If you have ever considered obtaining a project management certification, there is a high chance that you are aware of the Project Management Professional (PMP) and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certificates, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). For many specialists, choosing between these two credentials is a difficult choice to make. If you are in this dilemma, this blog post will help you make an informed decision and understand which of the two is appropriate for your career path.

What Is the Difference Between PMP and CAPM?

The major difference between these two credentials is that PMP is a professional-level certification while CAPM is an associate-level one. The individuals with the PM certificate have some level of experience in the industry and have been recognized as professionals. Hence, PMI PMP is focused on the experienced project managers. On the other hand, the associate level means an entry-level credential. In other words, CAPM can be described as an entry-level certification when compared to PMP. The implication of this is that Certified Associate in Project Management is aimed at those individuals who want to improve their project management skills and earn a validation in the process.

Another difference between these two certificates is the difficulty level of their exams. The test for CAPM is easier when compared to PMP. In addition to this, it has less restrictive requirements and, of course, it is less expensive. Let’s delve into the two certification exams properly.

• PMP Exam

The PMP credential is seen as the gold standard as far as the project management certifications are concerned. Its exam is also believed to be one of the most difficult tests. It is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions and has four hours allocated for its completion. It covers the concepts and principles of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide. The exam content is more than what you simply memorize. Rather, it measures your understanding of the topics and concepts, as well as your ability to apply the theoretical knowledge.

To write the PMP test, you have to pay the exam fee of $405 for the PMI members, and $555 – for the non-members. There are some specific prerequisites. The candidates are required to have a high school diploma or an associate degree or its equivalent. In addition to this, you should have at least 7,500 hours of project management experience and 35 hours of education in the field of project management. An alternative prerequisite is a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent 4-year degree, 4,500 hours of PM experience, and 35 hours PM education. To maintain your PMI certification, you have to earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) within three years. You can learn more details about the exam and the recertification process on the official webpage.

• CAPM Exam

CAPM is also based on the PMBOK but it is more focused on understanding the principles and concepts rather than applying knowledge. It is a 3-hour exam consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions. No doubt, the CAPM test is easier than the PMP exam, but it is not so simple. As a matter of fact, the CAPM credential is believed to require more difficult test than many other entry-level project management certificates. To write the CAPM exam, you have to pay the fee of $225 for the PMI members, and $300 – for the non-members. The prerequisites for this certification test include a high school diploma or an associate degree (or its equivalent), and 23 hours of PM education, or 1,500 hours of PM experience. To recertify the CAMP credential, you have to retake the exam every five years. You can learn more about this in the CAPM handbook.

Is It Possible to Upgrade CAPM to PMP?

Unlike many other IT certifications, you cannot upgrade your CAPM to PMP. The two credentials are entirely different. The good thing about it is that CAPM gives you thorough foundational knowledge for the PMP exam. In addition to this, the education hours on project management you have attained for your CAPM can be applied to fulfill the prerequisites for the PMP test.

PMP vs. CAPM: Real World Roles and Responsibilities

A PMP certified professional is qualified for a full time project management role. The individuals have the capacity to manage projects of different sizes. These specialists can pursue the job titles, such as a project manager, a project controller, and a program manager. While working in any of these positions, they are required to take up ownership of large and complex projects. They are also expected to lead their team to project conclusion considering the budget and time.

A CAPM certified professional takes up the entry-level roles. These individuals work as assistant project managers, junior business analysts, or project coordinators. They will be required to apply their skills in coordinating teams, scheduling, and enhancing effective communication among the project team members. With CAPM alone, you are unlikely to head large projects with large budgets. However, if you have significant technical experience, you can still be given a leadership position. Technical experience is of great importance for the job that you received.

PMP vs. CAPM: Salaries

There are a lot of variables that determine salaries, and the PM credentials are just one of them. However, based on the PayScale report, a PMP certified professional can earn an average of $104,000 per annum while a CAPM certificate holder can get about $65,000 per year.

