Project Management Certifications: CAPM vs PMP - Which is Right for you?
Project management is in high demand these days due to the lucrative career choice that it offers. Therefore, project managers are in tall order in all kinds of industries. When we think about Project management, we think about PMP. But not everyone can get the PMP credential because of its eligibility criteria. If you want to get a project certification but have little to no experience in the field, then you can consider getting a CAPM certification.
In this article, we will compare CAPM vs. PMP - the two popular project certifications.
PMP and CAPM are the best certifications for project managers in 2022.
Hence if you need more clarification about the fact that you should go for the CAPM course or PMP course, then this article will aid you in making an informed career choice. Learn more about the CAPM course ahead.
Basic differences between CAPM and PMP
Let’s first understand the basics - CAPM vs PMP Definitions
What is CAPM or what is CAPM Certification?
CAPM is an entry-level certification for individuals who are aspiring to be project managers. As a certified associate project manager, you can augment your chances of getting better-paid jobs.
What is PMP?
PMP refers to a globally recognized certification offered by the PMI institute. It is the most sought-after certification in the project industry. By completing the PMP certification, you increase your credibility to the employers and portray to them that you have all the expertise to run a project successfully.
If you are skeptical about whether to take up CAPM or PMP certification first, then we would recommend you to take up the CAPM certification training first.
CAPM vs PMP exam
CAPM is an important stepping stone for your project management career.
Now let us understand some important questions like,
- CAPM vs PMP exam difficulty
- CAPM vs PMP exam preparation time
- CAPM vs PMP certification value
How Hard is the CAPM Exam?
It is not a cakewalk, but if you have prepared well, you may ace it. Hence, the CAPM exam difficulty depends on the amount of preparation you have done. You may need to burn the midnight oil and take help from the previous study materials. The CAPM study material is available on the internet. You can refer to multiple websites to get ahold of the best study guide. In addition, you can join a professional institute that will assist you with a handbook and help you get a good score in the CAPM certification exam.
CAPM Exam Preparation
To crack the CAPM exam, you may need a robust study plan. It is recommended that you study for around 45-60 hours in total to pass this examination with flying colors.
CAPM vs PMP Certification Value
Is CAPM Certification Worth It?
Yes, doing CAPM training and taking the certification is worth it, as it will increase your job prospects and give you more visibility to the recruiters. Also, if you are an entrepreneur having a CAPM certification will boost your confidence and help you get more potential sales leads.
The cost of the CAPM exam and the cost of CAPM training is worth the value spent as they will give you more return on investment. Therefore, a certified associate in project management gets a better pay package than an ordinary individual.
Is PMP certification worth it?
Undeniably getting the PMP credential is quite costly, but finishing it will give you the edge over others and will be recognized more in the job market. Hence, getting a PMP credential will give you better job prospects in new and existing companies. You can expect faster promotions and better salary hikes in your present organization after completing PMP.
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CAPM vs PMP Cost Comparison
Cost of CAPM Certification
The cost of the CAPM exam varies depending on whether you are a member of PMI or not. The CAPM PMI certification will cost around 225 USD. On the other hand, if you are not a member of the PMI, then the CAPM cost will be 300 USD. In case you fail, the re-examination cost is 150 USD for CAPM PMI and 200 USD if you are not a member of the PMI.
How much does the PMP exam cost?
The PMP exam cost depends on whether you are a member of the PMI institute or not. For non-PMI members, the exam fee is $555, and for PMI members the price is much lesser, it is $405 only.
Benefits of CAPM Certification
Taking CAPM course can give you lots of advantages in your career. Let’s look into some of them:
CAPM certification gives you global recognition. It is acknowledged globally. Hence if you get this certification, you will have better opportunities in the global market.
CAPM increases your career prospects and gives you a better pay scale. With this, you will always have an advantage over the others who do not possess this degree. Also, after getting the certification, you can demand a better pay package.
It prepares you for the PMP exam. So in case you are confused between PMP and CAPM, then you must do the CAPM course first and then the PMP.
The CAPM value will always remain high for both the organizations as well as individuals.
CAPM vs PMP - Understanding Prerequisites
CAPM Requirements
CAPM course has fewer standards as compared to PMP. You will need a high school degree and around 1500 hours of project management experience or 23 hours of Project management education.
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Prerequisites for PMP Certification
For doing a PMP, you will need
- A secondary degree like a high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent
- A project management experience of 60 months and 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM certification
Or
- You may need a four-year degree, 36 months of project management experience in the last eight years, and 35 hours of project management education or CAPM certification
Now let’s understand the critical questions related to PMP and PMP examination:
Is a Project Management Certificate Worth It?
Yes, a PMP credential is worth it as it increases your earning potential and enhances your job prospects.
Who should do PMP certification?
If you are aspiring to be a project manager, then you must take up PMP training. However, there may be some eligibility criteria. Let us investigate the prerequisites for PMP.
Firstly, you would require a four-year degree which can be a bachelor’ or equivalent from a reputed institute and a project management experience of three years or more. In case you just have a secondary degree, then you would require a project management experience of five years or more. It would be important to check the eligibility criteria before you appear for this.
PMP Certification Levels
The project management certification levels can be categorized as below:
- Certified Projects Director (Level A)
- Certified Senior Project Manager (Level B)
- Certified Project Manager (Level C)
- Certified Project Management Associate (Level D)
CAPM vs PMP salary
Both the PMP and CAPM courses will help you to get excellent remuneration from the company. However, the CAPM vs PMP salary analysis is crucial to make the right decision.
CAPM Jobs and CAPM salary
You must be wondering how much a CAPM course will help you make. To answer this question, a certified associate in project management salary or a CAPM certification salary would be around USD 92000 per annum. The entry-level CAPM jobs will give you a remuneration of 5500 USD per month on average. Therefore, the CAPM designation is more than enough to get you a decent pay package.
PMP Jobs and salary
As a PMP-certified individual, your earning capacity increases to 25% compared to your peers who do not have the PMP certification. The PMP starting salary or the entry-level PMP salary will be approximately ten lakhs INR, and as the senior project manager, you can earn around 25-26 lakhs per year or even more. Of course, the salary depends on many other factors, such as geographical location, company performance, individual performance, etc.
Suggested Read - Complete Guide to Project Management
Which is better - PMP vs CAPM?
Both PMP and CAPM certification will assist you in your project management career, but PMP is better if you are experienced and want to withdraw a better pay package.
CAPM will assure you a good start and will give you the confidence to run a project successfully. Both PMP and CAPM certification will a good career boost. Also, a certified associate in project management is worth it as it will aid in the PMP preparation. You can start with CAPM and aim for PMP next.
Both PMP and CAPM certifications are accredited by PMI. To get started, you can take up CAPM training or PMP training. Be sure to take up training from an authorized training institute like Sprintzeal. It is a REP (Registered Education Provider) of PMI, the governing body. To get full details about PMP or CAPM training from Sprintzeal, chat with course experts.
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