Teaser: Gain an edge in your project management career with Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. This article provides a comprehensive guide on the benefits of CAPM certification, essential education requirements, and various training formats to help you prepare for the certification exam.
Key Insights
- CAPM is the entry-level professional certification for Project Managers, highly recommended for individuals with less than three years of experience. It increases job prospects and salary potential.
- Project management is a rapidly growing field, with PMI estimating a 33% increase in jobs over the next five years. A career in project management can nearly double your salary, with the median annual income around $116,000.
- Noble Desktop's Project Management Bootcamp offers an excellent way to earn the required project management education hours for CAPM certification, providing both in-person and online live courses.
- Although free online courses and tutorials can provide an introduction to project management, PMI does not count self-directed learning towards the 23 hours of formal project management education required to take the CAPM certification exam.
- Noble Desktop provides on-demand CAPM certification training through pre-recorded video lectures, although these would not count towards the PMI required hours.
- Upon gaining CAPM certification, Project Managers can expect an average salary increase of about 25%.
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is the entry-level professional certification offered by the Project Management Institute. To become CAPM certified, you’ll need to meet some education requirements, including 23 “contact hours” of project management education. You’ll want to make sure that any training you do will be counted toward this requirement. When comparing types of CAPM certification training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your experience.
Keep reading to find out more about the different formats of CAPM certification training, how they compare to each other, and how to determine which is best for you.
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.
Training Formats for CAPM Certification Skills
The Project Management Institute (PMI) will not count “self-directed study” toward certification, which includes reading books and watching online videos. These can be great for learning the basics, but if you’re serious about becoming CAPM certified, you’ll need to complete the required education hours. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool is a great way to find project management courses in your area.
If there’s no class in your local area, you might consider enrolling in a live online course, which works exactly like an in-person class. You can ask your instructor questions, interact with your classmates and instructor in real-time, and earn the required hours toward taking the CAPM-certification exam.
All of Noble Desktop’s project management courses are offered live online and taught by a PMP-certified Project Manager. For example, their Project Management Bootcamp is an excellent way to train for the CAPM-certification exam and earn the project management education hours required to become certified.
In-Person CAPM Certification Skills Training
In-person training is the most traditional way to train for a new career or learn new job skills. Learning from an instructor in person can offer advantages in networking and mentorship; this can be especially important to those who are completely new to project management or don’t know any Project Managers.
PMI requires 23 hours of project management education before taking the CAPM certification exam, and taking an in-person course is an approved learning method. Finding a recognized project management course in your local area may be difficult if you don’t live in a major city or a tech hub. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool to find in-person project management courses in your area.
Even if in-person CAPM certification courses exist in your area, taking an in-person course can have drawbacks. You’ll need to factor commute time into your training schedule if you've already got a busy schedule. However, enrolling in an in-person course with a campus can be beneficial. For example, Noble Desktop provides computer labs, student lounge access, coffee, and high-speed WiFi for everyone enrolled in its in-person classes.
Live Online CAPM Certification Skills Training
In-person training is the most traditional way to train for a new career or learn new job skills. Learning from an instructor in person can offer advantages in networking and mentorship; this can be especially important to those who are completely new to project management or don’t know any Project Managers.
PMI requires 23 hours of project management education before taking the CAPM certification exam, and taking an in-person course is an approved learning method. Finding a recognized project management course in your local area may be difficult if you don’t live in a major city or a tech hub. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool to find in-person project management courses in your area.
Even if in-person CAPM certification courses exist in your area, taking an in-person course can have drawbacks. You’ll need to factor commute time into your training schedule if you've already got a busy schedule. However, enrolling in an in-person course with a campus can be beneficial. For example, Noble Desktop provides computer labs, student lounge access, coffee, and high-speed WiFi for everyone enrolled in its in-person classes.
Free Online Courses & Tutorials
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.
On-Demand Classes
On-demand CAPM certification training includes free and paid online resources. Because the course is on-demand, you won’t interact with a live instructor. Instead, most on-demand courses are delivered through pre-recorded video lectures. Some on-demand email courses deliver written lessons directly into your inbox.
On-demand courses are more flexible than live instruction because you can learn at your own pace. You can pause, rewind, and restart whenever you need. This makes on-demand courses more accessible for people who don’t have the time to commute to an in-person course.
On-demand courses are often a more affordable option than live instruction. However, the cost is typically less because you’re not paying for a live instructor, have no access to computer labs or WiFi, and have free retake options. You’ll have to do all of the preparation for your new career on your own.
It is important to note that PMI will not count “self-directed learning” toward your required project management education hours. This includes reading books and watching instructional videos. You’ll need to complete 23 hours of formal project management training before you can take the CAPM-certification exam.
Comparison of CAPM Certification Skills Training Formats
To become CAPM certified, you must meet the prerequisites for taking the CAPM-certification exam. You must have a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, or the global equivalent. You must also complete 23 hours of instructor-led project management education. On-demand training and free online resources will not count toward this requirement. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool to find project management courses in your area.
If there are no in-person classes in your area, you should consider enrolling in a live online class. Because they’re happening live, they work exactly like an in-person course and count toward meeting PMI’s education prerequisites for taking the CAPM certification exam. You can ask questions, interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time, and even ask questions. For example, Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp is offered live online or at its state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan.
Is it Possible to Teach Yourself CAPM Certification Skills?
To become CAPM certified, you’ll need to meet the education requirements. The Project Management Institute (PMI) will not count self-directed study toward the education requirements. This includes watching online videos and reading books.
If you’re serious about becoming CAPM certified, you’ll need to complete a structured, instructor-led project management training course, such as the Project Management Bootcamp offered by Noble Desktop.
It’s also important to note that PMI released a new version of the CAPM certification exam in early 2024. You’ll want to ensure that any training method you choose is updated for the new exam material.
How to Decide the Best Way to Learn CAPM Certification Skills
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.
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.