CAPM Certification for Project Managers
If you are an entry-level professional looking to get ahead in your career, consider obtaining a CAPM certification. Project management offers a useful set of skills that can be applied to a multitude of careers and industries, and project managers are consistently in high demand by employers. The average salary for the occupation is $96,000, according to a Project Management Institute survey.
What is project management?
Project management is the practice of leading a team to achieve a set of defined goals. One of the main challenges of project management is achieving project goals within constraints such as time, experience and monetary resources. According to “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge,” the processes of project management fall into one of five process groups. The PMBOK® Guide is published by PMI, a leading association that governs project management certifications and standards. It explains that the five process groups are as follows:
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring and Controlling
- Closing
The two most common types of project management philosophies are predictive and adaptive. Professionals utilize these sets of ideas to solve problems within their organization. Predictive project management (waterfall or traditional) advocates for defining specific project objectives at the beginning of the project, while adaptive project management uses a newer and more flexible set of principles often associated with agile or hybrid approaches. One key difference is predictive project management seeks to deliver a project deliverable by a specific due date, while adaptive project management aims to deliver in sprints or releases.
What is the CAPM certification?
The Certified Associate in Project Management is offered by the PMI. Designed for those with minimal project experience, the CAPM certification demonstrates your knowledge in the terminology and processes of project management. The certification is recognized all over the world and is considered to be the premier certification for entry-level managers. Obtaining the certification comes with many advantages.
First, the CAPM can help boost earning potential and help you obtain positions with more prestigious titles and enhanced responsibilities. The fact that the certification can be applied to a wide variety of industries and careers is an additional benefit. It is easier to qualify to take the CAPM exam than other project management designations such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
To qualify for the associate exam, you need a high school diploma or global secondary education equivalent. You also need 23 hours of formal project management education.
What is the CAPM exam format?
The CAPM exam consists of 150 questions that must be answered within three hours. There are a specific number of questions devoted to different management subject areas. The exam question percentage breakout is as follows:
- Introduction to Project Management (6%)
- Project Environment (6%)
- Role of the Project Manager (7%)
- Project Integration Management (9%)
- Project Scope Management (9%)
- Project Schedule Management (9%)
- Project Cost Management (8%)
- Project Quality Management (7%)
- Project Resource Management (8%)
- Project Communication Management (10%)
- Project Risk Management (8%)
- Project Procurement Management (4%)
- Project Stakeholder Management (9%)
The exam consists of all multiple-choice questions and there is only one correct answer for each question. Every correct answer receives one point. Unfortunately, the PMI does not release information on the number of points required to pass the exam. Results are typically available via email within four weeks.
What are the certification costs?
While some may consider the CAPM to be an expensive test, those who obtain the certification are making a valuable long-term investment in their careers. The cost to take the exam is $225 for PMI members and $300 for those who are not members.
Is the CAPM certification exam hard?
While the CAPM test is not as difficult to conquer as the notoriously difficult PMP exam, it does take time, effort and determination to pass. You will need to make an effective study plan and thoroughly understand the PMI’s project management framework as outlined in the PMBOK to be successful. Unfortunately, the PMI does not release information regarding pass and fail statistics. This lack of information makes it more difficult to prepare for the test.
According to PMI, the most important sections of the PMBOK Guide when it comes to preparing for the exam are chapters three through six. If you have the time, it is a good idea to memorize the most important concepts found in these chapters. If you want to pass the CAPM exam, it is a good idea to enroll in a CAPM certification online training course. Brain Sensei’s courses are comprehensive and will ensure you are familiar with all of the relative concepts.
CAPM Certification Online Exam Preparation
The cost to enroll in Brain Sensei’s Complete CAPM Exam Prep Course is $349.99 for six months of content access. All courses are self-paced and offered online so you can complete assignments and exams on your own schedule. There is no need to travel to a campus or other designated study location. You can access the course content whenever you want from the comfort of your home or office. Brain Sensei’s training course provides comprehensive preparation for the CAPM certification online exam. All enrolled students have access to the following interactive materials:
- 9 learning modules
- Multiple self-assessments for each module
- 4 full practice exams with 600 questions that mimic the actual test
- Our interactive samurai story and challenges
The course comes with a 100% pass guarantee so there is no risk involved with the purchase. If you fail your first or second test attempt, you get an additional 90 days of access to all course components at no cost. The course also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. You can email the course administrator within seven days of the initial purchase to receive a full refund if you are not satisfied for any reason.
Which exam prep option is best?
There are many options when it comes to preparing for the CAPM certification online test. You can choose to study independently using the PMBOK Guide and other study materials or you can take an in-person or online prep course. Studying independently is sometimes difficult because students don’t know which information to focus on and finding the motivation to study can be hard without a concrete study outline. There are many in-person prep courses available. These courses are instructor-led and require you to attend classes typically on a weekly basis for a designated length of time. In-person courses tend to be more expensive than online options. Online courses such as Brain Sensei offer all course material in a virtual classroom environment. Distance learning options have many advantages, including affordability, flexibility and effectiveness.
CAPM Careers
Obtaining a CAPM certification is a great tool for entry-level professionals who are looking for career growth opportunities. Because the CAPM is for individuals with minimal experience, it is a great way for young professionals to show their project management competencies in a tangible way. There are many career opportunities for those who hold a CAPM certification:
Project Manager
Project managers work in a multitude of industries, including technology, construction, manufacturing and government. They oversee short- and long-term projects, usually under the direction of a senior project manager. Key responsibilities include managing communications, participating in stakeholder and client meetings, overseeing budgets, developing project plans and assigning work to employees.
Associate Project Manager
Associate managers work under the supervision of a lead project manager. The main goal of this role is to increase and facilitate effective communication between the team and the project manager. Specific job responsibilities can include supervising employees, handling logistics and assisting the project manager.
Operations Project Manager
Operations project managers work under the direction of a senior lead on multiple short and long-term projects. Key responsibilities include overseeing product quality and employee productivity. Operations managers may need more specialized experience or education.
Engineering Project Manager
To land a position as an engineering project manager, you will likely need industry experience or education, but this role offers a higher salary than general project management positions. Main duties generally include establishing best practices to meet safety regulations, creating customer retention strategies and developing product plans.
Business Analyst
Business analysts typically work independently or as part of a project team. Analysts with limited experience may also work under the direction of a lead business analyst. Key responsibilities include evaluating business data, creating dashboards to display data metrics and communicating complex data to leadership and stakeholders. While all of the careers mentioned above will require specific experience depending on the employer and the industry, having a CAPM certification listed on your resume can really help you stand out to hiring managers. The CAPM certification can also put you in the running for promotions if you plan to stay at your current job for the time being.
Enroll in Brain Sensei CAPM Certification Course Today
If you want to become a CAPM project manager but have limited experience, obtaining a CAPM certification can help demonstrate your management competencies to potential employers. While the CAPM test is not as challenging as the PMP exam, you will need to prepare to be successful. To enroll in a CAPM prep course that prepares you to pass the exam on your first attempt, contact Brain Sensei today. Our courses are online, self-paced and affordable. All courses also come with a 100% pass guarantee so there is no risk involved.