Are you planning to get CAPM Certified? If so, you are in the right place. Getting into the project management field is an excellent career choice considering the growing need to hire certified professionals to plan, lead, control, and manage the projects.
This article is going to answer the most important question about how you can get the CAPM certification. We are going to list down the basic steps towards achieving the CAPM certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Step 1: Check if You Meet CAPM Eligibility Criteria
CAPM certification is an entry-level credential that does not have extensive eligibility requirements, but you still have to pass the following 2 basic requirements:
- Secondary degree
- 23 hours of project management education/training
You might be a recent college graduate, then in that case you already have a secondary degree in your hand.
As for the 23 hours of project management education, you can enroll yourself in an online or offline CAPM Course offered by PMI authorized training partners. For instance, Techcanvass is a PMI authorized training provider offering several online courses. On successful completion of the training course, you will have attained the 23 hours of project management training requirement.
Step 2: Apply for the CAPM Exam
If you meet the eligibility criteria, then the next step is to go through the application process for the CAPM certification. It is quite straightforward, and you will be able to find the application form on the official PMI website itself.
The application form will ask you to submit basic details such as contact information, educational qualifications, and the training proof of 23 hours. After entering the necessary details, you can submit the application and wait for 24 hours for approval.
After the completeness review, you will receive an email to complete the CAPM exam payment, which is as follows:
- PMI-member- $225
- Non-PMI member-$300
On completing the payment, you can schedule the date and time for the exam.
Step 3: Start preparing for the CAPM Exam
Now, it is time to start preparing for the CAPM Certification in San Diego. You can go through the CAPM examination content outline to learn about the exam format and syllabus.
PMI publishes the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide that includes the 13 chapters of the CAPM exam. PMBOK lays the foundation for the CAPM exam and is the most important reference guide for preparation. However, you can also prefer secondary guides, such as the CAPM Exam Prep Book, by Rita Mulcahy or any other preparatory guides.
It is recommended to invest about 2-3 hours every day for 6-8 weeks for the CAPM exam preparation. Moreover, you must create a study plan in advance to consistently follow it during your preparation journey.
Step 4: Pass the Exam and Get Certified
Finally, it is time for you to give the CAPM exam on the stipulated date and time. Here are a few tips that you can consider before taking the exam:
- Stay focussed and try to answer questions wisely.
- Drink a lot of water before the exam.
- If you don’t know the answer to a question, skip them to review later.
Conclusion
Getting CAPM certified is neither difficult nor easy, but you will be able to ace the exam on your first attempt if the preparation is done right and you have a clear understanding of all the project management concepts and practices.
About the Author:
Chetan Sharma is a professional digital marketer and blogger at heart. He owns multiple educational blogs like HSSLIVE and many others.