Bita Beigishah
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an accredited PMI project management credential. This certification can open you up to opportunities in the project management world quickly.
With project management careers in overwhelming demand, stand out to hiring manager with CAPM.
Before we get into what CAPM is, first we need to make sure you are eligible for the credential.
CAPM Qualifications
To be eligible for a CAPM certification, you must meet both educational and professional prerequisites. There are two different paths to register for a CAPM certification.
Path 1:
Have a secondary diploma (meaning a high school diploma or global equivalent) AND at least 1,500 hours of professional experience on a project team.
Path 2:
Have a secondary diploma (again, either a high school diploma, or a global equivalent) AND 23 contact hours of formal education (college, or training courses on project management).
If you fulfill either of these qualification paths, PMI qualifies to apply and enroll in a CAPM certification course.
So what will you learn?
What is CAPM all about?
CAPM is the entry-level certification in PMI’s line of project management certifications. The main goals of this course are educating you on the fundamental skills, terms, and processes, which are considered global standards.
You can see the full course outline on our CAPM course page.
Why is CAPM valuable for career advancement?
Well, this certification shows employers that you are wise beyond your years. For instance, if you are fresh out of high school/college and actively looking for a position in project management with no work experience, good luck. I don’t mean to be blunt, but it is the simple truth. In today’s job market, work experience is imperative. Even though there is a growing demand for project managers, and that demand will not slow down anytime soon, it is a growing demand for experienced project managers.
This is where a CAPM can come in handy.
You may not have any experience. You may only have the minimal 1,500 hours of work experience needed to participate in the training course, which is less than a years worth of full time work. Yet, you want a pay raise or to become the lead manager on larger projects. CAPM can get you that raise or take you to the next level of management.
This credential validates your knowledge and makes your employer, or a hiring manager, know that you are well versed in project management standards. CAPM can essentially replace lack of experience. Hence, that is why this credential is so valuable.
Obtaining a CAPM credential can jump start your career in the lucrative field of project management.
The CAPM Exam
To become CAPM certified, you need to pass an exam. Shocking, I know, but do not let this deter you. This exam is “very passable.”
The exam is pretty straight forward and comprises 150 multiple choice questions. Out of the 150 questions, 135 are scored. The other 15 questions are considered pretest questions. Why PMI does this? I have no idea. You have three hours to complete the computer-based testing, which is PMI’s standard method of testing.
Download Info About Attaining a CAPM Certification
Nothing left for you to do now besides signing up for a class, killing the exam, and stuff your wallet with more dinero. With that being said, if you are interested in the exam, exam preparation courses, or other credentials PMI offers, take a second to fill out the below form. Once you do, then download a pdf with all the info you need to know about CAPM.