Project management is a critical skill in today’s business world, and obtaining a project management certification can help professionals demonstrate their expertise and advance their careers. Several project management certifications are available, each with a specific focus and requirements.
PMI offers 24 different certifications for beginners in project management to senior professionals. We have divided the certificates which PMI offers with the preferred years of experience and specialization.
This blog post will take a closer look at All the Different Certificates Offered By PMI and what they entail.
Different Certificates Offered by PMI for Those New to Projects (0-3 Years of Experience)
If you have 0-3 years of experience and are new to projects, start by learning the fundamentals of project management and gaining an understanding of the language of business delivery. Below certificates will help you stand out in the job market and be well-prepared to take on new challenges and opportunities in your career.
➥ PMI Project Management Ready™
This course is designed to provide foundational knowledge in project management, including topics such as basic business analytics and agile methodologies. It is intended for individuals starting in project management or looking to build upon their existing skills and knowledge. No prior education or experience is required for this course.
When to Apply: Apply if you have 0-3 years of project or change management experience
Value: This course will teach principles and practices of project management, making you a strong candidate in the job market and well-prepared for new career challenges.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: None
Certification Maintenance Requirements: None
Exam Information: 50 minutes, 47 questions
➥ CAPM® - Certified Associate in Project Management
By obtaining the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification, you will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the principles, processes, and terminology outlined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide. You can apply this knowledge to your work experience to help you develop and grow your skills in project management. The CAPM certification is a valuable asset for professionals looking to advance their careers in project management and demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the field.
When to Apply:Â Apply if you have 0-3 years of project or change management experience.
Value:Â CAPM certification demonstrates a strong foundation in project management, counts towards PMP certification, is registered against ISO 9001, and shows commitment to professional development and excellence in project management.
Education Requirements:
- High school diploma
- 23 contact hours are needed. Our Project Management Basics online course fulfills this educational prerequisite.
Experience Requirements:Â None
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 15 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information:Â 3 hours, 150 questions
➥ PMI-ACP® - PMI Agile Certified Practitioner
The PMI-ACP certification recognizes your knowledge and skills in agile principles and techniques and shows your hands-on experience as part of an agile team. It covers a variety of agile approaches like Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, and TDD, allowing you to adapt to different methodologies.
When to Apply:Â Apply if you have 1-3 years of project management experience.Â
Value:Â PMI-ACP certifies deep understanding and experience in applying agile methodologies and is registered under ISO 9001 standard.
Education Requirements:
- High school diploma or Bachelor’s degree
- 21 contact hours of training in agile practices
Experience Requirements:Â
- 12 months of general project experience within the last 5 years (A current PMP® or PgMP® will satisfy this requirement but is not required to apply for the PMI-ACP®)
- 8 months of agile project experience within the last 3 years
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 30 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information:Â 3 hours, 120 questions, multiple choice
➥ DASM™ - Disciplined Agile Scrum Master
Learn the basics of agile and lean methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, and more. Additionally, learn how to apply the Disciplined Agile toolkit to choose the appropriate way of working (WoW) based on the situation at hand.
When to Apply: Apply if you have 0-3 years of agile experience.
Value: A disciplined Agile toolkit helps understand how to make decisions, explore options, and evaluate trade-offs. Learn multiple agile and lean techniques and how to implement them effectively.
Education Requirements:
- 2-day DASMâ„¢ training from a Disciplined Agileâ„¢ partner
- No formal education required
Experience Requirements: None
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 7 PDUs in agile topics per one-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: 90 minutes, 50 questions, multiple choice, online, non-proctored
➥ DASSM™ - Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master
Learn how to use the DA toolkit to optimize teamwork, work with allies, and solve advanced problems. This 2-day course for experienced agile practitioners covers DA’s hundreds of practices and strategies and their trade-offs.
When to Apply: Apply if you have 2+ years of agile experience.
Value: Learn how to lead agile teams through key enterprise activities and improve struggling areas with Disciplined Agile. Prerequisite for DAC and DAVSC.
Education Requirements:
- 2-day DASSMâ„¢ training from a Disciplined Agileâ„¢ partner
- No formal education is required
Experience Requirements: Two years of experience working in an agile team, preferably in a leadership role
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 7 PDUs in agile topics per one-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: 90 minutes, 50 questions, multiple choice, online, non-proctored
Skilled Practitioner with 3+ Years Experience
➥ PMP® - Project Management Professional
Advance your career as a project leader by obtaining PMP certification, demonstrating your dedication to excellence, ability to perform at a high level, and expertise in predictive, agile, and hybrid project management approaches. PMP is the most popular project management certificate on planet earth, with 1.3 million active PMP holders.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over three years of experience in leading or directing projects.
