Gain insights into the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification, a high-demand credential for new and aspiring Project Managers. Discover how CAPM certification can lead to lucrative careers, increase opportunities, and provide a competitive edge on job applications.
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an entry-level professional certification in project management. It is highly recommended that new and aspiring Project Managers become CAPM certified, especially if they have yet to gain experience managing projects professionally.
If you’ve always wanted to earn CAPM certification but can’t figure out how to get started, this guide is for you. Here, you’ll learn more about the various ways to learn CAPM certification, free resources to take advantage of, and the careers that commonly use CAPM certification.
CAPM stands for Certified Associate in Project Management. CAPM is a professional certification for Project Managers with little to no experience or for aspiring Project Managers interested in launching a new career in project management.
CAPM is the most entry-level professional certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). CAPM certification is highly recommended for new and aspiring Project Managers with less than three years of experience. Gaining CAPM certification will make you stand out on job applications, increase your salary and opportunities, and ensure you have the necessary training and credentials to launch a new career as a Project Manager.
Project management is a very hot career path. A Project Manager is responsible for managing a project, including planning, organizing, monitoring, directing, and completing various elements of that project. PMI estimates that project management jobs will see a 33% increase over the next five years, with 22 million new project management jobs created by 2027. The exploding demand for Project Managers will lead to around 90 million jobs in the U.S. that require project management skills.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global education, networking, and professional association for Project Managers. They have been largely responsible for defining the field of project management for the past few decades through the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). PMI offers certification programs, has local chapters in more than 80 countries, organizes academic and market research programs, and offers professional development for project management professionals. PMI’s more advanced Project Management Professional (PMP) is the gold standard in project management certification.
Read more about CAPM Certification and why you should learn it.
CNBC calls project management “a great way for people with non-tech backgrounds to earn lucrative tech salaries.” The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is the world's leading entry-level project management certification. Earning a CAPM certification will make you stand out on the job market, open the door to more opportunities, and increase your salary.
We are in the golden age of project management: some of the industries with the largest growth in project management jobs include construction and manufacturing, information services, management and professional services, utilities, and oil and gas. Across industries, Project Managers make above-average salaries. According to PMI, the median annual salary for a Project Manager is around $116,000. The average U.S. salary for all occupations is around $50,000, which means that becoming a Project Manager would most likely nearly double your salary. For example, in an interview with CNBC, a Project Manager reports that switching from higher education to project management more than tripled her salary.
CAPM-certified Project Managers earn even more than their non-certified colleagues: PMI reports that CAPM certification results in around a 25% salary increase.
CAPM certification is used for aspiring and entry-level Project Managers in every industry. Traditionally, project management jobs have been clustered in construction and engineering. However, every industry now recognizes the need for Project Managers.
Some industries hiring the most Project Managers include manufacturing and construction, information services, finance, management and professional services, utilities, and oil and gas. The healthcare industry, which is experiencing less growth in project management jobs than other industries, is still seeing a 6% increase in hiring Project Managers. That’s around the same rate for all occupations in the United States.
Project management is a very hot career path. The Project Management Institute (PMI) estimates that project management jobs will increase by 33% over the next five years, with 22 million new project management jobs created by 2027.
Project management is a skill-based field, meaning your skills are more important than formal education. It is also a relatively new field that is still establishing its career paths and expectations. PMI’s CAPM certification is the top professional certification for aspiring and entry-level Project Managers. Project Managers who are CAPM certified have more job opportunities, are more likely to get hired, and earn higher salaries. PMI estimates that CAPM-certified Project Managers earn 25% more than non-certified Project Managers.
If you’re serious about becoming a Project Manager, then it is recommended that you seek Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. CAPM certification benefits include a higher salary, demonstrating your capabilities, more job opportunities, better understanding of project management practices, and industry-recognized credentials.
CAPM-certified Project Managers earn around 25% more than non-certified professionals. The average annual salary for a CAPM-certified Project Manager is around $101,000. More senior Project Managers earn a lot more, with a median annual salary of around $125,000. Earning a CAPM certification can help you get hired: it allows you to demonstrate that you have training in project management practices, theories, and methodologies.
Read more about CAPM Certification.
If you’re interested in pursuing a new project manager career, you’ll want to consider earning the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), CAPM is the top entry-level professional certification.
Earning a CAPM certification will lead to more project management job opportunities, a higher chance of getting hired, and an increased salary: CAPM-certified Project Managers earn around 25% more than non-certified, entry-level Project Managers.
Live classes, either in-person or online, are the most recommended way to train to pass the CAPM-certification exam. One huge advantage of live classes includes real-time interaction with an expert instructor, leading to greater networking and mentorship opportunities. Some schools, such as Noble Desktop, ensure that all of the instructors in their project management courses are PMP-certified Project Managers.
If your CAPM certification class is happening live, you’ll be able to ask questions and collaborate with your classmates and instructor in real time. You may think of live classes as only happening in person, but live online classes work exactly like in-person classes. CAPM certification courses can be difficult to find if you don’t live in a major city or tech hub. You can gain access to an expert instructor and world-class instruction methods no matter where you live. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool to find live online CAPM certification courses.
On-demand courses are a popular online training option. Typically, these courses are delivered through a series of pre-recorded video lectures. Some on-demand courses may be delivered through email lessons directly into your inbox if you’re using on-demand courses to study for the CAPM certification exam. On-demand courses are easy to access and usually affordable. They can also be great for people with very little free time since on-demand courses can be accessed anytime from anywhere. They’re also great for those who might be interrupted since they can be paused and restarted anytime. Some potential drawbacks of on-demand CAPM certification classes include the need for more expert instruction, mentorship, and networking opportunities. On-demand courses may also be out-of-date, which can be especially negative if you’re using it to pass the CAPM certification exam, which is updated often, most recently in 2024.
