1. Adds value to the resume

There are several professional certifications that you can pursue throughout your career. But, among all of those, PMP certification is the most valuable certificate programme. Interviewers looking to fill in a position of a project manager understand this. Hence, they tend to prioritize profiles with PMP certification over those which do not have such certification.

Project management jobs are high in demand. So, in most cases, several people apply for these jobs. It is time and resource consuming for the company to interview and assess the potential of all the applicants. As such, they like to filter out as many people as possible before the project management interview process. This is where the PMP certification proves beneficial as it is one of the most objective ways in which one can shortlist the candidates.

Furthermore, many companies are making it mandatory to have a PMP certification. It means you cannot even apply for some positions without these credentials.

PMP certification can also be extremely valuable if you plan to advance in the current company you are working at. It puts you way ahead of your colleagues in terms of moving up the career ladder. Also, a certified manager can do much better in a gruelling project management interview than a non-certified one.

2. Provides Industry recognition

PMP certification is universally recognized. Many certification programmes focus only on a specific domain or geography. PMP on the other hand, is global and works with any industry and in any location. So, regardless of the professional background and industry, you can gain by adding the certification to your resume.

What is the PMP certification value in the market? Data show that as the number of certified project managers increases within a company, the success rate of projects also increases. Also, the companies recognize that certified managers are better at completing the project on time and within the budget.

If you are just starting out your career in project management, then PMP certification will make up for the lack of experience. Say you are experienced and have a proven track record of your work. Then PMBOK certification can take you to the next level in your company.

3. Helps you learn important skills

There are many project managers out there in the job market. In such a scenario, how do you stand out from the crowd? What better way to do it than by becoming PMP certified? It makes your resume more attractive to companies. More significantly, PMBOK certification teaches you important skills to excel in your career.

PMP certification has high standards. As such, it is not easy to clear this exam without extensive preparation. Moreover, it requires you to master the practical application of the material. Attaining PMP credential will include learning several hard and soft skills. It builds the knowledge of fundamental project management processes tools & techniques and methodologies. Further, it exposes you to best practices and current trends in project management. You can also learn new tricks and techniques in project management activities.

Want to keep growing in your career? You cannot do it without becoming better at what you are doing currently. Experience may teach you to improve how you manage projects. But, a certification can do the same thing in a lesser span of time.

4. Contributes to higher income

The biggest draw of PMP certification is the higher salary it can bring to the project managers. Across the industry, the average salary of certified project managers is considerably higher. A recent PMI survey states that the average median salary for a project manager with certification is $ 1,08,000. In contrast, the median income for a non-certified project manager is only $91,000.

Another survey shows that certified project managers earn almost 20{b70d0765ca39f2596dbc297ea355d977781cb3f8756e7593c30ded776020f4ad} more than the non-certified ones. This trend can be seen all over the world including in Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Among women, PMP certified holders earn a lot more than female, certified professionals in other fields.

What’s more? PMP has consistently been the highest paid IT certification. Also, the trend indicates that PMP salaries will only continue to grow in the future.

Apart from higher income, PMP certification improves your job security. Some companies value the core competencies learned through certification during downtime. Hence, PMP credential helps you fight a potential lay off better than not having one.

5. Provides networking opportunities

PMI currently has about 773,840 active PMP certification holders across the world. When you sign up as a PMI member, you become part of that club. PMI arranges frequent meetings for members in major cities across the world. These meetings are also arranged to help the members earn Professional Development Units (PDUs). These units are needed to fulfill Continuous Credential Requirements, also called as CCRs. These are essential to keep the certification for three years.

The benefits of such networking sessions are many. During these meetings, one can get to know about any new job opportunities that are shared by people who value this certification. PMI meetings allot specific time to advertise such jobs. And there are other online and offline communities through which PMPs interact with each other. These communities help in building professional networks. Further, this certification allows a person to mentor the other PMI PMP aspirants.

6. Validates your dedication to the job

As mentioned above, there are certain conditions which are needed to be met before getting PMP certified. If you are an associate, you require 60 months of experience to be eligible. On the other hand, a person with a bachelor’s degree requires 36 months of work experience. PMP certification has high standards. A potential employer understands that clearing the exam takes dedication to the job. It indicates that you are serious about making project management your long-term career path.

An employee who invests in learning is a big asset for the company. A PMP certification symbolizes your drive towards improving your professional abilities, credentials, knowledge. It also helps you command respect among peers and team members.

We asked some of the certified project managers the question ‘Is PMP worth it?’

This is what they had to say:

“My answer is yes. PMP certification provides credibility, enhances employment opportunities and growth and gives an edge. It helped me learn techniques like EVM, Critical Path etc, These, in turn, helped me manage, lead and direct projects in a better way. Also, the global project management community helps you stay updated with new methodologies.To sum up, PMP certification enhances one’s knowledge and increases project success rate” – By Jagadeesh Rossi PMP

“PMP certificate shows that you have the skills and knowledge that match all the PM prerequisites. Your capabilities as a certified PMP enable you to contribute to organization’s strategies. Well-adapted and executed project management principles can lead an organization to success. This is the reason most organizations are making PMP certificate an important criteria. PMI – PMP certification is a globally recognized certificate. So, go ahead to take PMP certification and explore the opportunities in project management!” – Ankit Rastogi, PMP