Value: PMP certifies professional skills for leading project teams and achieving success, qualifies for PMI-ACP or PgMP, and is accredited under ISO 9001 and ISO/ANSI 17024 standards.
Education Requirements:
- High school diploma or associate’s degree (or global equivalent)
- Bachelor’s degree
- 35 hours of project management education training or CAPM® Certification
Experience Requirements:
- 60 months experience leading projects (with a high school diploma or associate’s degree)
- 36 months experience leading projects (with a four-year degree)
- 24 months experience if you’re a graduate of a GAC program
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 60 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: 230 minutes, 180 questions, some multiple choice
➥ PMI-PBA® - PMI Professional in Business Analysis
Highlight your capability to collaborate with stakeholders, define their business needs, shape project outcomes, and achieve successful business results.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over three years of business analysis experience.
Value: PMI-PBA supports individuals in meeting the needs of organizations that rely on business analysis practitioners and is registered against ISO 9001 standard.
Education Requirements:
- High school diploma
- Associate’s degree
- Bachelor’s degree
- 35 contact hours of education in business analysis
Experience Requirements:
- 60 months of business analysis experience (high school diploma, associate’s degree)
- 36 months of business analysis experience (with a four-year degree)
- 24 months experience if you’re a graduate of a GAC program
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 60 PDUs in business analysis topics every three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: 4 hours, 200 questions, multiple choice
➥ DAVSC™ - Disciplined Agile Value Stream Consultant
Become an expert in Disciplined Agile and value stream management, and lead organizations in implementing it enterprise-wide to meet their specific needs. Drive transformation, speed up value delivery, and guide organizations toward true business agility.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over three years of agile coaching experience.
Value: Learn to help organizations achieve true business agility by using value stream management to tailor the approach and accelerate customer value delivery. DAVSC combines Lean, Flow, Theory of Constraints, and Organizational Development.
Education Requirements
- 3-day training from a Disciplined Agileâ„¢ partner
- No formal education is required
Experience Requirements
- Three years of agile experience
- Disciplined Agileâ„¢ Senior Scrum Master (DASSMâ„¢) certification
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 7 PDUs in agile topics per one-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: N/A
➥ DAC™ - Disciplined Agile Coach
Advance your Disciplined Agile knowledge and experience by teaching teams how to apply and optimize Disciplined Agile within and between teams, and help them choose their way of working (WoW) to achieve true business agility.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over three years of agile coaching experience.
Value: Learn how to coach teams on how to apply and optimize Disciplined Agile across the enterprise.
Education Requirements:
- 2-day training from a Disciplined Agileâ„¢ partner
- No formal education required
Experience Requirements:
- Three years of agile coaching or consulting experience
- Disciplined Agileâ„¢ Senior Scrum Master (DASSMâ„¢) certification
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 7 PDUs in agile topics per one-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: N/A
Senior Level Practitioner with 8+ Years Experience
➥ PgMP® - Program Management Professional
Earning the PgMP® certification demonstrates advanced skills, knowledge, and performance in aligning a portfolio of projects and programs to achieve organizational goals. This elite certification is held by a select few professionals, indicating a significant level of expertise.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over eight years of project and program management experience.
Value: Show employers your expertise with the prestigious PgMP® certification, registered against the ISO 9001 standard.
Education Requirements
- Path A: Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)
- Path B: Four-year degree
- Path C: Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree from a GAC accredited program
Experience Requirements
Without a four-year degree:
- A minimum of 48 months (four years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional project management experience or PMP
- Minimum of 84 months (seven years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional program management experience
With a four-year degree:
- Minimum of 48 months (four years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional project management experience (or PMP)
- Minimum of 48 months (four years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional program management experience
With a degree from a GAC accredited program:
- Minimum of 36 months (three years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional project management experience (or PMP)
- Minimum of 36 months (three years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional program management experience
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 60 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: Panel review, 4 hours, 170 questions, multiple choice
➥ PfMP® - Portfolio Management Professional
Obtaining a PfMP® certification demonstrates advanced experience, skills, and performance in aligning a portfolio of projects and programs to achieve organizational goals. This elite certification is held by only a few thousand professionals worldwide, making it a highly distinguished accomplishment.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over eight years of project and program management experience.
Value: Demonstrate your expertise to employers with the prestigious PfMP® certification, registered against the ISO 9001 standard.
Education Requirements
- Path A: Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)
- Path B: Four-year degree
- Path C: Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree from a GAC accredited program
Experience Requirements
Without a four-year degree:
- Minimum of 96 months (eight years) of professional business experience
- Minimum of 84 months (seven years) of unique non-overlapping professional portfolio management experience
With a four-year degree:
- Minimum of 96 months (eight years) of professional business experience
- Minimum of 48 months (four years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional portfolio management experience
With a degree from a GAC accredited program:
- Minimum of 96 months (eight years) of professional business experience
- Minimum of 36 months (three years) of unique, non-overlapping, professional portfolio management experience
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 60 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: Panel review, 4 hours, 170 questions, multiple choice
Specialization - Certificates with specialization
➥ PMI-RMP® - PMI Risk Management Professional
Demonstrate your capability to identify, assess, and manage project risks, mitigate threats, and capitalize on opportunities to protect and enhance your organization’s needs.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over three years of project risk management experience. This is an industry skill specialization.
