Delve into the realm of project management certifications with special focus on Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) qualification. Learn why CAPM certification might be an ideal choice for aspiring project managers or professionals with little to no experience in the field.
Key Insights
- CAPM Certification is an entry-level professional qualification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), ideal for aspiring Project Managers with less than three years of experience.
- The demand for Project Managers is expected to see a 33% increase over the next five years, creating 22 million new project management jobs by 2027.
- Project management is a very lucrative field, with the median annual salary for a Project Manager being around $116,000. CAPM-certified Project Managers earn about 25% more than their non-certified counterparts.
- Certifications are different from certificates, with the former being earned by passing third-party exams, while the latter are completion-based and awarded after completing specific training programs.
- Noble Desktop offers project management bootcamps and certificate programs, where attendees are guided by a PMP-certified Project Manager and earn a digital certificate in project management.
- To become CAPM certified, one needs to have a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, or an equivalent, along with 23 hours of contact education from a trusted provider.
If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in project management, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have many questions, such as should I get certified? Should I seek a certificate or a certification? How do I prepare to become certified? This article aims to provide answers to these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward a CAPM certification. Keep reading to find out more.
What is 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.
What Can You Do with CAPM Certification?
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.
Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?
Certifications are typically earned by passing a third-party exam. Some popular professional certifications in project management include the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Scrum Master.
Certificates are typically completion-based: you complete a course or training program in project management and earn a certificate at graduation. For example, graduates of Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp earn a verified digital Certificate in Project Management, which is sharable on LinkedIn. A certificate lends credibility to your resume and can help get you hired, especially if you have no prior experience managing projects.
Top Certifications & Certificates for Project Management Skills
Project management is a skills-based field, meaning experience and certifications are more highly sought after than formal education. For example, the advanced Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is typically preferred over a graduate degree in business or management. However, you’ll need several years of real-world experience managing projects professionally to apply.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) for new and aspiring Project Managers. CAPM is an entry-level professional certification that requires no professional experience. To become CAPM certified, you’ll need to meet a few prerequisites, apply for the exam, and pass the exam.
Noble Desktop is a business, coding, and design school that offers project management bootcamps and certificate programs both live online and at its state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. All of Noble Desktop’s project management classes are taught by a PMP-certified Project Manager. Graduates of their Project Management Bootcamp earn a verifiable, digital certificate in project management and accrue necessary hours toward becoming CAPM certified.
Should I Get Certified in Project Management Skills?
It is highly recommended that new and aspiring Project Managers earn a certificate or become CAPM certified to demonstrate their skills. Around 22 million new project management jobs will be created by 2027. Gaining certification in project management could lead to a lucrative new career.
How to Get CAPM Certified
The Project Management Institute (PMI) created the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) as their entry-level professional certification. Although there are prerequisites, they are significantly less intensive than other project management professional certifications.
To become CAPM certified, you will need a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, or the global equivalent. You’ll also need to complete 23 hours of “contact education” before you can apply to take the CAPM-certification exam. PMI does not allow self-guided training, such as watching online videos or reading books, to count toward the education requirement. You’ll need to complete these hours before you take the exam from a trusted provider, such as Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp.
Once you’ve completed the required project management education hours, you can apply to take the CAPM-certification exam. It is recommended that you join PMI for a discounted exam fee; if you are a current student, PMI allows you to bundle your membership and certification fee into a single price. Once you’ve applied to take the CAPM-certification exam, you will have three attempts within one year to pass the exam. The exam has 150 questions that you have to answer in 3 hours. If you do not pass the exam within three attempts, you must wait a year to reapply.
You must also maintain your certification by completing Professional Development Units (PDUs).
Learn CAPM Certification Skills with Hands-on Training at 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.
Key Insights
- After you’ve become CAPM certified, you will need to maintain your certification by completing professional development hours.
- Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project proficiency is highly recommended for new and aspiring Project Managers.
- You can receive comprehensive CAPM certification training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.