Best Change Mgt Certifications for Change Mgrs | Ranking | Costs | Reviews

Everything You Need to Know – The Top Change Management Certificates for Change Practitioners

This top change management certification guide provides you with everything you need to know about the best change management certificates for practitioners in the U.S., Canada, U.K, Europe, Australia, APAC, Africa, and other regions.

Don’t Miss: Should You Spend $4,400+ for a Prosci Certificate? Is it Worth …

In an extensive review conducted by the AGS team, we reviewed over 300 change management job postings. Out of the 300 postings, approximately 30% of them required the candidate to have some type of certification in change management. The remaining 70% of change management related job postings we reviewed did not ask for change management certification. A 4-year degree and about 5+ years of experience were the standard requirements. 

• Most of the U.S. and Canadian organizations that asked for a change certification either mentioned the Prosci change management certification specifically or mentioned being open to candidates with either a Prosci, or a Prosci alternative certificate.
• For the UK and other European countries, hiring managers and organizations that required a candidate to have a change management certificate often mentioned APMG’s CCPM change certification, and sometimes Prosci.
• For all other regions, including APAC and Africa, Prosci, Change Management Specialist (CMS)® and APMG’s CCPM were often mentioned as required change certifications.

We’ve included the list of the best change management certification programs for you, and reviewed the eight most popular change management training programs that lead to effective certification in change management.

Top 8 Change Management Certificate Programs

What Do You Really Gain from Getting a Change Management Certification?

If you’re thinking about becoming a change management specialist, one of the first considerations is what type of change management training you should take. There’s standard change management training, and then there’s change management certification.

When you’re a certified change management practitioner, it can open all kinds of doors to jobs in the change management field that you won’t qualify for if you’ve only taken change management courses online without any certification.

Certifications like APMG’s Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™), the Prosci Change Management Certification Program, Change Management Specialist (CMS)®, or a Kotter Change Management Certification set a person apart from their peers.

Why do people get a change management degree and certification?

• Concrete validation of their knowledge and expertise
• Access to tools specific to a particular methodology or change model
• Some companies require certification as their change management qualifications
• Provides a competitive edge
• Some change management certifications earn professional education credits

Award Emblem: Top 8 Best Change Management Certifications

Best Change Management Certifications | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Table: Top Change Management Specialist Certification | Above list is sorted by rating

See Also: What is the Cost of the Prosci Certificate? Is it Worth …

How Do You Become a Change Manager?

A career in change management will typically begin with a combination of experience and education in the field of change management.

You may already have some change management qualifications if you’ve ever headed up a project or have experience communicating and executing organized plans and strategies.

Taking change management courses online is an excellent foundation for becoming a change manager. You’ll want to become familiar with the different change management models so you can choose your organizational change management certification program wisely.

Should you become a Prosci certified change practitioner and learn the ADKAR model for change? Or should you get a Change Management Foundation certificate focused on Agile? Or would something like CCMP, which incorporates several models, be better?

Knowing a little about the different change models ahead of time can help you choose between a CCMP certification, the Prosci change management certification program, or another top certification. The experience will also help you in your quest to become a certified change manager. Any experience that you can get leading projects, conducting training or managing teams will help in building up your experience and change management qualifications.

Finally, getting a change management specialist certification from a recognized program will give you the last piece you need to have your best chance at a career as a change manager.

AGS Ranking and Selection Methodology

What methodology does the AGS team use in reviewing, researching, selecting, and finalizing the firms and products that are ranked on the various AGS ranking lists?

Click here: “AGS Selection and Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AGS’ selection methodologies.

Best Change Management Certification Programs

Below, please find a brief review of each certification on our list of top organizational change management certification programs. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these top-rated change management professional certification programs to score so high in our selection ranking.

Click on any of the certificate names below to go directly to the review section for that change management certification. The list is sorted by rating.

