Essential Business Management Certifications for Career Success

Acquiring a professional certification can benefit professionals practicing at every industry and level, from recent graduates to senior executives. Technology and industry standards are persistently advancing. No matter how extensive your experience is, a business management certification will likely help you stay updated with emerging technologies and strategies. To fully understand how a business management certification might help boost your career, discover more about different types and how certification might help you further your career.

What is a business management certification? 

Certifications, regardless of specialization, are credentials typically earned after you pass an exam designed to test your capabilities within a given field. Once obtained, a certification can be shown to potential employers to demonstrate and validate your expertise. With a business management certification specifically, you can showcase your understanding of principles within the business management industry.

Additionally, regularly updated certification exam content ensures certification seekers receive the most accurate and current information possible. For this reason, recent graduates may have an advantage when it comes to certification exams. Regular content updates can also help industry veterans stay up to speed with ever-changing market trends.

Learn more about some popular business management certifications and discover which certification you might want to pursue.

Choosing a business management certification

Several certifications are available to business management professionals aiming to add credentials to their resumes. Depending on your specific interests within the business management field, certain certifications may better meet your needs than others. For instance, if you are a business analyst, you might find the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) certification more appropriate for helping you reach your goals when compared to alternative options that may not focus primarily on business analysis.

Similarly, depending on your experience, a certification with fewer requirements may feel more achievable than one with an extensive list of prerequisites or requirements. For example, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers two certifications with different prerequisites regarding years of experience. The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification requires three to five years of experience, whereas the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification requires no prior experience. 

How to get a business management certification

To obtain a business management certification, you must first decide which certification to pursue and that you meet its requirements. Then, you will likely have to prepare for the exam using resources like study guides, study groups, and preparation courses. Once you feel prepared, register for and pass your desired certification's corresponding exam or exams.

If you are considering a business management certification, you may find it helpful to familiarize yourself with details about some of the options commonly chosen by industry professionals.

5 common business management certifications

Many factors will likely contribute to your decision when choosing the right certification. To aid your decision-making process, explore detailed information on five commonly sought-after certifications in business management. Be sure to research certifications that focus on your interests and meet your level of skill and experience.

1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

This certification, offered by PMI, covers foundational management knowledge and can help you showcase your expertise in the field. It does not require prior work experience and may be an ideal option if you’re looking to bolster your resume with a relevant certification. 

Exam pricing: $300 ($225 for PMI members) [1]

Exam content: The CAPM exam covers four domains including: 

• Project management fundamentals and core concepts: 36 percent

• Predictive, plan-based methodologies: 17 percent

• Agile frameworks/methodologies: 20 percent

• Business analysis frameworks: 27 percent

Prerequisites: Eligibility requirements for the CAPM certification include a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of 23 hours of project management education. You can fulfill the project management education requirement by taking an instructor-led CAPM course or by taking PMI’s on-demand CAPM exam prep course. 

Read more: What Is the CAPM Certification? Requirements and More

2. Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP is a globally recognized certification that allows you to demonstrate your capacity to lead teams and manage the processes and operational goals that fall within your responsibility, regardless of industry type or business location. The PMP is a higher-level version of the CAPM and is also offered by PMI. This certification is well-suited for industry veterans and professionals with at least a few years of relevant work experience.

Exam pricing: $675 ($425 for PMI members) [2]

PMP exam content:

• Leading and managing teams: 42 percent

• Processes like risk management and stakeholder engagement: 50 percent

• Planning, managing, delivering, and evaluating projects: 8 percent

Three ways to meet PMP prerequisites:

1. A high school diploma and a minimum of five years of experience managing projects.

2. A bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience managing projects.

3. A bachelor's degree from a program accredited by the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC) and two years of management experience.

4. A final prerequisite for candidates with a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree from a non-GAC accredited program consists of 35 hours of project management education training or one of the following equivalents:

   • CAPM certification

   • On-demand PMP exam prep completion

   • Instructor-led PMP prep course

All experience must have occurred within the eight years before pursuing the certification.

Read more: CAPM vs. PMP: Which Is Best for You?

3. Certified Manager (CM)

Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) CM certification can allow you to verify your competency as a manager and leader. If you have prior management experience and are seeking upper-level managerial roles, this certification—consisting of three separate exams—aims to bolster your credentials within the industry. 

Exam Pricing: $380 [3]

Exam content: The CM certification, composed of three exams, covers the following domains:

Exam one:

• Management: 10 percent

• Global business environment: 40 percent

• Communication and information technology: 23 percent

• Ethical decision-making: 23 percent

Exam two:

• Planning: 29 percent

• Organization: 25 percent

• Talent/human resource management: 46 percent

Exam three:

• Leading: 30 percent

• Controlling: 30 percent

• Accounting: 21 percent

• Financial management: 19 percent

Prerequisites: The CM certification exam requires that individuals possess relevant work experience and hold one or more of the following: an associate degree, 120 hours of management training experience, or at least three other certifications. 

4. Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) 

The CBAP certification, offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), is a specialized substantiation geared toward professionals on a career path in business analysis. If you’re a practicing or aspiring business analyst looking to expedite your career growth, this could be an appealing certification for you.

