I am supply chain professional with 13 plus years of experience in supply and demand planning functions. I have also recently completed my executive MBA, which really was a great experience for me.
My organization is starting to tap me on the shoulder to lead projects for process improvements, which is a great feeling! I also believe in education and proper training to gain credibility, and confidence to become a leader.
My goal in the next 12 months is to harness the proper educational training and certifications in project management to become a confident in my abilities in leading projects.
I’ve been doing some research on graduate certificates in project management from several universities. Penn State, UVA, and Georgetown are the bigger institutions and require tuition of $10K, or even more.
There are cheaper programs, including University of Arkansas, which are around $3,500.
Whenever I was researching MBA programs, I spent a lot of times on forums and websites dedicated to the education. There isn’t much out there in the form of support/discussions for graduate certifications.
I have spoken to a few colleagues regarding project management certifications, and basically the conclusion has been that the only thing that matters are the professional certifications offered through PMI. No one really cares about university certifications.
What are your thoughts on these programs? Is this really something I should be considering?
I would like to ask this community a few questions:
• What is the general opinion of graduate certifications in project management from universities?
o Are they just another overpriced fundraiser for major institutions?
o Do project management practitioners really care about graduate certifications?
o Are they of good quality, and a way to achieve the proper training for PMI certifications while also gaining a designation on the resume?
PMPRO.ORG had a nice article regarding things to consider, including if PMI’s Registered Education Providers are leading the classroom.
I must admit, if I am going to spend $2,000 or more on training to take a test for a PMI certification, it would be nice to have the recognition for my resume once that training is complete.
Also, I would like a turnkey program. I prefer to be in a live classroom (or virtual), as opposed to buying the proper materials to self-study. There are local training programs in my area, utilizing REPs, so this option is easily accessible.
If you have an MBA, I would consider the masters certificate a waste of money for credentials. The PMI requirements can be filled by a single 3 credit hour class. I earned a masters certificate (is MC even a recognized acronym?) on my way to my MS simply because it allowed me to avoid taking the GRE, and I don't put it on my resume, and while it wouldn't hurt, I also don't think it would help.
You could get some valuable education out of the courses. I took a 6 sigma course that would qualify towards the black-belt, an in-depth course on cost modeling, and other very interesting and potentially useful stuff related to PM. If I didn't have the graduate degree, I would definitely put the certificate on my resume as continuing education. With the advanced degree however, I find it like putting your undergrad GPA on your resume. Saving Changes...
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace CorpsYaounde, Centre, Cameroon
Hi Jordan very pertinent question here....
In my context here in Cameroon, West Africa, Your MBA gives you an advantage... a professional certification will be way better than a graduate certification (Simply educational) Saving Changes...
Honestly, unless your company is completely paying for it, it's not worth considering.
You already have an MBA, you can get whatever PM training you need through the REPs at a much lower cost than a university program. Most of my MBA classes also counted for the learning requirements for the PMP when I took it.
There's very few times I say anyone needs additional academic schooling beyond an MBA - drastic career changes that require a different degree or a desire to add tech knowledge are the only ones I can think of.
Professional certifications like the PMP have a much better ROI than additional degrees in most cases. Saving Changes...
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