CompTIA Project+ is a widely recognized and highly regarded certification among employers. It demonstrates your ability to manage projects and collaborate with teams in the IT sector. It also opens up numerous career advancement opportunities that offer rewarding salaries. However, the value of the CompTIA Project+ certification for your career depends entirely on your individual circumstances. Factors such as your career goals, current role, and existing experience all play crucial roles in determining its worth.
To help you decide if Project+ is the right choice for you, we will consider factors like job demand, alternative certification options, potential salary, and the time and effort required to earn the certification. We will also explore the latest trends and technologies in project management that Project+ covers, such as agile, waterfall, DevOps, DevSecOps and more. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What is the Project+ certification?
CompTIA Project+ is a credential that validates your entry-level skills in managing and delivering IT projects. It covers the methodologies, frameworks, and agile techniques that are used in different project scenarios, as well as topics like change management and compliance. CompTIA Project+ is based on the standards and best practices of the Project Management Institute (PMI), but it does not require any prior experience or education in project management. CompTIA Project+ is also a lifetime certification, which means you do not need to renew it.
Who Should Consider Project+?
You should go for Project+ if you’re looking to establish a solid foundation in project management without diving too deep into specialized methodologies. It’s particularly useful if you’re in IT or tech and want to round out your skills with project management knowledge. While some of the concepts might be learned on the job, Project+ can help you stand out by proving your competence in managing and leading projects. It’s also beneficial if you’re planning to pursue further certifications or a role that involves project coordination, making it a valuable starting point.
How is CompTIA Project+ different from the PMP?
CompTIA Project+ and PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) are two popular certifications for project managers, but they have different target audiences, prerequisites, and exam contents. Here is a brief comparison of the two certifications:
– CompTIA Project+ is designed for IT professionals who want to learn the basics of project management and apply them in small-to-medium-sized projects. It does not require any prior experience or education in project management, and it covers general topics like project life cycle, communication, resources, stakeholders, and documentation. CompTIA Project+ is also a vendor-neutral certification, which means it is not tied to any specific methodology or framework.
– PMP is intended for experienced project managers who want to demonstrate their expertise and leadership skills in managing large and complex projects. It requires at least three years of project management experience and 35 hours of formal education in project management, and it covers specific topics like project integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, procurement, and stakeholder management. PMP is also based on the PMI’s standards and best practices, which include different approaches like predictive (waterfall), agile, and hybrid.
Depending on your goals, skills, and experience, you can choose the certification that best suits your needs. CompTIA Project+ is a good starting point for those who want to gain foundational knowledge and skills in project management, while PMP is a more advanced and recognized credential for those who want to advance their career and take on larger responsibilities in project management.
Exam Objectives
Here are some of the exam objectives that you will need to master in order to pass the Project+ exam. These are laid out on the CompTIA website that can be downloaded directly from here.
- Project Basics: 36%
- Project Constraints: 17%
- Communication & Change Management: 26%
- Project Tools and Documentation: 21%
Project Basics: This objective wants you to summarize the basic properties of what a project entails. These include items such as phases, cost controls, schedules, responsibilities and roles. Agile is a key part of this objective, so you will also need to be able to identify the key features and functions that this methodology uses.
Project Constraints: This objective requires that you foresee the potential impact of different constraints and influential items within the project. You need to understand different project roles, risks associated with tasks, and how all this ties into different stages of the project lifecycle.
Communication and Change Management: This objective requires that you understand which communication methods you should use in certain situations. Change controls are a big part of this objective so you will need a strong understanding of what they are and how they are used.
Project Tools and Documentation: In this section, you need to be able to compare the different types of project management tools — and understand how to review and analyse documentation from both partner and project sources.