Value: PMI-RMP certifies expertise in assessing and identifying project risks, and recognizes the value of the role on project teams. It is registered against ISO 9001 standard.
Education Requirements:
- Path A: Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)
- Path B: Four-year degree
- Path C: Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree from a GAC accredited program
Experience Requirements:
Without a four-year degree:
- A minimum of 36 months (three years) of professional project risk management within the last five consecutive years
- 40 contact hours of formal education in the specialized area of project risk management
With a four-year degree:
- A minimum of 24 months (two years) of professional project risk management within the last five consecutive years
- 30 contact hours of formal education in the specialized area of project risk management
With a degree from a GAC accredited program:
- A minimum of 12 months (one year) of professional project risk management within the last five consecutive years
- 30 contact hours of formal education in the specialized area of project risk management
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 30 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: 2.5 hours, 115 questions, multiple choice
➥ PMI-SP® - PMI Scheduling Professional
The PMI-SP certification acknowledges expert knowledge and experience in developing and managing project schedules.
When to Apply: Apply if you have over three years of project scheduling experience. This is an industry skill specialization.
Value: PMI-SP certifies capability and competence in scheduling and is registered against ISO 9001 standard.
Education Requirements:
- Path A: Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)
- Path B: Four-year degree
- Path C: Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree from a GAC-accredited program
Experience Requirements:
Without a four-year degree:
- A minimum of 36 months (three years) of professional project scheduling within the last five consecutive years
- 40 contact hours of formal education in the specialized area of project scheduling
With a four-year degree:
- A minimum of 24 months (two years) of professional project scheduling within the last five consecutive years
- 30 contact hours of formal education in the specialized area of project scheduling
With a degree from a GAC-accredited program:
- A minimum of 12 months (one year) of professional project scheduling within the last five consecutive years
- 30 contact hours of formal education in the specialized area of project scheduling
Certification Maintenance Requirements: Must earn 30 PDUs per three-year cycle to maintain certification.
Exam Information: 3.5 hours, 170 questions, multiple choice
➥ AHPP™ - Agile Hybrid Project Pro™
This micro-credential course teaches the application of agile and hybrid principles and concepts, such as managing conflicts, leading a team, supporting team performance, and removing obstacles for the team.
When to Apply: This is an industry skill specialization.
Value: Demonstrate ability to manage Agile or Hybrid projects and stay current with the latest principles and methodologies.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: 1-5 years of project management experience (recommended but not required)
Certification Maintenance Requirements: N/A; the micro-credential does not expire and does not need to be renewed.
Exam Information:
- Exam available after you complete the course
- Course time is approximately 6.5-12 hours
- 75 minutes, 60 questions, multiple choice, non-proctored
➥ AM-MC - Agile Metrics Micro-Credential
This micro-credential is designed for individuals at different experience levels, from junior project managers to agile and hybrid team leaders, who are looking to improve their skills in agile and reporting. It’s beneficial for anyone responsible for measuring performance and developing capabilities.
When to Apply: This is an industry skill specialization.
Value: Learn how to select agile metrics that matter and meet the team and organizational objectives by enrolling in this specialized course and elevating your career.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: 1-5 years of project management experience (recommended but not required)
Certification Maintenance Requirements: N/A; the micro-credential does not expire and does not need to be renewed.
Exam Information:
- Exam available after you complete the course
- Course time is approximately 6.5-12 hours
- 75 minutes, 60 questions, multiple choice, non-proctored
➥ CD-P - Citizen Developer Practitioner
This micro-credential offers a course that is a great starting point for your low-code and no-code journey. It teaches you how to apply PMI’s citizen development methodology and frameworks to develop applications in a consistent, compliant, and scalable way.
When to Apply: This is an industry skill specialization.
Value: This foundation course introduces citizen development and best practices in citizen development methodology.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: 1-5 years of project management experience and citizen development is recommended but not required.
Certification Maintenance Requirements: N/A; the micro-credential does not expire and does not need to be renewed.
Exam Information:
- Exam available after you complete the course
- Course time is approximately 6-8 hours
- 60 minutes, 40 questions, multiple choice
➥ CD-BA - Citizen Developer Business Architect
This course is designed for leaders who are implementing citizen development in their organizations. It covers frameworks and methodologies to manage the governance process, oversee collaboration between stakeholders, and establish organizational structures that support citizen development.
