Is a Watermark Learning Certificate Program Right for You?
Getting your business analysis or project management industry certification is a notable accomplishment for individuals and a benefit to organizations. For organizations it helps promote consistency on projects and shows that practitioners working in the organization have a level-set understanding of important concepts. For individuals, it can make a big difference towards advancing your career.
However, PMI and IIBA credentials require thousands of hours of documented experience, as well as training, and of course, passing a lengthy and comprehensive exam. But what if you are new to business analysis or project management, and you need practical skills training that you can apply to your job? What if you are not quite eligible to apply for your PMP® or CBAP®, but you still want something “on paper” to demonstrate your skill to employers?
A certificate program may be just the answer for you. A certificate from Watermark Learning demonstrates that you have received high-quality, skills-based training that you can immediately apply on-the-job. By partnering with Auburn University, Watermark Learning’s Certificate programs give you exactly what you need to thrive in a project management, business analysis, Agile, business process management, or combined role.
Below are some of the top benefits of enrolling in a certificate program:
1. Concentrated Skills-Based Training
Each of our certificate programs is crafted to provide all the essential skills you need on the job in just a few intensive 2-3 day classes. PMI and IIBA certification exams are strictly knowledge-based. The courses in our certificate program require the application of knowledge gained directly to the skills needed on the job. Many of the courses in our certificate programs can be taken either in person at our Minneapolis training facility, in person at an organization as a private program, or live and online in an interactive virtual learning environment.
2. Practical Approach
At Watermark Learning, we excel at distilling complex industry standards into practical application. Our certificate programs cut through much of the “nice to know” topics inherent in any standard and give you the “need to know” for maximum effectiveness. The concepts and skills are not easy, but our approach makes them understandable and simple to apply.
3. Dedication
Pursuing and completing a certificate shows current and prospective employers that you are dedicated to your profession. Many employers provide tuition reimbursement for programs that provide CEUs, as ours all do.
4. Recognition
When you complete your program, you will receive a certificate from Watermark Learning and Auburn University. We currently offer the following certificates. Choose the certificate that best fits your current role—or the role you hope to have in the future.
Business Analysis
Project Management
Agile
Business Process Management
5. Results
More important than documenting your skills “on paper,” our certificate programs first and foremost ensure that you are prepared to be effective in your work place, no matter what your role. In each of our classes, you will receive the highest quality training and gain not just knowledge but also practical ways to apply that knowledge to your everyday work. Plus, you’ll be able to use those practical skills immediately and with confidence. And your employer benefits from having highly-skilled employees ready to take on the challenges of working in a project environment.
Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA, was the founder of and is now a consultant for Watermark Learning. He is a successful entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in product development, business analysis, project management, training, and consulting. As an internal entrepreneur, Rich led the development of several Watermark Learning online products as a business analyst and product owner.
Rich is a frequent speaker at Business Analysis and Project Management national conferences and IIBA® and PMI® chapters around the world. He has contributed as a lead author to the BA Body of Knowledge version 2.0 and 3.0 and was a lead author on PMI’s Business Analysis Practice Guide. He and his wife Elizabeth Larson have co-authored five books on business analysis.
Project Management Professional® (PMP)® Certification Training