I have recently taken charge of the PMO setup in the firm where I work. I would like to acquire some additional certifications to bolster my credibility. My question is basically this - should I opt for the PMP or PgMP certification? Would it be helpful to do both? If not, which or the two would be more useful? Saving Changes...
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Elyse NielsenSenior Project Manager| Ascension Health Information ServicesHaines City, Fl, United States
Hi Ravi,
I think it is going to depend on the PMO's goals at your firm. If your PMO is a transformational PMO, accounting for driving the acheivement of business benefits with implementing new way to do business, then the PMP is useful. On the other hand if your PMO is a "audit and control" model, then perhaps the PMP is a good starting place.
Robert HessSenior Project Manager| Booz Allen HamiltonSan Antonio, Tx, United States
The PMP is much more universally recognized than the PgMP. I think it makes sense to start with your PMP, as understanding the PMBOK is essential groundwork to any higher-level work.
I agree with Elyse that it depends on the purpose of your PMO. Is it to improve an organization's projects' performance, or is it aligned with one particular program? Saving Changes...
Paul NanoukSr. Program Manager| ITCUtica, Ny, United States
Let's go back to basics on this one. Does a certification ensure that a PM (project or program) manager is competent, capable, and confident? I did not get my PMP until I had almost 25 years of P/PM experience in my own company. I studied and obtained the PMP only when a client (who had his PMP) agreed to pay for mine since he wanted all his consultants to be certified.
Certification only illustrates the holder has the MINIMAL level of expertise not the MAXIMUM. Experience, performance, and work product are the three most important indicators or P/PM expertise and knowledge. One can go to any boot camp, study hard for a week, and pass the exam. Does that make them a better P/PM? I have seen both certified PMs and non-certified PMs perform poorly as well as brilliantly, I have found it has little to do with certification.
Take care, and think how your resume/CV shows your experience and work product achievements. These are more important to business owners that understand how project/programs are managed.
Finally, as for the difference between the two certs: stick with the PMP, I have seen two job requests that specifically asks for the PgMP, and that is out of thousands of job requests I have reviewed.
PNanouk
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Bernard GorePortfolio, Programme & Project Professional| NZ PoliceWellington, New Zealand
PM and PgM are absolutely not the same - it is not just semantics. They are fundamentally different things.
The qualifications are relatively unimportant - but the knowledge is not, and deopends what sort of work the organisation does through the PMO - it may be mostly project-type, delivering specific products, or it may be programme-type, more concerned with organisational change and strategic alignment, so you need to figure this out hand make sure you are familiar with the relevant approaches, regardless of which certification you have. Saving Changes...
