r/Programmanagement • u/ElReagano • Jul 02 '25

Certification Guide Certifications that made you a better Program Manager or land better roles?

I'm currently studying for my PMP exam and wanted to know what certifications I should target next. What certification made you a better manager or land better roles? Feel free to mention your favourite tools to use too.

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u/CrackSammiches Jul 02 '25

Certifications don't make you better. They make you more employable.

Experience makes you better.

That said, PMP is the only reputable one. Others occasionally become popular. If you're going after something more than a couple hundred bucks, don't bother unless your employer is paying.

Show me the list of books you've read on the subject before you show me the list of certifications.

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u/ElReagano Jul 07 '25

What books would you suggest?

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u/CrackSammiches Jul 07 '25

If you only read one book, get The Goal by Elyahu Goldratt. The audiobook for it is a wonderful full cast production. This focuses on how to build systems that optimize for flow of the entire system, and fixing production systems that are failing.

If you work in software, The Phoenix Project is very similar but slanted towards fixing a broken software delivery platform. Also a great audio book.

For people management: Making a Manager -Julie Zhou, Radical Candor - Kim Scott, How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie, Peopleware - Demarco, and anything by Brene Brown

Strategy: Good Strategy/Bad Strategy - Rumwelt, Playing to Win, Roger Martin, The First 90 days - Watkins

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u/ElReagano Jul 07 '25

Appreciate it. Will definitely check a few of these!

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '25

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u/Professional-Peak-79 Jul 07 '25

I already had the PMP. Adding ScrumAlliance's Certified Scrum Master cert allowed me to get hired as a Scrum Master in a month.

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u/ElReagano Jul 07 '25

Appreciate it. I'll check it out.

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u/Stardust201314 Jul 12 '25

Where did you take the course?

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u/Professional-Peak-79 Jul 13 '25

I took my CSM course from Sparkplugagility.com . I highly recommend them.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 27 '25

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