PMI (Project Management Institute) is a non-profit certification body that is popular for its PMP (Project Management Professional) credential. It is also well known for its Project Management Body of Knowledge, which is a collection of standards and best practices for the project management professionals. PMI offers education/certifications, advocacy, research, project management tools, networking opportunities, and many other resources to its over 3 million professionals in the project management field.

PMI is well-known for its credentials, which have become globally accepted in project management. Earning a PMI certification can boost your career potentials in the competitive job market. There are different levels of credentials offered by PMI. It is important to point out that no PMI certification is a necessary requirement for any other PMI credential. In other words, you don’t have to earn a specific certificate before you can earn another. You can choose your certification program based on your career need.

Becoming a certified PMI member comes with many benefits, both in the career world and as a member of the body. First, it gives you access to the digital edition of the PMBOK Guide and all PMI global standards. You can also enjoy some discounts on credential exams and re-certifications. There are eight different credentials you can earn in the PMI program and each of them has their different requirements and benefits.

Find below the details of the different certifications offered by PrepAway PMI:
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• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

CAPM is the entry-level credential of PMI. This credential is designed for specialistswith little relevant experience who are interested in pursuing a career in project management. By going through this certification program, you will understand the basic concepts, processes, and terminology of project management. You can check the official page of the CAPM certification to check the specific prerequisite for achieving thiscredential.

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

This is the most popular certification offered by PMI, and it is also one of the most respected and popular project management credentials in the world. Earning this credential can boost your career prospects and salary.

• Program Management Professional (PgMP)

The PgMP credential is designed for program managers who have the capacity to effectively multitask on different projectsand at the same time achieving the set business objectives. There are specific requirements that must be met before this certification can be awarded to a candidate. You can learn more about these requirements from the PgMP credential page.

• Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)

The PfMP credential is aimed at professionals who manage a company’s business portfolio, programs, operations, and monitor projects to match business priorities and objectives. To earn this certification, a candidate must have a minimum of 8 years of professional experience. Candidates will also be required to submit an application for the credential and pass an exam.

• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

This certification is intended for specialists who are very experienced in agile practices of project management. These professionals should be able to display expertise in using appropriate techniques and tools in an effective manner. Earning this credential requires that you have a recent experience in an agile project. You can find the details of the prerequisite for achieving this credential on the certification page of PMI-ACP.

• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)

This certification validates the candidate’s skills and knowledge in planning, managing project processes and risk strategy, analyzing special issues, monitoring and reporting risks.

• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)

The PMI Scheduling Professional credential is aimed at professionals who have skills in working on complex projects. These professionals are versed in creating and maintaining a project schedule, as well as ensuring that the resources required for the project are available. Details of the prerequisite for achieving the certification are available on PMI-SP certification page.

• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

A PMI-PBA certified professional is equipped with eyes for details. One of the biggest factors that contribute to the failure of projects is inadequate requirements definition. A professional with this credential has what it takes to set more precise requirements definitions for all involved project stakeholders. This ultimately leads to enhanced project outcomes and business results. You can learn all you need to know about the certification on the official page of PMI-PBA.

PMI Career Path

It is important to reiterate that PMI certifications are independent of each other, which means that you do not necessarily have to achieve a particular credential before you pursue another. Although this is the case, it is still essential to chart a certification course to be able to have a logical progression in your credential quests. To help you with this, we have suggested a couple of certification pathways that you can follow to achieve your desired credential and attain your career objectives.

The first option is to start with the entry-level credential CAPM, and then progress to PMP. If you are looking at exploring program management as your specialty, after earning the PMP certificate, you can go ahead to pursue PgMP. Or,if you are considering portfolio management, you can get PfMP.

The second option is to start with CAPM and move to PMP or PgMP. After achieving either of these, you can go ahead to pursue the PMI-ACP certification for the agile management practices. Earning PMP or PgMP first is a great option if you are considering taking PMI-ACP, especially if you do not have the education or experience required for it. PMP or PgMP can be substituted for the requirements.

Conclusion

There are amazing job opportunities that are available to professionals with these credentials. If you want to grow your career in project management or any other field of PM, you should consider pursuing the PMI certification path.