Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Does anyone have real-life examples of the Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certification or the Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification making someone more marketable than if they only had a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? If so, can you estimate how much more money someone with a PfMP or PgMP can earn over someone with only a PMP? Most job postings I see that mention the PfMP or PgMP as a requirement say a PMP is acceptable instead. Based on this, I'm wondering if a PfMP or PgMP is really beneficial for career advancement, or if they are just a 'nice to have'. Saving Changes...
I don't have a PgMP at the moment, only have a PMP. Even so, I haven't seen any difference in terms of PMP's being remunerated any better than an experienced project manager. Regardless of marketability, I'm still keen to obtain the PgMP credential for self-development. I've seen how efficient I became since I applied the PM guidelines even before obtaining the credential, it has left me wondering how better will I be in managing programmes upon acquiring the PgMP. I strongly believe in positioning myself for future development and staying relevant. Saving Changes...
NEHRU NAGAPPANPM Consultant| Project Leadership AcademyShah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Timely. I am pondering on whether to pursue PfMP as well. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Eric,
I agree with Kiron and also tend to agree with Thomas too.
In terms of career advancement, I haven’t yet seen any job post with PgMP or PfMP as a requirement or prerequisite asset. I mostly see PMP as a prerequisite for jobs applications and thats very recent within the past 2 - 3 years so imagine how many years have PMP been there, it started gaining traction in terms of job vacancies in the past 5 years or so ( Maybe in the states, there was more traction). PgMP and PfMP are not yet very well known globally and I personally am not sure if they can help with career advancement at this stage.
I have been managing program since 4 years now and looked at getting the PgMP but ended up with the conclusion that probably at this stage, PBA will add more value so I deferred the PgMP for later although I believe it will add tremendous value in terms of education and knowledge beyond what Ive learned from the PMP journey. One more thing to add, the certification fee for those two certificates is quite high so between the exam, books, online simulation exams and so on, you will end up spending $1,200 US as compared to $600 for other certifications - Its all about benefit to cost. Saving Changes...
RAJESH K LProject Manager, PMP| Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, IndiaBengaluru, Karnataka, India
PgMP & PfMP with required exposure & experience is required Saving Changes...
I noted in the last PMI magazine that there are about 750+/- PfMP holders, compared to approx 900k PMP holders. I was actually quite shocked. I really didn't think the figure would be so low. I have recently been tasked with taking on our company's PMO and I figure I may as well look into future accreditation. My concern is that PfMP is not well-known so it mightn't be meaningful to some algorithm or inexperienced recruiter. I've never seen PfMP requested in Irish job ads anyway. To be honest, I do think the PfMP criteria are off-putting. I'll probably go with Axelos for this one - a 40m exam is much more doable for a busy professional.
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1 reply by Peter Botond Mihok
Nov 12, 2019 3:18 AM
Peter Botond Mihok
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Hi Orla,
As a side note you might check eg AIPMO's IPMO certs or PMO GA's PMO-CP for getting a PMO cert.
Peter
Saving Changes...
Asif GulConsultant Project Manager| Energoprojekt EntelMuscat, Oman
I also don't see much benefit in doing PgMP or PfMP, because as i understood most of useful information, processes & tools & techniques on Project Management are already well covered in PMP.
Alternatively,to grow further it may be advised to pursue Business Education .i.e MBA, which really provide a great insight and understanding of how businesses operates and help climb the career ladder to Higher Management positions within organisations. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Mar 18, 2018 4:46 PM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
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The motivation to get the PgMP for me was to get better, develop myself, curiosity. These are also career benefits. Others I know did it too for gathering titles. I do not think a direct monetary benefit can be logically expected. Even if research indicates that PMPs earn more than non-PMPs, statistically, each persons situation is different. There are too few PgMPs probably to provide similar results.
Just because there is a correlation between PMP certifications and higher paying jobs does not make it a causation. (I suspect the same motivation that you use to get a certification is what gets you the higher paying job.) Saving Changes...
Wow, some of these comments are surprising. Folks, in most organizations despite being accountable for governance, the head of the PMO has little or no authority in enforcing organizational governance on the projects and programs run by the PMO.
There are layers and levels above the knowledge and pay grade of PMP holders in most organizations - that require the full scope/range of knowledge of PMI frameworks, protocols, standards and best practices. These levels/layers of project management professional directly engage in defining organizational strategy and objectives - things beyond the PMP's exposure and skill set and into the realm and level of the "C Suite".