Conclusion

The ‘best’ in this case is very relative. Both credentials can add value to your resume, and your choice is dependent on your experience and your ability to fulfill the certification prerequisites.

The fact is that each software comes with its own pros and cons, and understanding all of these factors will help you make an informed decision without relying solely on the opinions of others. In this blog post, we will analyze two simulators (Boson NetSim, Cisco Packet Tracer) and three emulators (EVE-NG, GNS3, and VIRL). It’s important to mention that they are well-known network tools that can help you gain the Cisco lab experience you need for your routing and switching certification exams. But before we delve into the details of these simulators and emulators, it is important to understand the difference between them.

The main difference between Simulators and Emulators

As the name indicates, a simulator simulates a network topology that is composed of at least one network device. This means it can consist of more than one network device. The one that is being simulated is actually not real and does not have the ability to pass live network traffic just like the real one. In other words, a simulated network device is a software that pretends to be a real one as much as it can. Due to the fact that it is not real, it is limited to the features and commands that have already been programmed into the simulation. The major advantage of simulators is that they are highly lightweight and can run on almost any contemporary computer system without being distressed about storage requirements, memory, or processor.

On the other hand, an emulator connects and runs a combination of network devices. It virtualizes real devices, and in the real sense of the word, virtual network devices usually provide more advanced attributes compared to the simulated ones. The characteristics of emulated virtual network devices are closer to real physical ones, which is the major difference between a simulator and an emulator.

The best Simulators and Emulators for Cisco exams

Now that we know the difference between these network tools, let’s explore the details of each software that we mentioned.

• Boson NetSim

Boson NetSim is a product of Boson, an IT training company known for its high-quality coursework and practice tests for the Cisco certification exams. This product is an application designed to simulate Cisco network routers & switches. It is important to mention that Boson NetSim is a paid network simulator. However, it has some significant advantages that offer value for the money you pay for it. Some of these benefits include the quality of labs; customized lab distribution; licensing maps for the exams; lab accessibility; device customization; less clicking (when compared to Packet Tracer), and realistic terminal features.

Although Boson NetSim has some great advantages, it definitely has some disadvantages as well. They include the lack of a simulation mode; absence of topology information and customization; unavailability of cross-platform compatibility; and inability to modify the active topology.

• Packet Tracer

Packet Tracer is designed to simulate network topologies covering Cisco routers, switches, and firewalls. It is essential to mention that this product was first developed to support Cisco NetAcad (Networking Academy). However, it has become a great simulator for those individuals who want to earn the credentials from Cisco such as CCENT and CCNA Routing & Switching. It is also important to mention that Packet Tracer is a free simulator but this doesn’t mean it lacks benefits. Some of the advantages of this tool include device variety; cost; cross-platform compatibility; realistic terminal; connection variety; simulation mode; customized exercise creation. It makes the lab realistic. Some of the shortcomings of Packet Tracer are bugs, customized exercise distribution, the lack of in-built labs.

No doubt, Packet Tracer is the gold standard for the Cisco virtual network simulators. Although it’s free, it still provides a rich sand-box setting that is perfect for experimenting with a wide range of network device types, connections, and platforms. In addition to this, it demonstrates the closest characteristics to real network devices. Its in-built terminal client is also very close to the real device.

• GNS3

GNS3 (Graphical Network Simulator-3) is an open-source client-server interface designed for network virtualization and emulation. It is a Python-based platform that basically uses software known as Dynamips for emulating Cisco hardware and software. GNS3 supports the same platforms that Dynamips supports, including Cisco 1700; 2600; 2691; 3600; 3725; 3745; as well as 7200. This emulator has grown in recent years to support a wider scope of virtual network devices of different vendors. It has quite a number of benefits, which include cost because it is free; multiple connection types; community labs; simple and easy to read documentation; ability to modify the active topology. Its primary shortcoming is that it doesn’t come with prepackaged virtual network devices, which means you need to have the Cisco IOS software image, compatible with the GNS network emulator.

