If you truly want to get into the field of managing technology projects, particularly in the realms of software or telecom, be prepared for some arduous training. You can’t just jump into managing these fields without certification, and the best certification is that which is offered by the Project Management Institute - Project Management Professional.
There are a number of prerequisites you must meet prior to applying for “Project Management Profession” certification. If you have completed college, you must have at least three years of post-graduate experience in a related field. During these three years you are required to have spent at least 4,500 hours actually coordinating and leading projects. If you didn’t go to college, or didn’t complete your course of study, you can still apply for certification provided you have seven years of related work experience. During those seven years you must have spent at least 7,500 hours coordinating and leading projects.
You must complete a long process of education and evaluation before you can be certified as a project management professional. You must demonstrate that you are knowledgeable in many areas of project management including project management technology, project risk management, quality management, and project activity scheduling, among others. You should be able to apply SCRUM, JIT, Agile Project Management, and other frequently employed methodologies to the practice of project management.
After you have studied those subjects, you need to develop detailed knowledge of the standardized taxonomy developed by the Project Management Institute. Fortunately, when you apply for the certification, you will be mailed a copy of their Project Management Book of Knowledge (the PMBOK Guide) to assist you in your studies.
A good rule of thumb is that you should participate in many workshops, training programs, and online courses that are given by education providers who are recognized by the Project Management Institute. These organizations offer validated courses which not only help you to build degree credits, but also assist you in developing expertise using the project management application software and theories.
Don’t preoccupy yourself with worrying about if you will pass while taking the examination. If you have studied yet still find it difficult, the odds are that everyone else who is taking the exam is finding it just as difficult. That’s the advantage of an exam utilizing the Angoff and Nedelsky evaluation methodology. It allows for a flexible grading approach where you are judged independently but also in conjunction with the average scores of the other examinees. Once you pass the examination, you may attach the title “Project Management Professional” to your name.
If you want to manage high technology projects in telecommunications or software, you will require a great deal of training to be successful. The Project Management Institute offers the project management professional certification that will fulfill your needs. In order for you to become certified as a project manager, you will need to complete the recognized program of validated education, workshops and evaluations. You will need to be able to prove your expertise with project management technology, project risk management, project activity scheduling, project quality management, and in other program areas.