Thus we have the emerging and ever increasing creation of the Chief Project Officer, the executive C-level where the authority and control would be afforded to implement organizational governance (assurance that risks at the organizational level are managed appropriately and resources are expended and utilized responsibly). The Chief Project Officer aligns the organization’s project portfolio with its strategic plan, assesses risk, spots conflicts or inefficiencies between existing or proposed projects.
Or as has been better said, "Chief Project Officer as an executive responsible for project execution as well as participation in strategy formulation, implementation of organizational change, and responsibility to ensure organizations attain and sustain the maturity levels that best serve their needs”.
This is above the skill set of the PMP, out of the domain of knowledge of the MBA. An MBA does not have the background to step into the Chief Project Officer role. The path starts from the PMP - PgMP or PfMP or both, and then with performance into the C Suite as the Chief Project Officer.
A Chief Project Officer will have extensive experience in managing strategic change through projects, programs, and portfolios and holds a clear vision of “what it takes” to manage and successfully deliver programs and projects. They would need to have broad experience with tools and techniques, methods, and implementation in planning, execution, change control, benefits realization, benefits tracking, etc.
PfMP and PgMP holders are highly sought globally.
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Oct 01, 2019 1:56 PM
Stéphane Parent
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Hey Andrew! I'm curious as to where those certifications are sought. I previously worked for global companies and have not seen that demand.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Oct 01, 2019 12:59 PM
Replying to Andrew Smith
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Wow, some of these comments are surprising. Folks, in most organizations despite being accountable for governance, the head of the PMO has little or no authority in enforcing organizational governance on the projects and programs run by the PMO.
There are layers and levels above the knowledge and pay grade of PMP holders in most organizations - that require the full scope/range of knowledge of PMI frameworks, protocols, standards and best practices. These levels/layers of project management professional directly engage in defining organizational strategy and objectives - things beyond the PMP's exposure and skill set and into the realm and level of the "C Suite".
Thus we have the emerging and ever increasing creation of the Chief Project Officer, the executive C-level where the authority and control would be afforded to implement organizational governance (assurance that risks at the organizational level are managed appropriately and resources are expended and utilized responsibly). The Chief Project Officer aligns the organization’s project portfolio with its strategic plan, assesses risk, spots conflicts or inefficiencies between existing or proposed projects.
Or as has been better said, "Chief Project Officer as an executive responsible for project execution as well as participation in strategy formulation, implementation of organizational change, and responsibility to ensure organizations attain and sustain the maturity levels that best serve their needs”.
This is above the skill set of the PMP, out of the domain of knowledge of the MBA. An MBA does not have the background to step into the Chief Project Officer role. The path starts from the PMP - PgMP or PfMP or both, and then with performance into the C Suite as the Chief Project Officer.
A Chief Project Officer will have extensive experience in managing strategic change through projects, programs, and portfolios and holds a clear vision of “what it takes” to manage and successfully deliver programs and projects. They would need to have broad experience with tools and techniques, methods, and implementation in planning, execution, change control, benefits realization, benefits tracking, etc.
PfMP and PgMP holders are highly sought globally.
Hey Andrew! I'm curious as to where those certifications are sought. I previously worked for global companies and have not seen that demand. Saving Changes...
I just happened onto this thread today while pondering the PgMP myself. In fact, I'm trying to decide if doing any additional PM certs is worthwhile as I'm a consultant with my own business and I'm starting to see a lot of postings that ask for SAFe Agilist in combination with PgMP. I'm not sure about global requests, but in the US, there is definitely an appetite for additional certs beyond the PMP. (Amazon, Google, Federal space, as well as others). I am also seeing a huge rise in the number of remote opportunities that are asking for advanced PM or specialty type certs.
If you search indeed.com and enter any number of the advanced certs, you will find jobs listing $150K+ and much higher contract rates ($80+). While it wouldn't net me a lift in salary/contract rates, it would provide more opportunities to add contracts over and above the PMP and my security certifications. For a full time W2 type role, it's still not as good as a Director/VP level job but it really just depends on whether you want to do Program or straight People/Strategy management for your money. My two cents... great discussion, I'm happy to have stumbled onto it today so that I could see other professionals and their experiences in the field. Saving Changes...
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