When to Apply: This is an industry skill specialization.
Value: This foundation course introduces citizen development and best practices in citizen development methodology.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: 1-5 years of project management experience and citizen development is recommended but not required.
Certification Maintenance Requirements: N/A; the micro-credential does not expire and does not need to be renewed.
Exam Information:
- Exam available after you complete the course
- Course time is approximately 6-8 hours
- 60 minutes, 40 questions, multiple choice
➥ BEPC - Built Environment Project Communication Pro
This course and micro-credential bundle cover effective communication techniques in built environment projects, including strategies to overcome cultural differences in communication.
Value: Learn how to build communication plans, manage stakeholder communications, and use methods such as Obeya and commitment-based management to take your next project to new heights by equipping yourself with the necessary skills.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: 1-5 years of industry experience (recommended but not required)
Certification Maintenance Requirements: None – the micro-credential does not expire or needs to be renewed.
Course and Exam Information:
- Course time is approximately 4 to 6 hours
- Exam will be available after you complete the course
- Exam will be 120 minutes long with 75 multiple-choice questions
- You can earn 6 PDUs after completion of the exam
➥ BEPM - Built Environment Performance and Materials Management Pro
This course and micro-credential bundle covers metrics-oriented performance management processes to improve the efficiency and productivity of built environment projects.
Value: Equip yourself with the latest performance and materials management processes to increase transparency, reduce waste, and proactively tackle global supply chain challenges in built environment projects.
Education Requirements: None
Experience Requirements: 1-5 years of industry experience (recommended but not required)
Certification Maintenance Requirements: None – the micro-credential does not expire or needs to be renewed.
Course and Exam Information:
- Course time is approximately 4 to 6 hours
- Exam will be available after you complete the course
- Exam will be 75 minutes long with 60 multiple-choice questions
- You can earn 6 PDUs after completion of the exam
➥ BETI - Built Environment Technology and Innovation Pro
This course and micro-credential bundle enable you to use technology and innovative approaches to boost the productivity and profitability of built environment projects.
Value:Â Amplify your next built environment project by learning how to identify, select, and implement the best technology solutions with the latest technology and innovative methods.
Education Requirements:Â None
Experience Requirements:Â 1-5 years of industry experience (recommended but not required)
Certification Maintenance Requirements: None – the micro-credential does not expire or need to be renewed.
Course and Exam Information:
- Course time is approximately 4 to 6 hours
- Exam will be available after you complete the course
- Exam will be 75 minutes long with 60 multiple-choice questions
- You can earn 6 PDUs after completion of the exam
➥ PMI-CP™ - Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects™
Earners of the PMI-CP have demonstrated the skills and knowledge they need to transform the global construction industry and bring large, complex projects to life.
Value: Holders of the PMI-CP certification have shown they possess the abilities and understanding required to modernize the global construction sector and successfully complete big, intricate projects.
Education Requirements: Experience Requirements 3+ years of experience in the construction/built environment field is required
Certification Maintenance Requirements: 3-year cycle; 30 PDUs per cycle
Course and Exam Information:
- The construction curriculum will include 7 e-learning courses, 3 of which can earn you micro-credentials, and a capstone exam to earn the full PMI-CP certification.
- Exam will be available after you complete all 7 courses, earn the 3 related micro-credentials, and have 3 years of experience in the construction/built environment field.
- Exam will be 230 minutes long with 170 multiple-choice questions.
➥ OTF - Organizational Transformation Foundation
This micro-credential program includes a class that instructs you on recognizing the difficulties and key elements that influence change and explains crucial transformative ideas that can be implemented in your company and workplace.
Value:Â Demonstrating fundamental knowledge of transformation initiatives makes you an advocate for organizational change.
Experience Requirements:Â 1-5 years of project management experience (recommended but not required)
Certification Maintenance Requirements:Â N/A; The micro-credential does not expire and does not need to be renewed.
Course and Exam Information:Â
- Course time is approximately 5 to 10 hours
- Exam will be available after you complete the course
- Exam will be 45 minutes long with 30 multiple-choice questions
- You can earn 10 PDUs after completion of the exam
➥ OTI - Organizational Transformation Implementation
Show that you can execute transformative projects within a company, and show you have practical knowledge, from recognizing the key frameworks to determining the most effective approach in different situations.
Value:Â Stand out as a strategic project manager by effectively planning, implementing, executing, and optimizing business-critical transformations.
Education Requirements:Â None
Experience Requirements:Â 1-5 years of project management experience is recommended but not required.
Certification Maintenance Requirements:Â None
Course and Exam Information:Â
- Course time is approximately 5 to 10 hours
- Exam will be available after you complete the course
- Exam will be 45 minutes long with 30 multiple choice questions
- You can earn 10 PDUs after completion of the exam
December 2022 PMI Fact File Stats
