Tag: CAPM

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What Careers Require CAPM Certification?

Group of colleagues at a conference table discussing getting their CAPM certification

The CAPM certification is a great way to explore a career in project management.  Becoming a Certified Associate in Project Management can also help take your existing career in a different direction, allowing you to earn a higher salary and gain more recognition. If you’ve decided to get your CAPM certification, Rita Mulcahy’s CAPM exam prep book is an excellent tool to help you prepare and pass the exam on your first try. If you haven’t made up your mind, let’s cover the CAPM benefits and career options.

CAPM Jobs and Career Opportunities

  1. The Benefits of the CAPM
  2. The CAPM 2023
  3. What Types of Jobs Can You Get with a CAPM?
  4. How to Get Your CAPM Certification
  5. Level Up Your Project Management Skills

A Brief Look at the Benefits of the CAPM Certification

More and more opportunities are opening in the field of project management. In fact, by 2030, 2.3 million new project management professionals will be needed each year to meet demand. Therefore, you’ll want to differentiate yourself from other candidates who are also looking to fill these positions. Even if you have little to no experience as a project manager, preparing for this certification can give you the know-how and confidence to get your CAPM.  This certification will help you build the core project management skills and best practices to take a project from start to finish.

In addition, it’s also a great place to start if you’re already a project manager but you want to handle more complex projects and larger teams.  Becoming a CAPM is a wise move.

The CAPM 2023

PMI has announced that the CAPM will be changing. The upcoming exam change will align the work of entry level professionals on project teams to the new exam content.

The CAPM certification will test your understanding of predictive, adaptive, and business analysis principles skills across four domains in the Examination Content Outline. The 2023 exam change will be significant.  Almost 50% of new questions will cover agile and business analysis principles.

Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts Domain:

This domain represents 36% the questions on the CAPM exam.  Therefore, you’ll be expected to understand multiple project lifecycles, project planning tasks, project roles and responsibilities, and common ways to problem solve.

Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Domain:

This domain represents 17% of the CAPM certification exam. So, you’ll be tested on your understanding of when and how to use a predictive project approach including how to schedule and control plan-based projects.

Agile Frameworks and Methodologies Domain:

This domain represents 20% of exam questions. You will need to understand how and when to use an adaptive approach, what’s in an adaptive plan, planning project iterations, documenting project controls and managing tasks.

Business Analysis Frameworks Domain:

This domain represents 27% of exam questions.  You’ll need understand business analysis roles and responsibilities and how to conduct stakeholder communications, gather and validate requirements, define a product roadmap, and how to adapt business analysis process based on the type of method used for the project.

What Types of Jobs Can You Get with a CAPM?

With your CAPM certification, a variety of doors will open when you’re ready to start a new career or enhance an existing one.  In project management, you can consider pursuing positions like the following.  Keep in mind that these aren’t the only career paths that are possible with a CAPM.

CAPM Careers and Salaries

  • Junior project manager – you plan and organize projects, as well as direct and lead teams, for a company, but you’ll likely work under the direction of a senior project manager. Average Annual Salary: $72,200
  • Senior project manager – you use your previous experience and high-level skills to lead more than one project at once or lead more complex projects. Average Annual Salary: $104,400
  • Technical project manager – you work on various projects, ensuring they’re completed correctly, while also acting as an expert when it comes to technology needs and requirements. Average Annual Salary: $113,000
  • Associate project manager – you will likely assist higher level project managers and program managers, working on a variety of tasks to help complete large projects. Average Annual Salary: $67,000
  • Program manager – you come up with a strategy for a program, and you oversee multiple projects to ensure a business initiative is met. Average Annual Salary: $92,000
  • Project coordinator – you take care of smaller aspects of bigger projects while working under the direction of a project manager to help complete projects within budget and on deadline. Average Annual Salary: $55,000
  • IT Project coordinator – you compile project status reports, coordinate project schedules, and analyze systems requirements. Average Annual Salary: $68,000

In addition to the positions described above, individuals who have a CAPM certification might also be able to pursue jobs as consultants, PMO specialists, business analysts, and more.

