Different Types of Project Management Qualification | The Knowledge Academy Courses

Do you know what the different types of project management qualification are on offer, and which courses are best suited to your career prospects? 

Project management qualifications can open a whole new world of opportunities for those who are looking to boost their careers, but one of the most commonly asked questions is which project management qualification is the most suitable for you. Each qualification is tailored to be compatible with different types of work environments, but one of the most important things to consider is the intrinsic elements of each qualification that are can be combined and utilised to suit the project that you are dealing with. Here, we’re taking a look at the different project management qualifications that we have on offer at The Knowledge Academy and the benefits of each. 

A list of project management qualifications available:

• PRINCE2®
• Project Management Professional (PMP)®
• Agile
• Scrum
• APMP
• Lean Six Sigma
• MoP®
• MoV®
• P30®
• Managing Benefits Training
• Change Management

PRINCE2®

One of the most recognised types of project management qualification in the UK is PRINCE2®. This is one of the most traditional methodologies that operates within many different industries and is based on the original waterfall methodology, where different stages of a plan fall into each other in a seamless process. When implementing this methodology, each stage of a project needs to be completed in full before the team can move onto the next stage, allowing for progress to be clearly tracked throughout the entirety of the project.

While PRINCE2® can be implemented within a wide range of sectors, it is most commonly seen in IT, Professional Services and Financial Services, which demonstrates just how versatile PRINCE2® is. There are a number of reasons why people may choose the PRINCE2® qualification, with some of the top motivators being skills development, career progression and because it is a required element of a role that they have taken on. With the highest average annual salary of those with a PRINCE2® qualification being £98,740, it is easy to see the personal benefits of earning a PRINCE2® qualification as well as the positive impact it can have on one’s professional career.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a project manager, take a read through our project management guide.

Project Management Professional (PMP)®

As of 2014, there were over 600,000 active PMP® certified people around the world, showing just how popular this type of project management qualification is – not just in the UK but around the globe. Through this qualification, 15 million jobs have been created across a number of industries, including construction, utilities, oil/gas and much more, which goes to show how adaptable PMP® is. While there is a higher percentage of PMP® qualified males than females, there are a number of benefits for all PMP® qualified professionals, with one of the most prominent being that the highest average annual salary of PMP® qualified professional is over £84,000! 

Agile

One of the biggest upcoming project management qualifications is Agile, and this is leading to a number of people questioning whether PRINCE2® or Agile is the better qualification. Agile is a more flexible project management approach and is in high demand across a broad range of sectors. In 2015, 38% of organisations were already using Agile frequently and saw significant improvement in terms of meeting goals and deadlines and keeping within their budget limits. An Axelos Survey suggested that 84% of current project managers believe that Agile will grow in importance, showing just how transformative gaining an Agile qualification could be for you and your career.

Scrum

One of the most flexible types of project management qualification out there is known as Scrum. This can be used in a broad range of functional areas, including accountancy, research, sales, marketing, HR, product development, software development and IT. A Scrum qualification is known to great for employees as well as management, and when you have completed your Scrum qualification, you will henceforth be known as a Scrum Master! 

APMP

APMP is one of the most popular types of project management qualifications and research has shown that up to 37% of project management professionals actually believe that APM PMQ is the best indicator of a competent project manager. With professionals earning up to £10,000 more per annum  with APM Salary and 86% enjoying greater project success, it is easy to see the benefits of an APMP qualification. 

Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma provides a number of real-life benefits for those looking to become a qualified project manager. Lean Six Sigma has been known to provide professionals with a more effective professional outlook and many already qualified individuals have said that the qualification improved their career prospects while others report that this type of project management qualification has generated significant cost savings. 

Lean Six Sigma and Process Excellence are applied across a broad range of areas, including IT, general business operations, customer service, supply chain and manufacturing. With an average salary of £55,000 outside of the UK as of 2014, there are plenty of opportunities that can be obtained with a Lean Six Sigma qualification. 

MoP®

MoP® is a type of portfolio management qualification. There is a multitude of reasons why people look to MoP® courses to improve current and future operations in their place of work. With these qualifications, professionals can improve their chances of successful delivery in terms of time, quality and budget and achieve greater efficiency with project delivery. These qualifications also help to enhance an organisation’s transparency and accountability. 

MoV®

MoV® (Management of Values) training offers a number of benefits to both individuals and organisations. For individuals, it provides a means of defining objectives while also being able to maximise value in line with the programme. In addition to this, it can help to supplement management practices and help with sustainable decision making. This helps organisations by reducing expenditure, helping to deliver relevant outcomes, improve benefits and much more.

P30®

The P30® qualification can help qualified professionals build a project portfolio that features all of the processes, techniques and strategies that help to enable and implement change in a Projects office. Change is an extremely important part of any business, and those with the P30® qualification are in the best position to provide in-depth analysis and strategies to help organisations effectuate these changes. 

Managing Benefits Training

Managing Benefits Training can help professionals better understand the responsibilities, principles, practices and techniques that are capable of optimising a business’s ROI through Benefits Management. Our courses are globally recognised and fully accredited here at The Knowledge Academy, and the training is most suitable for change leaders, initiators, appraisers, evaluators, support staff, implementers and enablers.  

Change Management

Here at The Knowledge Academy, we have trained over 3000 delegates in Change Management, which allows projects to effectively meet or exceed project objectives. According to official studies, businesses that feature an excellent Change Management program can reach up to 143% ROI, showing just how much of a positive impact Change Management can have on a business.

However, Change Management is also exceptionally beneficial to the delegates, with earning potential ranging from £40k - £85k on average for those who have an accredited Change Management qualification, dependant on experience and industry.

The Knowledge Academy has been reviewed and approved as a provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®.

PMI, PMP, CAPM, PMBOK and The PMI Registered Education Provider logo are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2013.