Project Management Training
Classroom and Online Educational Programs for Project Managers
Aug 24, 2009
Project Managers are working professionals responsible for meeting the objectives and goals established in development of their assigned project. This skill set has become essential in nearly all areas of business and industry. The oil, mining, healthcare, construction, engineering and utility industries all require project managers and the associated project management training needed for these positions.
What is a Project?
A project is commonly thought of as being a temporary effort taken to complete a series of goals or objectives within specific time frame. Projects can involve construction of a building or deployment of a new computer network. Every project is subject to the tensions of scope, time and budget in its completion. The successful administration of a complex project depends greatly on the skills of a Project Manager that is able to plan, execute and close the job they are assigned, while also addressing these tensions. Project management training courses focus on optimizing the skills employed by Project Managers.
Project Management Training and Certification
A number of organizations offer training and courses in project management, both in traditional classroom settings and online. One well-known group is the Project Management Institute (PMI) that offers professional credentials to qualified Project Managers. Among these are the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) that demonstrate a common base of knowledge in the field.
A Certified Associate in Project Management certification requires a high school diploma, either 1500 hours of work on a project team or 23 hours of formal project management education, completion of an application, and successfully passing a 150 question examination.
A Project Management Professional certification requires a high school diploma, 5 years of project management experience and 35 hours of formal project management education, or a bachelor’s degree, 3 years of project management experience and 35 hours of formal project management education. After documenting the required experience in the PMI application, candidates must pass a 200 question examination.
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
PMI operates under a standard for managing projects known as the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) that is recognized as an industry standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) - Fourth Edition is available from PMI and is the ideal starting point for a student of project management. This management standard entails nine areas of concern:
- Project Integration Management
- Project Scope Management
- Project Time Management
- Project Cost Management
- Project Quality Management
- Project Human Resource Management
- Project Communications Management
- Project Risk Management
- Project Procurement Management
One example of the training and education available to Project Managers is the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Project Management Program that offers specific courses like PMP certification preparation, use of Microsoft Project, and technical writing. The program offers a Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) that is accredited by PMI. The University gears its courses to the needs of working professionals.
Courses offered through the MSPM Program can be taken at a distance. Students participate in classes via video-conferencing, during weekend seminars, by using the Blackboard course management system, and through use of satellite campuses. Facility members of the UAA Project Management Program even travel to Seattle, Washington to host classes.
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