Project management can be described as the utilization of skills, resources, techniques and knowledge to carry out projects effectively. A project manager plans, organizes, motivates and controls resources to achieve specific goals.
Project management covers a wide scope of professions including engineering, building, construction and manufacturing. Other sectors that require project management skills include aviation, environmental agencies, public health, teaching, human resources etc. In fact, no matter what profession you’re in, it’s likely you’re involved with different projects in one way or another.
Project management certification is simply a third party assessment of project management skills. This objective evidence proves that you can successfully and effectively manage projects with limited resources and time.
The certification process aims to test the education, skills and knowledge of each candidate, and equips them with time management and resources management skills. Not only will certification validate your skills, but the training process will immediately help improve your performance.
Additionally, certification also trains professionals on ethical decision making and code of conduct. Project management comes with social challenges and practitioners have to make ethical judgment calls daily. Certification prepares project managers to face such challenges in the field.
Certification Bodies in Project Management
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Project Management Institute (PMI) Certifications
Project Management Institue (PMI) is one of the most widely known project management accreditation bodies. PMI currently has six credentials available to certify its members. It offers courses and examinations for aspiring project managers.
Some of the certifications:
This is the initial certification and is offered to entry level practitioners; for those future project managers with limited or no project management experience, but have the ambition to advance their skills and manage larger projects in future.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
The PMP certification is one of the most widely recognized certifications and is awarded to a project professional who has demonstrated leadership and competence in carrying out projects and directing various teams involved in projects. Qualifications include 3-5 years of project management experience, as well as 35 hours of education.
- Program Management Professional (PgMP)>
The PgMP certification is for those who have excelled and have the capability to oversee multiple, yet related, projects and their resources and integrate techniques and expertise to achieve project completion and meet strategic business goals
Click here for more details on the above certifications, and for the entire list of other PMI certifications.
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International Project Management Association (IPMA) Certifications
The IPMA has its headquarters in the Netherlands and also has certification bodies in almost all major countries. Some of these bodies include:
- Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM)
- Azerbaijan Project Management Association (AZPMA Certification)
- Project Management Association of Canada (PMAC)
- Danish Project Management Association (DPMA)
- Project Management Association Finland Certification Body
- Certification Body Norway
- Project Management Associates (PMA)-INDIA
- Management Engineering Society MES PM-CERT (Egypt) among many others in different countries.