Career Development > PM Certification

When it comes down to it, does the “rock” of domain experience really beat the “paper” of project management skills?

Just as we always look out for the good of our projects, we must also look out for the good of our career. We can never assure that they will continue to advance and grow, but there are some factors we can look to that might optimize our chances. Taken by themselves, none of these factors will assure a smooth and rewarding career progression. But leveraging several of these factors can help maximize success.

The project management blogosphere is weighing in on the upcoming Agile certification from PMI. Here’s a recent sampling along with an interview with PMI vice president of IT Frank Schettini, who discusses the development of the certification and what it can offer the profession.

Beyond obtaining more certifications, project managers should take the processes, tools and techniques learned in a certification project and focus on putting them into practice. Training and education is great, but it’s not until you apply the knowledge that you’ll benefit from the hours studying to pass an exam. Here are are just a few ideas on how you can apply your certifications.

As agile methods continue to gain in popularity and Project Management Institute events offer more and more agile content, the demand for agile-related offerings has increased substantially. Is this new certification offering a good idea, and what does it mean for you?

In the years ahead, the job of project manager will only become more complex. That’s largely because the profession has finally gotten the recognition it deserves, taking its much-deserved place alongside other essential organizational functions. In this installment, we find out more about the value of PMI certification, industry-specific requirements and what industries will be aggressively hiring PMs next year.

Sheesh...state a few opinions, and people start talking. Time to do it again. In this month's installment in our PMP series, the author takes an even closer look at certification. What do you think?

There are now more than 240 PM-related apps for the iPhone and iPad. One of the latest contains 675 flashcards to help individuals preparing for the PMP exam or seeking PDUs for re-certification.

So you want a career in project management? What will it take to be successful, and what about earning potential? This article will explore the pursuit of a career in project management, including looks at characteristics of successful PMs, what employers are looking for and salaries.

Three-way partnership with American University, Management Concepts and MCR provides training program for federal agencies and government contractors.

RMC has partnered with Agile thought-leader Mike Griffiths to create a PMI-ACP exam prep guide, which will be available early next year.

This article will explore the differences and similarities in the methodology and certification levels of traditional project management and the government.

What sets PM Masters apart from the rest of us? Is it their learning, innate talents and aptitudes or is it more? In observing those who exhibit PM mastery this writer has found they share some common traits and capabilities that provide some interesting insights.

With an unprecedented 96 percent project success rate, Dell Services’ Healthcare and Life Sciences team wins the 2011 Project Management Office of the Year award.

Project Management Professionals (PMPs) must earn 60 PDUs every three years to keep their certification. You can earn some of these PDUs by writing project management-related articles. Here's the lowdown.

The average project manager has a challenge, and a large one at that. Most of us don’t have a career development plan. In fact, most of us didn’t necessarily pick this as a career--it picked us. But now that we’re here, the challenge is to figure out exactly where we go with it. To understand how our careers progress, it helps to have a model with which we can associate. Find out what important trio awaits inside...

In the years ahead, the job of project manager will only become more complex. That’s largely because the profession has finally gotten the recognition it deserves, taking its much-deserved place alongside other essential organizational functions.

It seems that everyone in IT is getting certified for one thing or another. Organizations such as PMI offer certification programs and universities have tailored graduate programs for very specific facets of the industry. Even big corporations like Microsoft and CA offer training courses and certification programs on their own software. But does certification really help further your career? As far as we've come, we're taking a step back to face the old issue of Education vs. Experience. And in the end. . . which is more important?

Now more than ever when a company decides to embark on a project, business leaders are demanding a clear ROI, explicit expectations about the longevity of a project and, more importantly, results. The era of the project manager is back...so use this time to hone your skills, discover new roles and learn how to market yourself for a changing economy.

An assessment using PMI’s Organizational Project Management Maturity Model is intended to help organizations develop capabilities in project, program or portfolio management. Find out more about OPM3 assessments--and how you get certified--in this article.

Do you want to pass your PMP, or do you want to learn about project management?

