Project Management Certification Worldwide Today!

1. A differentiator against the competition - When employers are interviewing, the competition is often stiff. If you have the certification, and the other person does not, you are at a definite advantage. Sometimes it can be helpful to earn 2 related but somehow complementary certifications, like the PMP and PRINCE2.
2. Plugs you into 2 new communities - You will be immediately plugged into the community of those who are is earning the certification, and more gradually into the broader community of those in that profession. For example, if you are going for your PMP certification, you will immediately have something in common with other hopefuls, and you will quickly find networking opportunities through classes, the web, and meetings. The same holds true once you have earned the project management certification; you become a "member of the club". An example is being a PMP certified member of a local PMI chapter.
3. Gives you confidence that you have met rigorous requirements - When you have set your sights on a goal, put together a plan, work hard, and reach it, you gain confidence, which spills over into all aspects of your life. For example, earning the PMP certification gives you some additional confidence in the project management arena. Earning a PRINCE2 certification on top of the PMP would surely raise your confidence a notch.
4. Gives you tools to draw upon when needed - Having gone through all of the study and hard work, you have mastered a new body of knowledge. Put it to use as soon as you can! The idea is not to look for problems to match the tools in your toolset, but to have a rapidly expanding toolset from which to draw just the right tool when you see the opportunity.
5. While it is said that "experience is the greatest teacher", a certification "rounds you out". Often, experience is strong in some areas, but not in others. Like education, experience rounds you out, giving exposure to ideas and approaches outside your comfort zone. There is not enough time to gain experience at everything, so education and certification helps fill some of that gap by giving us exposure to problem solving skills across the whole spectrum of project management. In addition, being able to think outside your experience is an ingredient of leadership.
6. You can be a better mentor - The ability to mentor is based greatly on experience, but the best mentors can reach beyond their experience. They are able to extrapolate from their experience, and relate it to someone else's entirely new and different experience. It is not only a great feeling to mentor someone, but is also a career growth opportunity in itself.
7. Establishes you as a continuous learner - Employers are always looking for people who never want to stop learning. Learning is a value held in high esteem in today's economy, and those around you will respect and admire you for it - and sometimes even be a little jealous! It is only positive to have a reputation as a continuous learner.
8. Will enable you to make more money - Often, earning a certification - such as the PMP, PRINCE2, Six Sigma, and others - can quickly lead to compensation increases of 20% and more. Not only do you have more knowledge and a broader project management toolset, but you also have the official project management certification as evidence.
9. Enables you to better evaluate the talents and skills of others - With the discipline to master the material for the certification, you are in a better position to evaluate the skills of others. You have had the opportunity to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses in the process of earning the certification, and have a broader understanding of the skills and toolsets that are required, and what project management skills can be effective in certain situations.
10. Gets your foot in the door in the new area - Many career changers turn to certifications to get themselves into a new area. For example, many technical people who want to advance will earn the PMP certification in order to move into a position of greater responsibility.

Project Management Certifications Worldwide

There are a number of project management certifications available worldwide. Get familiar with what project management certification or certifications are most prevalent and respected in your industry or region of the world. Here is a quick summary of what they are about, and links to learn more.

1. Prince2 - Prince2 is the de facto standard used extensively by the UK Government and is widely recognized and used in the private sector, both in the UK and internationally most prevalently in the UK and Europe, Australia, and Canada.
2. AIPM - Australian Institute of Project Management - This project management certification - there are several levels - is primarily geared toward Australian professionals and organizations, although it is based on international standards and best practices.
3. CompTIA Project+ - CompTIA Project+ is inexpensive, has no prerequisites, requires no continuing education, and there is no application, but there is a test based on international standards.
4. Project Management Institute (PMI) PMP and CAPM - The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is the most widely known and accepted worldwide. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is entry level and does not require experience.
5. IPMA - International Project Management Association - This Swiss organization - the oldest in the project management profession - is primarily comprised of national project management associations worldwide. It does not offer its own certification, but rather is a sort of clearinghouse for the various worldwide project management organizations and corresponding PM certifications.
6. APMC - Advanced Project Management Certification - This is a specialized advanced certification for senior project managers who complete "The Kerzner Approach to Best Practices". It could be an additional differentiator for those who already have a certification.
7. American Academy of Project Management (AAPM) - MPM^TM Master Project Manager, CIPM ^TM Certified International Project Manager ^TM or PME ^TM Project Manager E-Business ^TM certifications are by application based upon completion of approved education, which looks to be exclusively by education institutions, and not private businesses.
8. BrainBench certification in Project Management - The test is based on the PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). BrainBench specializes in "Delivering easy-to-use assessment products that predict success on the job."