The CAPM® (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification is a credential that recognizes professionals who are new to project management. Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI®), the CAPM® certifies that a professional has a thorough knowledge of the methods and principles that are defined by the PMBOK® Guide and all the standard Project Management practices recognized internationally.
This certification is specially designed for professionals with minimal experience in project management, which gives them a basic understanding of the subject. One of the benefits of CAPM® certification is that it is a massive value-add to your resume, as well as your skills.
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What Is the CAPM Certification? Requirements and More
A foundational certification offered by the project management institute is the CAPM certification. Professionals who wish to broaden their views and comprehend the responsibilities of a project manager can pursue this Certified Associate in Project Management credential. Anyone who completes the necessary certification exam is awarded a certificate. It entails being an expert in various areas, including management procedures, terminology, and concepts.
Why Is CAPM So Popular?
The CAPM certification program's objective is to provide applicants with a thorough understanding of the vocabulary, organizational principles, project life cycle, and numerous processes essential to effective project management. You will receive a project management credential that is globally recognized if you obtain PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. Your CAPM certification will show prospective employers worldwide that you are knowledgeable about a range of global project management methods and terminology.
What Do You Learn in CAPM® Certification?
With CAPM®, professionals will learn to align their work with the standards required by project management teams. Individuals having a CAPM® certification get higher credibility among employers, PMP® credential holders, peers, and project managers. The course structure will require learning the basics of:
- Project and organization lifecycle
- Project management processes
- Project scope management
- Project integration management
- Time and cost management
- Quality management
- Human resource management
- Project risk management
- Communications management
- Procurement management
- Stakeholder management
The CAPM® Certification Exam
The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, and you’ll have three hours to answer them. The certifications offered by PMI—including CAPM®—are de facto standards and validate a candidate’s skills in initiating, developing, managing, and running large-scale projects.
Holders of the CAPM® certification can demonstrate competency, education, and learning experience to potential employers. Attaining the CAPM® credential opens up a wide range of opportunities for professionals.
Read more: Certification Process and Eligibility Overview for CAPM
CAPM Prerequisites
You must have completed a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, or the equivalent in another country) and 23 hours of project management coursework by sitting for the exam to qualify for the CAPM. In addition, every three years, CAPM holders must acquire 15 PDUs to keep their certification active.
Eligibility Criteria for CAPM® Certification
Like any other certification, there are eligibility criteria. CAPM® candidates need to have:
- At least a high school diploma certificate or any global equivalent.
- 1,500 hours of project experience or a minimum of 23 hours of project management training prior to the examination.
Benefits of CAPM® Certification
The CAPM® certification is a popular prerequisite that helps employers find the professionals most suited to fulfill specific roles in their organization. The certification validates the candidate’s knowledge and experience, as well as their abilities to take on the critical responsibilities.
Project managers are needed in nearly every industry: engineering, construction, information technology, and more. Attaining the CAPM® certification opens up a wide range of opportunities, including:
-
Career Incentives
In many cases, the CAPM® certification is a prerequisite that will help launch your career as you move into new roles and increased responsibilities in an organization. Employers trust this credential and CAPM® holders have proven they can handle increased responsibility. -
Global Opportunities
Among the benefits of CAPM® is that it is a globally recognized certification. You’ll be able to work anywhere, bringing you the opportunity to travel around the world to places with more and better projects. Even within companies, management may be more willing to transfer a certified employee within international locations, if they feel it is in their best interest. -
CAPM® Salary
It has been stated that a CAPM® certification will increase an individual’s salary by 25 percent. While this may depend on several other factors, like job description and country, the certification certainly is a bonus to any resume—it’s likely certified candidates can demand better pay than non-certified professionals. Employers value PMI-certified professionals over non-certified ones and are willing to offer better incentives to have expert minds on board. -
Personal Growth
Job applicants are often more confident compared to the competition from what they’ve learned earning their CAPM® certification, making them better aware of the tools and best practices of project management. It is not just “textbook stuff,” but a real-world experience that earns one the CAPM® certification. -
The CAPM® Pay Scale
Project management is voted one of the best paying jobs on many professional surveys. Project managers can earn between $90,000 and $150,000 annually. CAPM® salary for certified professionals averages $92,000. The top-paying IT industry regularly pays salaries above $100,000. -
Expected Job Profiles
CAPM for beginners is an entry-level training course, designed for those with little to no experience in the field. It teaches candidates the fundamentals of project management, including project management terminologies, knowledge, and effective practices.
The job profiles that CAPM® certified professionals can look at are Business Analyst Consultants, PMO Operational Support Analyst, Senior IT Technical Project Manager, Marketing Communications Coordinator, Member Relations Administrator, and a lot more.
CAPM Cost
The exam costs $300 for non-PMI members and $225 for PMI members. Applicants may repeat the CAPM exam if they don't pass the first time. The exam can be retaken at $150 for PMI members and $200 for non-PMI members.
It is not necessary to be a PMI member to take the exam. In addition to a one-time $10 application fee, membership costs $129 annually. It comes with a personal copy of the PMBOK flagship book, which details industry norms and accepted best practices for project management.
Stepping Stone to the PMP® Credential
Earning your CAPM certification can be a stepping stone to becoming a certified PMP. The Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is the most globally recognized and respected project management certification available. Earning your PMP® credential can help you:
- Demonstrate that you have the experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects
- Enhance your career opportunities by giving you a competitive edge when applying for jobs
- Increase your earnings potential by earning a higher salary than non-certified project managers
- Boost your credibility and professionalism by holding an internationally recognized project management credential
The Project Management Institute (PMI)®, the world’s leading project management organization, offers the PMP® credential. To earn your PMP®, you must first meet PMI’s eligibility requirements and then pass the PMP® Exam.