You can find free introductory CAPM certification courses online. YouTube can be a great resource for free introductory CAPM certification and other project management resources. For example, Noble Desktop offers free online videos for several topics relevant to project management, including Microsoft Excel and using Python for Data.
Read more about how to learn skills required to pass the CAPM Certification exam.
If you’re still unsure if you’d like to pursue project management and CAPM more seriously, free introductory online courses can be a great way to explore your interest. You can learn the basics without the time and financial commitment of a bootcamp or more serious course.
The most highly-requested skill on entry-level Project Manager jobs is Microsoft Office proficiency. You’ll need to develop skills in using Microsoft Excel to become a Project Manager. Noble Desktop’s free introductory Microsoft Excel course is a great way to build project management skills.
There are also free introductory resources that describe the CAPM certification process, both the process of taking the certification exam and the content covered within it. For example, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers free introductory project management courses through its YouTube channel.
Before taking the CAPM-certification exam, PMI requires you to complete “23 contact hours” of formal project management education. While free introductory courses and online videos can be excellent for learning the basics, PMI will not count toward the 23 hours of project management education required to take the CAPM-certification exam. If you’re serious about earning a certification, you’ll need to complete these 23 hours from a trusted source, such as a training school like Noble Desktop.
Read about more free resources available for those seeking CAPM Certification.
Earning a professional certification could seem intimidating, especially if you’re totally new to project management. However, the CAPM is designed for new and aspiring Project Managers. Rather than focusing on professional experience managing projects, CAPM certification requires you to demonstrate knowledge in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and the four primary domains: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts, Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies, Agile Frameworks, and Business Analysis Frameworks. How long you prepare for the exam depends on which training format you choose and your learning style.
There are two prerequisites to becoming CAPM certified: a secondary degree (a high school diploma or associate’s degree) and 23 hours of project management education. It is important to note that self-directed study will not apply to the education prerequisite, including watching online videos and reading books. You’ll need to choose an approved learning method, such as the Project Management Bootcamp offered by Noble Desktop. This bootcamp is a great way to learn project management from a PMP-certified Project Manager and complete education hours toward this requirement.
Becoming CAPM-certified isn’t as expensive as you might think. You’ll need to pay an application fee to take the certification exam, which typically costs around $225 to $300. The other cost will come from taking an instructor-led course that qualifies toward the education prerequisite. Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp costs around $450. This means that you could become CAPM certified for less than $1000.
Read about prerequisites for CAPM Certification.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) has created the terminology, practices, and methodologies that define the field of project management. PMI’s professional certifications are considered the gold standard for Project Managers. Their two most popular certifications are the entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and the more advanced Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
CAPM Certification is the top certification for aspiring and entry-level Project Managers. If you’re new to project management, you’ll want to consider CAPM certification. Doing so will provide potential employers with evidence of your credentials as a Project Manager.
PMP certification is PMI’s more advanced professional certification for Project Managers. Unlike CAPM certification, you must have on-the-job experience as a Project Manager to earn PMP certification. Before applying for the PMP certification exam, you must accrue at least 60 months of professionally leading projects.
The American Society for the Advancement of Project Management (IPMA) also offers professional certificates in project management. For example, their Certified Project Management Associate certification, like the CAPM certification, is intended for aspiring and entry-level Project Managers. However, IPMA’s certifications are not as universally recognized and sought-after as PMI’s certifications, especially CAPM and PMP.
Deciding the best way to prepare for CAPM certification depends on how you plan to use your certification. If you’re planning to launch a new project management career, you’ll need to choose a more rigorous training method, such as a live class.
If you’re a total newbie to project management and still exploring it as a potential career interest, then introductory courses and free resources can be a great choice. They allow you to learn more about project management without making a large commitment of your time and money. While these resources can be excellent for exploring an interest, once you’ve decided to launch a new career as a Project Manager, you’ll want to start accruing more formal education hours toward CAPM certification.
The Project Management Institute (PMI), which administers the CAPM certification, requires a minimum of “23 contact hours” of project management education before you can sit for the exam. PMI does not accept self-directed learning, such as watching instructional videos or reading books. You’ll need to select a training method that fulfills this requirement, such as the Project Management Bootcamp offered by Noble Desktop.
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is the top professional certification for new and aspiring Project Managers. Earning a CAPM certification is highly recommended for anyone serious about pursuing a new career in project management. Being CAPM-certified will create more job opportunities and lead to a higher salary: reports show that CAPM-certified Project Managers earn around $101,000, 25% more than non-certified entry-level Project Managers.
There are prerequisites to taking the CAPM exam. Before you can apply to take the CAPM-certification exam, you will need to have 0 to 3 years of project management job experience, a high school diploma, and 23 hours of project management education. Enrolling in a bootcamp like Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp is a great way to accrue the required education hours to take the exam.
Noble Desktop is a coding, business, and design school that offers project management courses live online and at its state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. All of Noble Desktop’s project management courses are taught by PMP-certified Project Managers using Noble Desktop’s highly-rated, unique approach to learning: expert instructors teach a “micro-lecture” and then immediately guide students through applying what they just learned. This unique approach to training ensures that students learn the skills they need to get hired.
Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp is highly recommended for aspiring Project Managers and those seeking CAPM certification. Students are guided hands-on through managing real-world projects to develop skills in the five phases of project management, foundational project management concepts and terminology, project scope, resource management, project costs and budgeting, and risk management. Students also get an overview of several Agile Project Management Frameworks: Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), and Kansan. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to demonstrate their credentials.