Professionals across the board, in IT and other departments, are managing more projects than ever before, and having project management skills helps them to streamline processes and ensure they’re crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s. But for someone whose primary role is not project management, some of the better-known project management certifications may go above and beyond what is needed to do the job.
If you work in IT and manage small- to medium-sized projects, CompTIA Project+ may be a good way for you to prove to employers that you have the project management skills needed for your job.
Which project management certification is right for me?
Deciding which project management certification is right for you can be hard. The good news is, project management certifications seem to fall into two categories: Those designed for full-time project managers and those designed for people in other jobs who are also responsible for some project management.
PMP, and other project management certifications like Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or PRINCE2 Practitioner, are methodology/framework-specific certifications intended for more advanced project management professionals who oversee large projects. If you are a full-time project manager, PMP might be right for you.
However, if your primary role is in IT but you also manage projects, CompTIA Project+ can help you understand project management concepts without investing the time and money that major project management certifications require. It is ideal for professionals who manage smaller, less complex projects as part of their other job duties but still need foundational project management skills.
CompTIA Project+ is more versatile than other certifications because it covers essential project management concepts beyond the scope of just one methodology or framework. However, it does provide a high-level introduction to Agile as part of one of the objectives. Still, if you would like to focus on, say, Scrum specifically, you would want to take Scrum Alliance’s Certified Scrum Master certification.
PMP vs. CompTIA Project+
Let’s take a closer look at the fundamental differences between PMP and CompTIA Project+.
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CompTIA Project+ |
PMP |
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Certification Description |
CompTIA Project+ is ideal for IT professionals who need to manage smaller, less complex projects as part of their job duties and would benefit from foundational project management skills. Project+ is versatile because it covers essential project management concepts beyond the scope of just one methodology or framework. |
PMP is a globally recognized, professional project management certification offered by PMI and is considered essential for full-time project managers. |
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Exam Length |
1 exam, maximum of 90 questions, 90 minutes |
1 exam, 200 questions, 240 minutes |
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Experience Level |
Entry-level |
Intermediate |
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Exam Focus |
Small- to medium-sized projects |
Medium to large projects that follow PMI methodology |
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Prerequisites |
No prerequisite, but an equivalent of at least 6–12 months of hands-on experience managing projects in an IT environment is recommended |
Application plus 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, a post-secondary degree, and 35 hours of project management education. |
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Price |
$358 |
$405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members |
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Domains Covered |
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Study Materials |
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), PMP Examination Content Outline, PMP handbook, and online or in-person training. |
Why get a project management certification?
Getting a project management certification validates your project management skills and adds value to your resume. You will be able to prove to employers that you bring in-demand and valuable skills to the table, opening yourself up to more job opportunities.
According to CompTIA's Career Explorer, there are over 92,000 job openings for IT project managers, and many technical job roles require some project management skills. It’s evident that more and more talent is being recruited for roles with these skills every year. With the median annual salary for IT project managers being $97,000, the job outlook is promising. Keep in mind that many factors influence salary, such as location, job level, years of experience, organization size, and more.
Earning CompTIA Project+ means that you will have the knowledge and skills required to do the following:
- Manage the project lifecycle
- Ensure appropriate communication
- Manage resources and stakeholders
- Maintain project documentation
Both CompTIA Project+ and PMP require extensive preparation, and rightly so. Employees who invest in career development and learning are valued by their organization. A project management certification validates your desire and tenacity toward developing and honing your personal and professional skills.
But if you aren’t a full-time project manager – or aren’t one yet—CompTIA Project+ might be the right project management certification for you. It can even be a stepping stone for moving into a full-time project manager role or getting PMP or a more advanced certification in the future.
How to study for CompTIA Project+
When you are ready to begin studying, check out CompTIA’s line of learning products, developed exclusively for the CompTIA certification candidate. No other content library covers all of the exam objectives for all certifications. The Official CompTIA Project+ Study Guide can help you prepare for your CompTIA certification exam with confidence. And CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Project+ will give you the confidence you need to pass your exam.
When you purchase a CompTIA Project+ bundle that includes both the CompTIA CertMaster Practice and the Official CompTIA Project+ Study Guide, you’ll get a seamless integrated experience to help give you confidence as you go into your exam.
You now have everything you need to learn the material and ensure you are prepared for your exam and your career.
Learn the skills you need with CompTIA CertMaster Learn.