Project Management Certification Program is the most in demand credential that is offered by the Project Management Institute to people who qualify the PMP exam. It is a globally acknowledged certification that validates a person’s knowledge and experience in managing projects effectively. Most middle or senior level project management positions require the person to be a certified PMP professional. The PMP exam is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge that describes five basic process groups and ten knowledge areas that are common to most projects. When you become a PMP professional it is a proof to your potential employers that you have the knowledge of best practices, tools and techniques required to manage a project successfully. There are certain requirements that need to be met before a person can join the Project Management Program. The basic prerequisites are 35 hours of project management education and experience of leading and directing project (7500 hours if a person has a high school diploma and 4500 hours if a person has a four year degree). A candidate who meets these requirements and passes the PMP exam is awarded the PMP certification.

Getting a PMP certification requires a significant amount of time, effort and money. Then let’s know why people find it worth doing.

It opens up a plethora of career avenues and increases ones employability. Recruiters use this certification to narrow down their applicant’s pool. They know that a certified professional has proven experience in project management, so they use this as a qualifying criteria.

Globally recognized certification gives one the opportunity to work in any industry anywhere in the world.

A PMP certified professional earns 20% higher salary on an average than a non-certified counterpart.

The knowledge of the best practices in project management helps one to complete projects on time and within budget. The person is able to show better project performance, and this increases his marketability.

Demand for project managers is continually on the rise. A PMP certification bolsters the candidate’s resume and helps him cash in on this growing demand.

Role of a PMP Professional

The core responsibilities of a Project Management professional includes

Understanding and managing the needs of diverse stakeholders.

Defining the scope of the project and baselines for time and cost.

Planning and Initiation of the project

Facilitating the development of work breakdown structure

Creating team structures, project schedules and estimates

Overseeing the execution of the project and managing costs, schedules and teams to deliver results.

Reporting the progress of the project

Providing feedback on performance of the project

Obtain sign off on completion

If you have the requisite project management experience then you need to apply and pass the PMP exam. If you become a PMI member you will be eligible for discount on exam fees and gain instant access to the latest edition of Project Management Body of Knowledge. Register for the exam and choose a date so that you have sufficient time to study. Usually 3 months is sufficient time for you to get prepared for the test. The exam consists of 200 questions which are based on the Project Management body of knowledge. One can do an independent study to pass the exam. But a formal training course will better prepare you for the exam and increase the success rate to 95% vis-a-vis independent study where the chances are roughly 60%. If you enrol yourself for a training program you will get access to ample PMP Training Resources that will help you understand the concepts of PMBOK. Practice tests will give you an idea of the kind of questions you can expect. They also prepare you to complete the questions within the stipulated time. You need to appear in person in order to take the exam in a testing center. If you clear the exam you will become a certified PMP professional.

How well one studies for the exam makes the difference between clearing or failing the PMP exam. Various Online Training resources are available that are designed to teach you about the full scope of the project management processes and knowledge areas defined by the PMBOK. You gain useful insights into various advanced concepts and strategies relating to cost management, time management, scope management etc.You also learn how to manage the entire project management cycle from planning to final sign-off. Enrolling in these online courses helps you pass the exam in the first attempt. Instructor led training, updated e-learning content, case studies, scenario based questions, quizzes, simulation tests ensure that you gain full confidence to crack the exam. Some institutes offering these courses also give money back guarantee which means one gets a full refund in case one fails the exam. You also get PDUs and 35 Contact hours certificate which is required to take a PMP exam.

A PMP professional definitely has an edge over others while moving up a career path. PMP salaries posted by various job sites shows a clear difference between people with and without a certification. So gear up, to get this most sought after credential and increase your employability.

An author of this article is certified project management professional at Ace Web Academy. AWA online is offering the PMP online training certification course for professionals and aspirants.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9857116