Project Management Certification is a designation meaning that the holder is knowledgeable of the processes involved in almost all projects as described by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). The idea to come up with a standard for process management arose in 1987 with the first version of PMBOK and certification came shortly afterwards. If you are interested in becoming certified there are a number of schools offering online project management courses.

These courses are usually designed for people already in the business and are scheduled to accommodate their needs. Often times courses designed to prepare a person for certification are offered online adding to the convenience of the student.

When picking a course, be sure to review the curriculum and ensure that the five major processes, initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and closing are addressed. In addition you want modules that cover the nine basic areas of knowledge; project integration, project scope, project time management, project cost, quality management, human resources management, procurement, communications and risk management are addressed.

With a quality curriculum the student should have little difficulty in satisfactorily passing the accreditation exam.

For more information on courses available, their curriculum and schedules, you can check a number of general project management sites. These contain details on costs and reviews as well.

If you are considering making project management your permanent career then you really have to become certified to be competitive. Your employer understands this as well and may be willing to fully or partially finance your education.

Another option available for an employer is to purchase a group training package that can be an online project management course or even an on site course where the instructors come to the place of business. Usually this turns out to be a lower cost per student and is an attractive way for the employer to better qualify the staff and also use as a marketing tool.

Before you enroll in an online project management course do your homework. Know exactly what you want to get out of it and that the school you are considering offers what you want. Once you complete the course and pass the exam, your value as a project manager goes up significantly. That increase in value can be used either as a form of job security or it can open new employment opportunities for you.