CAPM vs PMP – Which Project Management Certification Is Better?

CAPM Vs PMP - Which Is Right For You?

Project management is in high demand these days due to the lucrative career choices that it offers. As a consequence, project managers are in high demand in all kinds of industries. When we think about Project management, we think about PMP certification.

But not everyone can get PMP certification because of its eligibility criteria. So, if you want to get a project certification but have little to no experience in the field, then you can consider getting the CAPM credential.

In this article, we will do a comparative analysis of CAPM vs PMP - the two popular project certifications. We will try to understand the difference between CAPM and PMP.

PMP and CAPM will be the best certifications for project managers in 2022. Although both of them are popular in the market, there is a difference between CAPM and PMP.

The major difference between CAPM and PMP is the eligibility criteria. We will talk about this in the latter part of the article – CAPM certification vs PMP.

Hence, if you are dubious about the fact that you should go for the CAPM or PMP course, then this article will aid you in making an informed career choice.

The Basic Difference between CAPM and PMP

Let’s first understand the basics - CAPM vs PMP Definitions

What Is CAPM?

CAPM is an entry-level certification for individuals who are aspiring to be project managers. As a certified associate project manager, you can augment your chances of getting better-paid jobs.

What is PMP?

PMP refers to a globally recognized certification offered by the PMI Institute. It is the most sought-after certification in the project industry. By completing the PMP certification, you increase your credibility with employers and show them that you have all the expertise to run a project successfully.

If you are skeptical about whether to take up the CAPM or PMP certification first, then we would recommend that you take up the CAPM training first.

CAPM Vs PMP - Exam

CAPM is an important stepping stone for your career in projects. 

Now let’s understand some important questions like,

• CAPM vs PMP exam difficulty
• CAPM vs PMP exam preparation time
• CAPM vs PMP certification value

How Hard Is The CAPM Exam? 

It is not a cakewalk, but if you have prepared well, then you may ace it. Hence, in short, it can be said that the difficulty of the CAPM exam depends on the amount of preparation that you have done. You may need to burn the midnight oil and get help from the previous study materials. The CAPM study material can be found on the internet. You can refer to multiple websites to get a hold of the best CAPM study guide. Additionally, you are also recommended to join a professional institute that will assist you with a CAPM handbook and help you get a good score in the CAPM exam.

CAPM Exam Preparation

To crack the CAPM exam, you may need a robust CAPM study plan. It is recommended that you study for around 45-60 hours in total to pass this examination with flying colors.

CAPM vs PMP - Certification Value 

Is CAPM Worth It?

Yes, the CAPM credential is worth it as it will increase your job prospects and will give you more visibility to the recruiters. Also, if you are an entrepreneur, having a CAPM certification will be beneficial, as it will boost your confidence and help you get more potential sales leads. So if you still ask us, Is CAPM worth it? The answer would be obvious, yes.

The cost of the CAPM exam and the cost of CAPM certification are worth the value spent, as they will give you a higher return on investment. A CAPM gets a better pay package than an ordinary individual.

Is PMP worth it?

Undeniably, the PMP certification is quite costly, but by finishing it, you can have the edge over others and will be recognized more in the job market. Hence, getting a PMP certification will give you better job prospects in new companies as well as in your existing company. You can expect faster promotions and better salary hikes in your present organization after completing PMP.

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CAPM vs PMP - Cost Comparison 

Cost of CAPM Certification

The cost of the CAPM exam varies depending on whether you are a member of PMI or not. The CAPM PMI certification will cost around 225 USD. On the other hand, if you are not a member of the PMI, then the CAPM cost will be 300 USD. In case you fail, the re-examination cost is 150 USD for CAPM PMI and 200 USD if you are not a member of the PMI.

How much does the PMP exam cost?

The cost of the PMP exam depends on whether you are a member of the PMI Institute or not. For non-PMI members, the exam fee is $555, and for PMI members, the price is much lower, at $405 only.

Benefits of CAPM Credential

CAPM can give you lots of advantages in your career. Let’s look into some of them:

• CAPM gives you global recognition. The CAPM degree is acknowledged globally. Hence, if you have done your CAPM training, it means that you will have more acceptances globally by companies.
• CAPM increases your career prospects and gives you a better pay scale. With the CAPM degree, you will always have an advantage over those who do not possess this degree. Also, after getting the CAPM credential, you can demand a better pay package. Hence, you must consider getting the CAPM credential.
• CAPM prepares you for the PMP certification. So if you are hesitant between PMP and CAPM, then you must do the CAPM first and then the PMP.
• A CAPM certificate’s value will always remain high for both organizations and individuals.

CAPM vs PMP - Understanding Prerequisites 

CAPM Requirements

CAPM has fewer standards as compared to PMP. You will need a high school degree and around 1500 hours of project management experience, or 23 hours of Project management education.

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Prerequisites for PMP Certification

For doing a PMP, you will need

• A secondary degree like a high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent
• A project management experience of 60 months and 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM credential

Or

• You may need a four-year degree, 36 months of project management experience in the last eight years, and 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM credential.

Now let’s understand the critical questions related to PMP and the PMP examination:

Is a PMP Certificate Worth It?

Yes, PMP certification is worth it, as it increases your earning potential and enhances your job prospects.

Who should do PMP certification?

If you are aspiring to be a project manager, then you must take up the PMP certification. However, there may be some eligibility criteria. Let’s look at the prerequisites for PMP certification.

Firstly, you would require a four-year degree, which can be a Bachelors's or equivalent from a reputed institute, and project experience of three years or more. If you just have a secondary degree, then you would require project handling experience of five years or more. It would be important to check the eligibility criteria before you apply for this.

PMP Certification Levels

The project certification levels can be categorized as follows:

• Certified Projects Director (Level A)
• Certified Senior Project Manager (Level B)
• Certified Project Manager (Level C)
• Certified Project Management Associate (Level D)

CAPM vs PMP - Salary

Both the PMP and CAPM credentials will help you get excellent remuneration from the company. However, the CAPM vs PMP salary analysis is crucial to making the right decision.

CAPM Jobs and CAPM salaries

You must be wondering how much a CAPM makes. Well, to answer this question, it would be essential to consider that the salary of a CAPM professional would be around USD 92,000 per annum on an average. The entry-level CAPM jobs will give you a remuneration of 5,500 USD per month on an average. The CAPM designation is more than enough to get you a decent pay package.

PMP Jobs and PMP salaries

As a PMP-certified individual, your earning capacity increases by 25% as compared to your peers who do not have the PMP certification. The PMP starting salary or the entry-level PMP salary will be approximately ten lakhs INR, and as the senior project manager, you can earn around 25-26 lakhs per year or even more. The salary depends on a lot of other factors as well, such as geographical location, company performance, individual performance, etc.

Suggested Read - Complete Guide to Project Management 

Which is better - PMP vs CAPM?

Both PMP and CAPM certifications will assist you in your career, but PMP is better if you are experienced and want to withdraw a better pay package.

CAPM will assure you a good start and will give you the confidence to run a project successfully. Both PMP and CAPM credentials will give you a good career boost. Also, the CAPM credential is worth it, as it will aid in PMP preparation. You can start with CAPM and aim for PMP next.

Both PMP and CAPM are accredited by PMI. To get started, you can take up CAPM training or PMP training. Be sure to take up training from an authorized training institute like Sprintzeal. It is a REP (Registered Education Provider) of PMI, the governing body. To get full details about PMP or CAPM training from Sprintzeal, chat with course experts.

Get PMP training and Get Certified – Online, Live Online, and Classroom Training

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