Should I Get Certified as a Project Manager?

In the first post of this two-part series, we examine the reasons why PM certification might be the right move.
The field of project management is always changing, and it’s up to us as masters of the profession to keep up. But is official certification the way to do it? Only you can answer that question for yourself, but here are some rationales from the Project Management Institute to consider.
Objective Third-Party Endorsement
A PMI certification reflects your project management knowledge, skills and abilities. As a respected institution in the industry, PMI can provide unbiased support for your project management expertise and professional experience.
Proof of Achievement
A PMI certification shows that you have demonstrated excellence in the field by meeting standard requirements established by global project management practitioners. The global aspect is critical because there may come a time very soon when the ability to manage cross-national project teams is imperative.
More Moolah
A PMI certification can lead to greater earnings. Many certification holders experience salary increases because of their certification status, and these increases definitely add up over the course of a career.
Opportunity Knocking
A PMI certification identifies you as a practitioner who has demonstrated competency in general project management processes or in specialty areas of practice based on industry standards. This may well lead to recruitment into a sexier area of project management or a role that’s a step up from your current one.
Employer Recognition
Employers like to see candidates and employees who invest in their own professional development. Certification shows your commitment to the field and illustrates that you are to in it to win it. This perception makes it likely that the most prestigious employers will consider hiring you for their open PM positions.
Value Proposition
A PMI certification makes it easier for potential employers to evaluate you against other candidates with similar experience and ultimately decide that you have the edge. In a competitive job market, a certification can be your differentiator, the unique value you bring to the table.
Despite its benefits, though, certification isn’t for everyone. It does, of course, take time and financial resources, and if you aren’t sure that project management is the field for you, then it may not be worth it.
But for those who do decide it’s the right decision, getting this type of education is easier than ever. Certifications like those from PMI represent the future of what is called micro-credentialing, or leveraging a shorter-term education program (often in place of a traditional degree) to show competence in a specific skill area. In the next post, we’ll discuss the different types of PM certification you can currently obtain.