Titan Bagus BramantyoInformation Technology Project Manager @Bukit VistaSleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Based on my 6 years of experience in project management for software houses, start-ups, and government, I have encountered many people who I think have the strategic mindset of a professional project manager, but in fact they don't have any certification.
On the other hand, I've also heard of many cases of poorly managed projects, even though they're handled by "certified project managers," especially now that many jobs require certification.
What's your opinion, community? Considering the cost of certification can be quite expensive, hehe.
Program Manager, PPM&PMO Specialist.| Coppel, Mexico.Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
A certification essentially validates that you passed a formal process, but it’s not a guarantee of success on its own.
Unfortunately, some people only focus on 'getting the title' without truly mastering the mindset. In my opinion, a certification should always be accompanied by a robust curriculum and a real-world experience validation. While the exam proves you know the theory, your track record proves you can handle the pressure. Certifications are valuable as a baseline, but the true 'strategic mindset' comes from the lessons learned in the field. Francisco Saving Changes...
Senior IS Project Manager| Baycare Health SystemsClearwater, Fl, United States
I think we all have seen projects that were led very professionally by non-certified project managers, and the opposite is also true when certified PMs did not follow the process correctly. With that being said, there is still a big advantage to getting certification. In some cases it is a requirement for consideration for new assignments, but more importantly by learning the theory it helps with a project manager's day to day responsibility. Saving Changes...
The PMP is not a compliance-driven certification. Businesses do not generally follow the PMBOK Guide or adhere to all PMI standards. Project managers are not generally audited by their employers for compliance to the PMBOK Guide.
The PMP is a capability signal. It can be what I call a "gatekeeper" certification or a screening mechanism - you're not getting in the door without it - but it's not the only capability signal. Think of it in terms of risk mitigation. You're hiring a project manager. You need someone with experience and you need someone quickly. There are hundreds of applicants. Which factors will help you quickly trim down the list of people to interview? One of the factors is certification. Regardless of the resume, you never really know if the person you hire is going to work out and employers rarely have time to deeply assess capability.
Is it worth getting? If your job market expects PM candidates to have their PMP and you want to make a career out of project management, then yes, it most likely is.
Does the piece of paper make a person a better project manager? Of course not.
I've maintained my PMP for almost 18 years and have been involved with PMI for closer to 20. In my experience, the real value of the PMP is not the piece of paper. It's the community and the opportunities. Opportunities to serve, to grow in my career, to build relationships with like-minded people, to help others grow, and help employers and coworkers achieve their objectives. Did I need my PMP to do all of these things? Not all of them, but some opportunities would not have been available without the PMP. I won't say I'm a better project manager just by virtue of having my PMP, but I will say that many of the things I've done to maintain my PMP have helped make me a better project manager.
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1 reply by Titan Bagus Bramantyo
Mar 27, 2026 2:28 AM
Titan Bagus Bramantyo
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Thank you, Aaron for your wise perspective. I couldn't agree more with that!
Certifications like those from the Project Management Institute provide structure and standards, but they don’t guarantee real-world performance. Practical experience, leadership, and decision-making skills matter just as much, if not more.
Ideally, the best project managers combine both certification and hands-on experience. Saving Changes...
Titan Bagus BramantyoInformation Technology Project Manager @Bukit VistaSleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Mar 26, 2026 10:41 AM
Replying to Aaron Porter
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The PMP is not a compliance-driven certification. Businesses do not generally follow the PMBOK Guide or adhere to all PMI standards. Project managers are not generally audited by their employers for compliance to the PMBOK Guide.
The PMP is a capability signal. It can be what I call a "gatekeeper" certification or a screening mechanism - you're not getting in the door without it - but it's not the only capability signal. Think of it in terms of risk mitigation. You're hiring a project manager. You need someone with experience and you need someone quickly. There are hundreds of applicants. Which factors will help you quickly trim down the list of people to interview? One of the factors is certification. Regardless of the resume, you never really know if the person you hire is going to work out and employers rarely have time to deeply assess capability.
Is it worth getting? If your job market expects PM candidates to have their PMP and you want to make a career out of project management, then yes, it most likely is.
Does the piece of paper make a person a better project manager? Of course not.
I've maintained my PMP for almost 18 years and have been involved with PMI for closer to 20. In my experience, the real value of the PMP is not the piece of paper. It's the community and the opportunities. Opportunities to serve, to grow in my career, to build relationships with like-minded people, to help others grow, and help employers and coworkers achieve their objectives. Did I need my PMP to do all of these things? Not all of them, but some opportunities would not have been available without the PMP. I won't say I'm a better project manager just by virtue of having my PMP, but I will say that many of the things I've done to maintain my PMP have helped make me a better project manager.
Thank you, Aaron for your wise perspective. I couldn't agree more with that! Saving Changes...
"It is an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seem. For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much -- the wheel, New York, wars and so on -- whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man -- for precisely the same reasons."
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