• APMG Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) – UK
• Certified Change Manager (CCM)® – Foundation Certificate
• Change Management Cornell Certificate Program
• Change Management Specialist (CMS)®
• Professional Certificate in Change Management
• Prosci Change Management Certification
• Agile Change Management Certification
• Certified Strategic Change Management Professional (SCMP)™

Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) Review

ACMP’s globally recognized change management specialist certification is based upon the organization’s Standard for Change Management©. Becoming a Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) carries a lot of weight in the change management world.

After developing a set of standards, ACMP launched its CCMP certification 2016. In a fairly short amount of time, it’s gained worldwide recognition as a top change management certification online or offline.

The APMG CCMP certificate is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for Change Management Practitioner certification. UKAS is the UK’s only Government recognised National Accreditation Body – responsible for assessing the competence of organizations providing professional certifications. As such, if you are based in the UK, the CCMP certificate might be your go-to certificate of choice.

What Model is Taught for CCMP Certification?

The CCMP certification is “method neutral.” This means that it doesn’t teach a specific change model, like some other organizational change management certification programs.

The Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) covers generally accepted practices and processes used across multiple industries.

What are the CCMP Certification Learning Objectives?

CCMP certification is one of the most advanced certificates, so learning objectives will be focused on advanced skills and concepts dealing with all facets of change management best practices.

Some of the learning objectives for CCMP certification include:

• Development and execution of change risk mitigation strategy
• Development and execution of transition strategy
• Understanding of the Standard for Change Management©
• Ability to apply each step of a change management strategy across an organization

How Do I Become a Certified CCMP? | Course Requirements

There are both education and training requirements you need to meet in order to be eligible to become a Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™). The certification is valid for three years, after which you will need to renew it.

Education and experience requirements:

• A 4-year degree (or international equivalent) AND 3-years (4200 hours) change management experience.

OR

• Secondary education (high school or international equivalent) AND 5-years (7000 hours) of change management experience.

Training requirements:

• Within the last seven years, you must have completed 21 hours of instructor-led change management training.

Fee requirements:

• Members: $595.00
• Non-members: $745.00

Rating Summary

While CCMP certification is one of the most well-respected certificates, it’s also got some of the most stringent requirements. It’s not a change management degree or certification you can get without any previous change management experience.

Because this change management training program is based upon internationally recognized testing standards, it’s a great one to have no matter where you plan to live or work and one of the two that we see mentioned in job postings.

The pricing for CCMP certification is very reasonable when compared with other change management certification programs. That, along with its global recognition, make the Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) certification one of the best. We give it a 5-star rating.

Certified Change Manager (CCM)® – Foundation Certificate Review

The Certified Change Manager (CCM)® – Foundation Certificate designation is provided by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM). This is designed as a beginner’s change management training and is provided as an e-course.

You’ll also find it under the acronym CCMF (Certified Change Manager – Foundation).

GAQM is recognized by UKVI in the UK and is a member of the CHEA International Quality Group in the US.  The CCM® – Foundation certification is a prerequisite for another GAQM certificate, the Certified Change Manager (CCM)®– Practitioner.

What Model is Taught for CCM® – Foundation Certification?

This is another change management professional certification that does not focus on a specific change management model. Instead, the change management Foundation certificate provides an overview of different approaches to implementing change.

Best Change Management Courses Online & Classroom

What are the CCM® – Foundation Certification Learning Objectives?

Since the Certified Change Manager (CCM®) – Foundation Certification is designed to be an introduction to change management, you’ll be learning the basics when going through this change management training.

Some of the learning objectives for the change management Foundation certificate include:

• Understanding of the organizational structure and organizational change
• History of change management
• Overview of change management
• Managing people and communication strategies
• Types of change and approaches to implementing change

How Do I Become CCM® Certified? | Course Requirements

There are no prerequisites required for the change management Foundation certificate, which makes it perfect for those without any change management experience that want to get into the change management career field.

It is also one of the most economical change management courses if you need to meet training requirements for a higher certification.

This change management certificate has lifetime validity and does not need to be renewed.  

