Critical path to getting certified as a Project Manager: The CAPM?Route
Oluwadamilare Faborode, PMP
Business Operations | Project Management | PMP Certified
As a rookie who has developed interest in ensuring plans, processes, procedures and resources within a system are well coordinated and optimized to achieve results per time, you have probably thought to yourself, it is high time I test my professional knowledge and acquire the coveted Project Management Professional (PMP) certification while doing so.
Hold your horses.
It is highly recommended to get certified as a PMI recognised Project Manager first by going for the Chartered Associate of Project Management (CAPM) certification. This entry level PM certification is pretty straight forward and considered less challenging when compared certification process for PMP.
As we know ideas become realities through projects. The process of obtaining the certification in itself should be regarded and executed as a project being sponsored and managed by the fellow in question, however at your own pace.
With the minimum qualification of a high school diploma (WASSCE/A-level equivalent) and the 23 contact hours of formal education with any of PMI’s Registered Education Providers (REP), you are a step closer to getting the CAPM certification.
Here is a quick breakdown of all the processes:
Plan for the exam
Planning basically entail mentally preparing and settings aside 24–48 hours spread over for 14- 28 days for studying, applying, taking mock tests and sitting for the actual test. At this point, it is expected that also must have gotten the most official learning material — 6th edition of PMBOK, the Bible of project management. There are about 850 pages, but the information is repeated, so it’s far less scary than it seems.
Enroll with a PMI Registered Education Provider:
PMI requires that every student of Project Management gets tutored on the contents of the PMBOK. Hence, they accredited Registered education providers to deliver online lectures in form of explainer videos, conduct mock tests and issue training certificates to participants after the completion of the course.
I would highly recommend Whizlab’s $30 CAPM Self Study Training. Other CAPM training programs I would recommend are:
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Register on PMI.org
When you are satisfied and fully convinced by your performance in the mock test provided in the training course and also having received the official training certificate from the REP, you can then proceed to go on to apply for the CAPM certification on pmi.org.
Thankfully you don’t have to be member of PMI to be able to apply CAPM certification. Applying for the CAPM certification costs $225 for PMI members and it costs $75 more for non-member to apply for the same certification. However, if you are currently a student, it is cost effective (plus some added PMI benefits) to apply for membership. You get to be a student member at $32 as compared to the standard $139 for non-students. So you see, If you are a student, take full advantage by applying for membership before applying for the CAPM certification. If you are not a student, I would advise to just go ahead to apply for the certification as a non-member.
In all, have a budget between $330 and $400
Once your application is submitted and selected, you will be required to submit audit materials. Audit materials to be submitted for CAPM are your high school diploma certificate and the CAMP training certificate for the REP. PMI typically processes in 5–7 days.
Make Payment and schedule exam date
Next step is complete payment and schedule date for the Examination
Go to test center for your exam on the scheduled day for the exam. Be time conscious
PS: Your certification cycle begins the day you pass the exam and are bestowed the credential. The total validity period for the CAPM certification is 5 years. In my opinion, that is more than enough time to accrue proper Project Management experience to apply for PMP certification.