Why Are You Procrastinating on Your Professional Registration in 2023?

Attention: Aspiring PMI-PMP and SACPCMP PrCPM/PrCMs

The reality is that procrastination will not help you get closer to your certification goals. Another thing to remember is that it's better to get registered now rather than later in your career because, in most cases, the most valuable experience that employers or potential business associates will consider is experience gained after certification.

I believe we've seen this in a number of tender requirements, and the more experience you have after certification, the more points you get. A PrCPM with less than 3 years of CPM experience post-certification and possibly 15 years of experience prior to certification will undoubtedly score much lower than someone with 6 years of CPM experience post-certification and possibly 10 years of total experience.

It doesn't make sense to just look at the number of years of CPM experience after certification, does it? But we know how the rules work, so we need to better position ourselves; otherwise, we will always use people's CVs and certifications for tender submissions without their permission, or enter into contracts with registered professionals despite not knowing their work ethic.

Most government tenders or job opportunities require registered professionals. Even private sector opportunities require it; so, how does procrastination help you when you want to grow and increase your chances of success or outweigh the fierce competition in the marketplace? Why aren't you positioning yourself better?

Getting registered is a must-have in the built environment; otherwise, you will always feel left out. You may have procrastinated in the last two to three years, but 2023 provides another opportunity to close the gap before things worsen.

Many organizations and professionals provide mentorship services to assist built environment professionals in becoming certified. Some are free, while others charge a fee, and still others are fortunate to have internal mentors or coaches who provide this type of support within their organizations.

The situation may not be ideal, but we must prioritize these certifications so that we do not miss out on employment and business opportunities.

Even businesses could get away with hiring a certified professional at the Director level, but now clients expect shareholders to be certified; what does this mean or tell you? This is the industry's direction, and the rules may not be as stringent at this point, but I'm not sure what the situation will be in a year or so.

With such fierce competition in the market, it makes more sense for a professional or business to invest in professional registrations simply to be considered and have the opportunity to defend yourself in an interview if it's a job opportunity or to pass through the functionality stage if it's a tender.

The economy is changing, and the built environment is slowly adapting to those changes, and there is a greater supply of professionals looking for opportunities in a market with fewer opportunities. How much worse do you believe it is to compete with registered professionals if you are not registered?

Although it is still early in the year, there are numerous companies and professionals offering their services; you simply need to find one that meets your specific needs and expectations.

The PMP certification process can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks, depending on experience, commitments, and familiarity with the PMI methodology.

The SACPCMP PrCPM process takes at least four weeks for you to prepare your submission and three months for the council to respond to you, plus another month for the professional interview. So, if everything goes well in the interview, the process could take up to 4 to 5 months.

These certifications are achievable, and I believe you can change your career within a year.

South African Council for Project & Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP)

Project Management Institute

PMI South Africa Chapter

Myirha Consulting Engineers & Project Managers (Pty) Ltd