Is PMP Equivalent to Masters ?

Is PMP Equivalent to Masters ?

Learning Mudra, Category - PMP

A broader perspective of whether PMP is equivalent to Masters or not?

A PMP and masters in a field are very different from each other and should not be compared. But, if we were to evaluate them on certain criteria, then a PMP is more beneficial if you are looking for a job in project management or if you are looking for an increase in salary in your existing job in the field of project management. The PMP is much more application based and also factors in the experience of the candidate. But, on the other hand, a master’s degree is much more elaborate training in all the various different fields of project management and dwells deep into the topics. The master’s degree is much more theory based as well as research based. It definitely increases the knowledge of a person in the field of Project management much more than PMP but it is also longer and theoretical and not particularly, job-ready. The reason is that employers’ value in-depth knowledge, they value experience a little more and the PMP certificate provided by Project Management Institute is the accreditation of that experience.

Comparison between PMP and Masters in terms of time

Let us compare PMP and the master’s degree in terms of time it takes. The criteria for PMP certificate are to either have a 4-year bachelor’s degree along with 36 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of PMP Education or have a high school diploma (or associates degree or a global equivalent) along with 60 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of PMP education. At most, the person needs 7 years of education and experience in order to be eligible for a PMP certification exam.. But, on the other hand, for a master’s degree, a person needs to have a bachelor's degree. The master’s degree takes at least 2 years. Therefore, after at least 6 years, the person would have completed his/her education in project management but he would have no experience in managing real life projects in a company and that would be a disadvantage when he/she sits for an interview. Because of the theoretical nature of the Master’s degree, employers prefer candidates with the PMP certificate over the candidates with the master’s degree.

Comparison between PMP and Masters in terms of syllabus

Now, let us compare PMP and the master’s degree in terms of the syllabus that is taught in both the courses. PMP education is a 35-hour course and even the best PMP training institutes such as Learning Mudra, teaches the guidelines, frameworks and key terms as suggested by the PMBOK Guide 6 th edition standardized by the PMI. The PMP course of Learning Mudra prepares you for any and all complex projects that you might encounter in your life and also makes you more efficient in handling those processes. It helps you to learn to use those guidelines, frameworks and key terms taught during the course in real life projects. But in case of the master’s degree, it encompasses a lot of topics and concentrates on in depth learning of all the topics. All the topics might not directly be related to just project management and you might not be using them in real life projects. These topics are definitely very important for the overall knowledge about the subject but are not relevant in the context of the corporate world.

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Comparison between PMP and Masters in terms of opportunities

Now let us compare the future opportunities that await us after doing the PMP education or the master’s degree. The PMP education leads to the PMP certificate which is globally recognized and highly reputable. It provides assurance to the employers, peers and stakeholders that you are skilled, knowledgeable and competent in managing projects. It can also lead to an increase in your salary or help you in getting a better role or a better job in project management. A lot of new opportunities are also coming up in this field in the upcoming years. In India, many companies have started making the PMP education a requisite as it attests to your knowledge and experience in managing projects. On the other hand, a master’s degree can open up new avenues for you as well. You will be qualified for a Ph.D. in project management or you could even take up teaching jobs or professorial roles. You can also apply for employment in corporate jobs but the lack of experience could be a disadvantage. Even if you get employed, your salary would be much less compared to that of a PMP educated employee.

Conclusion to the Topic: Is PMP Equivalent to Masters ?

To conclude, we can infer that PMP and a master’s are very different from each other and PMP is definitely not equivalent to masters. If your aim is to get a better job in project management or want to increase your salary then you should go for PMP education from a premier institute such as Learning Mudra. Whereas, if you are more interested in the academic part of project management and want to study it more deeply then, a master’s would be the better option.