If you already have your PMP, program management is a natural next step. Here is everything you need to know to decide whether the PgMP is the right move.
The Salary Difference
According to PMI’s Earning Power Report, the average US salary for a PMP holder is $135,000. PgMP holders earn around 10% more at $146,000. That gap alone makes it worth considering if you have the experience to qualify.
What Each Certification Represents
The PMP demonstrates project management expertise. It shows you can lead individual projects through initiation to closing with at least three years of experience behind you.
The PgMP positions you as a leader capable of managing multiple related projects as a unified program, delivering sustained business value across an organization. It is a step up in both scope and seniority.
Application Requirements
For the PMP you need either a high school diploma with five years of project management experience or a bachelor’s degree with three years, plus 35 contact hours of project management education.
The PgMP requirements are more involved. You need four years of project management experience or a current PMP. On top of that you need program management experience: seven years with a high school diploma, four years with a bachelor’s degree or three years with a master’s degree.
The Exam
The PMP has 180 questions to be completed in 230 minutes, roughly one answer every 75 seconds. It covers people, process and the business environment.
The PgMP has 170 questions with 240 minutes to complete them, giving you slightly more time per question at around 84 seconds each. Only 150 questions are scored and 20 are unscored test questions for future exams. The content covers strategic program management, the program life cycle (initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing), benefits management, stakeholder management and governance.
Cost
The PMP costs $405 for PMI members or $655 without membership. The 35 contact hours of education are also required and can be completed through PMI, Udemy or other providers.
The PgMP costs $800 for PMI members or $1,000 without. There is no contact hours requirement for the PgMP. The focus is entirely on demonstrating program management experience.
What to Study
For the PMP the core resources are the Exam Content Outline, the PMBOK Guide, the Process Groups Practice Guide and the Agile Practice Guide.
For the PgMP the approach is similar. Download the PgMP Exam Content Outline free from PMI’s website as your study guide. Then work through the Standard for Program Management Fifth Edition and the PMBOK Guide. The PMBOK Guide is currently in its eighth edition.
If you have been managing programs for several years and want credentials that reflect that, the PgMP is a well-recognized way to demonstrate it. The experience requirements are substantial but so is the return.
– David McLachlan
You can see what people are saying about David McLachlan here: REVIEWS
Navigate to Free Project Management and Leadership Articles through the links on the right (or at the bottom if on Mobile)
Also available are my Project Management Templates – these don’t have a coupon code but they’re a great way to save 100s of hours when you’re first starting out:
 50+ Project Management Templates in Excel and PowerPoint (Gantt Chart, Risk Matrix and more!) |
 Pre-made Project Management Plan Templates: Save 100 HOURS! |