Note: Always look for the latest information on certifications. 

PMI information on new PMP® exam (July 2026)

Article on what has changed (September 2026)

Why get certification?

• Forbes ranked PMP® certification as number 2 in their list of 16+ High Paying Certifications for Remote Jobs in 2024
• PMP® certification is listed first in LinkedIn’s Top 10 Certification Programs to Get High Salary Jobs (2023).
• PMP® certification holders earn 33% more  than those without certification, according to Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey – Thirteenth Edition (2023).
• Note: If you don’t have enough experience, the CAPM can be a good stepping stone, but the PMP is much more valuable.
• You can also earn various agile certifications, as described in this article summarizing three different ones.
• Good article on the real value of certifications: The Certification Trap: Collecting Badges Won’t Make You a Better PM

How to get 35 PM education hours

• College courses, continuing education, PMP exam preparation, and similar courses related to project management definitely count. Remember there is no time limit on when the courses were taken.
• A general course in leadership or management probably would not count. If there is a section of the course on project leadership or stakeholder management, for example, those hours should count.
• Grow with Google project management certification is an inexpensive online program to help you learn more about the field. You can earn up to 100 education hours that apply toward PMI’s certifications as well.