I recently got interested in Project Management Institutes CAPM and PMP certifications. I regularly watch the IT industries certifications and job listing to see whats out there and what other companies are doing, you could say its just part of my job.
For the past several years the PMP has been up at the top of the lists for desirability. A little background first - The CAPM and PMP are certifications for Project Managers and the PM industry. These professionals are responsible for overseeing projects from start to finish. A project is defined as a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. Some examples of this could be building a home, a new software application or a web site. On going tasks such as cleaning your office or workspace are not projects.
What makes the CAPM and PMP certifications unique is their background requirements. You can't simply pick up a book, read some web sites, study a few sample tests and sign up to go take the PMP exam. You actually have to submit for approval and document your work history. This approach protects those who have invested the time to obtain the credential as well as employers who have decided this is a viable prerequisite for hiring.
After examining the requirements I was amazed to find that I myself have been managing projects for over 15 years. As a consultant and IT provider to my customers nearly everything we do is a project and as such we manage it. Many of these tasks we have performed some what more informally than the PMP procedure defines. I can say from first hand experience that on a number of occasions we'd have benefited from knowing these processes.
In the coming weeks I'll share some of my experiences as I go through PMI's training documents and materials.
