What is the Project Management Institute?
The Project Management Institute is a not-for-profit association dedicated to training project managers and other project professionals to succeed in a project-driven industry. The PMI aims to continue providing resources for project managers around the world to enhance their skills. It works to increase technological growth for project managers by specializing in an individual’s project management technological quotient(PMTQ).
Staying current on evolving technology trends keeps project management professionals aware of the expanding role of technology and how it may impact their careers in the future. By motivating your employees to follow the PMI-identified trends, you can ensure that operations at your company remain ahead of the curve.
Related: How to Write a Project Manager Job Description
What benefits does the Project Management Institute offer?
The PMI offers many resources for its members to help them be more successful as project managers. In addition to an annual publication, the PMI also hosts official events for members to network and share valuable information. These networking events supply members with more knowledge to progress in their field and hone their professional skills. The PMI also places an emphasis on developing standards and ethics to allow them to advance in the industry.
This organization offers several certifications for project professionals, such as the Project Management Professional and Risk Management Professional. These certifications require extensive experience and training, demonstrating the holder’s expertise on the specific subject. Many employers seek candidates with PMI certifications since they show dedication to project management.
Quick tips about PMI management
If you employ project managers, your business may benefit when they join the PMI.Here are three key tips to maximize the value you get from your employees who join the PMI:
Encourage your employees to get certified
Professional certifications show that employees dedicate their time to enhancing their knowledge and skill set. By hiring certified employees or encouraging your current team members to gain certifications, you’ll see employees contribute more valuable work. If it’s in your budget, consider covering some of the costs associated with earning a certification.
Though you may not need to require certifications for some jobs with project management responsibilities, adding them as preferred qualifications on your job posting be useful in helping you to find more knowledgeable and talented candidates.
Send employees to professional events
If an employee joins the PMI, support their decision to attend events. Professional PMI events are an excellent way for your employees to grow and challenge themselves. They provide in-depth lectures and presentations to help attendees understand different aspects of project management. They can also meet other project management employees at these events to gain guidance and tips on how to improve in their role.
Motivate employees to keep learning
The Project Management Institute provides several educational opportunities for its members. They can view different reading material, like a quarterly scholarly journal, a quarterly membership news bulletin and a monthly magazine. This reading material provides industry news to keep members consistently updated and well-informed. The PMI also has a variety of online educational resources easily accessible to members, including an article library, research studies and back issues.
Related: 7 Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers
PMI frequently asked questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Project Management Institute:
What Project Management Institute certifications are available?
Many PMI certifications are available to members, from entry to more advanced levels. These certifications allow your employees to advance their skill sets and provide quality work. The eight certifications the PMI offers include:
- Project Management Professional (PMP): Increases your employees’ effective project manager skills
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM): Introduces the fundamental practices and technologies of strong project management to allow employees to better handle and organize projects
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): Improves Agile practices and principles in project management like XP, Scrum and Lean
- PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA):Explores project management and business requirements through the specialized area of business analysis
- PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP):Teaches members how to identify and eliminate potential project risks
- PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP):Educates professionals on creating and managing multiple project schedules
- Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP):Explains how to manage several portfolios and enhance organizational skills as a project manager
- Program Management Professional (PgMP):Teaches members how to manage several projects and teams to deliver impressive team-building results
Where are the different Project Management Institutes located?
You can find PMI locations in several parts of the world including Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and North America. By visiting the PMI’s website, you can find a list of all the chapters within each state. If there are none available near you, they have an active online community your employees can join.
What are the requirements to receive a PMP certification?
Before applying for the project management professional certification (PMP), candidates must have:
- Three years of experience leading projects
- 35 hours of project management training
- Bachelor’s degree
If an employee doesn’t have the qualifications above, possible alternatives include:
- Five years of experience leading projects
- High school diploma or an associate degree
35 hours of project management training is a requirement for both of these qualification sections.
