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A PMP certification is a globally recognized credential that organizations worldwide demand, and some make it a mandatory pre-requisite. Earning a PMP certification is synonymous with earning a wide range of career opportunities. From joining a community of elite professionals to being headhunted by top companies, a PMP certification is an unmatched qualification. Given its profound value and importance in today's professional world, there is no question as to why one must earn a PMP certification. The more crucial question is how to get your PMP certification and boost your professional marketability at the global level. 

This blog is a comprehensive discourse on how to get a PMP certification, along with a study of the career benefits of pursuing a PMP certification and an in-depth analysis of the career opportunities after PMP certification. We shall also look into the roles and salaries that certified professionals earn based on their job roles. Let's begin your journey to becoming a globally employable professional. 

The PMP certification is a global recognition for professionals with demonstrated ability to lead projects across any industry. It is a certification that validates a professional's knowledge and skills to manage people and business processes and is adept at handling professional business projects. The certification is issued by the Project Management Institute, the world's leading authority on project management, and is issued to professionals with proven leadership experience and professional expertise. 

The areas that are assessed to be issued the PMP Certification include:

• Motivating and leading people/teams towards successful project completion from start to finish

• Skills in employing various approaches to identify the best working mechanism for each project, including approaches like Agile, predictive and Hybrid. 

• Underscoring successful project accomplishment and stressing its impact on the overall strategic goals of the organization

The PMP Certification ranks highest in several countries, thus indicating its relevance and importance for professionals. 

Your journey to acquiring a PMP certification typically starts with applying for it.  Let's get into the details of how to get going with your journey to becoming a certified project manager. 

Meeting PMP Certification Pre-requisite

Before starting your journey for PMP certification, it's essential that you fulfill the criteria established by PMI to be eligible for the certification exam. Principally, there are three major criteria that one must fulfill to confirm eligibility for the certification. 

• They must have an education

• They must have completed training courses

• Working experience 

Candidates are also required to meet PMI sets of criteria:

For candidates with a university degree/four-year college

• 36 months of work experience leading in project management in the past 8 years 

• 35 contact hours (earned through training, certification courses, and education on Project management and CAPM certification)

For Candidates with secondary-level diploma or associate degree

• 60 months of work experience in leading projects in the past 8 years

• 35 Contact hours (Earned through training, certification courses, education on project management, and CAPM certification)

Note: The education or training hours that you commit for PMP certification courses are calculated as Contact hours in PMP's terminology.

Know the cost:While several institutions offer PMP certification courses through which you earn your contact hours, the costs may vary depending on the institution delivering the course. The cost typically ranges between $300 and $3000. Note that courses offered by reputed universities are liable to charge more. There are also options for free PMP certification courses for limited duration or trial periods. 

Examination Fee

• PMI Members: $575

• Non-Members: $405

Schedule your certification exam: Upon completing the application and payment of fees, candidates may schedule their exams by choosing either a secure online option or the Pearson Vue Testing Center, which is a recommended option of the PMI. 

Preparation for PMP certification Exam:Known as the gold standard professional certification and a game changer, attaining this certification entails conscious and demanding efforts. The examination for this certification is considered difficult by most professionals.  To help professionals in their preparation, several training courses are available at their disposal. Relying on these courses will give you a more structured and in-depth knowledge of the core components that PMI tests for certification. The PMI gauges your knowledge of components, including: 

• Initiating

• Planning

• Executing

• Monitoring

• Controlling 

• Closing

Your preparation should also involve accessing and getting help from various books and materials, including the guidebook that PMI suggests. You can also sign up for online PMP certification training courseprovided by a variety of reputable organizations.

Take the Exam: The last step to attaining the certificates is clearing the certification exam. The exam runs for about 3–4 hours. Candidates are allowed to sit for the certification test three times a year in case they fail on their first attempt. The test consists of questions centered around three fundamental domains of project management and their component tasks: 

• People

• Process 

• Business environment

Maintaining Certification Validity: Candidates who cleared the exam must ensure its validity. To do so, they must commit to complete certain trainings and renew their certificates every three years. The cost of fee renewal

• For PMI Members: $60

• For Non-members: $150

Pursuing a PMP certification has become not just beneficial but a mandatory goal for every high-achieving professional. The career benefits of pursuing PMP certification far outweigh the investment you make in getting the certification. Below are some of the advantages you earn by earning a PMP certification:

Recognition:Certified professionals are considered more efficient and competent, given that the PMP certification is the leading certification in the project management field. You are given higher recognition in the industry as you demonstrate your potential and intricate knowledge of project management.

Start Earning More: PMP-certified professionals earn more in almost every industry across the globe. As per the PMI report, PMP-certified professionals earn an average income of 16% more than non-certified professionals. For some industries, it is a mandatory credential, which indicates that only certified professionals have access to job opportunities offered by these industries. 

Project Coordinator

After your PMP certification, a professional may seek employment in the post of Project Coordinator. The primary duties of a project coordinator include supporting and supervising project managers to monitor the performance of their teams in carrying out a project. Their roles entail collaborating with teams to keep track of project status and make schedules by employing tools like spreadsheets. 

A Project coordinator earns an annual salary of $53,981 in the US. 

Program and Portfolio Manager

This is another high-paying job role that certified professionals can look forward to getting into. Their duties include monitoring, reporting, and completing project planning. They get instructions from the executives on specific projects and combine them into a single solution. They are in charge of assessing the organization's governance structure and giving insights about issues that demand the executive's attention. 

A PPM makes an annual salary of $90,542 in the US.

Project Director

As a project director, the professional must supervise all the projects within the purview of the organization. They have knowledge and insights about current and upcoming projects and keep records of completed projects. They have the prowess to develop varied strategies for running different projects. They also look after the progress of the project till its completion. The training attained during the PMP certification gives them the competency to perform these functions efficiently and the ability to manage multiple projects.

A Project Director is reported to make an annual salary of $ 94,685 in the US.

Project Manager Consultant

This is also among the lucrative career opportunities after PMP certification. They assist corporations and enterprises in managing their projects. They collaborate with other teams and professionals to guide the multiple aspects involved in project management, including tasks like marketing, scheduling and budgeting. In the event of a project having multiple project managers, the consultant takes on the responsibility of guiding the rest towards completion of the project. A professional has the freedom to work for multiple organizations with a PMP certification and make a heavy income rather than sticking to just one organization. They can work as PM Consultants and provide support to enterprises that require Project Management. 

A Project Management Consultant earns an annual income of $83158 in the US.

Engineering Project Manager

These professionals are responsible for tackling real-life challenges and rendering solutions by employing their design prowess. They work in collaboration with other experts to ensure timely delivery of projects. Their daily task involves working with project managers, who help them with multiple tasks and give them guidance on developing a product from start to finish to guarantee their products fulfill the specifications demanded by their clients. They also engage in constant communication with clients, updating them and getting feedback. 

An Engineering Project Manager earns a whopping amount of income yearly, accounting for $100,517 in the US.  

A PMP certification is a worthy and valuable investment that will lead to more career opportunities apart from global recognition. The PMP certification adds more credibility to the professionals competencies and boosts their ability to go higher in their careers.