Are certifications really worth it? The truth about project management courses

So. You’ve been working in project management for a little while, and now you’re wondering what the next step to growing your career is. As someone who’s worked as a project manager both with and without a certification, here are my thoughts on project management certifications are worth it – your time, effort and money.

Are project management certifications worth it?

While certifications can’t replace real world experience (more on that later), they’re one of the ways companies can filter out applicants who may not meet their standards.

So if you’re trying to get a job as a project manager, it really can be helpful to have a relevant certification of your CV. Plus, it shows that you have the dedication and ability to study on your own time and actually understand project management.

Choose the right project management certification

There’s no point spending money to study a professional qualification, only to find out later that it isn’t relevant to the roles you’re applying for.

Project manager roles are often different depending on the industry you work in; for example a project manager in construction is a very different job to a project manager working in the tech industry.

That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to take a look at the roles you want to apply for, so you can see which certification is being listed most often.

If you’re in the UK, there’s a high chance that most employers, no matter the industry, are looking for a project manager with PRINCE2, so that’s the one I’d recommend. If you’re in the US, most employers seem to want PMP (Project Management Professional).

If you’re in more of a niche industry, employers might be looking for a specific qualification, so what I’m saying is don’t guess, do your research.

The case against certifications

Here’s the truth: a certification won’t teach you how to be a good project manager.

Yes, it will teach you the processes and theory, but it doesn’t fully prepare you for the day-to-day job, or give you the experience that makes you a stellar project manager. Those come with time and hard work.

Women often try to feel prepared by studying as much as we can, but in reality you cannot prepare for real-life situations. I’m here to tell you that it’s completely normal to not feel confident and sure of what to do in every single situation you face, but doing it anyway will make it easier next time.

Conclusion

If you’re trying to get a job as a project manager and you don’t have a lot of experience, a certification will help you, but make sure the certification you choose is the right one.

Even if you do have a lot of experience, sometimes employers will still expect you to have the standard certification, so in that instance it’s probably worth it, too.

However, if the only reason you want the certification is to feel more confident or like you’re qualified to make decisions, a certification probably won’t fix that. It’s the type of thing that’s only remedied by actual experience.