Project Management Professional (PMP Certification) is a globally acknowledged professional certification in project management that validates a professional’s education and experience in project management. This coveted credential is offered by the reputed Project Management Institute to professionals who qualify in the PMP Exam conducted by the PMI. PMP is one of those credentials whose reputation precedes them. Nevertheless, here’s a few reasons you should consider getting a PMP Certification.

Reason #1: PMP is a globally acknowledged certification

PMP is recognized and sought-after the world over (there are more than 450k PMP certified professionals worldwide – Source) Clearing PMP exam and achieving a PMP Credential would thus help a professional showcase their skills and expertise to potential global employers.

Reason #2: PMP leads to a steep hike in salary

PMP holders witnesses a dramatic and steep hike in salary, with the certification. On average, PMP certified professionals earn 17% more than their non-certified counterparts, according to the Project Management Salary Survey, Eighth Edition.

Further, new research from the Project Management Institute, suggests that 71% of project managers saw an increase in compensation over the last 12 months.

PMP certified professionals earn a median salary of $110,000 a year.

Reason #3: PMP Have Better Job Opportunities

According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey, 80% of high-performing projects use PMP credentialed project managers, and, according to the PMI Pulse of the Profession study, organizations with more than 35% PMP certified project managers demonstrated much better project performance.

Thus, PMP Certification opens up better career avenues and provides professionals with greater job opportunities in the project management world.

Reason #4: PMP Professionals Have Enhanced Project Management Skills and Demonstrate Better Project Performance

Not all Project Managers are PMP certified and, consequently, project managers who lack the credential perform less efficiently than their certified peers. The standards for the rigorous PMP exam are higher than other PM certifications, and it tests professionals on all five project management processes – initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling and closing, providing the Project Manager with a detailed, standardized, actionable set of project management best practices drawing from all five processes.

Further, a professional needs to be aware of all nine knowledge areas of project management, including project scope management, integration management, human resource management, time management, cost management, quality management and procurement management, with in-depth knowledge in order to qualify for the PMP Exam.

This enhances their project management skills immensely and allows the project manager to tackle all manner of projects with consummate ease.

Reason #5: Greater Visibility to Recruiters and Utility across Industry

Research across industries suggests that organizations prefer hiring PMP certified project managers to their non-credentialed peers. PMP certification is a standard that demonstrates a professional’s expertise in project management and it immediately catches a recruiter’s eye, during profile evaluation.

PMP is an ideal bet for all project managers in various professional fields, including IT, telecom, business processing, commerce, finance, research, and more.