• VIRL

Virtual Internet Routing Lab (VIRL) is the proprietary virtual network emulator of Cisco. It is designed for the individuals and the education institutions. It functions in a client-server model that is close to GNS3. Its server can either be installed as a virtual machine or on a bare metal server. The advantages of VIRL include the availability of software images, advanced automation capabilities, and network topology portability. The disadvantages are as follows: cost because it is not cheap; no serial interfaces; inability to modify the active topology; resource requirements.

• EVE-NG

Emulated Virtual Environment Next Generation (EVE-NG) is a multi-vendor virtual network emulator that operates like VIRL Personal Edition. It was created for the individuals and the small business owners. There are two editions available, which are Community and Professional. It is essential to mention that the Professional Edition comes at a price. The benefits of the EVE-NG network emulator include the availability of free version; ability to modify the active topology; clientless; multi-connection types. The disadvantages are the unavailability of software images and documentation issues.

Conclusion

This was the list of the best network simulators and emulators that you can use for you Cisco exam preparation. The choice depends on your preferences, so it all up to you. Choose wisely and let the tool help you with your preparation process.

By understanding some basic principles of the brain, you can be able to maximize your studying and become more successful on the exam day. But before we get to the best lifehacks for your successful exam preparation, let’s know why the certification tests are so special.

What are the differences between IT certification exams and other tests?

The IT certification exams, unlike others, are designed to measure one’s skills needed at work. These skills are not only learnt for the test. Actually, there is a very big difference between IT and college exams.

First of all, you need to have hands-on experience for most IT certification exams. You may be required to input commands into the virtual command line, or drag and drop the network components around the virtual network. The IT tests come with a ton of information that the students should memorize and be able to use in practice. For instance, there are a lot of channels, commands, ports, and so on, that you should explore and remember. There are also several hands-on components for some of them. But we can’t say the same about the high school or college exams. Finally, the questions in the IT tests are highly technical and can be misleading, especially if you don’t understand how network and system components operate together.

What tips can help you excel in any IT certification exam?

So, the following tips and tricks are your best assistants during the exam preparation process. Let’s look at them in detail.

1. Get familiar with the exam details.

This should come first. Before you start, you should learn everything about the certification test. Most accredited examination bodies provide the candidates with blueprints that openly lay out the exam topics and all their sections. It will help in guiding your study approach. Besides, understanding question formats, quantity of questions, and the amount of time you will have can help you get prepared for your test in a better way.

2. Make a good start.

Before you begin your study, you should create a schedule. Be sure not to wait until the last minute because you won’t be able to learn everything within a short time. Instead, dedicate a minimum of 30 minutes for studying per day for several weeks. Alternatively, you can spend a few hours every weekend. You should never try to learn so much within a short period of time because your brain can only absorb a certain amount of information in a given period of time.

3. Determine your perfect learning style.

When studying for an IT exam, you should determine how you learn best. Doing so can help you align your preparation process with the inclinations of your brain. Some of the most common learning styles include auditory, visual, and kinesthetic/tactile learning. In case you are a visual student, you will study best by watching videos. But if you are an auditory learner, you are probably better at absorbing the info by reading the text out loud or by going through the concepts out loud. If you are a tactile or physical one, you will learn best through practical exercises or tutorials, which are hands-on learning. Ideally, the individuals should rely on all these three styles of learning.

4. Take mock tests and use simulators.

At the early stages of your training, you should take a mock test to get a general idea of what areas you need to focus on. It will help you determine problem areas and develop a strategic study plan that will enable you to minimize any knowledge gaps. You can evaluate yourself by taking full-length practice tests so that you can get to know how things will be on the real exam. If you are preparing for a network test, such as Cisco certification exams, you should use a network emulator or simulator. This preparation tool can help you find out your strong and weak areas.

