If you are interested in growing your career in project management and weighing PMP or CAPM is suitable for you, this PMP Vs CAPM comparison will be useful for you.
Certification provides you with insights and can open you up to new opportunities in your industry
The Project Management Professional (PMP) and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), both of which are offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA.
The PMP and CAPM certifications are based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide, which is published by the PMI. The PMI was founded in 1969 to help promote the best practices in project management.
Since both certifications are offered by a single authority and for the same profession, it can be hard to know which you should get.
So, if you are trying to decide between CAPM and PMP, this blog post is for you. I will explain the details of these certifications, so you can decide which one suits you better.
PMP and CAPM
Before we delve into details, let us quickly examine the main differences between these two certifications.
- The PMP Certification requires at least three to five years of experience, depending on your educational qualifications, while the CAPM certification does not require any project management experience.
- Another difference is certification renewal. The PMP certification is valid for three years and can be renewed if you earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) in the same duration. The CAPM certification is valid for five years; you cannot renew it. You must pass the exam again to be recertified.
- The PMP test examines your skills under real-world situations, while the CAPM tests your skills for project management processes, according to the PMBOK Guide.
Now we will discuss all the differences in detail.
Target Audience
These certifications have distinct target audiences.
According to the PMI, “If you’re an experienced project manager, responsible for all aspects of project delivery, leading and directing cross-functional teams, then the PMP is the right choice for you.”
The minimum amount of experience for the PMP depends on your educational background. A degree holder must accrue at least three years of project management experience within eight years, whereas a diploma holder needs at least five.
The CAPM certification is for entry-level professionals or professionals with no project management experience but want to move their careers forward.
According to the PMI, “Regardless of your career stage, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) ® is an asset that will distinguish you in the job market and enhance your credibility and effectiveness working on —or with— project teams.”
Educational Qualifications
There is no difference in educational qualifications. At a minimum, you should be a diploma holder.
Training Requirements
If you have at least 1,500 hours of project management experience for the CAPM exam, you do not have to attend any training. You can apply directly for the exam. However, if you have no project management experience, you must attend a 23 contact hours training.
The training is mandatory for the PMP certification exam regardless of your experience. You must attend a 35 contact hours training program on project management fundamentals.
The training program’s content for both certifications must align with the latest exam content outline.
Please note that these hours do not expire. Once you earn them, they will be valid for a lifetime, and you can use them to apply for the PMP/CAPM certification as many times as you wish.
One important thing to remember: if you are preparing for the CAPM exam, I recommend you attend a 35 contact hours training program instead of a 23 hours one. This greater number of hours will make you eligible for the CAPM exam and the PMP exam, which should be your ultimate goal. You wouldn’t need to retake that training.
Exam Syllabi
The content of both the PMP and CAPM exams is based on the PMI Exam Content Outline.
The PMP exam tests your knowledge of managing a project in a real-world scenario; you will be asked mainly situation-based questions where you must select the best course of action.
The CAPM will test your understanding of the project management processes, concepts, tools, and techniques.
The Exam
The PMP exam has 180 questions, lasts three and a half hours, and there are no scheduled breaks during the exam.
Of these 180 questions, 15 questions are pretest questions. Marks from these questions are not added to your passing score.
As per the PMI, “Pretest questions do not affect the score and are used in examinations as an effective and legitimate way to test the validity of future examination questions.”
Since there is no way you can identify these pretest questions, you should assume that all questions are scorable and pay them equal attention.
The CAPM exam consists of one hundred and fifty questions, lasts three hours, and has no scheduled break.
Like the PMP exam, in this case, fifteen questions are the pretest questions.
There is no negative marking in either exam.
Exam Fees
The exam fees for the PMP and CAPM exam are different.
The CAPM certification exam fee is 300 USD for non-PMI members and 225 USD for members.
The PMP certification exam fee is 555 USD for non-PMI members and 405 USD for members.
Validity and Renewal
The PMP credential is valid for three years. To renew the PMP certification, you must earn 60 PDUs and report them to the PMI.
The CAPM is valid for three years, and you can renew it by earning 15 PDUs every three years.
Passing Score
The PMI does not disclose the passing score for its certification exams, including the PMP and CAPM exams. So, no one knows the passing score for either.
The general perception is that it hovers around 70%, but since each examinee receives a different set of questions, there is no definite way to know.
Efforts Required to Pass the PMP Vs CAPM Exam
Passing the CAPM exam is comparatively easier than the PMP exam.
The scope of the PMP exam is wider and tests your knowledge of the PMBOK Guide and competencies for managing projects under critical conditions.
On the other hand, the CAPM exam checks your understanding of the PMBOK Guide and its processes.
PMP Vs CAPM—Which one is Better?
You cannot compare the PMP certification with the CAPM certification.
The PMP certification is for experienced professionals, and CAPM is for professionals who have just started their careers or want to move into project management.
If you are new to this field, you cannot apply for the PMP exam, so you must go for the CAPM certification. This will give you an edge over a non-certified professional in the future, and it will help you pass the PMP exam because you are already aware of PMBOK terminology and processes.
However, if you are an experienced professional, there is no point in applying for the CAPM certification; go straight for the PMP.
Resources Required for the PMP & CAPM Exam
I recommend you use the following resources to prepare for the PMP and CAPM certification exam preparation.
For the PMP Exam
Books: You can use any two books from this list:
Training: You can use the PM Sprout Training Program to earn 35 contact hours.
Practice Questions: You can use the Cornelius Fichtner Simulator to practice sample PMP exam questions.
Other Resources: The PMP Exam Preparation Tool is very helpful in studying.
For CAPM Exam
I recommend you use the following resources to prepare for the CAPM exam.
Books: You can use any two from the list.
Training: You can use the PM Sprout PMP Training Program to earn 23 contact hours.
Practice Questions: You can use the Cornelius Fichtner CAPM Simulator to practice sample CAPM exam questions.
Summary
The PMP certification was developed in 1984 to cater to the needs of project management professionals, and since then, it has gained a lot of traction in the industry. It is currently considered the gold standard for project managers throughout the world. The CAPM certification is relatively new and launched in 2003 to help entry-level professionals with little or no experience.
The PMP and CAPM certifications are highly regarded certifications in the project management industry. You should apply for the PMP certification if you qualify for it. However, if not, you can attend the CAPM exam, which will open entry-level opportunities.