The Certified Change Manager (CCM)® – Foundation Certificate

Fee requirements:

• Course Package: $170.00
• Exam Fee: $128.00

Rating Summary

This change management Foundation certificate from GAQM is not as prestigious as a CCMP certification or being a Prosci certified change practitioner. Still, it’s perfect for those that are starting from ground zero when it comes to change management.

It offers the foundational information that other programs will assume you already have, such as the history of change management and an understanding of organizational change. This makes it very useful as the first rung on your change management certificate journey.

This is one of the most affordable and accessible change management courses online, just two more reasons we feel the Certified Change Manager (CCM)® – Foundation Certificate earns a 5-star rating as a top change management specialist certification.

Change Management Cornell Certificate Program Review

For those interested in a change management degree or certificate from a well-known university, the Change Management Cornell Certificate Program will be of interest.  Those who successfully complete the course receive a Change Management Certificate from Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

This is a change management certification online that is instructor-led. It’s one of many online certificate programs offered by Cornell University. If you want closer to a college course experience, this change management training will be of interest to you.

What Model is Taught for Cornell Change Management Certification?

This organizational change management certification does not mention any specific change models in its brochure that it focuses on. It offers change management training on general best practices in multiple areas of change management.

What are the Cornell Change Management Certification Learning Objectives?

Because this is a university change management training, it’s laid out a bit differently than many of the other change management courses.

For the Cornell change management certification, you’ll take a total of six 2-week courses. Four of them are core change management courses online, and the other two are electives that you choose from nine elective course options.

Some of the learning objectives for the Cornell certification include:

• Leading organizational change
• Leading strategic change initiatives
• Navigation power relationships
• Negotiation skills
• Leading collaborative teams
• Coaching skills for leaders

How Do I Earn a Cornell Change Management Certificate? | Course Requirements

The course materials for Cornell’s change management certificate do not mention needing any prerequisites to take this change management training.

Upon successful completion of the change management qualifications, you’ll receive:

• Change Management Certificate from Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
• 60 Professional Development Hours (6 CEUs)
• 36 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification
• 75 Professional Development Units (PDUs) toward PMI recertification

Fee requirements:

• $3,600 or $650/month

Best Change Management Certification Online

Rating Summary

The format of the Cornell certification and ability to choose electives from nine different change specialty courses, make it one of the most flexible change management certification programs.  

The name recognition of Cornell University and the number of continuing education units you can earn, make it one of the more valuable change management courses you can invest in.

No listed prerequisites and the fact that it’s both instructor-led and an online change certification, are just more reasons that this top change management certification program from Cornell earns a 5-star rating.

Change Management Specialist (CMS)® Review

The Change Management Specialist (CMS)® certification was developed by the Management and Strategy Institute (MSI). MSI offers a number of professional career development and credentialing opportunities and is a trade association with over 100,000 members.

This association is Internationally CPD (Continuing Professional Development) Accredited, and specializes in Six Sigma certifications, while also providing multiple other industry-recognized certifications in project management, leadership, and more.

What Model is Taught for Change Management Specialist (CMS)® Certification?

This organizational change management certification course does not focus on any specific change models. Its goal is to introduce the concepts of change management and provide a solid understanding of change management principles.

What are the Change Management Specialist (CMS)® Course Learning Objectives?

MSI describes this change management certification online course as a “mid-level” certification. It’s great for those who have only a little or no knowledge about change management because it’s designed to give them the basic skills they need to know.

Some of the learning objectives for this change management certificate include:

• Understanding of why organizational change fails
• Learning the different types of change
• How to manage critical components of change
• Learning how to mentor, coach, and motivate
• Learn the principals of effective change
• Understand why and how change affects people

How Do I Become a Change Management Specialist (CMS)®? | Course Requirements

This is one of the change management courses online that does not have any requirements for education or change management experience. Anyone can take the course and earn the certification.  

