By Jacqueline E. Dennis
March 12, 2025
In the profession of project management, there are four (4) core certifications awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI)® that include the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)®, and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)®, with the CAPM being the most popular. In fact, Entrepreneur in its June 2023 issue ranked CAPM as #1 in its list of “The 9 Most In-Demand Professional Certifications You Can Get Right Now!”
The CAPM was introduced by PMI in 2003. It certifies the recipient’s understanding of the fundamental project management terminology and knowledge to effectively support the project management practice, in accordance with PMI’s standard and guides. Although the CAPM Credential is not required to practice in the field of project management, it is a most sought-after distinction. Additionally, it often serves as a worthwhile means to gain sufficient experience to earn the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credential.
A CAPM-certified professional with little experience can pursue any one of the following roles with confidence:
- Assistant Project Manager
- Project Administrator
- Project Analyst
- Project Coordinator
Now, you might ask: “How does one earn the CAPM Credential?” Here is a process flow:
In an effort to gain insight into each process step, access PMI’s homepage, go to “Certifications” in the upper left-hand corner, as shown in the image below, and then select the first item listed under Core Certifications which is Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®. The main page for the CAPM will provide you with an overview of the eligibility criteria and more.
All four (4) core certifications are based on a certification-specific Examination Content Outline (ECO). Each of PMI’s ECOs is developed from a Job Task Analysis (JTA) that is for the purpose of validating work in each respective core certification. PMI retained Alpine Testing Solutions, which provides psychometric, test development, and credential management solutions to credentialing and educational programs, to develop the CAPM ECO.
The CAPM ECO has four (4) examination domains. Domains are defined as the high-level knowledge area that is essential to the practice of project management. The examination questions cover the corresponding percentages at the domain level:
| Domain | Percent of Exam Items |
| i. Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts | 36% |
| ii. Predictive, Plan-Based Methodologies | 17% |
| iii. Agile Frameworks/Methodologies | 20% |
| iv. Business Analysis Frameworks | 27% |
| Total | 100% |
The appropriate number of exam questions are not fixed, but are randomly selected from each domain when the candidate indicates their readiness at exam time.
Now, you might ask: “How do I get to a state of readiness for the exam?” Good question! One gets in a state of readiness by meeting the eligibility criteria for making application. The CAPM application requires:
- A secondary degree, such as a high school diploma, GED (general educational development), or global equivalent
- 23 hours of project management-specific education. This education requirement can be met by completing an:
- On-demand CAPM Exam Prep Course
- Instructor-Led virtual or traditional classroom CAPM course
The International Institute for Learning, Inc. has both on-demand and instructor led training courses available. The courses are based on the CAPM ECO domains and will require the participant to have not only the course materials, but also digital or hardcopies of the following PMI publications:
- Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)® Guide – Seventh Edition
- Process Groups: A Practice Guide
- Agile Practice Guide
- Business Analysis Practice Guide
If one is a member of PMI the above references in digital format are available without additional cost and the cost of the exam is significantly reduced.
After meeting the eligibility criteria and paying for the exam, exam scheduling will be permitted for either onsite at a Pearson Vue Testing Center (recommended) or securely online. As shown in the process flow, one has three attempts to pass the exam in their 1-year of eligibility.
Earning a CAPM is an achievement worth noting and maintaining. Therefore, when successful in passing the CAPM exam, plan to earn 15 Professional Development Units (PDUs) within each 3-year certification cycle to maintain it. Each PDU represents one-hour time blocks spent:
- Learning
- Teaching others
- Presenting
- Reading
- Volunteering
- Content creating
PDUs are reported via the PMI Continuing Certification Requirements System (CCRS). A CCR handbook is available for download at: PMI CCR Handbook at no cost to you.
Now, you have all you need. “Let’s get started!”
Jacqueline Dennis is a Senior Consultant with International Institute for Learning (IIL), a role held since 2008. Jacqueline has practiced project, program, and portfolio management, and brings over 30 years of experience in the project management profession. Her experience encompasses industries such as Services (R&D, consulting, educational, and technical); Manufacturing (telecommunications); and Construction (building masonry and mechanicals). She holds both a PgMP Credential and PMP Credential, since 2009 and 2002, respectively.