Exam Pricing: $400 ($250 for IIBA members) [4]

Exam Contents: The CBAP exam has six parts, including topics relating to:

• Business analysis planning and monitoring: 14 percent

• Elicitation and collaboration: 12 percent

• Requirements life cycle management: 15 percent

• Strategy analysis: 15 percent

• Requirements analysis and design definition: 30 percent

• Solution evaluation: 14 percent

Prerequisites: Eligibility for acquiring this certification requires you to have at least 7,500 hours of work experience (completed within ten years before taking the exam) as a business analyst and to have completed a minimum of 35 hours of professional development within four years prior to taking the exam. Additionally, 900 of those hours must have been relevant to at least four of the six business analysis body of knowledge (BABOK) areas, which include:

1. Solution evaluation

2. Business analysis planning and monitoring

3. Strategy analysis

4. Elicitation and collaboration

5. Requirements life cycle management

6. Requirements analysis and design definition

Finally, in addition to passing the exam, you will need to provide two references and agree to a code of conduct and the terms and conditions of the certification.

5. Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) 

The CSCP certification, offered by the Association for Supply Chain Management, helps you test and demonstrate your understanding of current industry standards in supply chain disruptions, risk management, and modern supply chain technologies.

Exam Pricing: $1,940 ($1,390 for members with certification upgrade add-on) [5]

Exam contents: The CSCP exam covers topics within the following eight domains:

• Supply chains, demand management, and forecasting

• Global supply chain networks

• Sourcing products and services

• Internal operations and inventory

• Forward and reverse logistics

• Supply chain relationships

• Supply chain risk

• Optimization, sustainability, and technology

Prerequisites: Interested individuals must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• CIRM, APICS CPIM, or similar certification

• Bachelor’s degree

• Five years of relevant work experience

Benefits of obtaining a business management certification

Consider some of the advantages of earning a certification in business management:

• Highlight skill: Certifications can validate your expertise and help you stand out among similarly experienced individuals competing for the same positions. 

• Increase earning potential: A relevant certification can lead to a higher salary. Forbes reported that professionals with a PMP certification earned an annual salary of $123,000 versus an annual average salary of $93,000 for those without the certification [6].

• Facilitate career development: Certifications may help you excel within the hierarchy of responsibilities of an organization, or they may aid you in landing a higher-level position. According to the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) openings for qualified managers will likely increase by 5 percent through 2029 [7]. ICPM also reports that professionals with certification are more likely to see a positional advancement within their organization when compared to professionals without additional credentials 

Who should pursue business management certifications?

Business management certifications can benefit professionals with varying levels of experience across a range of industries.

• Recent graduates entering the business field: If you’re a recent graduate looking to rise above the sea of other business graduates, a certification may help you do just that.

• Professionals in mid-level management roles: As a seasoned manager aiming to advance in your organization, a certification can help demonstrate your dedication and desire to learn and stay up-to-date on current strategies being adopted throughout your industry, which may assist you in moving forward.

• Entrepreneurs seeking to formalize their knowledge: If you’re an entrepreneur hoping to highlight your expertise for potential investors, additional credentials like business management certifications can help illustrate not only your industry knowledge but your commitment to your field.

How to prepare for a business management certification exam

Once you have decided on the certification you’d like to pursue, you will likely want to prepare before completing the exam. Take advantage of the tools and resources available to you. Consider the following resource recommendations:

Study guides: Many certification programs offer detailed study guides on topics covered on the exam.

Online activities: Some organizations that offer certification exams also offer preparation materials, such as practice tests, quizzes, and other brain puzzles in a game-like format..

Preparation courses: Some certification providers offer training courses or programs for the exams they provide. 

Career opportunities within business management

Because business management is a versatile career path, you can find roles befitting your skill set within an array of industries. The following career categories may provide you with an excellent opportunity to put the skills you gain with a business management certification to use:

• Management: Whether managing people or processes, those in management positions in any industry can benefit from possessing a business management certification. The median annual salary for a general management role in the US was $116,880, with a faster than average job growth expected over the next decade [8].

• Project management and operations: Project managers are responsible for coordinating budgets and planning schedules in order to ensure projects are completed as expected. The median salary for a project management specialist in the US was $98,580, and job growth in the field increasing faster than average over the next decade [9].

• Business strategy and development: Those seeking executive and C-suite positions may also benefit from obtaining additional credentials to help them stand out from others within an organization. Chief executives earn a median annual salary of $206,680, and jobs in this area are expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate over the next decade [10].

Business management certifications and your career

Regardless of your experience or the industry you are interested in, a business management certification may help provide you with new career opportunities. Consider preparing for a business management certification on Coursera. The PMP Certification Training Course Specialization from PMI can help you gain skills, including risk management, project planning, leadership, and more.

Learn about stakeholder engagement and business analysis planning with the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) Specialization from Starweaver. To prepare for the CAPM certification, you can take the Practice Exam for CAPM Certification. All of these opportunities and more are available on Coursera.