Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/18157
Certificate ($5,995) and Advanced Masters Certificate ($4,995). I earned both of these certifications and received binders and supplemental CDs to accompany the online classroom. Applying was easy and I’d be surprised if anyone is rejected from the process. There were students with varying levels of experience in my particular class, ranging from the CEO of a soda company to a teacher in an elementary school looking to move into the IT field. BOSTON UNIVERSITY http://www.butrain.com/share/scedesc. asp?CID=15866 One of the best deals on certification programs that I found was the online certificate in project management from Boston University. At the time of writing this article, they were offering discounted tuition plus added incentives for their certificate program (normal tuition was $4,995 and it was discounted to $3,995). Once you register, you have 730 days from the enrollment date to complete the program (all online), and you must also complete each course within 60 days of enrollment. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON – PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION http://www.pce.uw.edu/uploadedFiles/Offerings/ Master/Certificates/ProjectManagement.pdf The cost for this program is $3,999, not including application fees and books. The school website states that students are evaluated in each course on the basis of standards established by the instructors and advisory board. At the end of each course, participants are notified of successful or unsuccessful completion. Because courses are arranged sequentially and are 26 Project Management ILTA White Paper offered only once each year, participants need to successfully complete all courses in the previous term before they advance to the next term. UC BERKELEY EXTENSION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM http://extension.berkeley.edu/cert/pdf/project.pdf The project management courses apply toward professional development units (PDUs) for the Project Management Institute (PMI). This is important if you are interested in taking the PMP exam as a next step and need to prove directly applicable experience. Courses include Project Management, Project Procurement Management, Quality Management, Human Factors and Team Dynamics for Project Management, Project Risk Management, Project Planning and Control. The cost for the program is $4,200 – 4,700, not including courseware material. GOING LOCAL Another option for going back to school is taking a course offered through your local chapter of the Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org). Philip Arnason, Infrastructure Supervisor at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Portland, Oregon, took this route to earn his PMP certification. He attended a PMP prep class twice a week for a total of 40 hours and then tested approximately eight months later. Philip’s hard work was recognized by a promotion from lead to supervisor. Philip says: “Proper training has significantly improved my ability to lead projects and my team. I know what is required to make a project a success and have a better understanding of why past projects failed.” There is no shortage of classes on project management. Again, launch your browser and type