A community is only as powerful as its members, and we all have the ability to make a positive contribution.  Learn more about PMI Membership and the benefits of being a PMI member.

Before you can join PMI, you have to create an account.  After you log in to your account, you will be presented with the opportunity to join a PMI chapter as you are joining PMI.

You can join PMI without joining a chapter.  PMI membership currently costs $139 USD ($32 for students), annually.  You have to join PMI to join a chapter.  PMINUC membership is, currently, an additional $30, or $8 for students, annually. (prices are subject to change, but PMINUC does it's best to minimize the amount and frequency of price increases while striving to provide quality programs for its members)

You can attend most chapter activities as a guest, but there are some nuances that should be discussed.  For example, you don't have to be a member of the chapter to participate in most volunteering events where we are performing community service.  We also have volunteer events for chapter volunteers.  You are required to be a member of the chapter to be a chapter volunteer, such as a board or committee member.

PMINUC offers the following activities:

• Annual Professional Development Conference
• Community Service
• Lunch & Learn events
• PM in the AM Networking Sessions
• Quarterly Networking Forums

PMINUC offers the following services and resources:

• Certification classes, in partnership with PMI Authorized Training Providers (ATPs)
• Mentoring (Chapter Members only)
• PMO Of the Year
• Project of the Year
• Scholarships for qualifying High School and College students
• Training grants and funding
• Weekly newsletters

If you're planning a career in project management, you'll most likely need the PMP for your resume to make it past HR screening when job hunting.  There are benefits to certification, but they're not all tangible.  The knowledge you gain preparing for the exam will help you as you gain experience.  Over time, you may receive opportunities you wouldn't have without the PMP.

Preparing for the exam takes as long as it takes.  PMI requires three years experience and 35 hours of project management education before you can even apply for the exam; more experience is required if you don't have a four year degree.  Your preparation for the exam begins long before your application is approved.

Once your application is approved, you have one year to pass the exam.  To avoid procrastination, one approach is to plan to take it in 3-6 months.  This allows you time to create and execute a study plan without feeling rushed.  You can take the exam up to three times during the year following your application approval.

• PMI Study Hall
• PMBOK Guide (a free digital copy is available to download for PMI Members)
• PMP Exam Prep books, such as those by Rita Mulcahy, Andrew Ramdayal, and HeadFirst (Jennifer Greene and Andrew Stellman)
• Exam Prep Class (you can usually find one on our Upcoming Events page)
• Exam Simulators
• Flash Cards
• Podcasts
• Study Groups 
• Online resources, for example, videos on YouTube and courses on Udemy

PMP certification is valid for three years, at which point you must have accumulated the required amount of PDUs and must pay a fee to complete the renewal process.  You can find more details about this on PMI's website.

Per page 15 of the CCR Handbook, if you fail to renew your certification on time your credential will be placed in "Suspended" status.  While suspended, "...you may not refer to yourself as a certification holder or use the certification designation," although you can still renew your certification during this time.  After one year without renewal, your certificate will expire.  Once this occurs, you are no longer considered a certificate holder.  If you want to obtain the certificate, again, you will need to apply and take the exam, all over again.

You do not need to be a PMI member to renew any certifications.  Non-members will pay a higher renewal fee, but PMI membership is not required.

While this may change in the future, the PMP is the primary certification you need for a career in Project Management.  Other certifications, and the knowledge you gain in preparing for them, can help you become a better Project Manager.  The best way to stay on top of this question is to regularly review online job descriptions for PM positions.  There has been a strong trend toward agile for several years, now, but the PMP is currently the most sought after project management certification in the Utah job market.

There are several variables that can affect the salary of a project manager, including years of experience and whether you are working at a small, local company or in a company with offices in other states and/or countries.  Here are some ranges for different PM positions, in Utah, as of April, 2023:

• $32K-$59K for an Entry Level Project Manager (ZipRecruiter.com)
• $50K-$99K for a Project Engineer I (GlassDoor.com)
• $50K-$120K for a Project Manager (Indeed.com)
• $68K-$150K for a Senior Project Manager (GlassDoor.com)
• $71K-$120K for an Information Technology Project Manager (Indeed.com)
• $81K-$130K for a Construction Project Manager (Salary.com)
• $118K-$150K for an Architectural Project Manager (Salary.com)

Project Managers can be found in many fields, even if they don't always have the title.  Here are some fields where you can find Project Managers.

• Construction
• Energy
• Engineering
• Finance
• Healthcare
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Manufacturing

• Project Coordinator, Associate Project Manager, Junior Project Manager, Project Coordinator
• Project Scheduler
• Project Engineer
• Project Manager
• Senior Project Manager
• PMO Manager or Director

The career path of a project manager primarily consists of advancing as a project manager, although this may vary by company.  Some companies may start you at a junior or associate level position that advances to a regular project manager, and then to a senior project manager.  Other companies may have numbers or grades associated with the positions (PM I, PMII, PM III, etc.).  It is possible to advance to Manager and Director positions over project management teams and Project Management Offices (PMOs), if these positions exist at a company.  While attainable, there is a lot of competition for these positions, and some companies require several years experience managing direct reports, which is uncommon for most project management positions.

The Project Engineer career path can take you from PE I to PE II, then Senior Project Manager to Construction Project Manager or Director of Construction.  Like other project management positions, this will vary by company.  

If you work in Information Technology, it is also possible to make PM-adjacent moves, such as Business Analyst, Scrum Master, or IT Manager.  Other PM-adjacent positions include Program Manager, Portfolio Analyst, and Portfolio Manager.

Education and certification are helpful, but it can be difficult to get a project manager job right out of school. A lot of project managers start their careers by making a lateral move within their company. Others start at new employers as a Project Coordinator or Junior Project Manager and work their way up.