What is next after PMP® Certification?

Essowe Abalo

Achieving Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a notable landmark for all project managers. It attests to their competence to manage projects of varying scale and complexity. But once you've gained this certification, what's the next step? Here are five advanced level certifications and five parallel certifications to PMP you might consider to boost your professional profile.

Advanced Level Certifications Post PMP

PgMP® (Program Management Professional) Certification

PgMP® (Program Management Professional) Certification
Designed for professionals who manage multiple interrelated projects, PgMP certification demonstrates your ability to manage complex programmes to achieve strategic business goals. It can enhance your credibility, grow your leadership capabilities and open up new career opportunities.

PfMP® (Portfolio Management Professional) Certification

Targeting portfolio managers who oversee a suite of projects or programmes to achieve strategic objectives, PfMP certification gives you global recognition for your project portfolio management experience and skills. It can increase your visibility within the company and may assist you in progressing towards leadership roles.

PMI-RMP® (Risk Management Professional) Certification

PMI-RMP certification is for professionals who want to specialise in project risk management. It validates your competence to identify and manage project risks, which can significantly improve your project success rates.

PMI-ACP® (Agile Certified Practitioner) Certification

For those wanting to demonstrate their expertise in Agile methodologies, PMI-ACP certification might be the ticket. It proves your capability to lead Agile projects, which is highly sought after in today's project environment.

PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional) Certification

If you wish to specialise in project scheduling, PMI-SP certification could be an option. It validates your competence to develop and maintain a project schedule, a critical aspect of project management.

Parallel Certifications to PMP® in Different Domains

ITIL® (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Certification

This certification is invaluable for project managers in the IT field. It displays your understanding of IT service management, which is pivotal in IT projects.

Certification CSM® (Certified Scrum Master)

This certification is a must for those venturing into the world of agility and Scrum. It shows that you have the ability to lead development teams and manage Agile projects.

CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) Certification

For project managers in the IT field, CISA certification can be beneficial. It acknowledges your competence to audit, control, and secure information systems, which can be invaluable in managing IT projects.

Six Sigma Certification

The Six Sigma certification is a great way for project managers to boost their quality management skills. It demonstrates your ability to utilise quality improvement techniques to optimise processes.

Prince2 Certification

The Prince2 certification is another option for project managers. It offers a detailed project management methodology and is widely recognised across many industries.

Conclusion

Beyond PMP certification, there are numerous opportunities to enhance your skills and broaden your career. Whether you're looking to move up the ranks or gain new skills in related fields, these certifications can help you achieve your goals. Continuous learning and professional development are crucial to remain competitive in the job market.