Average Pay after CAPM Certification
With an average yearly salary of $101,103, the PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is regarded as one of the highest earning qualifications.
Candidates' salaries vary based on their expertise and work type. For example, a candidate with less than one year of experience will earn a median annual pay of $51,610, and with ten years or more of experience, that salary would rise to $77,914.
Opportunity in Versatile Job Profiles
As a CAPM certified professional, you will be qualified to work in a variety of project management roles. Some of the most common job titles that CAPM holders can pursue include:
- Project Manager
- Assistant Project Manager
- Project Coordinator
- Project Analyst
- Project Scheduler
With a CAPM certification, you will have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage projects of all sizes and complexity levels. This certification can open up many doors for your career in project management.
Aside from some of the typical roles you can land with a CAPM certification, a CAPM credential holder actually has a lot of job options to choose from. Here are some versatile job profiles that a CAPM certified professionals can apply for:
- Project Manager
- Business Analyst
- Consultant
- Product Manager
- Program Manager
- IT Project Manager
- Construction Project Manager
- Event Planner
- Marketing Manager
- Advertising Manager
- Public Relations Manager
- Human Resources Manager
- Recruitment Manager
- Training Manager
- Organizational Development Manager
- Education Administrator
- Healthcare Administrator
- Business Process Analyst
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Sales Manager
The CAPM credential is globally recognized and well-respected. It can help open doors to many exciting and challenging career opportunities. With a CAPM certification, the sky's the limit!
Average CAPM Salary [Updated 2022]
A professional's salary will increase by 25% with CAPM certification. Although it depends on several variables, including the job description and the country, accreditation is unquestionably advantageous for any resume. Therefore, candidates who have certifications may be able to demand more salaries than non-certified experts.
The USA, UK, Canada, India, and Australia have the highest demand for a CAPM®. Here is a list of these countries' average salaries for Certified Associates in project management.
Country |
Currency |
Salary per annum |
|
United States of America |
USD |
67,000 - 126,000 |
|
Canada |
CAD |
67,000 - 129,000 |
|
India |
INR |
647,000 - 2,000,000 |
|
United Kingdom |
GBP |
40,000 - 80,000 |
|
Australia |
AUD |
87,000 - 159,000 |
|
New Zealand |
NZD |
69,000 - 87,000 |
|
South Africa |
SAR |
324,000 - 428,000 |
|
UAE |
AED |
104,000 - 144,000 |
|
Germany |
EUR |
40,000 - 60,000 |
A CAPM® can perform a variety of jobs requiring leadership and teamwork. Analyst, project coordinator, and project manager are a few of these positions. The salaries for the top CAPM® job roles are displayed in the table below.
Job Role |
Salary per annum (in USD) |
|
Project Manager, Information Technology |
80,000 - 110,000 |
|
Project Engineer |
70,000 - 100,000 |
|
Business Analyst |
71,000 – 108,000 |
|
Project Coordinator |
55,000 – 91,000 |
|
Program Manager |
80,000 - 112,000 |
|
Project Manager, Engineering |
75,000 - 105,000 |
CAPM Vs. PMP
The CAPM certification is an associate-level certification offered by PMI for persons interested in project management or who are fresh to project management and have little or no practical experience. The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is for individuals already employed in a project management position and with a minimum of 4,500 hours of experience managing project teams.
Conclusion
Project management is a well-established field. However, the recent advancements in job technicalities and the rise of responsibilities make the position highly flexible. It makes CAPM® certification a bar for employers seeking to recruit able professionals. If you are looking for substantial advancement in your career, CAPM® is the ideal bet.
Simplilearn offers multiple project management training courses and learning paths that can help aspiring project managers get the education they need; our courses can help students pass not only certification exams like the CAPM®, but they also provide real-world knowledge useful for any project management career.
PMP® and PMI® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
FAQs
1. How much does CAPM certification cost?
The CAPM exam cost for certification is $225 for PMI members and $300 for non-PMI members. The exam retake fee (if you apply again) is $150 for PMI members and $200 for non-PMI members. Registration isn't compulsory. However, if the candidate wishes to take it, there will be a $10 application fee and a $129 annual membership fee.
2. What is the difference between PMP and CAPM certification?
Certified Associate in Project Management or CAPM certification is suitable for freshers, while candidates with bachelor's degrees and experience preferably opt for Project Management Professional or PMP certification. The fees for non-PMI and PMI members for CAPM certification are $300 and $225, respectively. In contrast, the PMP certification exam requires $555 and $405 from non-PMI and PMI members.
3. Is the CAPM exam hard?
The candidates are required to answer 150 multiple-choice questions in three hours duration. With certification courses and comprehension from training, people can present their knowledge and applicability, thus easily clearing the tests.
4. Why is CAPM® certification high in demand?
Better work opportunities, high pay, room for professional growth and massive value to your resume are some of the benefits associated with CAPM® certification, consequently increasing its demand. In addition, the proper training and ability to efficiently handle the projects are evident from the certification, making the candidate a suitable choice for various companies.
5. What are the prerequisites for CAPM®?
For the CAPM® certification, the preliminary educational requirement is a secondary degree in the form of a high school diploma, associate's degree or any other equivalent depending upon the country. Additionally, 23 hours of project management coursework is required. After clearing the exam, 15 PDUs are required in three years to maintain the active status of certification.
