A comparison of Project Management Certifications
For aspiring professionals, it is always a dilemma to decide which project management certification to pursue at which juncture of their career. Then there are two streams to choose from, the predictive and agile. As of now, the most popular certifications are;
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Projects in Controlled Environment (PRINCE2)
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner)
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
- IPMA Certifications (Levels A-D)
1. PMP (Project Management Professional) – PMI
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Body | Project Management Institute (PMI), USA |
| Focus | Predictive, Hybrid, and Agile project management |
| Best For | Mid to senior-level project managers |
| Eligibility | 36–60 months experience (based on education) + 35 PDUs |
| Exam | 180 questions, 230 minutes |
| Cost* | ~$405 (members), ~$555 (non-members) |
| Recognition | Global gold standard |
| Pros | Widely respected, high ROI, cross-industry relevance |
| Cons | Challenging exam, time-intensive prep |
2. PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) – AXELOS
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Body | AXELOS (UK Government initiative) |
| Focus | Process-driven methodology (predictive) |
| Best For | Project managers in UK, Europe, public sector |
| Levels | Foundation (no exp.) & Practitioner (some project experience recommended) |
| Exam | Foundation: 60 min, Practitioner: 150 min |
| Cost* | ~$900 (varies by provider) |
| Recognition | UK, Europe, Commonwealth countries |
| Pros | Structured, scalable, easy entry via Foundation level |
| Cons | Less Agile/hybrid oriented, not as common in the US |
3. CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) – PMI
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Body | PMI |
| Focus | Foundational knowledge, PMBOK-based |
| Best For | Entry-level project practitioners, students |
| Eligibility | Secondary degree + 23 hours project management education |
| Exam | 150 questions, 3 hours |
| Cost* | ~$225 (members), ~$300 (non-members) |
| Recognition | Global |
| Pros | Entry-level, great for getting started |
| Cons | Limited value for experienced professionals |
4. PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner) – PMI
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Body | PMI |
| Focus | Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, XP, etc.) |
| Best For | Agile team members, PMs in Agile/hybrid environments |
| Eligibility | 2,000 hours general PM experience + 1,500 hours Agile + 21 contact hours |
| Exam | 120 questions, 3 hours |
| Cost* | ~$435 (members), ~$495 (non-members) |
| Recognition | Global (agile-specific roles) |
| Pros | Broad agile coverage, recognized globally |
| Cons | May be less recognized than Scrum-specific certs in Agile-dominant teams |
5. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Body | Scrum Alliance |
| Focus | Scrum framework and servant leadership |
| Best For | Scrum Masters, Agile team facilitators |
| Eligibility | 2-day training mandatory |
| Exam | 50 MCQs, 60 minutes |
| Cost* | ~$1000–$1500 (including training) |
| Recognition | Highly recognized in Agile/Scrum world |
| Pros | Practical, fast to attain, high Agile adoption |
| Cons | Narrow focus, basic entry-level certification |
6. IPMA Certifications (Levels A–D) – IPMA
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Body | International Project Management Association |
| Focus | Competency-based (technical, behavioral, contextual) |
| Best For | Managers in Europe, Asia, and Middle East |
| Levels | D (entry) to A (top executives) |
| Exam | Varies by level and country |
| Cost* | Varies significantly (~$500–$2500) |
| Recognition | Europe, Asia, Latin America |
| Pros | Holistic, levels match experience |
| Cons | Less known in North America |
- Cost will vary from country to country and from time to time
Recommendations by Career Stage:
- Students/Starters: Start with CAPM or PRINCE2 Foundation
- Growing Professionals: PMP (for mainstream PM) or PMI-ACP (for Agile teams)
- Agile Enthusiasts: CSM → PMI-ACP
- Europe-focused careers: Consider PRINCE2 or IPMA
- Senior Leaders: PMP or IPMA Level B/A
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