Question 1Roles and responsibilities
A team leader on an agile project spends her time removing blockers, shielding the team from interruptions and asking what the team needs to succeed. Which leadership style is she using?
CAPM or PMP: which first?
Take the CAPM first if you do not yet have the experience the PMP asks for. PMI says an active CAPM certification meets the PMP's 35-hour training requirement, so it is a natural first step on the path.
| CAPM | 150 questions in 3 hours; no experience needed; 23 hours of education |
|---|---|
| PMP | 180 questions in 240 minutes; 24 to 60 months leading projects |
| The link | An active CAPM meets the PMP's 35 hours of training |
How they compare
| CAPM | PMP | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Foundational knowledge: predictive, agile and business analysis | Leading projects across predictive, agile and hybrid approaches |
| Experience | None | 24 to 60 months leading projects in the past 10 years, by education |
| Training | 23 hours of project management education | 35 hours, or an active CAPM |
| Exam | 150 questions, four domains | 180 questions in 240 minutes, three domains |
| Renewal | 15 PDUs every 3 years | 60 PDUs every 3 years |
Choosing an order
- New to projects or short of the PMP's experience: take the CAPM now, then the PMP once you have led projects long enough.
- Already leading projects with the required experience: go straight to the PMP.
- These are PMI's requirements as published; check your own experience against the PMP rules before you apply.
Try 3 questions
Question 2When to use a predictive approach
A hospital is building a new clinic. The building has fixed, permitted plans, while the patient check-in app is expected to change as nurses try it. Which overall approach fits best?
Question 3Preparing and running tasks
A sales director asks a developer to build her feature next, ahead of the backlog's current order. What should the developer do?
Next step
Questions people ask
Should I take the CAPM or the PMP?
If you do not yet meet the PMP's experience requirement of 24 to 60 months leading projects, the CAPM is the one you can take now. It needs no experience.
Does the CAPM count toward the PMP?
PMI says an active CAPM certification fulfills the 35-hour project management training requirement for PMP eligibility. The experience requirement still applies.
Is the CAPM worth it before the PMP?
It shows foundational knowledge while you build experience, and an active CAPM covers the PMP's training requirement, so the study is not wasted.