If you successfully complete the certification, you’ll receive:

• Your certificate of completion and designation as a Change Management Specialist (CMS)®
• 30 Professional Competency Units (PCUs) from MSI
• 30 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits

Fee requirements:

• $299.95

Rating Summary

MSI’s Change Management Specialist (CMS®) certificate is an excellent option if you don’t want to spend thousands on a change management certification and are new to change management.

Without any prerequisites and with a curriculum designed to teach you everything you need to know on a mid-level for change management, it’s a great option that also allows you to earn professional development credits.

While not quite as prestigious as CCMP certification or certification from Prosci change management training, it’s still a solid choice that offers a great balance of change knowledge and affordability. We give 5-stars to the Change Management Specialist certification by MSI.

Additional Note

It has come to our attention that an organization referring to itself as “The Council for Six Sigma Certification” has put out what it calls “Consumer Alerts” about multiple certification companies, including MSI. 

AGS does not have a relationship with either party, MSI, or The Council for Six Sigma Certification (which is not an official governing body of Six Sigma, despite the official-sounding name). We have simply conducted the following research to shed light on this for those who may be visiting our website in search of places to obtain a change management certification.

In our own independent research on this “alert,” we found that The Council for Six Sigma Certification seems to issue these on a number of its competitors. We also found other online references indicating that these “alerts” were not legitimate.

We could not find any other negative reviews for MSI, just the one from “The Council for Six Sigma Certification.” Further, we could not find any lawsuit references for MSI either.

Here are a few of MSI’s review results from trusted online resources at the time of this posting:

• Indeed: MSI has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 157 total reviews 
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): MSI has a rating of 4.78 out of 5 stars from 23 total reviews, 0 complaints 
• Trustpilot: MSI has a rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 from 3,085 total reviews
• Google: MSI has a rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 from 629 total reviews 

Professional Certificate in Change Management Review

The Professional Certificate in Change Management is another of the change certifications offered by a university. This certification involves two change management courses online that are provided by Michigan State University (MSU).

The two 8-week courses are taught by several of MSU’s masters-level faculty. This change management specialist certification is designed for aspiring or current consultants, managers, and organizational leaders at any position level.

What Model is Taught for the Professional Certificate in Change Management?

This change management training covers best practices in change management. It touches on several of the popular change management models as well, making it a great course for those wanting to learn about more than a single methodology.

Models that are mentioned in the change management certification online course outlines include:

• Lewin’s Model of organizational change
• Prosci’s ADKAR change model
• Kotter’s change management model
• Hackman-Oldham job characteristics model

What are the Professional Certificate in Change Management Learning Objectives?

This best change management certification is split into two change management courses, Leadership Effectiveness and Strategic Change Leadership. The combination of both courses will give you a robust knowledge of all the facets of change management.

Here are just a few of the many learning objectives in this change management certification online course:

• Learning evidence-based management
• Using directive and supportive behaviors to be effective
• Leading and managing organizational change
• Understanding what it means to manage a culture
• Organizational structure, interdependence, and role relationships
• Creative problem solving

How Do I Earn a Professional Certificate in Change Management? | Course Requirements

Michigan State University makes this change management training and certification open to everyone. There are no education or experience prerequisites.

After successful completion, you’ll earn:

• The Professional Certificate in Change Management
• 7 Continuing Education Units (3.5 CEUs per course)

Fee requirements:

• Two-Course Package: $3,595.00

Rating Summary

The Professional Certificate in Change Management by MSU will give you plenty of background in multiple change models, making it one of the most valuable change management courses you could take.

It includes multiple popular methodologies, including Lewin’s, Kotter’s, and ADKAR from the Prosci change management course. Because the certification is from a well-known university, it’s likely that many employers will accept it as an equivalent to Prosci or CCMP.

With a well-rounded curriculum that has a great balance of change management and leadership training and no prerequisite barrier, MSU’s Professional Certificate in Change Management earns a 5-star rating as great option for your change certification needs.

Prosci Change Management Certification Review

One of the change management qualifications that you’ll often see from employers hiring for change positions is the Prosci Change Management Certification. Prosci was founded in 1994, and The Prosci ADKAR® Model is one of the most popular methodologies companies use for change management.