The cost to take the Project+ exam is $319 USD. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions, the number of which varies. However, the maximum amount of questions that an exam taker could see is 95 questions. The candidate needs to score 710 on a scale of 100-900. The exam duration is 90 minutes.
| Exam Code | PK0-005 |
| Number of Questions | Maximum of 90 questions |
| Type of Questions | Multiple-choice (single and multiple response) and performance-based |
| Length of Test | 90 Minutes |
| Passing Score | 710 (on a scale of 100-900) |
| Recommended Experience | Equivalent to at least 6–12 months of hands-on experience managing projects in an IT environment |
| Launch Date | November 8, 2022 |
| Retirement | Usually three years after launch |
How Much Does CompTIA Project+ Exam Cost?
The cost of the Project+ exam varies depending on the country and currency. The table below shows the price of the exam in different regions. The cost to take the Project+ exam is $319 USD in the USA.
| Country | Currency | Price |
| USA | USD | 369 |
| Emerging Market | USDe | 207 |
| Great Britain | GBP | 218 |
| EURO | EURO | 333 |
| Japan | JPY | 43,338 |
| Australia | AUD | 499 |
| South Africa | ZAR | 2,839 |
Is CompTIA Project+ Hard?
The CompTIA Project+ exam is generally considered one of the easier CompTIA certifications. You can pass the exam with 3-4 weeks of consistent study, even if you have no prior project management experience. The material is straightforward, and most of the exam covers fundamental project management concepts. You may find the content boring or tedious, especially if you are not interested in project management, but others have passed with minimal preparation. You should use practice tests and study resources like the Udemy course or Sybex book to prepare well.
What Jobs Can I Get with CompTIA Project+?
With a CompTIA Project+ certification, you can explore several career paths in IT, each utilizing your project management skills. Here are five roles you might consider:
- Project Coordinator: This entry-level role involves assisting project managers by organizing project details, coordinating team activities, and ensuring projects stay on track and within budget. The median salary for a Project Coordinator is around $47,000 annually.
- Quality Assurance Analyst: If you enjoy problem-solving and testing software, this role focuses on creating and executing test plans, identifying risks, and ensuring software quality. The median salary for a Quality Assurance Analyst is approximately $98,000 per year.
- Tier II IT Support Technician: After gaining experience in Tier I support, you can advance to Tier II, handling more complex technical issues and mentoring junior technicians. This role, which combines technical expertise and customer service, offers a median salary of about $42,034 annually.
- Systems Administrator: If managing IT infrastructure interests you, this role involves maintaining and updating systems, ensuring smooth operation of networks, and handling user accounts. Systems Administrators earn a median salary of around $81,000 per year.
- Business Analyst: For those who enjoy strategic problem-solving, this role involves analyzing business processes, implementing improvements, and using data to inform decisions. The median salary for a Business Analyst is approximately $79,306 annually.
Each of these roles leverages the foundational project management skills validated by CompTIA Project+, opening doors to a promising career in IT.
How In-Demand is CompTIA Project+ Certification?
The CompTIA Project+ certification is moderately in demand, especially for those new to project management or IT professionals seeking to broaden their skills. It’s recognized as a solid entry-level certification, offering a basic understanding of project management principles. Many find it relatively easy to study for, making it a good choice if you want to quickly gain knowledge without a significant time commitment. However, for those aiming to advance in project management, certifications like PMP or CAPM are generally preferred, as they are more widely recognized and valued by employers. While Project+ can be useful for managing small teams or demonstrating foundational project management skills, it may not have a substantial impact on job prospects by itself.
Is CompTIA Project+ Worth It?
The value of the CompTIA Project+ certification really depends on your career goals and current role. If you’re new to project management and looking for a basic, introductory certification, Project+ can be a good choice. It’s relatively easy to obtain, often requiring just a few weeks of study, and it covers the fundamentals of project management. For someone managing a small team or looking to add a project management credential to their resume without a significant time investment, it could be worth it.
However, if you’re aiming for a more serious career in project management, Project+ might not be enough. It’s considered a pre-professional certification, meaning it won’t carry as much weight as more advanced certifications like the PMP (Project Management Professional) or CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management). These certifications are more widely recognized and can significantly enhance your job prospects.
In short, if you’re looking for a quick, foundational certification to get your feet wet in project management, Project+ could be a good fit. But for long-term career growth in this field, you may want to aim higher with more advanced certifications.
