Do You Really Need Change Management Certification? Is It Worth It?

Top Change Management Guide. How Valuable is a Change Management Certification?

Navigating the Change Management Certification Maze: A Friendly Guide to Your Decision

Embarking on a career in change management can feel like setting sail on a dynamic sea of possibilities. As the field continues to evolve and gain prominence, so does the debate around the necessity of securing a change management certification. If you find yourself pondering over whether those fancy certificates are your golden ticket to success or just pricey decorations, you’re not alone.

In this friendly guide, we’ll be your compass, steering you through the waves of uncertainty surrounding change management certification. We’ll explore the value it brings to your career, ponder the age-old question of experience versus education, and help you weigh the pros and cons before you decide to take the plunge.

So, grab a virtual life vest, and let’s navigate the waters of change management certification together. Your career voyage is about to set sail, and we’re here to make sure you’re well-prepared for the journey ahead!

Eager to unveil what lies ahead? We’ve put together a concise overview just for you. Prepare to delve into the query of whether a change management certification is truly necessary, and feel confident that we’re here to accompany you on this exploration.

Quick Summary

To Certify or Not to Certify? A Guide to Change Management Certification Worth

The debate over the necessity and question of is change management certification worth it is centered on its impact on job prospects and practical value compared to hands-on experience. The question arises whether a certification is a valuable addition or just an expensive embellishment. The key factors to consider include the potential for enhanced learning through instructor-led training, the influence of certification on salary, the value of hands-on class experience for managing significant change projects, and future aspirations in change management training or consulting.

The Worth of Change Management Certification: A Comprehensive Analysis

The value of change management certification is examined by considering its potential impact on salary. According to Salary.com, the median change management salary is $127,672, with variations based on education and experience. Interestingly, an individual with a high school diploma or technical certificate and 5-6 years of experience earns only slightly less annually ($734) than someone with an MBA or master’s degree.

This suggests that a combination of experience and a technical change management certification can be valuable, offering a cost-effective alternative to pursuing a master’s degree for those with expertise in the field.

On the Employer’s Radar: Does Change Management Certification Matter?

The significance of change management certification to employers varies within the growing field. Some employers insist on candidates having completed change management courses and obtained certification, either in general change management or a specific methodology. However, others prioritize skills such as communication, leadership, and project planning over formal certification. Analysis of LinkedIn postings for change management positions revealed that 30% requested a change management certification.

The most sought-after qualifications included a bachelor’s degree or higher in organizational psychology, leadership, communications, or a related field, along with approximately 5+ years of experience. Overall competency in change management was also emphasized, suggesting that certification through training might enhance the chances of securing such positions.

Calculating the Investment: The Real Price of Change Management Certification

While a majority of organizations hiring change management specialists may not demand certification, it is notable that 30% consider it important. Given the increasing competitiveness in the field, earning a change management certification through courses can distinguish you from other qualified candidates. The cost of change management certifications varies, with some being fairly inexpensive. However, it is crucial to choose a recognized certification for maximum benefit.

Two prominently requested certifications are Prosci’s ADKAR change management certification, which costs $4,400 and does not require prior education or experience, and the Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) certification from ACMP, priced at $745 for non-members or $595 for ACMP members. CCMP certification necessitates a combination of education, experience, and prior change management training.

Detailed Deep Dive

Do you really need a change management certificate?
Is it worth the cost?

There’s a debate raging in the world of business change management which revolves around the need for change management training and certification.

Does a fancy change management certification improve your chances of getting a job or is it just expensive window dressing? Is a degree and change management and project management experience enough to work successfully in this field?

At the heart of the debate is just how valuable it is to get certified in change management or a specific change methodology. It’s the age-old battle of hands-on experience and knowledge versus verified education.

Is a change management certificate worth it?

Should You Consider Change Management Certification?

There is plenty of free information online about change management, so you might wonder if those expensive change management courses are worth it to get a certification next to your name.

There are several things to consider when trying to decide the answer to this question: “Is a change management certificate worth it?” Factors to consider include:

• Will you learn more with instructor-led training than on your own?
• Does getting a certification demand a higher change management salary?
• What’s the value of getting hands-on class experience before you head up your first big change project?
• Do you want to go into providing change management training to others in the future?
• Do you plan to someday go into change management consulting?

