How to Decide Between a CAPM or PMP Certification

Your name would look good with an acronym on the end. Specifically, CAPM or PMP.

In the world of project management, it may feel like the acronyms CAPM and PMP are everywhere. Both the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and the Professional in Project Management (PMP) are professional certifications that indicate to employers and colleagues a certain level of knowledge and technical experience.

The question we hear often is, “But which one is right for me?”

As Rich Rinaldi, PMP, A-CSM, A-CSPO, and academic director of the Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) Master of Project Management Program explains: “Both of these are highly sought after and critical. CAPM is for those just getting started in the field or someone making a career switch. The PMP is the gold standard, and it gives you momentum to move to that next level.”

Many senior-level project management job descriptions require a PMP credential; however, as Rich says, “the credential gets you in the door, but it doesn’t guarantee you have the knowledge.”

CAPM vs. PMP Certification: What’s the Difference?

Technically, the difference between CAPM and PMP certifications indicates your level of professional training and expertise. Both can open doors to new opportunities and add credibility to your resume. Pursuing a CAPM or PMP certification is a personal and professional decision, so here’s a breakdown:

What is CAPM Certification?

If you have less than three years of experience in project management, go for the CAPM. Because the CAPM focuses on fundamental principles, methodologies, and frameworks of project management, you don’t need to have extensive hands-on experience actually leading projects.

In fact, to achieve CAPM certification, there is no project management experience required—- perfect if you’re fresh out of school or trying to pivot into project management from another industry.

“The CAPM really signals you’re ready to take on more in the field of project management. It says ‘I want to learn.’ It says to employers, ‘I have the requisite knowledge, and I’m ready to be a project management specialist or associate,” says Rich.

CAPM certification can open the door to project management roles such as:

• Project coordinator
• Junior project manager
• IT project administrator
• Project control analyst
• Program manager
• Business analyst

It’s also an excellent addition to your toolbelt if your career path won’t focus solely on project management, but it could benefit from demonstrating you have relevant knowledge in the field.

Wake Forest SPS’s master’s in project management program now offers an elective dedicated to prepping for the CAPM called CAPM Certification Preparation. This is an asynchronous course, like the rest of the online program. Designed for working professionals, the master’s program allows students to continue their current careers while deepening their skill set in project management and prepping for CAPM certification.

What is PMP Certification?

PMP certification is for those who have been managing projects and want to formally certify their experience and skills. It’s widely regarded as the gold standard in project management and signals to employers, “I am capable of leading complex projects, managing teams, and delivering KPIs and value.”

To be eligible for a PMP, you must have:

• 36 months of leading projects
• 35 hours of project management education

Rich explains the value of a PMP: “You need the PMP in some fields as a requirement, and for other jobs, it shows you’re at the top of your game and field. There are real market-driven reasons to do it, and the PMP signals to the world you’re a seasoned project manager.”

A driving factor for many professionals is salary potential. On average, PMP-certified professionals report 33% higher median salaries than project managers who are uncertified.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the organization that oversees and awards the CAPM and PMP certifications. Wake Forest SPS is an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) for PMI and offers a specific course designed to prepare students for the PMP process, PMP Certification Preparation. This prep course is for students with at least three years of project management experience. Unlike all other program courses, this is an online synchronous course (a requirement of PMI’s ATP program).

How Does a Master’s Degree in Project Management Help You Get CAPM or PMP Certifications?

If these certifications signal professional preparedness, a graduate degree in project management signals expertise.

“Speaking as both the academic director and as a hiring manager: A certification tells me this person really stepped up and has the common, shared knowledge around project management,” says Rich. “What a master’s degree says to me is this person has the breadth and depth in understanding of the industry and goes beyond the theoretical. It tells me someone is the whole package. It makes a candidate stand out, and I say that as someone who has looked at hundreds, even thousands of resumes in my career.”

Wake Forest SPS checks all boxes. The online Master of Project Management strategically prepares its students for success, and the courses accelerate your progress toward taking the certification exams.

In fact, Wake Forest SPS rolled out a 2025 update for the project management program. These finger-on-the-pulse tweaks to keep the program at the cutting edge of the industry include an increased focus on AI and data analytics as critical skills for PMs today, extra emphasis on leadership to elevate skills beyond Agile methodologies, and more opportunities to prepare students for professional certifications (CAPM, PMP)

The intentional focus on educating students with professional certifications in mind is just one way the project management program pours resources into the career success of its students.

Advance your career with an online Master of Project Management degree program from Wake Forest University’s School of Professional Studies (SPS). Request more information today.