It has been reported that the need for Project Managers will continue to increase in the upcoming years, which is why if you want to pursue a serious career in Project Management, you’ll need a professional certification that can help you be a strong contender among your peers. That’s where PMP or Project Management Professional certification comes into account, as it provides you with the extra edge to build a much-needed credibility report in the industry. With that in consideration, in this guide, we’ll be taking a look at some of the significant PMP certification benefits along with all its other relevant aspects. 

PMP eligibility criteria:

Before we start discussing whether PMP certification is worth it, it’s time to learn about the eligibility criteria:

• At least a four-year degree.

• At least 4500 hours of experience in project handling & management.

• At least 35 hours of education or training in Project Management.

However, if you have a diploma or secondary degree, you can still obtain the benefits, if you can fulfill the following:

• Present a high-school diploma or secondary degree.

• Obtain at least 35 hours of Project Management education or training.

• Obtain at least 7500 hours of experience in directing & leading projects.

PMP Certification Exam Details

The PMBOK or Project Management Body of Knowledge is used as the general guide for testing all the aspirants who are planning to obtain the PMP certification. The certification exam is based on the following performance domains:

• Project Initiation

• Project Planning

• Project Execution

• Controlling & monitoring the project

• Project closure

The exam will have 200 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) and it’ll be a closed book, meaning no reference material will be provided during the examination.

Is PMP worth it?

PMP certification advantages for employees (or candidates)

1. Uniqueness

When you’ll obtain the PMP certification, you’ll already be equipped with a deeper knowledge regarding the ways through which you can execute any type of project. As a result, you’ll be able to set yourself apart from your peers or colleagues. 

2. Growth of the career

When you obtain a PMP certification, you’ll be able to take your career to the next level because of achieving international recognition. Most modern-day organizations out there tend to look for certified PMP professionals, which can indeed lead you to a good job profile.

3. Better pay

There's no denying that having a PMP certification for your job profile will fetch you much higher pay than a non-certified professional. Since your accreditation is internationally based, you can effortlessly demand more salary for your job. As per recent reports, PMP professionals generally earn almost 20 to 25 percent higher pay than non-certified professionals.

4. Better management of projects

The PMP certification that you’ll be achieving will help you to effectively manage your projects in the organization that you’re working. in a much more efficient manner. As a result, you’ll have the opportunity to bring enhanced improvement in your overall Project Management experiences. 

5. Better job opportunities

In recent years, the process of Project Management is evolving rapidly and due to the increase in the requirements over time, the number of job opportunities has also opened up quite well. Nowadays, Project Managers tend to be in high demand, and in case you have the PMP certification in your resume, then you'll be able to find more opportunities. 

6. Ability to enhance your skills

The PMP certification will help you to improve your overall skill set and thereby learn the best practices so that you can perform Project Management optimally. You'll be able to train efficiently & swiftly with your project execution mechanism, leading to overall company performance & growth. 

Benefits of PMP certification to an organization (or employers)

1. Staying ahead of the competition

In case you're spearheading an organization, then recruiting PMP employees will be highly advantageous in the long run. The main reason behind such a stance is that - since Project Management is always in high demand and is extremely competitive, hiring a candidate who is PMP certified will be a major asset to your company. 

2. Ability to implement new procedures

When you’ll be hiring a PMP-certified candidate for your organization, you’ll be able to carry out new tactics and tricks for your company’s Project Management needs. As a result, the overall growth of the company will be highly boosted, leading to better motivation among employees and the ability to be goal-oriented. 

3. Filtering the best candidates

Since the PMP certification is globally recognized, you’ll have the opportunity to find talents across the entire world. When you make PMP a major requirement, the hiring process becomes much straightforward. As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy the best available talents for your organization.

4. Obtaining new projects

When you hire PMP professionals, you can expect an increased success rate, because they're highly capable of handling the project more smartly. These professionals use updated techniques, skills, tools, and methods to help the organization obtain new projects in the long term. 

5. Better customer satisfaction

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that your clients always expect the best possible service or products from your organization. This is the reason why obtaining customer satisfaction is highly necessary, which can only be achieved through a strict discipline schedule in Project Management and thereby delivering successful projects. And when you’ll hire PMP-certified professionals, obtaining the aforementioned perks would become achievable. 

6. Enhance the work culture

The internal work culture inside an organization improves especially when certified managers are leading the projects of the company. As a result, the team members will be able to learn about the managerial lessons from the upper management, thereby improving the overall standard of projects and work ethics. 

Conclusion

Even though you might think that the process of PMP certification might be time-consuming, expensive, and difficult at first - at the end of the day, PMP benefits alone make it worth it in the long term. It should come as no surprise that the certification adds immense credibility to your overall resume, leading you to build your skills further to enhance your career.