Prosci developed the ADKAR model from studying change leaders and evaluating what did and didn’t work. The Prosci change management certification program is based on best practice research from the experience of thousands of practitioners.

What Model is Taught for Prosci Change Management Certification?

Prosci is unique in that the firm offers change management training based upon its own change model.

When you take Prosci change management training, you’ll be learning The Prosci ADKAR® Model of change management. ADKAR is an acronym for Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.

What are the Prosci Change Management Certification Learning Objectives?

Beyond getting an in-depth knowledge of the ADKAR model for change management, the Prosci change management certification program will also include the basics of change management and how to drive a successful change project.

Some of the learning objectives when becoming a Prosci certified change practitioner include:

• Understand how change management improves organizational results
• Learn the fundamentals of change and change management
• Know how to apply the Prosci ADKAR® model to facilitate change
• Build a holistic strategy for influencing individual transitions
• Understand how to do a readiness assessment and impact assessment

How Do I Get Prosci Change Management Certification? | Course Requirements

There are no education or experience requirements for taking the Prosci change management course.  It’s perfect for leaders at all levels that want to become proficient and certified in Prosci’s ADKAR change model.

Fee requirements:

• $4,400.00

Rating Summary

The Prosci Change Management Certification is considered by many as the “Cadillac” of change management qualifications and certification. While it’s the most expensive of the change training options on our list, it’s also the most recognized and requested by companies.

Change Management Courses Online

Of course, you will just be learning the one methodology, the ADKAR model, when you undergo Prosci change management training. But that may be enough since that model is very robust and includes a comprehensive change management 3-phase process.

You’ll also find that the Prosci Change Management Certification takes only 3-days estimated course time, making it one of the most time-efficient. With so much going for it, we’ve rated the Prosci change certification with 5-stars.  

Agile Change Management Certification Review

Because of the popularity of Agile and its use in change management, we wanted to include a certification that was specific to Agile. For those looking to combine the two disciplines, Change Guides’ Agile Change Management Certification is a great option.

Change Guides is an organization that provides business consulting and training. It was founded in 2005 and offers a variety of organizational certifications.

The organization is an ACMP Qualified Education Provider™ (QEP™) is also a Registered Education Provider with the Project Management Institute.

What Model is Taught for Agile Change Management Certification?

As the name implies, the change management qualifications for this training focus on the Agile project management methodology with an emphasis on its use in forming a framework for change management projects.

What are the Agile Change Management Certification Learning Objectives?

The curriculum in this change management training incorporates materials from Change Guides’ Managing Change in an Agile World book and the accompanying Toolkit.

Some of the learning objectives for this Agile change certification include:

• Principals of managing change in an Agile world
• Ideas and approaches to change management
• Background on how change happens
• Learning the 10 Laws of Agile Change Management
• Tactics for change leaders
• Helping people become ready, willing, and able to support change

How Do I Become Agile Change Management Certified? | Course Requirements

This change management specialist certification doesn’t have any education or experience prerequisites.

To earn certification requires you to:

• Complete the two-day on-site training program conducted by a Change Guides’ trainer
• Score 90% on the electronic Change Guides Agile Change Management Certification examination.
• Submit three change management tools from the Agile management methodology for review within 90 days.

Fee requirements:

• Contact Change Guides for private session pricing

Rating Summary

For those working exclusively with Agile and looking for a change management certificate based on that methodology, the Agile Change Management Certification from Change Guides is both one that’s US-based and from a recognized training organization.

The coursework is straightforward and includes the Agile Change Management Toolkit (Excel and Word), which is a nice bonus.

This certification is very targeted, so it lacks a wider overview of change management in general that some other change management courses have. That and the fact that there’s no price listed for the course are reasons we’ve awarded this certification 3 stars.

Certified Strategic Change Management Professional (SCMP)™ Review

The International Institute for Executive Training (IIET) is the organization behind the Certified Strategic Change Management Professional (SCMP)™ certification. IIET offers several internationally accredited training programs covering areas such as Lean Six Sigma, project management, and more.

