In addition to the PMBOK Guide, applicants may purchase one or more study guides from Amazon.com. Some of the notable handbooks found there include:

• CAPM Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy

  This guide has almost a 5-star rating on Amazon and is considered the best book to refer yourself to when it comes to efficient CAPM prep. This guide covers such topics as risk, quality, and resource management and also contains 180 sample questions to practice including some helpful exam tips to clear the CAPM test in one go. In addition, it also aligns with the PMBOK Guide, Sixth Edition, and covers all the changes & updates regarding the CAPM exam.

• CAPM Certification Full Preparation by Georgio Daccache

  This book passed a quality audit and business review and abided by the PMI REP program. It is designed for project managers preparing to acquire their PMI CAPM certification and project managers who want to pass the CAPM exam on the first attempt. The study guide provides quality information to help you in your role as a project manager. It is written by Georgio Daccache, a certified PMP, PMI-ACP, ITIL, Project+ contributor, and a Certified Technical Trainer. It is also based on the PMBOK Guide, Sixth Edition.

• CAPM Study Guide: Pass CAPM in 21 Days by Kavita Sharma

  This is an easy CAPM study guide that helps you understand the key concepts. It includes games, keywords, and easy to read instructions to train you in solving CAPM questions. Also, here, you will find hundreds of questions and a structured 21-day preparation plan to pass the final exam. The author was a significant contributor to the PMBOK Sixth Edition so she wrote this book to help you nail the test on your first attempt. Although such a study guide will not substitute the PMBOK Guide, it will help you better understand concepts and master all the related domains.

• CAPM Flashcards by Belinda Goodrich

  This spiral-bound study guide helped a lot of CAPM examinees around the world. It contains comprehensive CAPM Exam Prep flashcards with over 350 concepts and terms. Also constructed based on the 6th Edition of the PMBOK Guide, it is authored by Belinda Goodrich, the first woman who has achieved five various PMI validations like the PMP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, PgMP, and CAPM. An excellent study tool, it is one of the most well-put study aides today.

Next Certifications One Can Apply for

With the CAPM certification, one becomes eligible for the PMI PMP certificate (Project Management Professional). Moreover, with the PMP, individuals have an easier path to acquiring the next validation which is the PgMP (Program Management Professional) qualification. In addition, since the CAPM certificate helps candidates build a foundational knowledge base, they will have less struggle when applying for other PMI offerings after gaining more experience.

Reference: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certified-associate-capm

Skills Validated by CAPM

By excelling in the CAPM test and obtaining the certificate, the applicant verifies the ability to manage all the aspects of the project completion. These involve working in agile/adaptive environments, applying basic forecasting in the financial area, choosing appropriate ways for continuous improvement, understanding how to adjust risks, and knowing different types of agreements and contracts, among the rest.

Exam Topics

The syllabus of the PMI CAPM certification exam consists of 13 topics covering a wide range of knowledge and skills that the candidates need to develop before attempting the test. The highlights of these domains are outlined below:

• Project Stakeholder Management (9%)

  The last objective of the certification exam requires your understanding of 4 project management processes in the framework of the project stakeholder management domain. The candidates will need to demonstrate the relevant skills in determining the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 4 project stakeholder management processes; identifying the key stakeholders’ roles & needs; determine the key concepts & benefits of stakeholder management.

• Project Procurement Management (4%)

  The students should have a good comprehension of 3 processes in the project procurement management domain. They should also be able to determine the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 3 project procurement processes; determine the key concepts & tailoring considerations for project procurement management, comprising trends & emerging practices; define various types of source selection techniques, agreements, and contracts.

• Project Schedule Management (9%)

  In the framework of this subject area, the examinees will be asked to determine 6 project management processes in the framework of the project schedule management domain; define the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 6 processes of the project schedule management; determine the considerations for the adaptive or Agile environments within project schedule management. They should also be capable of solving simple problems related to network diagrams as well as execute fundamental scheduling calculations.

• Project Environment (6%)

  The focus of this topic is to measure the candidates’ ability to define the factors as well as assets that can affect the result of a particular project. They should also be able to differentiate the organizational systems as well as determine the hierarchy of portfolios, projects, and programs. Lastly, they need to have an understanding of the Project Management Office purpose & activities.

• Project Cost Management (8%)

  The specialists should have an understanding of 4 project management processes in the framework of the project cost management domain. They need to possess the skills in determining the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 4 project cost management processes. The test takers should also demonstrate their proficiency in determining the key concepts of project cost management, including tailoring & special considerations for the adaptive or Agile environments, as well as applying fundamental earned value & forecasting techniques for project cost management.

• Project Manager Role (7%)

  The individuals must be able to identify the major functions of a Project Manager, comprehend a Project Manager’s area of influence, determine the main elements of the PMI triangle, as well as differentiate leadership and management.

• Project Quality Management (7%)

  This part of the certification exam requires one’s understanding of 3 project management processes in the framework of the project quality management domain. The individuals should also demonstrate that they have skills in determining the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 3 quality management processes. Moreover, they need to have a good comprehension of the reasons for & approaches to adapting quality management in various project environments and know how to determine the quality tools & approaches for continuous improvement.

• Introduction to Project Management (6%)

  The applicants need to demonstrate a good comprehension of 5 project management process groups as well as the procedures within each group. They should also be capable of determining the relationships among program, portfolio, operational management, and project. Besides that, they must be able to determine a typical project lifecycle as well as know the function & role of tailoring for various projects.

• Project Resource Management (8%)

  The professionals will be asked to demonstrate their ability to determine 6 project management processes in the framework of the project resource management domain. They will also be required to show their skills in determining the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 6 processes of the project resource management; defining the key trends & concepts associated with project resource management, including tailoring & special considerations for the agile or adaptive environment; determining the techniques for managing conflict, resolving resource-related problems, and developing a team. Moreover, the examinees must possess an understanding of the elements of a resource management plan as well as data representation methods for managing project resources.

• Project Risk Management (8%)

  Here the learners will be required to demonstrate their understanding of 7 project management processes within the project risk management domain. They will need to show their ability to determine the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 7 project risk management processes; define the key documents within project risk management; execute simple risk calculations; identify when and how to adjust risk taking into consideration the project environment.

• Project Communication Management (10%)

  This module requires a solid understanding of 3 project management processes within the project communication management domain. The applicants should also demonstrate the ability to determine the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 3 project communication management processes. They have to be capable of determining the key approaches & concepts of project communication management, including tailoring & special considerations for the adaptive or Agile environments; defining the dimensions of communication and communications management plan elements; determining the communications skills and techniques for project communication management.

• Project Integration Management (9%)

  This section of the certification exam evaluates the competency of the test takers in 7 project management processes in the framework of the project integration management domain. The students should also possess the skills in determining the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 7 processes of the project integration management. They also need to have an understanding of the project integration management purpose as well as the role of a project manager in it. In addition, the candidates need to be able to determine the concepts & procedures related to project change management, define tailoring consideration in the framework of the project integration management, determine key documents, as well as identify the methods for project integration & knowledge management.

• Project Scope Management (9%)

  The learners should demonstrate a comprehension of 6 project management processes in the framework of the project scope management domain. They should also be capable of determining the techniques, tools, input, and outputs pointed out in 6 processes of the project scope management. Additionally, this domain requires their skills in determining the key concepts & tailoring consideration for the project scope management, as well as the key scope management roles. Lastly, they must be able to determine the function & components of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for Project scope & Product as well as the project scope management for the adaptive or agile projects, including the usage of prototypes.