A PMO certification shows that you have the required skills, experience, and knowledge to lead a project-management office. A certification shows your dedication to the profession and validates your skills and knowledge.
In today’s post, we will discuss some popular PMO project management certifications.
First, let’s discuss project management offices.
A project management office (PMO) is a department within an organization or external consultancy that is tasked with developing, standardizing, and improving project management processes. It ensures that you use the right methodologies and best practices for greater efficiency.
According to the Project Management Institute (PMI, USA), organizations with a PMO report a 38% higher success rate in projects. The PMO provides crucial support and offers tools and resources to project managers, resulting in higher efficiency and increased project success. The PMO aligns projects with organizational strategy.
Best PMO Certifications
PMO is not a position or a role; it is a department or a consultancy consisting of experienced professionals with experience managing projects, programs, and portfolios across different industries.
These professionals have high technical, management, and leadership skills. You must have project management skills and certifications to join a PMO.
Currently, no renowned project management organizations offer any certification in PMO. A few less popular institutes offer the PMO courses and certifications I will discuss in this post.
First, we will look at the most popular courses and certifications required for a PMO, and then we will look at a few PMO courses offered by a little-known institute.
The first three certifications are from the PMI. The next two certifications are awarded by Axelos (a joint venture between the UK Cabinet Office and Capita Plc).
The next is CSM (Certified ScrumMaster), which is awarded by the Scrum Alliance. This globally recognized nonprofit organization promotes and supports using Scrum practices in Agile project management.
The last two PMO-specific courses are offered by a little-known institute called the “PMO Global Institute.”
PMO Global Institute, Inc. is the global body for PMO certifications. This includes project, program, and portfolio managers who are involved in developing processes and procedures and managing high-performing project-management offices (PMOs) in different industries.
Let’s get started.
PMP
PMP (project management professional) certification is a globally recognized credential for professionals working in the project management profession. This certification is awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI, USA), and it proves your expertise in leading and managing projects.
To become a PMP credential holder, you must meet educational and experience criteria, attend a PMP training program, and pass a challenging exam. Afterward, you must commit to an ongoing professional development program (CCR Cycle) to maintain your certification status.
This certification covers all project management phases and knowledge areas. PMP certification holders have the skills to manage projects.
A PMO handles different projects, which means you must understand project management and know how to manage large and complex projects. These skills are crucial in a project management office. Therefore, this is a must-have PMO certification.
PgMP
PgMP (program management professional) certification is a globally recognized credential for professionals who manage multiple similar, related projects underneath a single program. This certification is Issued by the PMI, and it proves advanced skills in overseeing and coordinating multiple related projects.
To achieve PgMP certification, you must meet educational, experience, and training prerequisites, as well as pass a computer-based exam in a controlled environment. After getting this certification, you must continue your professional development to keep your credential status active.
This is the most popular certification for program management. This certification proves your expertise in the competitive field of program management, and it opens doors to enhanced career opportunities.
A PMO handles many similar projects simultaneously, and having this certification will certainly help you grow your career in PMO. So, this is another must-have PMO certification course.
PfMP
PfMP (portfolio management professional) certification is a globally recognized credential for professionals with advanced expertise in portfolio management. This certification is awarded by the PMI. It validates skills in strategically managing a collection of related or unrelated projects and programs to achieve organizational objectives.
To earn PfMP certification, you must meet educational and experience requirements, as well as pass a computer-based test in a controlled environment. To maintain this credential, you must commit to ongoing professional development.
The certification assesses proficiency in strategic alignment, governance, and risk management within a portfolio. This certification is a testament to a professional’s strategic capabilities, as it sets them apart in the competitive landscape of portfolio management and enhances their career opportunities.
In large organizations, PMO handles different projects and programs under a portfolio, and this credential proves your skills in managing different projects and programs. So, this is also a must-have PMO certification.
PRINCE2 Practitioner
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification is a globally recognized credential for individuals who are involved in project management. PRINCE2 stands for “Projects in Controlled Environments,” and it is a structured approach that provides a framework for effective project management.
This certification is more popular in the UK, Europe, and Australia.
To achieve PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, you must pass an exam that assesses your ability to apply PRINCE2 principles in real-world scenarios. This certification focuses on practical application by emphasizing skills such as tailoring methods to suit different projects and adapting them to changing circumstances.
PRINCE2 Practitioner holders can effectively manage and complete projects on time and within scope. It is a valuable credential that enhances your project management capabilities and boosts your career prospects.
This certification is like PMP, but it is more popular in Europe and Australia. This certification will increase your PMO knowledge and provide better PMO prospects. This is a must-have PMO course if you live in Europe.
PRINCE2 Agile
PRINCE2 Agile certification is a globally recognized qualification for project management professionals who want to combine the flexibility of Agile methodologies with the structure of PRINCE2. This certification integrates Agile principles and practices into the PRINCE2 framework, thus providing a comprehensive approach to managing projects in dynamic environments.
To attain PRINCE2 Agile certification, you must undergo training and pass an exam. This credential proves your ability to apply Agile methods within the PRINCE2 framework. The certification equips you with the skills needed to manage projects with adaptability and responsiveness, thus ensuring successful project completion.
PRINCE2 Agile is valuable for enhancing your project-management capabilities by combining traditional and Agile approaches.
This certification is as useful as the like PRINCE2 practitioner certification. You should get this PMO certification if you manage Agile projects.
CSM
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification is a widely recognized qualification for professionals involved in Scrum, an Agile framework for project management. The CSM certification is awarded by the Scrum Alliance and shows your understanding of Scrum principles.
To obtain CSM certification, you must attend a certified training course and pass an exam. This certification empowers you to effectively facilitate and lead Scrum teams and promote collaboration and continuous improvement.
This certification enhances your Agile project-management capabilities and contributes to successful, collaborative project outcomes.
This is the most popular certification for professionals who manage Agile projects. You must earn this credential if you manage Agile projects and want to achieve a PMO credential.
Certified Baseline PMO Consultant (CB-PMO)
This certification is for professionals working in PMO and is awarded by PMO Global. You will learn advanced knowledge to understand the complex environment to deliver the desired results.
This certification is awarded by PMO Global, and it is ideal for the following individuals:
- PMO leaders and managers
- Project team members who are involved in PMO activities
- Stakeholders who are involved in project environments
- Anyone who wants to prove their knowledge and expertise in PMOs
Certified Agile PMO Consultant (AGILEPMO-C)
The Certified Agile PMO Consultant (AgilePMO-C) certification is designed for professionals who aim to integrate Agile methodologies into a project-management office (PMO). This certification will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt PMO functions and strategies to support and enhance Agile practices.
This certification is ideal for:
- PMO directors, project managers, and consultants
- Professionals who want to drive efficiency and flexibility in project delivery using Agile principles
- Those who want to enhance their skills in implementing, managing, and transforming PMOs to be more Agile, responsive, and value-driven
Summary
Your choice should align with your career goals, industry requirements, and organizational objectives. A thoughtful choice will ensure that you have the knowledge and expertise needed to excel in project management.
Selecting the best project management office (PMO) certification is vital for career advancement and organizational success. You can select a few certifications mentioned in this post and grow your career with PMO.
I am Mohammad Fahad Usmani, B.E. PMP, PMI-RMP. I have been blogging on project management topics since 2011. To date, thousands of professionals have passed the PMP exam using my resources.
