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comparison CAPM PMP project management certifications

CAPM® or PMP® - Which Certification Is Right For You?

CAPM® or PMP® - Which Certification Is Right For You?

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) and Project Management Professional (PMP®) both are Project management credentials accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). Both the certifications are aligned with the official handbook A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) 6th Edition published by PMI.

Prerequisites -CAPM and PMP

Eligibility requirements in CAPM are comparatively low as it is an entry-level certification than professional-level PMP certification.

Prerequisites for CAPM:

CAPM Eligibility criteria

Prerequisites for PMP:

PMP Eligibility criteria

Certified project management professionals are highly in demand in all the industries.

According to PMI, Project Management Job Growth and Talent Gap 2017–2027)

By 2027, employers will need 87.7 million individuals working in project management-oriented roles.

(CAPM®) - It is an entry-level certification in the field of project management. If you are a junior level Project Manager and want to set the stage for a remarkable career, then CAPM is the right credential to pursue.

(PMP®) - PMP is an industry-standard globally recognized professional-level certification for project managers which validates their project management knowledge, experience, and skills to potential employers and clients.

There is a lot of difference in both the certifications in terms of prerequisites, cost, level of difficulty, and demand according to the person’s intended career goal.

The below table shows the brief comparison of CAPM® and PMP® :

comparison between CAPM and PMP

CAPM exam fee is comparatively lower than the PMP exam. Discounts are available for both the exams for PMI membership.Cost of Examination:

Cost of CAPM certification:

CAPM Certification fee

Cost of PMP certification:

PMP certification fee

Exam question pattern

PMP examination contains 200 multiple choice questions (MCQ) in which 25 are pre-test questions. CAPM exam contains 150 MCQs in which 15 are pre-test questions.

Difficulty level

The difficulty level of CAPM is comparatively lesser as it is an entry-level certification. Candidates are more likely to pass this exam if they have studied PMBOK® Guide well. The fundamental knowledge, terminology and processes of project management aligned with PMBOK guide will help you to clear the exam.

The difficulty level of the PMP exam is quite higher compared to the CAPM. Along with the knowledge of the PMBOK guide, candidates have to apply skills of project management acquired in their working experience. The question asked in the PMP exam is based on the situation.

Industry-Wide benefits

CAPM is an entry-level certificate which acts as an excellent stepping stone to grow in the field of project management. CAPM certification is more accessible, more affordable, and requires less time to possess the certification but PMP holds global recognition, industry-standard and is highly valued in all the industries.

Organizations prefer PMP certified professionals as the credentials validate the ability to handle complex projects in a more efficient way.

Certified professionals earn more than non-certified professionals.

According to ZipRecruiter,

The average annual salary of CAPM Certified professionals is,

CAPM Salary

According to ZipRecruiter,

The average annual salary of PMP Certified professionals is,

PMP Project manager salary

Take the first step towards exploring an opportunity to be a global project management professional. Prepare for the CAPM® certification exam and PMP® and fast track your career as a project management professional. Join Now! Please fill in the enquiry form or call now on +1(713)-287-1355 or e-mail info {at} icertglobal {dot} com for our training consultant to understand your training requirements and guide you with an optimum way to achieve your learning objectives.

For more information about our Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) Training Course, and Project Management Professional (PMP®) Training Course, please visit us at https://www.icertglobal.com/


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About iCert Global

iCert Global is a leading provider of professional certification training courses worldwide. We offer a wide range of courses in project management, quality management, IT service management, and more, helping professionals achieve their career goals.

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  • "PMI®", "PMBOK®", "PMP®", "CAPM®" and "PMI-ACP®" are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc. | "CSM", "CST" are Registered Trade Marks of The Scrum Alliance, USA. | COBIT® is a trademark of ISACA® registered in the United States and other countries. | CBAP® and IIBA® are registered trademarks of International Institute of Business Analysis™.

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