PMI® Certifications
Introduction to PMI® Certifications
With more than 600,000 members from 185 different countries, Project Management Institute (PMI®) is the leading professional in the development of standards and certifications for the practice of project management (PMP® and CAPM®). More recently, PMI began offering standards and certifications in business analysis (PMI-PBA®) and agile development (PMI-ACP®).
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) has become a globally accepted standard for Project Managers. In addition, PMI® manages the most prestigious project management certification, the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification, which recognizes professionals who have achieved excellence in project management practices.
The PMBOK® proposes the application of different practices, techniques, and tools that are grouped into 49 processes throughout the project life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. In addition, the PMBOK® Guide defines 10 knowledge areas for project management: integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholder, which provide a 360° vision of a project’s direction.
PMI® offers 2 certifications based on the standards set forth in the PMBOK®. The PMP® and CAPM® are the most recognized certifications in the field of Project Management worldwide. The PMI-PBA® and PMI-ACP® certifications are based on companion Practices Guides.
PMI® Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP®)
Experienced project managers, department directors, production managers, team leaders, analysts with responsibility for projects, and, in general, any professional who is interested in obtaining the PMP® certification or knowing project management best practices developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI®).
There is no prerequisite to attend the course. However, PMI® maintains the following minimum work requirements for those seeking to obtain the PMP® certification:
- A four-year degree, 3 years leading projects (at least 4,500 hours) + 35 hours of project management education OR
- A high school diploma, an associates degree or global equivalent, 5 years leading projects (at least 7,500 hours) + 35 hours of project management education
- Format: Multiple Choice
- Delivery: In-person or online, administered by Pearson VUE
- Cost: $405 for members; $555 for non-members / 2nd and 3rd attempts are $275 for members and $375 for non-members
- Duration: Once the exam begins candidates have 4 hours to complete the exam
- Number of Questions: 200
- Language: English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish
- See the PMI® website for more PMP exam details. (The conditions of the additional Certification services are subject to the terms of the license owner or the authorized certification body.)
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®)
CAPM® accredits the understanding of the fundamental concepts, terminology, and project management processes described in the PMBOK® Guide.
The PMI® CAPM® certification is designed for candidates with little to no prior experience in project management but who wish to develop their professional activity in this field.
New project managers, department directors, production managers, team leaders, analysts with responsibility for projects, and, in general, any professional who is interested in obtaining the CAPM® certification or knowing project management best practices developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI®).
There is no prerequisite to attend the course. However, PMI® maintains the following minimum work requirements for those seeking to obtain the CAPM® certification:
- A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 23 hours of project management education
- Format: Multiple Choice
- Delivery: In-person or online, administered by Pearson VUE
- Cost: $225 for members; $300 for non-members / 2nd and 3rd attempts are $150 for members and $200 for non-members
- Duration: Once the exam begins candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam
- Number of Questions: 150
- Language: English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish
- See the PMI® website for more CAPM exam details. (The conditions of the additional Certification services are subject to the terms of the license owner or the authorized certification body.)
PMI Business Analysis Certification (PMI-PBA®)
The PMI-PBA® (Professional in Business Analysis) is a certification developed by PMI® for professionals with responsibilities in the management of requirements. The PMI-PBA® is based on the PMI® Guide to Business Analysis and Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide. The objective of this certification is to evaluate an integrated set of knowledge, skills, and abilities that are obtained from real-life work experience as well as learned experience.
The PMI-PBA® is a recognizable way to highlight achievements and skills in the business analysis profession. This certification is appropriate for those who work on project teams and administer requirements, participate in the development of products, or are project or program managers who perform business analysis. Download our infographic on the PMI-PBA Guide.
Business analysts, project managers, systems analysts, functional analysts, business users, product owners, team managers, IT managers, team members and, in general, any professional who is interested in obtaining the PMI-PBA® certification or improving their business analysis skills.
There is no prerequisite to attend the course. However, PMI® maintains the following minimum work requirements for those seeking to obtain the PMI-PBA® certification:
- A secondary degree (high school diploma or an associates degree), 7,500 hours of business analysis experience earned within the last 8 years + 35 hours of business analysis education OR
- A bachelor’s degree or global equivalent, 4,500 hours of business analysis experience earned within the last 8 years + 35 hours of project management education
- Format: Multiple Choice
- Delivery: In-person or online, administered by Pearson VUE
- Cost: $405 for members; $555 for non-members / 2nd and 3rd attempts are $275 for members and $375 for non-members
- Duration: Once the exam begins candidates have 4 hours to complete the exam
- Number of Questions: 200
- Language: English only
- See the PMI® website for more PMI-PBA® exam details. (The conditions of the additional Certification services are subject to the terms of the license owner or the authorized certification body.)
PMI Agile Certification (PMI-ACP®)
Project directors, product owners, agile masters, analysts and team members who use or plan to use agile development methods and, in general, any professional who is interested in obtaining the PMI-ACP® certification.
While is it is recommended that students have participated in software projects for a minimum of 3 years, there is no prerequisite to attend this course. Additionally, PMI® maintains the following minimum work requirements for those seeking to obtain the PMI-ACP® certification:
- Secondary diploma (highs school diploma, associate’s degree or global equivalent)
- 2,000 hours (12 months) of general project experience working on teams earned within the last 3 years (a current PMP® or PgMP® will satisfy this requirement but is not required)
- 1,500 hours (8 months) working on agile project teams or with agile methodologies earned within the last 3 years (in addition to the 2,000 hours of general project experience)
- 21 hours of education in agile practices
- Format: Multiple Choice
- Delivery: In-person or online, administered by Pearson VUE
- Cost: $435 for members; $495 for non-members / 2nd and 3rd attempts are $335 for members and $395 for non-members
- Duration: Once the exam begins candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam
- Number of Questions: 120
- Language: English, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish
- See the PMI® website for more PMI-ACP® exam details. (The conditions of the additional Certification services are subject to the terms of the license owner or the authorized certification body.)
