a crucial stepping stone toward a career in project management and toward earning the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. If you’re considering earning the CAPM credential, this article overviews its purpose and benefits, along with key considerations for prospective candidates.

The CAPM certification is a credential administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI)® to prepare candidates for entry-level project management positions.

This beginner-level certificate is ideal for project team members, project managers and other professionals who want to learn and implement the fundamental principles of project management. This designation validates your project management skills and your knowledge of processes, frameworks, methodologies and best practices.

To apply for the CAPM certification and take the exam, candidates must meet the following prerequisites.

The CAPM exam comprises 150 questions, which test-takers have three hours to complete. The exam includes topics covered in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)®. However, test-takers should focus their studies on PMI’s CAPM exam content outline. This outline comprises four sections, each of which is included in the CAPM exam. The sections are:

The CAPM certification is a popular designation that helps companies and organizations find well-suited candidates with certifiable knowledge and experience in project management. Below are some of the benefits that come with earning the CAPM certification.

The CAPM certification evaluates candidates against rigorous guidelines, requiring professionals to meet specific competency measures regarding project management skills, processes and best practices. This exam process demands a strong understanding of best practices, principles, industry-standard ethics and professional conduct.

This designation signals to potential employers that you can fulfill their organization’s specific roles and requirements.

In addition to expanding their project management knowledge, CAPM candidates develop leadership skills through the certification process. Entry-level practitioners can learn to manage teams effectively in various work environments. The certification process also teaches project management and leadership fundamentals, which typically include the following.

Earning the CAPM credential demonstrates certifiable competency in the fundamentals of project management. This certification can give you a competitive edge over other entry-level job applicants. Becoming CAPM-certified also indicates a commitment to advancing your skills and knowledge in the field.

Earning the CAPM certification can help you qualify for various project management roles. Here are some common jobs that CAPM-certified professionals can pursue.

Moreover, CAPM certification fulfills the project management education/training requirement for PMP certification. If you’re debating between the CAPM vs. PMP credentials, we recommend starting with the CAPM.

Payscale reports that the average CAPM certification salary is around $72,000 per year.

The CAPM certification is one way for entry-level project management professionals to develop their skills and knowledge, position themselves as valuable assets to potential employers and expand opportunities for career advancement.

Still, you should take a few considerations into account before pursuing the CAPM certification. Two such considerations are time commitment and CAPM certification cost.

Candidates typically spend one to three months studying for the CAPM exam. Successful test-takers usually use a combination of courses, study groups and self-study to prepare.

PMI recommends that CAPM candidates review the CAPM handbook, quiz themselves using PMI-provided sample questions, complete a formal study course through one of PMI’s authorized training partners and review the exam content outline.

To fulfill the education requirement, you can sign up for PMI’s course on project management basics. This course meets the CAPM-required 23 educational hours.

The CAPM certification exam costs $225 for PMI members and $300 for nonmembers. These prices do not include the costs of CAPM training or exam preparation courses. Training course prices vary depending on the program and organization. Generally, the cost of CAPM bootcamps, training courses and classes ranges between $200 and $500.

CAPM candidates may find helpful information in the seventh-edition PMBOK, which PMI members receive with their memberships. Nonmembers must purchase this guide if they want to use it to prepare for the exam. The cost of the PMBOK guide can vary depending on the retailer.

Certification requirements vary depending on your employer, company and organization. If you aspire to work in a specific role or with a particular organization, consider researching the job requirements to see if they include CAPM certification.

Project management skills are in high demand across many industries and organizations. Earning a globally recognized certification can make you more marketable and increase your job opportunities.

Is PMI certification worth it? We think so, and starting with the CAPM credential is a great first step.

There’s a rising global demand for project managers across many industries. Project management ranked as one of the fastest-growing fields in the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs report. To keep up with demand, a 2021 report from PMI projects that 2.3 million professionals need to enter the project management field every year until 2030, indicating a steady market that could create strong job security.

Moreover, even early-career project management professionals earn relatively high salaries, according to the results of a salary survey by PMI. In the U.S., project managers with less than three years of experience earn a median annual salary of $80,000.

Earning your CAPM certification can be a vital stepping stone in your career. CAPM certification can help with career advancement and increase your earning potential.

The CAPM certification exam costs $300 for non-PMI members and $225 for PMI members. This price does not include the cost of training or other study materials, which vary in cost depending on the provider.

Both are PMI certifications. CAPM certification serves entry-level project management professionals. The PMP designation is reserved for more experienced project managers. The CAPM credential fulfills the PMP’s educational requirements, making it a great stepping stone.

The CAPM exam includes 150 multiple-choice questions and needs to be completed within the three-hour time limit. Some test-takers find the exam quite challenging. PMI recommends using a combination of study methods to prepare.

Gain Buy-In. Manage Risk. Scale Your Career.

Purdue University developed its online Project Management Essentials, Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Preparation and Agile courses as a series to help learners effectively plan, orchestrate and control complex projects in their organizations. The courses also help learners prepare to pursue certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) if they choose.

Project Management Essentials is the first step for professionals who seek fundamental knowledge and skills to immediately apply to their projects and advance their careers. It also helps learners earn the educational hours required by PMI for PMP certification.

Many of our learners follow up Project Management Essentials with the Agile Certificate Online Course and finally the PMP Exam Preparation course. This course is an in-depth review designed for experienced project managers who want to gain a firm understanding of PMP exam content, identify areas of opportunity for strengthening their grasp of PM principles and develop a comprehensive study plan.

The Agile Certificate Online Course can be completed at any point in the series, or as a stand-alone course. It offers a deep dive into the Agile methodology and commonly used frameworks. Learners gain an understanding of cutting-edge practices they can immediately apply to their careers. They also earn the prerequisite contact hours in Agile training required by the PMI and will be prepared to sit for the PMI Agile Certified Professional (PMI-ACP)® or PMP certification exam.

Employers worldwide consider PMP certification the industry standard for project managers. As a result, the knowledge, skills and experience required for PMP certification are transferable across industries and continents.

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