This change management training organization was founded in 2013 and is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and has the ability to grant Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.

What Model is Taught for SCMP Certification?

This certified change management practitioner program includes the chance to learn several different change models.

Whether you’re looking for a Lewin or Kotter change management certification, this course covers it. That variety makes it perfect for people looking for a career in change management consulting where they may be working with different change models for each client.

The change models mentioned in the SCMP change management training outline include:

• Kurt Lewin’s Model of Change Management
• John Kotter’s 8 Step Change Model
• The DICE Framework

What are the SCMP Certification Learning Objectives?

This 5-day change management course is quite extensive as far as curriculum. You’ll be learning everything from A to Z when it comes to change management processes, strategies, and methodologies.

Some of the learning objectives for Strategic Change Management Professional certification include:

• Understanding the importance of effective change management
• The human element of change and exploration of the emotional change cycle
• How change management fits into the project lifecycle
• Leadership skills for enacting change
• Identifying and overcoming resistance to change
• Exploring various change management models and how they’re applied

How Do I Become a Certified SCMP? | Course Requirements

This is another of the change management courses that does not have any educational or training hour prerequisites. So, anyone interested in becoming certified in change management can take the training.

You earn 42 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units for this course.

This change management training has the following requirements for certification:

• Attendance: You must attend all sessions. If you miss more than 2 hours of the course, you won’t be eligible to take the exam.
• Successful Completion of Work & Exam: You must successfully complete all the course work and the exam to be awarded a certificate.

Fee requirements:

• Contact IIET for pricing

Rating Summary

For a class with no education or training prerequisites, IIET’s Certified Strategic Change Management Professional (SCMP)™ program has one of the most varied curriculums we’ve seen while reviewing the best change management courses.

The ability to get the equivalent of a DICE, Lewin, or Kotter change management certification in one course that covers all those models is a bonus. The CPE credits are also something that makes this certified change management practitioner course stand out.

One unfortunate drawback for those trying to compare this course with another one, like the ACMP or Prosci change management training, is that we could not find a price for the course on the organization’s website. For that reason, we’ve rated this change management certification with 3 stars.

What Are the Different Change Models?

There are several different ways that organizations can approach change. The change models and methodology they use will act as a roadmap for the transformation.

A certified change management professional should be very familiar with at least one or more of these models. The more models you know, the better you can guide different change projects.

Knowing which change methodologies are most popular with organizations helps you find the best change management certification online that’s going to be most useful to you.

Here is a brief overview of the most popular change models:

• The Prosci ADKAR® Model
• Kurt Lewin’s Change Management Model
• Kotter’s 8-Step Process for Leading Change
• McKinsey 7S Framework
• Agile methodology (used for project management, but can be useful for change management)

Before we get into each of these best change management certification programs in more detail, we’ll go through an overview of frequently asked questions about change management professional certification in general.

FAQ: Which Change Management Model is Best?

You’ll find varying opinions on which change model is best and, therefore, which certified change management practitioner course you should take.

Some organizations prefer a top-down approach, in which case a model like Kotter’s would be the one they gravitate to. Others look for a more employee-focused bottom-up approach, in which case the Prosci change management course on ADKAR or a course that teaches Lewin’s model would be your top options.

We reviewed several change management job postings on Indeed and Monster.com. We found that while a majority of them do not mention a specific change model, two certifications, in particular, come up when certification is mentioned in the change management qualifications.

The first is the Prosci change management certification, which teaches The Prosci ADKAR® Model.

The second is the Certified Change Management Professional™ certification, which is known as the CCMP certification by ACMP®. This certification teaches “a collection of generally accepted practices in change management.”

FAQ: Skills Needed | Change Management Training?

If you want to learn about change management before becoming a certified change management professional, there are certain base skills that will be addressed in any change management courses online or in the classroom.