Careers That Require or Prefer CAPM Certification

  • Acquisition program analyst
  • Senior project management analyst
  • Management and program analyst
  • Project controls analyst
  • Senior project management consultant
  • Project consultant
  • Enterprise architect
  • Deputy project manager
  • IT project manager
  • Agile project manager
  • Support technical manager
  • Infrastructure project manager
  • Project controller
  • Program delivery coordinator

See? It really is worth it to put the time and effort in to get this credential on your resume!

How to Get Your CAPM Certification

To meet the CAPM requirements, you need:

  • a secondary degree, which could be a high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent
  • complete 23 hours of project management education by the time you take the CAPM certification exam

The next step is to prepare to take the exam offered by PMI.  Check out our virtual exam prep courses offered by RMC Learning Solutions. It is one of the fastest ways to prepare for the exam have you interact with an instructor in real-time. For example, with the Live Online class, you get the full RMC CAPM Exam Prep system including Rita’s CAPM Exam Prep Book, FASTrack exam simulation software, and Hot Topics flashcards, as well as the workbook from the course and follow up support if you need it.RMC instructors will guide you through everything that you need to know to successfully pass the CAPM certification exam on your first try. Importantly, by learning what you need to know for this exam, you’ll also develop skills that will make you a more effective project manager.

If you want to prep online at your own pace, consider our CAPM eLearning course. Our popular self-study options including our CAPM Exam Prep book,  CAPM exam simulator or our CAPM Exam Prep System. 

Level Up Your Project Management Skills

Any certification in project management can help you go farther than you would without it. But if you aren’t quite ready for more advanced certifications, like the Project Management Professional (PMP), the CAPM certification the ideal place to start your journey.  Given the anticipated exam change, now is the perfect time to consider getting your CAPM certification. 

Check out RMC’s CAPM certification exam prep courses, practice exam simulation and self-study options to help you pass the CAPM on your first try!

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CAPM Exam Format and Content

Male professional reviewing the CAPM exam format and content from his laptop.

The CAPM certification is a great way to demonstrate your project management knowledge and understanding to pursue entry level positions in project management across any organization and industry.

Now more than ever, the CAPM reflects the way project work gets done by entry level project professionals.  That because in PMI, the certifying body for the CAPM, underwent a thorough analysis and made significant changes to the CAPM content and format for the exam starting in July 2023.   In this post, we will cover the exam content and format for the new exam, explain the value of project management and benefits of taking the CAPM exam.

CAPM Format and Content

  1. What is the CAPM exam format and content?
  2. Why is Project Management Important?
  3. CAPM Career Opportunities
  4. Preparing for the CAPM Exam

What is the CAPM Exam Format and Content?

It’s important to know what kind of questions and topics will be on the CAPM exam. This will help you study to help you pass the exam. By getting to know the material, you can focus your study time and make sure you’re ready for the exam.  Specific details of the 2023 CAPM exam are as follows:

New CAPM exam format

The main change to the new exam format is the transition from knowledge areas to domains and tasks that typically occur within each domain.  The exam will now be broken out in to four main areas. Specific details include:

  • Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts: 36% of questions
  • Predictive, Plan-Based Methodologies: 17% of questions
  • Agile Frameworks and Methodologies: 20% of questions
  • Business Analysis Frameworks: 27% of questions

The CAPM exam format consists of 150 questions, and you have three hours to complete it. You will have a 10-minute break after you answer the first 75 questions.

New CAPM exam content

The domains also inform the changes to the exam content.  Following is a summary of the content changes by domain:

Domain 1:  Covers concepts and the fundamentals of predictive and agile project management.

Domain 2:  Tests your knowledge of both predictive and adaptive project management approaches.

Domain 3:  Introduces agile and other adaptive development approaches (e.g., Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP) and others).

Domain 4:  Contains content about business analysis, and how to gather and validate requirements.

Based on the exam content changes, the 2023 CAPM Exam Content Outline indicates several question formats including:

Matching questions: You will have two columns of concepts to match.

Hot spot questions: A graphic will be presented where you click on a hot spot containing the correct answer.

Animation Video multiple choice questions: You will watch an animated video scenario and select a single answer from several choices.

Comic Strip multiple choice questions: You must read a comic strip scenario and select one answer from multiple options.

Why Project Management is Important?

