Project Management Certifications

Professional certifications validate your knowledge and demonstrate commitment to the profession. This guide helps you understand the options and choose the right path for your career.

Why Get Certified?

Benefit Description
Credibility Demonstrates verified knowledge to employers
Career advancement Often required for senior roles
Higher salary Certified PMs typically earn 20%+ more
Structured learning Forces comprehensive study
Network Join professional communities
Global recognition Credentials recognised worldwide

Certification Comparison

Certification Issuing Body Best For Validity
PMP PMI Experienced PMs, global recognition 3 years
PRINCE2 Axelos/PeopleCert UK/Europe, structured environments No expiry*
AgilePM APMG Agile practitioners 3 years
CSM/PSM Scrum Alliance/Scrum.org Scrum teams 2 years / No expiry
CAPM PMI Entry-level PMs 3 years
APM PMQ APM UK-based PMs No expiry

*PRINCE2 doesn’t expire but many employers prefer recent certification

PMP (Project Management Professional)

Overview

The PMP from the Project Management Institute (PMI) is the most widely recognised PM certification globally.

Requirements

Requirement With Degree Without Degree
Education 4-year degree High school/secondary
PM Experience 36 months 60 months
PM Education 35 hours 35 hours

Exam Details

Aspect Details
Format 180 questions, multiple choice & other formats
Duration 230 minutes
Passing score Not published (scaled scoring)
Cost $555 USD (PMI member) / $405 USD (member)
Delivery Online proctored or test centre

Content Domains

The PMP exam covers three domains:

Domain Weight
People 42%
Process 50%
Business Environment 8%

Maintaining Certification

  • Earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) every 3 years
  • Pay renewal fee
  • Adhere to PMI Code of Ethics

Learn more: PMI Website

PRINCE2

Overview

PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is widely used in the UK, Europe, and Australia. It provides a structured methodology rather than a body of knowledge.

Certification Levels

Level Target Audience Prerequisites
Foundation Anyone starting with PRINCE2 None
Practitioner Those applying PRINCE2 Foundation
Agile Foundation Combining PRINCE2 with Agile None
Agile Practitioner Advanced Agile integration Agile Foundation or PRINCE2 Practitioner

Foundation Exam

Aspect Details
Format 60 multiple choice questions
Duration 60 minutes
Passing score 55% (33/60)
Open book No

Practitioner Exam

Aspect Details
Format 68 questions based on scenarios
Duration 150 minutes
Passing score 55% (38/68)
Open book Yes (official manual only)

Key Topics

  • 7 Principles
  • 7 Themes
  • 7 Processes
  • Tailoring PRINCE2 to the project

Learn more: Axelos PRINCE2

Agile Certifications

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Aspect Details
Issuing body Scrum Alliance
Requirements Attend 2-day course with Certified Scrum Trainer
Exam 50 questions, 60 minutes, 74% pass
Renewal Every 2 years, 20 SEUs + fee

Professional Scrum Master (PSM)

Level Details
PSM I 80 questions, 60 minutes, 85% pass, $150
PSM II 30 questions, 90 minutes, 85% pass, $250
PSM III Essay + multiple choice, 120 minutes, $500

Key difference: CSM requires training; PSM can be self-study.

AgilePM

Level Details
Foundation 50 questions, 40 minutes, 50% pass
Practitioner 4 questions, 150 minutes, 50% pass

Based on DSDM Agile Project Framework - good for project managers adopting Agile.

CAPM (Certified Associate in PM)

Overview

The CAPM is PMI’s entry-level certification for those with less experience.

Requirements

Requirement Details
Education High school or equivalent
PM Education 23 hours of PM education
Experience Not required

Exam Details

Aspect Details
Format 150 questions
Duration 180 minutes
Cost $300 (PMI member) / $225 (member)

Good stepping stone to PMP for those building experience.

APM PMQ

Overview

The APM Project Management Qualification is widely recognised in the UK and covers broad PM competencies.

Details

Aspect Details
Issuing body Association for Project Management
Format 10 questions, written answers
Duration 3 hours
Prerequisites None (training recommended)

Covers the APM Body of Knowledge - comprehensive UK-focused credential.

Choosing the Right Certification

Decision Flowchart

flowchart TD A[Starting Out?] -->|Yes| B{Prefer Agile?} A -->|No| C{Where do you work?} B -->|Yes| D[CSM or PSM I] B -->|No| E[CAPM or PRINCE2 Foundation] C -->|UK/Europe| F[PRINCE2 Practitioner] C -->|Global/US| G[PMP] C -->|Agile environment| H[AgilePM or PSM II] classDef blue fill:#108BB9,stroke:none,color:#fff class A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H blue

Questions to Consider

Question Guidance
What’s common in my industry? Research job postings in your sector
Where do I want to work? PMP is global; PRINCE2 stronger in UK/EU
What methodology do we use? Align certification with practice
What’s my experience level? CAPM/Foundation for beginners
What’s my budget? Some certifications are more expensive
How much time can I commit? Some require extensive study

Preparation Tips

General Advice

  1. Understand the exam format - Know what to expect
  2. Study the official guide - PMBOK, PRINCE2 manual, etc.
  3. Take a course - Structured learning helps (required for some)
  4. Practice exams - Familiarise yourself with question styles
  5. Join study groups - Learn with others
  6. Apply concepts - Relate to real project experience

Study Resources

Resource Type Examples
Official guides PMBOK Guide, PRINCE2 Manual
Training courses Classroom, virtual, self-paced
Practice exams Official and third-party
Study guides Rita Mulcahy, Head First PMP
Flashcards Key terms and concepts
Forums PM communities, Reddit

Cost Comparison

Certification Training Cost* Exam Cost Total Estimate
PMP £1,000-2,500 £350-450 £1,500-3,000
PRINCE2 Foundation £500-1,000 Included in course £500-1,000
PRINCE2 Practitioner £700-1,500 Included in course £700-1,500
CSM £800-1,500 Included in course £800-1,500
PSM I Optional £120 £120-500
CAPM £500-1,000 £200-250 £700-1,250

*Training costs vary significantly by provider and format

Certification Pathway

A typical career progression:

flowchart LR A[New PM] --> B[Foundation
CAPM/PRINCE2 F] B --> C[Practitioner
PMP/PRINCE2 P] C --> D[Specialist
Agile/Programme] D --> E[Expert
PgMP/Portfolio] classDef blue fill:#108BB9,stroke:none,color:#fff class A,B,C,D,E blue

Maintaining Certifications

Most certifications require ongoing professional development:

Certification Requirement Period
PMP 60 PDUs 3 years
CAPM 15 PDUs 3 years
CSM 20 SEUs + fee 2 years
AgilePM 20 CPD points 3 years
PRINCE2 None (no expiry) N/A

Certification Checklist

Before pursuing a certification:

  • Researched which certification fits your goals?
  • Checked prerequisites (experience, education)?
  • Budgeted for training and exam?
  • Allocated study time?
  • Chosen a training provider (if required)?
  • Registered for the exam?
  • Prepared using official materials?
  • Taken practice exams?
Last updated: 13 January 2026