The Value of the PMP Cert, according to Tom Mochal

The Value of the PMP Cert, according to Tom Mochal (www.tenstep.com)

Overall, I believe the PMP certification distinguishes you from other project management candidates, even if your company does not require it. I see it becoming more and more popular as a screening tool for companies looking for project management candidates.

Over time, I think it will become as important as a college degree is today. By that, I mean that it won’t be a requirement for every project management position, but it would be more common for a company to require the PMP than to not require it.

Of course, no one is saying that the PMP certification proves that you’re a better project manager than someone without the certification. However, I think it shows your prospective employer that you have some degree of seriousness in the profession and that you were motivated enough to invest the time to pass the exam. It also indicates that you have and can apply knowledge of project management methodology, rather than just relying on hard work and organization skills.

From a purely materialistic standpoint, I also believe that employers are willing to pay more money for a PMP-certified professional. This stems from the belief that, although there are never any guarantees, a PMP-certified person probably has a background and skill level that is higher than his or her noncertified peers.

Project management veteran Tom Mochal is director of internal development at a software company in Atlanta. Most recently, he worked for the Coca-Cola Company, where he was responsible for deploying, training, and coaching the IS division on project management and life-cycle skills. He's also worked for Eastman Kodak and Cap Gemini America and has developed a project management methodology called TenStep.