Are You Still Confused Between CAPM and PRINCE2 Certifications?

Meaning of CAPM and PRINCE2 Certifications

What is the CAPM Certification?

CAPM, which stands for Certified Associate in Project Management, is an entry-level certification. If the professional needs to start a career in the field of project management, then CAPM is efficient. It is the basic course that enhances the credibility and effectiveness of the professionals. Getting certified with CAPM holds a broad color of project management techniques and allows professionals to work in any industry.

What is PRINCE2 Certification?

PRINCE2, which stands for Project in Controlled Environment, is a project management methodology. PRINCE2 certification training gives detailed and steps to step methods for delivering a successful project with processes, templates, and processes. The certification is not the only project concentrated, but the process adjusted as well.

How CAPM and PRINCE2 Certification Have Different Values in Project Management?

Experience in Project Management

The primary point of difference between CAPM and PRINCE2 Certification is the experience in the project management field. PRINCE2 Certification requires two levels, namely, PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner Level. To get PRINCE2 Certification, it is essential to clear both levels. Though to qualify the Foundation exam, experience does not matter.

However, for qualifying the Practitioner level, it is essential to have some experience. Only those project managers can be available for the Practitioner Level, who has practical expertise in project management. That is why; project managers qualified with PRINCE2 Certification have considerable years of experience and thus more value.

CAPM and PRINCE2: The Standards Are Different

One of the downsides with project management as a profession is that we have not yet standardized the agreed on one set of best practices. Project management bodies across the globe have their take on it, and while none of them look radically different, they are all different enough to mean you require to learn their plan before taking their exams.

So, you could take CAPM and then match it up with the PRINCE2 Practitioner, but the standards are different, with different jargon, and you have to learn a whole separate set of methods for the Practitioner exam. Equivalently, you could do PRINCE2 Foundation and then go on to apply for PMP, but again the technology and processes are different enough for that to be a confusing route.

I do not think that it is worth trying to cover both posts in the early days of your career, especially if you do not yet have a job role with the project in the title pick one set or the other.

The APM Route

There is another popular and growing choice for project managers, and that is the APM suite of qualifications. The Introductory Certificate has no pre-requisites. The APMP reflects a candidate’s extent of knowledge across many competency areas and is an excellent impression on your ability to apply knowledge in a practical situation.

Study of the Job Market

One of the best ways to find out what recruiters are watching for is to talk to agencies. Make confident that you are spending time supporting your CV with the right things.

Look at what kind of experience employers are asking for so you can build your CV to consider what will make you employable. You will find many employers who would not care what credentials you have as long as you have one. Still, some employers and industries will give preference to candidates with particular qualifications.

CAPM and PRINCE2: The Certificate Decision

Lots of people end up with multiple certificates from multiple bodies over time, so do not think that you are making a decision now that will stop you from going for other credentials later in your career.

If you do opt for PRINCE2, then do the Practitioner as excellent if you can provide the extra two days and the cost. The first three days of the Practitioner and Foundation programs are identical. Everyone knows the Foundation exam on Day 3, and then the Foundation contestants go home.

Then the others do exam practice for a day and practice the Practitioner exam on Day 5. You do not learn anything new except exam techniques, and you do get an extra day of revision. It is worth doing the additional two days and venturing the Practitioner exam if you can.

Whatever path you choose, you have to make the decision based on what you feel employers in your sector will be watching for, what you can afford, and what experience you currently have. Getting a qualification is rarely the wrong choice, as any project management training will improve your confidence and reveal employers that you are severe about making this your career.

Career Prospects

The achievement of CAPM Certification will highlight the knowledge and dedication level of the employers to project management. The professionals get a fortune to learn project management skills and how to handle time with efforts through the CAPM course. However, getting a PRINCE2 Certification will add content to the resume of the professionals.

It aids in making the project managers an ideal candidate for the roles of project manager, senior supplier, project executive, and financier.

Moreover, by getting CAPM Certification, the professionals can proceed further for PMP Certification. It is because, with the CAPM course, it becomes easy to gain basic knowledge of project management and execution. However, CAPM is not highly recognized and reputed as associated with PRINCE2.

It becomes tougher to get into high management positions or get substantial business opportunities with the achievement of CAPM. But the case is not the same as PRINCE2.

Read: PRINCE2 or CAPM Which Certification Is Better?

With the achievement of PRINCE2, professionals can earn high popularity and better career opportunities across the globe.

Salary Prospects

There is no problem that PMP certified professionals earn more as compared with non-certified professionals. However, CAPM certified professionals do not make much like PMP certified professionals.

Having the CAPM Certification signifies that professionals have a basic understanding of project management. But it does not reflect that professionals have proper management and project control skills.

It enables the professionals to work on a project but is less good as compared with PRINCE2. Thus, the salary of professionals certified with CAPM is usually less as exposed to PRINCE2 accredited professionals.

In the US, the average annual salary of CAPM is $101,103. The salary of CAPM professionals can rise to $77,914 by getting experience or ten years or more. Moreover, the average annual salary of professionals certified with PRINCE2 is $85,800.

Conclusion

Attaining the best project management certification is quite a difficult choice. However, by having their knowledge about industrial demand and salary prospects, professionals can quickly decide between CAPM and PRINCE2.