Price: $340
Requirements: GAQM body of knowledge study and e-course. No formal education or experience requirements, but candidates should have at least some project management experience to pass the exam.
Expert project management certifications
Certified Project Director (CPD)
The Certified Project Director certification is GAQM’s highest-level PM cert. This designation is designed for experienced project managers involved in directing multiple complex projects and programs. The certification focuses on managing, budgeting, and determining scope for multiple projects, multiple project teams, and assessing and mitigating interdependent risks to deliver projects successfully. The CDP program is only for those who have significant project management experience.
Price: $280
Requirements: Qualified candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or post-graduate degree or global equivalent, and must hold one of the following certifications: a PPM certification from GAQM, a PMP certification from PMI, a PRINCE2 Practitioner certification from APMG, or a CPM certification from GIAC.
Master Project Manager (MPM) 3
The American Academy of Project Management (AAPM) has modeled the Master Project Manager (MPM) after the professional licensure model that many professions such as pilots, engineers, doctors, and lawyers follow. The AAPM focuses on professional project managers, but also includes professionals with business and technical management responsibilities. The MPM certification is aimed at senior project managers and project directors who have an undergraduate or master’s degree.
Price: $300 for application, review, processing, initiation, and certification.
Requirements: Three years of PM experience and training. Waivers available for professionals holding a master’s degree or other qualified training and experience, and military or project management instructors.
Program Management Professional (PgMP)
The Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification offered by the PMI is designed for program managers who are senior-level practitioners responsible for advancing the organization’s strategic goals. Candidates for this exam should have extensive experience managing multiple related projects, and navigating complex environments across different departments, job functions, regions, or cultures to align results with organizational goals. The exam covers topics including strategic program management, program life cycles, benefits management, stakeholder management, and governance.
Price: $800 for members and $1,000 for non-members.
Requirements: A secondary degree or global equivalent, 48 months of PM experience or a PMP certification, and 84 months of program management experience within the past 15 years. Those with a four-year degree will need 48 months of PM experience or a PMP certification, and 48 months of PM experience within the past 15 years.