Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/18157
their schoolyard, I needed to get myself enrolled in a project management class — and quickly. Many IT professionals are finding themselves in similar situations: They want to continue their education, or, due to the economy and lack of jobs, find it necessary to expand their knowledge and marketability. But how do you accomplish this when you are working full time and have no interest in joining 18- to 21-year olds in a classroom? Furthermore, if you are out of work, how can you find a way to obtain a project management certification or degree that might take you up a rung or two on the pay scale when applying for an IT job? As it turns out, you could be that you want to invest in professional development just like attorneys must. Your ultimate goal might be to take and can go back to school with Web-based learning and other alternatives, and many well-known universities are offering Project Management Master Certification programs that can help you stand apart from your peers — or at least understand most, if not all, of the acronyms bandied about in project management meetings. “If you decide to pursue an online certification program offered by a university, you now have a variety of options from which to choose.” pass the Project Management Professional Certification exam, which you can accomplish by taking classes online or through a local affiliate of the Project Management Institute, or through self-study (although the latter is not easy). It’s important to figure out what you’re trying to accomplish, and then it becomes a little easier to decide how much time and money you’re willing to invest. SCHOOL DAYS (AND NIGHTS) If you decide DEFINE YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL Before you spend a dime on classes or books, you should first decide what your ideal end result would be. Are you looking to simply increase your knowledge or to increase job marketability and beef up your resume? Of course, the answer might be yes to both, or it to pursue an online certification program offered by a university, you now have a variety of options from which to choose. I’ve listed four; however, you can also launch a Web browser and type “online project management certification programs” to see a more complete list of institutions that offer courses. VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY http://www.villanovau.com/online-certificates/ project-management.aspx Two programs are available: IS/IT Masters www.iltanet.org Project Management 25