Project management

PMI CAPM Credential – 20X Faster Way to Launch Your Career in Project Management

Project management

Companies vary in scope and specialty but they all share one thing in common; the desire to cut down costs while increasing efficiency. To this extent, they require qualified professionals who can get the tasks done successfully. At this point, the role of project managers comes in handy.

These professionals employ their expert knowledge and experience to turn companies into industrious tools. With the median salary for a project manager in the US projected to be in the region of $90,139 (according to Project manager website), it’s natural that you are interested in launching a career in this field. Fortunately, getting started is quite simple.

In this guide, let’s walk together through the entire process of attaining the CAPM certification, a secret tool for launching a career in the prestigious Project Management industry. But, first, let’s make a brief overview of the PMI Certification Program Click to Download Free.

PMI Certification Program

The PMI Certification Program is extensive and suits individuals who possess the relevant experience and educational requirements. Unlike other credentials, project management skills can be transferred across geographical boundaries and other industries. They are never limited to a single organization or method.

That said, the PMI Certification Program entails 8 credentials across different career levels. These include

  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM),
  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP),
  • PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA),
  • PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP),
  • PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP),
  • Project Management Professional (PMP),
  • Program Management Professional (PgMP),
  • Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certifications

In this article, we’ll focus on CAPM credential and you’ll get all the necessary information on how to gain it and pass the certification exam with success.

Overview of the CAPM Certification

The CAPM certification recognizes individuals who are looking to kick start their career in project management. This credential thus befits specialists with little experience in the project management field who target to gain top-notch skills and boost their career.

The CAPM certification equips you with basic skills and knowledge of the main concepts, terminologies, and operational procedures used in project management. It gives you a competitive edge over other candidates who would appear for the same jobs. In order to certify, you will have to meet the CAPM eligibility requirements and pass a certification exam.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the CAPM certification, you must fulfill the relevant education and experience requirements. You should have at least a high school diploma or its global equivalent and 1500 hours of project management experience.

Alternatively, you should have 23 hours of project management education in addition to the mentioned high school diploma or global equivalent. Aside from the said eligibility requirements, you will have to pass the required exam to certify.

So, what does this exam entail? And what is the cost? The next section answers both questions.

Related Article: 3 Reasons To Become An SMM Specialist A Job of The Future

CAPM Exam Description

The CAPM exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions that should be completed in 3 hours. Out of the 150 questions, 135 are scored while 15 are unscored questions. Nonetheless, you should aim at answering all the questions since the pretest questions are randomly distributed throughout the test. The CAPM exam is a closed book test and carrying any reference materials to the exam venue would be an offense. This exam costs $225 for members and $300 for non-members.

Online Proctored Exam

Naturally, the standard testing options include the Center Based Testing (CBT) and the online proctored method. But the Paper-Based Testing (PBT) is also available under special circumstances.

With the online proctored option, you can take your exam from any location while being monitored by a proctor via a webcam. This option is pretty cool when you’re working on a tight schedule.

Reexamination

Because most of the CAPM exam candidates are often new to the project management industry, passing this exam at the first attempt has proven to be challenging. That’s why PMI provides a generous 1-year exam eligibility period to allow for exam retakes.

During this period, you can take the exam up to three times. The reexamination fees are charged on your second and third attempts and are set at $150 for members and $200 for non-members.

If you fail the exam three times during the one-year eligibility period then you will have to wait for another year from the date of your last attempt to reapply for your credential. However, you can apply for any other PMI certification at any time during this period.

CAPM Recertification

Your CAPM certification is valid for five years from the time of attaining it. Therefore, you will have to recertify every five years to maintain its validity. Recertifying portrays you as a committed professional with up to date skills and knowledge of the project management terminology and processes.

Benefits of the CAPM Certification

Is the CAPM certification worth the whole investment? The simple answer is yes. Whether an entry-level or an expert credential, earning a certification in the project management sphere is a step toward exciting career prospects, improved earning potential and interestingly, more thought-provoking projects.

The CAPM certification is the ace up your sleeve for the prestigious PMP credential. Earning this certification fulfills the job experience requirements you will need to take the PMP exam.

Besides, the CAPM credential advances your knowledge of the project management industry. Whether your ultimate goal is to pursue the PMP certification or to maintain your credibility in the project management industry, attaining the CAPM credential clears your path to becoming a better project manager.

CAPM Exam Preparation Options

To excel in the CAPM certification exam, you need effective training materials. PMI provides reliable study materials that suit the candidates’ needs. For instance, how would you like preparing for your exam using the online training courses?

The PMBOK guide is another great tool to include in your cabinet. This guide covers the key details of the CAPM exam and is a noteworthy tool for all the exam candidates.

And if you want to test your knowledge of the exam concepts then the CAPM practice exams got you covered. This is by far the best study option if you are looking to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in readiness for the real test.

Other Training Options-Use PrepAway Website

Pass your CAPM certification exam effortlessly using quality training materials from PrepAway. For only $39.98, you can get the CAPM Premium Bundle that consists of a premium file with as many as 1073 questions related to the CAPM exam in addition to a 939-page study guide. Along with that study material, you’ll get a highly informative training course, led by IT experts. This tool is worth every penny you spend on it.

Besides, you can also use the free CAPM exam questions and CAPM dumps to prepare for your test. These are real questions that are uploaded by real users to help you pass your exam smoothly.

The Bottom Line

There you have it. A complete guide to the CAPM certification and the whole path to get certified. Whether you are looking to jumpstart your career in project management or to boost it, you have what it takes to succeed. With each credential from PMI, your salary will increase, and you’ll grow professionally. So, with the project management industry proving to be such a promising field in recent years, there’s no better time to certify. Why wait? Make up your decision now!