There are many different ways to launch a successful career in project management, but depending on your particular background and goals, your path will vary. Here are four common scenarios and appropriate advice for individuals who are trying to get into project management from different backgrounds.

Are you ready for EVM? Our writer conducted a study on earned value management readiness based on 40 critical factors found in successful EVM implementations, and here we present the Top 10.

To meet growing demand for application of Agile practices, Project Management Institute will introduce a pilot Agile certification for project management practitioners, with exams starting later this year.

Certification sounds important and impressive. But how much is it really worth, beyond a note on your resume and a big ol' dent in your wallet?

Developing and valuing its project management culture has paid dividends for ADP, forming the foundation for an improved customer relationship by establishing expectations, recognizing when things aren’t going right and taking action to remedy problems.

This writer has seen some truly atrocious project communications where the PMO seems at a loss to be able to assist. In this article, he looks at a few ways that the PMO may be able to assist in building a communications model that brings consistency without burying the PM in “dashboard hell”.

Before PMO directors pursue ISO 9001 certification, it is important to understand what it constitutes and how it can benefit PMOs. For some, the certification can be a way to increase performance and staff confidence. For others, it can be cost-prohibitive and add little value.

The PMP is no longer the only certification available from PMI. What does this mean for the project manager, and what does this mean for the organizations that are looking to hire project managers? Are certifications of value as a differentiator, or have they become a commodity?

The head of the PMO has a significant responsibility to the project managers to act as career coaches and mentors. Are you taking that role seriously?

What if you could get an "international passport" that allows for the transportability and mutual recognition of project management qualifications no matter where in the world you work?

Project management has its roots in technical environments and appears to be returning to those roots after years of being a haven for generalists. But does this trend short-change PM experience and resourcefulness? Is technical expertise really required?

So who are you and what is it you do? Perhaps the single biggest problem facing the project management profession is that many practitioners can’t agree on what exactly they do, how they should do it, or how to get better at it. Here are some observations based on an ongoing online discussion that has drawn in more than 600 project managers.

Know when to hold 'em, when to walk away…and when to double-down.

The PMP--a valuable program in demonstrating theoretical knowledge--should be the starting point, not the finish line. The next step in certification must be the demonstration of competence. How can a certification program work that truly meshes knowledge, competency and skill?

Whether it's around the water cooler or in an online forum, people are talking--and we're listening. With ears open, we've been wandering the gantthead discussions in search of what's really important to project managers.

You’re smart, so why not share it with the world? In an effort to learn more about the ABCs of a project management career and your professional development, we want you to share your certification and educational goals with the gantthead community! Please take a few minutes to answer our quick and easy Professional Development Planning Survey. Not only will it help your fellow project managers, but you could win a free year of gantthead premium membership!

The International Institute of Business Analysis is now accepting applications for a new professional certification based on level of experience.

The project manager’s critical success factor will be leadership skills, according to a global panel of consultants and senior executives assembled by ESI International.

Training provider LegalBizDev has introduced the first program to formally certify lawyers as Legal Project Managers.

Many project managers that are more advanced in their careers no longer see PMI as offering the kind of training, development and career advancement opportunities that they are looking for. So where do we go from here?

A recent global study on the state of business analysis shows organizations are missing key internal competencies that could enhance productivity and profitability. As a result, organizational objectives are often disconnected from those responsible for execution.

Project Management Institute reports that 71 percent of project managers saw an increase in compensation over the last 12 months.

Growing a COP requires a creative mix of events for the COP membership. Here are a few ideas that have been applied to previous project management communities of practices.

As our series continues, find out about the difficulties of breaking into the project management field and the qualifications companies are looking for.

Employers often look only at their own industry when hiring, because not every PM can make the jump--and if they can’t, things can get very bad very quickly. So what should employers look for--and by extension, what should PMs demonstrate that they are capable of doing? Does industry matter in your career? How transferable is the project management skill set?

Is there a “secret sauce” or shortcut that will help you pass the PMP Exam? Not really. However, there are seven essential resources, concepts and best practices that will make your PMP Exam preparation go smoother.