FAS course - Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Broads.ie

FAS are offering an online course in Project Management. Once completed I'll be Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). :cool:

But is this CAPM title worth anything? Have any of yiz done this course?

nibtrix

Broads.ie wrote: »

FAS are offering an online course in Project Management. Once completed I'll be Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). :cool:

But is this CAPM title worth anything? Have any of yiz done this course?

I got this qualification about six years ago, at the time it was brand new in Ireland and there was no books or online courses. I had to learn from the books designed for the PMP (Project Management Professional) course which is designed for project managers with over five years experience and which turned out to be quite different from the CAPM exam!

They're both accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI). They are very well known qualifications in the USA but to be honest, in Ireland I've found that interviewers usually say "the what course from the what institute?!?".

The other thing I would question is that this is a professional qualification which, six years ago anyway, required you to have a certain number of years experience and to fill out a very detailed application. You also had to be employed for part of it as logbooks etc were required. You would need to find out if you will actually get the accreditation from the institute for doing this course, or just a cert saying you have done the exam.

Broads.ie

I've just read the requirements on the PMI website:

A secondary diploma (high school or the global equivalent) AND 23 hours of project management education by the time you sit for the exam.

http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/AboutCredentialsCAPM.aspx

Can the online course count as 23 hours of education? Probably not... I guess I'll have to make a few calls.

Stheno

Broads.ie wrote: »

I've just read the requirements on the PMI website:


Can the online course count as 23 hours of education? Probably not... I guess I'll have to make a few calls.

It can.

nibtrix

Wow, I can't believe it's now an either/or for 1500 hours experience or 23 hours training!! I had to have 2+ yrs experience plus the training. How can they equate the two?

Now I'm annoyed.

Stheno

nibtrix wrote: »

Wow, I can't believe it's now an either/or for 1500 hours experience or 23 hours training!! I had to have 2+ yrs experience plus the training. How can they equate the two?

Now I'm annoyed.

It's both? Read what the OP posted? 2 years experience AND 23 hours training?

Broads.ie

Stheno that's great news about the online course meeting their criteria.

By the way, it's not both. It's either 1500 hours experience or 23 hours education. It doesn't sound very balanced but that's what it says on their site.

The reason I'm interested in this course is that I'd eventually like to work for an N.G.O someday, and reading through their vacancies I see a lot of opportunities for project developers & managers. I don't expect to walk into a project management position straight away, but it's a step in the right direction.

Is this an easy course?

Broads.ie

I've just signed up for it. I got the "material" in the inbox today. It's a 14 week course and it does count as the 23 contact hours of education the PMI look for before you can take their test.

From googling this course, it seems like it's going to be 14 weeks of corporate waffle, but it's free so I can't complain.

The online "e-tutors" also seem keep you on your toes from the word go. The day after I received my confirmation email from FAS, I got a follow up from the e-tutor asking if he should remove me from the course, since I hadn't registered with him yet!! JESUS!!

Now in shock I rushed to register, and found out that the second you do so, the time limit of 14 weeks starts counting down. There's no stopping the clock. Typing this message is literally wasting my time. I wanted to have a few days of googling the material, looking for PDFs, youtube tutorials, forums and any other resources - and generally get my sh*t together since I'll be studying from home.

"If you want I can remove you from the course" THE CHEEK!

Oh well. Better get stuck into it.

Moac

[QUOTE=Broads.ie;75374414.....

Now in shock I rushed to register, and found out that the second you do so, the time limit of 14 weeks starts counting down. There's no stopping the clock. Typing this message is literally wasting my time. ........
Oh well. Better get stuck into it.[/QUOTE]

How did you get on?

tramoreman

the course is 55.5 hours
each section has questions
it is well worth doing the course

Abracastabya

Sorry for digging up an old thread here, but does anybody know if the course is actually dragged out over 14 weeks or can you complete it faster at your own pace? I am seeing some places offer this and the PMP certification over 5 days and with some other small courses done in this I don't think 14 weeks is necessary. What way does Fás eCollege work, will it be forced over 14 weeks?

uck51js9zml2yt

Abracastabya wrote: »

Sorry for digging up an old thread here, but does anybody know if the course is actually dragged out over 14 weeks or can you complete it faster at your own pace? I am seeing some places offer this and the PMP certification over 5 days and with some other small courses done in this I don't think 14 weeks is necessary. What way does Fás eCollege work, will it be forced over 14 weeks?

I just did prince 2 over 5 weeks with fas for full certification. A day per week.
Going to start pmbok online now.

Sugar Free

Abracastabya wrote: »

Sorry for digging up an old thread here, but does anybody know if the course is actually dragged out over 14 weeks or can you complete it faster at your own pace? I am seeing some places offer this and the PMP certification over 5 days and with some other small courses done in this I don't think 14 weeks is necessary. What way does Fás eCollege work, will it be forced over 14 weeks?

Most people I know know who did the PMP didn't even bother with a course - through Fás or elsewhere - they just studied themselves and sat the test.

eeicrdn

Scarlet Big Manicurist wrote: »

I just did prince 2 over 5 weeks with fas for full certification. A day per week.
Going to start pmbok online now.

Tatranska, just wondering how you found the prince 2 course? I've been offered a place for September.
Thanks.

uck51js9zml2yt

eeicrdn wrote: »

Tatranska, just wondering how you found the prince 2 course? I've been offered a place for September.
Thanks.

It was good but you need to be prepared to do the work to pass.
You need to read the book before you start and then at least once more by week 3 for the first exam. There is also an online and written mock which are a must.
You get the book from them before the course starts.

eeicrdn

Scarlet Big Manicurist wrote: »

It was good but you need to be prepared to do the work to pass.
You need to read the book before you start and then at least once more by week 3 for the first exam. There is also an online and written mock which are a must.
You get the book from them before the course starts.

Thanks for that. Is it necessary to have project management experience going into the course?

uck51js9zml2yt

eeicrdn wrote: »

Thanks for that. Is it necessary to have project management experience going into the course?

No