A unique feature of the technology industry is that it requires no formal training and is open to self-taught professionals. Many industry leaders—Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, for example—never graduated from college, and quite a few top programmers—like John Carmack—are self-taught.
However, what they all have in common – aside from not having a degree – is that they have all started their own businesses. For those who don’t feel an entrepreneurial spirit, more formal training may be required to get a job with an established organization. And nothing says education like industry certification. Whether it’s a position in security, IT management, or business process management (BPM), the right certifications can open doors.
Additionally, professionals with a BPM certification earn approximately 20% more than those who are not certified; A BPM certified professional earns in the low six figures, while a non-certified professional’s salary is in the high $90,000 range.
What is BPM certification?
Business process management uses methods to identify, model, analyze, measure, improve and optimize business strategies and processes.
BPM is more comprehensive and complex than simple task and project management. Task or project management focuses on individual tasks, while BPM observes the process from start to finish. Project management refers to a one-off project, while BPM focuses specifically on processes that are repeatable and can be used from one project to the next – with the processes able to be tweaked and changed as needed.
Many organizations offer BPM training and certification, but their training processes vary because there is no industry standard. A best practice is to evaluate offerings from the largest associations, such as the BPM Institute and the Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) International.
BPM certification also helps employers define work goals, evaluate candidates, evaluate employee performance, and motivate employees to improve their skills and knowledge.
Business Process Management Certification Courses
The following 10 certification programs offer online courses and in-person tutoring at local education centers. Tests are also conducted online and in person. Most courses offer video-on-demand, so you can download lectures and watch them at your own pace.
1. ABPMP International
Course details/courses offered: ABPMP International offers the Certified Business Process Associate (CBPA), Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP) and Certified Business Process Leader (CBPL) certificates.
Who should take this course: Anyone wanting a career in BPM.
Requirements:
- CBPA: 1,250 hours of documented work experience in a business process-related field or a four-year qualifying university degree, complete application, pass exam and sign ABPMP Code of Ethics.
- CBPP: Four to ten years of experience in business processes, six months of credit for other certifications, complete application and passed exam.
- CBPL: 10 years of business process experience, five years of business transformation project management, CBPP certification and six months of credit for other certifications, completed application and passed exam.
2. Six Sigma Belt
Course details/courses offered: The certifications are diverse Skill levels in Six Sigma, organized by colored martial arts-style belts with different tasks. They are as follows:
- Black Master Belt: Trains and coaches Black Belts and Green Belts.
- Black belt: Leads problem-solving projects, trains and coaches project teams.
- Brown belt: The Brown Belt is not traditionally used in Six Sigma and is not recognized by most organizations or accreditation agencies. However, some organizations may classify an individual as a Brown Belt if they hold a Green Belt and have passed the Black Belt certification exam but have not completed a second Six Sigma project.
- Green belt: Assists with data collection and analysis for Black Belt projects.
- Yellow belt: Participates as a member of a project team.
- White belt: Entry level. May work on local problem-solving teams supporting overall projects but may not be part of a Six Sigma project team.
Who should take this course: Anyone who wants to improve organizational operations, reduce errors, improve compliance and advance to a leadership position.
Requirements: Take a web-based or in-person exam from the Council for Six Sigma Certification and achieve a minimum score of 70%.
3. ITIL 4 foundation
Course details/courses offered: ITIL Foundation offers the ITIL Specialist, ITIL Strategist, ITIL Leader and ITIL Master certifications.
Who should take this course: All professionals working within an organization or alongside an IT department that has adopted the ITIL framework; Professionals who want to better understand ITIL; Non-IT employees who want to learn ITIL and anyone who wants to become certified in IT service management.
Requirements: 17 hours over three weeks of lessons.
4. Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
Course details/courses offered: The CBAP certification Training course offers 13 online lessons that you can complete at your pace.
Who should take this course: Anyone looking for a career path with specialized knowledge in the technology industry.
Requirements: 7,500 hours of professional experience in business analysis in the last 10 years, including 900 hours in four of the six knowledge areas of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) Guide Version 3. You also need at least 35 hours of professional development in the last four years and must have two references submit.
5. Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
Course details/courses offered: The CITP training program provides 20 hours of professional development, half of which are structured learning activities approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy or a legally established state agency; up to half may be unstructured/non-traditional.
Who should take this course: Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who want to bridge business and technology and are looking for training and experience in IT security, risk, security and privacy, analytics and technology.
Requirements: Full CPA license and AICPA membership. You must have at least 1,000 hours of experience in IT projects in the last five years and complete 75 hours of continuing education courses.
The CITP exam is a four-hour computer-based exam consisting of multiple-choice questions. The audit fee is $400 for AICPA members and $500 for non-members.
6. Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Course details/courses offered: The CSPO is a two-day course that teaches students to lead their teams and develop successful products at an agile pace while increasing customer satisfaction.
Who should take this course: Product owners who want to decide what an agile team will develop next to provide more value to the customer.
Requirements: Four to eight hours per day over a period of two to three days, depending on certification, with a live, interactive online course. The cost depends on the course and ranges from approximately $299 to $1,800 as of December 2023.
7. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Course details/courses offered: The CMA The exam consists of two parts, with 150 to 170 hours of study recommended per part. The course covers planning and budgeting, performance analysis and management, investment decisions and financial reporting.
Who should take this course: Accountants who want to know the “why” behind financial numbers. Unlike most certifications, the CMA designation is recognized worldwide, making it valuable to accountants who want to work outside of the United States
Requirements: Both parts will take an average of 12 to 18 months to complete, with both parts expected to take up to three years to complete. There is also a two-part test that covers 12 competencies.
8. Team Leadership Skills Masterclass
Course details/courses offered: The Team Leadership Skills Masterclass includes 12 modules on various aspects of team management and leadership, e.g. B. to influence team members and to build and train a team.
Who should take this course: New and inexperienced managers who want to take on team building and leadership roles.
Requirements: 19 hours of on-demand video. Students should have basic managerial experience, internet access for the courses and a willingness to invest time in the course.
9. Operations Management: Operations and the Organization
Course details/courses offered: The course contains Eight articles on the basics of operations management in manufacturing and service companies, plus a collection of downloadable lectures.
Who should take this course: Anyone who wants to gain a practical understanding of operational functions in a service or manufacturing organization.
Requirements: 28 downloadable lectures lasting just over two hours.
10. Lean Business Process Management Change Skills
Course details/courses offered: The course helps professionals Learn lean business processes to improve efficiency. Lean companies operate with maximum efficiency and minimum effort.
Who should take this course: Any manager who wants to reduce waste associated with a project.
Requirements: Five sections, 20 lectures, two hours and 25 minutes total length.