When you invest time and effort in developing project management skills like planning, organizing, and task management, it can improve the chances of success for the projects you are involved in, and bring value to your company.

It’s also important to understand how and when to use different methods, develop various tools and techniques, and learn about different methodologies, as this will leading to other leadership roles on more complex projects.

Poorly managed projects can have negative impacts on a company. According to a PMI analysis, 48% of projects miss their delivery dates, 43% go over budget, and 31% fail to meet the organization’s goals. That’s why it’s important to learn and practice good project management skills to avoid these issues and ensure successful projects.

CAPM Career Opportunities

Project management jobs are in high demand, in fact, according to industry experts, employers will need more than 87 million people filling project management related roles.  Key growth industries include information services and publishing, finance and insurance, oil and gas, manufacturing and construction, management and professional services and utilities.

Every year, there are more than 500,000 jobs that need people with project management skills, according to the PMI.  Getting your CAPM certification is a great qualification that further validate your project knowledge. After getting your CAPM, you may qualify for careers such as operations assistant, project assistant, project coordinator, and program assistant.

You might be surprised to find job opportunities that don’t mention project management in their titles, but still require project management skills such as planning and organizing work, managing, and building team relationships, and time management.

Preparing for the CAPM Exam

If you considering getting your CAPM certification, RMC offers a free webinar you can attend called Taking the CAPM Exam: What You Need to Know.  Get answers to all your questions from one of RMC’s expert instructors. You can learn more about the CAPM including the exam costs and requirements.

When you are ready to prepare for your CAPM exam, you can stay up-to-date on our 2023 CAPM exam prep materials and classes.

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How to Use Rita Mulcahy’s Exam Prep Book for the CAPM Exam

If you’re planning to take the CAPM Exam, now is a great time. PMI recently announced the CAPM exam will be changing in January 2023. There are many options to help you get test ready. One such proven study method is Rita’s original prep book for the CAPM exam.

Originally created by Rita Mulcahy, it is designed to guide your studies by making complex information easily digestible. As you consider your options, here are some valuable tips on how this book can help you pass the CAPM exam.

Prep for the CAPM with Rita Mulcahy’s Exam Prep Book

  1. How Rita’s CAPM Exam Prep Book is Organized
  2. Introduction and Chapter Quick Tests
  3. CAPM Exam Key Inputs, Tools, Techniques, and Outputs
  4. Exclusive Test-Taking Tips

How Rita’s CAPM Exam Prep Book Is Organized

Most of the chapters in this book have been organized the same way:

  • List of Quick Test topics and introduction to the knowledge area
  • Discussion of the key inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs by knowledge area
  • Exercises and review materials
  • Practice exam by chapter

Let’s review these key components of the chapters.

Introduction and Chapter Quick Tests

The introduction provides an overview of the knowledge area covered in the chapter.  It may also include key concepts and information you will need to understand the material. The list at the beginning of each chapter indicates the topics covered in the chapter. To test your knowledge of the chapter contents and to review what’s most important, refer to each Quick Test list when you’re finished with each chapter.

CAPM Exam Key Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs

The CAPM Exam prep book highlights the key inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs for each knowledge area, with page references to the PMBOK® Guide, Sixth Edition. The content primarily focuses on the most important and difficult aspects.  It addresses areas that are the most troublesome for test takers. The CAPM Exam Prep book contains exclusive prep tips and tricks can shorten your study time and improve your exam score.

Exclusive Test-Taking Tips

Each chapter is filled with exclusive tips and tricks to guide your learning.  We call these Rita’s Tricks of the Trade®. Our multi-certification experts have developed this practical advice from teaching hundreds of thousands of students. We’ve developed these insider tips that help you learn more in less time.

There are plenty of opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding.  End-of-chapter tests include questions similar to those you can expect to encounter on the exam. You also get a detailed explanation of the correct answer as an additional learning tool.  Finally, we offer a step-by-step study plan to help you feel confident in your test prep.

RMC Exam Prep Difference

Rita believed exam certification training should be real, not hypothetical. That’s why our approach to test prep is like a talented friend in the field that teaches you what you really need to know for PMI® certification exams.

Sources:  https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certified-associate-capm