Project management is one of the world’s fastest-growing professions. Earning a project management certificate is not only a great way to advance your career, position yourself as a valuable asset in your organization, and earn a larger salary, but it is also a great way to stay ahead of your peers.
The Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certification are two popular and in-demand certification options. Both of these certifications are provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI), and understanding the differences between them is critical in deciding and selecting the right course that fits your career goals.
In this blog, we will examine the differences between PMP and CAPM certification, including cost, difficulty levels, prerequisites, and industry demand, so that you can make an informed decision to advance your career.
CAPM vs. PMP Certification: Which Is Better for You?
Let us begin by understanding the differences before determining which course is best for you. In layman’s terms, CAPM is a beginner-level certification, whereas PMP is a professional-level course.
As a result, the prerequisites for CAPM are much lower than those for PMP, and the CAPM exam is thought to be easier and less expensive. Having said that, PMP certification is more well-known, more prestigious, and is more likely to earn you a higher salary.
The Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM)® certification will help you stand out from the crowd and improve your effectiveness and credibility while working on various projects.
The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification course, on the other hand, is an industry-recognized qualification. Obtaining a PMP certification will improve your work methodologies in any industry, regardless of the complexity of the projects you manage. This course covers a wide range of project management techniques and tools. This will boost both your earning potential and your confidence in your work.
What is the distinction between CAPM and PMP?
The Advantages of the CAPM and PMP Certifications
CAPM and PMP each have their own set of advantages. Let’s take a look at each of them.
If you want to get a CAPM certification, you should know that it will increase your efficiency and help you stand out in the industry. The following are some of the advantages of taking a CAPM course:
A renowned professional body in the industry has recognized your success.
You will be respected by your peers and project management professionals.
increased self-assurance in your abilities
Progress in one’s career
Possibility of earning a higher wage at work
When compared to PMP certification, it is less expensive.
If you have decided to pursue the PMP certification, you will benefit in the following ways:
Professional acclaim from your peers and the industry as a whole
Enhanced knowledge and experience in the project management process
Salary is higher when compared to uncertified project managers.
a broader range of job options
increased professional accountability
When compared to CAPM certification, this certification has a higher level of recognition.
Both of these courses provide you with access to a variety of professional resources as well as an international network of other certificate holders.
What are the CAPM and PMP Certification Exam Difficulties?
Before we get into the difficulty of the exams, let’s look at the similarities between the CAPM and PMP exams.
Both the CAPM and PMP exams use a Guide To The Project Management Body Of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) as a foundation for their exams, but they are not the same.
Both exams are computer-based and use a multiple-choice question format. Paper tests may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.
Both exams contain non-scoring questions. Because the participant will not know which questions are non-scoring, it is critical that they answer all of the questions on the exam.
Both of these exams are passable with the proper training and guidance. KnowledgeHut offers exam preparation and mock tests to help aspirants ace their exams in a single sitting (hyperlink CAPM and PMP pages from KH)
Exam Requirements for CAPM vs. PMP
The CAPM exam has fewer guidelines than the PMP exam because it is designed for entry-level professionals with little to no project management experience. The PMP, on the other hand, necessitates more time and effort and is intended for professionals with project management experience. Let’s take a closer look at the requirements.
CAPM Certification requires a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate degree, or globally accepted equivalent) and 23 hours of project management education prior to taking the exam. You may want to consider taking an exam preparation course to fulfill this requirement. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification, for example, both prepares you for the exam and fulfills the education requirement.
PMP Certification: There are two paths to consider when pursuing a PMP Certification.
Option number one:
Secondary Education (high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent)
60 months of project management experience
35 hours of project management training or a CAPM certification are required.
Option number two:
A four-year diploma
36 months of project management experience
35 hours of project management training or a CAPM certification are required.
If you have an active CAPM certification, PMI will waive the 35-hour education requirement for the PMP exam.
What to Expect from the CAPM and PMP Exams
As previously stated, there are many similarities between the CAPM and PMP exams. Both are designed by PMI and administered by Pearson VUE and adhere to the PMBOK Guide. Both exams cover some of the same topics, and neither allows for the use of reference materials during the exam. However, each of these exams has some distinguishing characteristics. They are as follows:
Is it possible to convert a CAPM to a PMP?
You might wonder if it is possible to convert a CAPM to a PMP. Because the CAPM is the first level of your PM journey, it serves as a stepping stone to the PMP certification.
While a CAPM cannot be upgraded to a PMP, obtaining a CAPM will undoubtedly help you pursue a PMP certification. You will be able to apply the project management education hours you gained while studying for the CAPM exam toward your PMP exam prerequisite. However, you cannot upgrade your CAPM certificate to a PMP certificate unless you also sit for and pass the PMP exam.
If you are just starting out in project management, a CAPM certification can be a great first step toward becoming a PMP and successfully shaping your career as a project manager, with higher pay and recognition.
Conclusion
To summarize, we’ve gone over the differences, similarities, and prerequisites of each of these courses. Both the PMP and CAPM certifications can help an aspiring project manager advance in their careers.
If you are new to project management, CAPM is a good place to start because it is an entry-level certification. Having a CAPM certification means you can be competent in associate in project management. However, if you have the necessary experience in the project management field, PMP should be your go-to course to advance your career, as CAPM would do little for you in terms of career development.
Both of these certifications have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. They are both highly recognized certifications, and as a certification seeker, you should base your decision on what you are eligible for and your ultimate goal.
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