Why You Need Your Project Management Professional (PMP) Credential?
Regardless of your industry, if you are a project manager, you more than likely have considered pursuing your PMP credential. As the most globally recognized project management certification, a PMP is undoubtedly a demonstration of your expertise. Still, the road to get those three little letters after your name may have you considering whether or not it is worth it.
To qualify to take the PMP exam, project managers are required to document both their project management experience as well as their relevant education. If your application is approved, the final step is to pass a notoriously difficult 200-question exam. To best be prepared for success, candidates typically pursue exam preparation classes, invest in multiple study books, and devote time to studying and taking practice tests. So, is it worth it?
If you are serious about your career as a project manager, then the answer is most likely "yes!" There are several benefits to earning and maintaining your PMP that should be seriously considered when deciding if you want to pursue the credential.
- Earning the PMP credential demonstrates that you are an experienced and skilled project manager, as demonstrated by your achievement of the designation.
- According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the median salary for project professionals with a PMP is 25% higher than those who are not certified.
- By maintaining your PMP over time, you are significantly increasing your earning potential over your career.
- The PMP may be the deciding factor in earning a position over another candidate that is not certified.
- In many circumstances and situations, PMP is a condition of employment.
- By maintaining your PMP credential, you are committed to continued education and professional development in the sphere of project management. This ongoing knowledge ensures you keep up with today's trends for the most in-demand skills.
But isn't the market saturated with PMP holders?
In 2020, the PMI surpassed 1,000,000 PMP-credential holders worldwide. That leaves some project managers to believe that there are too many PMP holders to make the credential valuable. However, that is not the case.
As the baby boomers leave the job market, as infrastructure becomes more technically complex, as more and more organizations recognize the tremendous value of project managers, and as the pace of change becomes swifter, there is an ever-increasing need for skilled project managers. Do not let the numbers dissuade you!
There is a real and pressing need for skilled project managers in today's businesses, and there is no better way to demonstrate your capacity as a skilled project manager than with the PMP credential. As a matter of fact, many companies will only hire project managers if they have already earned their PMP.
A little caveat...
Just because someone earned their PMP does not mean they are a "good" project manager. And along with that, there are a lot of amazing, skilled project managers that do not have their PMP credential. Earning your PMP is just one step in your career of being a professional, skilled, and experienced project manager.
Project Management Professional (PMP) and "PMP" are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc
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