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Best project director certifications
Project director certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an project director to employers. However, not all project director certifications provide the same value for job seekers.
The best certifications for a project director are Project Management Professional (PMP), Master Project Manager (MPM), and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
Below is a list of the best project director certifications. Obtaining an project director certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
12 best certifications for project directors
12 best project director certifications
1. Project Management Professional (PMP)
The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which you can competently practice project management.To be eligible for a PMP Credential, you must first meet specific educational and project management experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step to becoming a PMP is passing a rigorous multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, monitoring and controlling the project, closing the project, and professional and social responsibility. This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
2. Master Project Manager (MPM)
If you have 3+ years of Project Management Experience, you may apply for MPM™ Master Project Manager Board Certification.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
3. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)
IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
4. Certified Manager Certification (CM)
The Certified Manager Animal Resources (CMAR) certification program is designed to raise competency and professionalism in the field of Animal Resources Management. The CMAR designation involves a series of four examinations: three exams arranged via an organization called the Institute for Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), and the Animal Resources Exam offered by AALAS. Obtaining the CMAR designation is a sign of professionalism in the field of animal resources management.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
5. Programming in C# Certification
This exam is intended for developers with one or more years of experience programming the essential business/application logic for a variety of application types and hardware/software platforms using C#.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
6. Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
The Certified Construction Manager (CCM) is someone who has voluntarily met the prescribed criteria of the CCM program with regard to formal education, field experience and demonstrated capability and understanding of the CM body of knowledge.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
7. Professional Researcher Certification (PRC)
Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) was developed as a powerful tool for researchers of all levels of work experience and education. MRA's goal is to encourage high standards within the profession to raise competency, establish an objective measure of an individual's knowledge and proficiency and to encourage continued professional development.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
8. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
9. Certified in Public Health (CPH)
The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) offers the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential as the only voluntary core credential for public health professionals. The CPH designation demonstrates that an individual graduate from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health has mastered foundational competencies in public health. CPH professionals raise the bar and enhance the public health profession through their exemplary academic and leadership skills.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
10. Certified Professional Counselor
You entered this field in order to help people. When was the last time that an organization came along to provide any real help to you? The mission of the American Board of Professional Counselors, ABPC program is to be the nation's leading advocate for counselors. ABPC will champion counselors' right to practice. We will work with you to protect your right to practice, increase parity for your profession, and provide you with the recognition that you so richly deserve.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
11. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
By earning the Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR) certification you demonstrate that you have mastered the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR management as practiced in the United States. The credential is designed for the HR professional who plans, rather than implements, HR policy, focuses on the "big picture," has ultimate accountability in the HR department, has breadth and depth of knowledge in all HR disciplines and understands the business beyond the HR function and influences the overall organization.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
12. Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
Clinical Research Professionals (CRPs) come from a wide variety of backgrounds. CRPs may have backgrounds in nursing, pharmacy, medical technology, business administration, health record maintenance, statistics, biology, teaching, or in other areas. CRPs work in various settings such as cooperative research groups; academic and private institutions; private offices; pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology companies; Clinical Research Organizations (CROs); Site Management Organizations (SMOs); independent research and development organizations; or organizations involved in the management of clinical trials. These varying backgrounds and settings contribute to the unique knowledge and diverse expertise of CRPs.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
What is the best certification for a project director?
The best project director certification is Project Management Professional (PMP). The Project Management Professional (PMP) is awarded by the Project Management Institute. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this project director certification:
- To become a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 3 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for project directors?
The most in-demand project director certification is Project Management Professional based on all active job postings. Having this project director certification will give you access to more project director jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a project director career and salary?
The Project Management Professional certification will help you to secure a senior project manager position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A senior project manager's average salary is $108,931 whereas project directors make an average salary of $107,396.
The most common combination of project director certifications include: Project Management Professional (PMP), Master Project Manager (MPM), and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
Online courses for project directors to earn certifications
1. Digital Project Management
Build confidence translating business requirements into project scope statements, creating project plans in Waterfall or Agile, and developing a high-performing team...
2. Project Management Course: Master Project Scope Management
Practical guide to scope development and management - Project Management Certification (PMP, CAPM) Training [Earn 11PDU]...
3. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery
Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...
4. Project Management Professional Certification Program (PMP)
Your Guide to the Gold Standard of Project Management Certifications (PMI-PMP) (PMBOK7 updated) (40 PDUs minimum)...
5. Project Management - Complete Guide For A+ Project Managers
Complete guide to project management - stakeholders, planning, cost, quality, risks, feasibility, methods & resourcing...
6. Apply finance concepts for smart project management
Learn to read financial statements and make meaningful interpretations for business decisions in the age of big data...
7. Project Management Essentials: Ace Your Next Project!
The Missing Toolkit for Truly Effective, Everyday Project Management Project Management Basics for Everyone...
8. Project Management Fundamentals: Run projects effectively
Learn how to effectively analyze, plan, execute, and manage projects that consistently accomplish company objectives...
9. Project Management: Simple Software Project Management
Project Management for NEW Project Managers - knowledge, tools, techniques, skills, checklists, guidelines, pitfalls...
10. Practical Project Management for Management Consultants
How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...
11. Project Management Fundamentals for Professionals
Delivering Exceptional Project Results: Successful “Hands-On” Management of Modern-Day Projects...
12. Master Course in Project Management 2.0
Project Management, PMP, Agile project management, Project manager, Prince2, Scrum, Project Planning, Project risk cost...
13. Mastering Agile Scrum Project Management
Review and master agile development & scrum methodologies for your career...
14. The Complete Project Management Fundamentals Course + CERT
Project Management Certification to get in an industry that is adding 1.5 million jobs each year: Project Management...
15. Project Management Fundamentals
Practical Project Management worked example using Gantt Charts, PMI, PMP, APM...
16. Project Management: Becoming a Successful Project manager
Project Management...
17. Project Management Training
Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...
18. Microsoft Project ADVANCED: Project Management Technics 3PDU
MS PROJECT 2016 ADVANCED Project Management Techniques -incl Enterprise level. HANDS-ON from #1 BESTSELLING INSTRUCTOR...
19. Agile Project Management Bootcamp: Agile Project Management
This Agile Project Management Bootcamp course will allow you to learn the Agile Way! Agile Project Management (Scrum)...
20. Project Management: Master Project Management - PMP/PMI
Master Project Management using this practical certification course...