We’ll take a look at the value of a change management certification below. We’ll also tell you which change management courses are the most valuable and requested, so you don’t waste your time and money.

Should you invest in change management training and certification? Ultimately, the choice is up to you, but we’ll give you some food for thought!

Do you have questions about whether to get a change management diploma? or is ccmp worth it? We’d love to hear from you, click here to contact us.

Is Change Management Certification Valuable?

First, let’s take a look at how valuable those change management courses for certification can be. Will you get a better change management salary if you have a certification?

According to Salary.com, the annual salary range for a change management specialist is between $96,378 and $170,564. The median change management salary is $127,672.

We looked at varying levels of education to see how these are impacting the type of annual salary you could see. Here are the median change management salary estimates based on education and experience.

• High School Diploma or Technical Certificate, less than 1-year experience: $118,381
• High School Diploma or Technical Certificate, 5-6 years of experience: $120,337
• Master’s Degree or MBA, less than 1-year experience: $121,071
• Master’s Degree or MBA, 5-6 years of experience: $123,515

A person that has a high school diploma or technical certificate with 5-6 years of experience earns only $734 less annually than someone with an MBA or master’s degree.

What this tells us is that experience plus a technical change management certification can be valuable if you have the expertise to go along with it and will cost a lot less than going through college for a master’s degree.

Got questions like “is change management certification worth it?” or “are there free change management certifications? Drop us a message and let us know.

Do Employers Care if You Have Change Management Certification?

Change management is a growing field, but still fairly new when compared to other business disciplines. So, the standards in change management training and certification will differ widely between companies hiring a change manager.

Some employers will require that you’ve gone through change management courses and earned a certification either in overall change management or a specific change methodology.

Other employers might just want you to do a good job managing the project and the people when driving change. They may care more about your experience with communication, leadership, and project planning and management than they will about a change management certificate.

What Do Employers Want for Change Management Specialists?

We reviewed a collection of different change management positions posted on LinkedIn and found that 30% asked for a change management certification.

Top-requested qualifications were a BS degree or higher in organizational psychology, leadership, communications or similar, and approximately 5+ years of experience.

Companies also are looking for competency in change management overall, something that change management training, which leads to certification could help you get.

Are you looking answers to questions like “How much will it cost me to get a change management diploma?” or “What is a ccmp certification salary?” Send us a message with your questions or comments. 

How Much Does a Change Management Certification Cost?

Even though a majority of organizations hiring for change management specialists don’t require a change management certification, 30% is not an insignificant number.

Change management is becoming increasingly competitive due to the great future job prospects of the field. Going through change management courses to earn certification could help you stand out over another qualified candidate that doesn’t have any certification.

How much will a change management certificate cost you?

Some change certifications are fairly inexpensive, but it won’t do you any good to earn one that’s not recognized.

The top two certifications requested in job postings are:

• Prosci’s ADKAR change management certification
• Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) certification from ACMP

Prosci’s change management training doesn’t require any prior education or experience. It costs $4,400.

CCMP certification requires a combination of education and experience (4-year degree and 3-years of experience or high school degree and 5-years of experience), plus prior change management training. It costs $745 for non-members or $595 for members of ACMP.

Are you looking for more information on questions like: “Is change management certification worth it?” Send a message to our change management team.

Conclusion: Is a Change Management Certificate Worth It?

So, is a change management certification worth it? Ultimately, it depends.

• Prosci Change Management | Guide | All You Need to Know
• Review of Prosci’s Change Consultancy | What You Need to Know

You don’t necessarily need a certificate in change management if you already have change management experience and a college degree in a related field. Approximately 70% of employers don’t even mention certification in their job listings.

In addition, we could not find any significant difference in change management salary for jobs asking for a certificate and those without that requirement.

However, if you want to gain an edge in an increasingly competitive field and/or may not have as much hands-on experience as you’d like, a change management certification can definitely be valuable.

Change management courses teach you all the fundamentals of change management and can also often provide classroom experience in creating and implementing a change management strategy that gives you the confidence you need when going into an interview for a change management position.

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• Change Management Roadmaps
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