These have to do with the core skills required by anyone that wants to be successful as a change management leader. It’s often helpful to go through some type of basic change management training first before paying for one of the more expensive change management courses.

Why? Because you’ll have a much better chance of passing your change management specialist certification exam if you’ve developed the basic change skills before starting your certification training.

Those basic change management training skills include:

• Basics of change management
• Understand how using change management improves chances of success
• Communication tips for managing resistance to change
• Creating a change management strategy
• Working with leaders and employees in a champion network
• Utilizing change models and methodologies
• Learn about barriers to change and how to overcome them

FAQ: Skills Needed | Change Agent Certification?

As you can imagine, the skills needed for actual change agent certification are going to be at another level than non-certified change management courses online or offline. The goal of an organizational change management certification program is to prepare you to work as a change manager professionally.

You’ll find that some change management certification online or classroom programs are designed to grant credentials developed against ISO and ANSI standards, these are internationally recognized testing standards.

Here is an example of the typical skills you’ll learn when getting a change management degree or certification:

• Working knowledge of either one or several change management models
• How to assess things like change readiness and change impact for a company
• Learning how to manage resistance to change both proactively and reactively
• How to coach leaders to help drive a change program
• Budgeting and timelining the change project
• Become fluent in change management fundamentals
• Successful execution of a change management strategy

FAQ: Change Management Certification PMI

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the most well-respected certification authorities for project management. And while project management is part of the skillset of a change management professional, those certifications aren’t considered specifically a “change management” certification.

PMI certifications include PMP® (Project Management Professional), PfMP® (Portfolio Management Professional), PMI-ACP® (PMI Agile Certified Practitioner), among others.

But PMI does not list on its certification page any program to earn a PMI change management certificate.

FAQ: Agile Change Management Certification

Agile is well known as a software development process framework, but over the years, it’s been adopted for other business processes and to assist with change management activities.

Agile includes several business process methodologies under its umbrella, including some you may be familiar with, like Kanban and Scrum.

Because Agile includes many of the philosophies that can be applied to guide successful change, it has entered into the change management certification programs, even though it wasn’t originally developed as a change management model.

One of the models we’re reviewing includes Agile, which is the Agile Change Management Certification by Change Guides.

FAQ: What is Prosci Change Management Certification?

Prosci change management training and certification comes up quite a bit when you’re researching change management. It’s one of the most well-known, and when companies request a change certification, it’s typically as a Prosci certified change practitioner.

Prosci is the consulting firm that developed the popular ADKAR model, which is what the Prosci change management certification program is based on.

You’ll find the Prosci change management course and certification below in this review. You can also find out more about the company behind the certification by reading our AGS review article on Prosci.

FAQ: What is a CCMP Certification?

Another popular change management professional certification that you’ll see requested in job listings is the CCMP certification. This change management certificate is provided by the Association of Change Management Professionals® (ACMP®).

It’s not specific to a particular methodology and instead teaches overall best practices of change management. Those who successfully complete the course become a Certified Change Management Professional™.

Conclusion | What is the Best Change Management Certification?

While the fundamentals of change management remain the same no matter which change management training you take, there are many different ways you can approach certification for change management.

Trying to choose which one’s the best change management certification for you will depend upon which factors are most important to you.

Which Change Management Certification is Best?

Do you want the most recognized change certification by companies?

Then it would be CCMP or Prosci change management certification.

Are you looking for one from a university that’s instructor-led?

Then you’d be interested in the change certificates from Cornell and Michigan State University.

Do you need something inexpensive, and that can give you the basics?

Then the CCM® – Foundation Certification or Change Management Specialist (CMS)® are bargains that introduce you to the fundamentals of change management.

Are you looking to learn as many change management models as you can in a single course?

Both the Certified Strategic Change Management Professional (SCMP)™ and the Professional Certificate in Change Management from MSU will train you on multiple models.

The bottom line is that there’s no lack of great courses when it comes to becoming certified in change management. Whether you’re new to change management or getting a model-specific certification, there are plenty of options to increase your knowledge and dress up your resume.

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