5. Feel yourself comfortable.

When studying for your certification exam, ensure that you are comfortable with your study space and that you are able to focus on what you are studying. Most likely, you will absorb more information easily if there are no distractions, such as a poorly-lit room, uncomfortable chair, noise, and so on. Determine whether you will learn better in silence or while listening to music. The main point here is that your entire study space should be a pleasant place where you can concentrate to the maximum and learn effectively.

It’s important that you stick to the habits that you are accustomed to even on the exam day. For instance, if you had a good night’s sleep throughout your study period or you drank your favourite drink immediately before you begin studying, it’s important that you do the same on the exam day and just before the certification test, respectively.

6. Be ready on the exam day.

You should check all the requirements and rules for your certification exam and ensure that you adhere to all of them. Find out where the test center is and plan which route you will use to get there. Ensure that you are adding extra travel time in case you are caught up in traffic or if you get lost on your way there. The last thing you want this day is to arrive late for your exam. In such a case, the candidate, as a rule, don’t allow taking the test after a specified time of delay. You should also not feel rushed as this may interfere with your general exam performance. Ensure that you have everything you will require for your certification test a day before. Be sure to eat healthily and have enough sleep. Being hungry and feeling tired when taking the exam can negatively affect your concentration.

Summary

At first glance, preparing for any IT certification test can sound and seem daunting or even impossible. Of course, the certification exams are rarely a cakewalk, and the candidates need to learn a lot in order to succeed. However, incremental and consistent progress will help you get closer to your goal and achieve good results.

On November 2nd Hewlett Packard has released two new HPE Partner Restricted Sales Certifications: HPE Sales Certified – SMB Solutions and Services [2016] and HPE Sales Certified – Enterprise Solutions [2016]. In order to get certified candidates need to pass either Selling HPE SMB Solutions and Services HPE2-E64 Exam or Selling HPE Enterprise Solutions HPE2-E65 Exam.

Both credentials target Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) sales professionals within HPE channel partner network and HPE employees.  New certifications measure candidates’ ability to recognize customers’ potential and selling opportunities, skills in representing HPE solutions and services versus competitors, overall knowledge of HPE products.

HPE2-E64 Exam focuses on SMB solutions and services for data centers including servers, storage and networking. While HPE2-E65 spans HPE enterprise products which enable transformations in four core IT areas: hybrid infrastructure, protection, empowering, and workplace productivity. By earning one of the HPE Partner Restricted Sales Certifications you will distinguish yourself from the competitors being a solution-focused expert and increase your sales levels by applying the best selling opportunities.

Both Exams are web-based and administered by Pearson VUE testing organization, they can be taken online with 24-hours access. You can take your exam directly on their official website after registration, however you will have to do the test 24 hours after the purchase, otherwise it will get expired. You will also require your HPE Learner ID to register for the test, which can be obtained through online registration at HPE Learner Center.

Each exam consists of 50 questions and is 1 hour 15 minutes long. HPE2-E64 test includes single and multiple-choice questions; HPE2-E65 also has matching and drag-n-drop questions. Both exams are conducted in English and the required passing score is 70%.

Selling HPE SMB Solutions and Services HPE2-E64 Exam Objectives:

The credential comprises of 4 main parts, where 10% of all questions cover HPFS and Transitional Areas; 35% are devoted to Servers, and the candidates should demonstrate his knowledge of different HPE servers’ series, server technologies and their selling skills. 30% of questions are within Storage types, technologies and selling techniques; and 20% are Network questions.

Selling HPE Enterprise Solutions HPE2-E65 Exam Objectives:

This Exam includes seven main sections: Introduction (10%), Understanding Customer Needs for Transforming to a Hybrid Infrastructure (20%); Validating the Opportunity for Transforming to a Hybrid Infrastructure (20%); Qualifying the Opportunity for Transforming to a Hybrid Infrastructure (20%); Understanding, Validating, and Qualifying the Opportunity for Protecting your Digital Enterprise (10%); Understanding, Validating, and Qualifying the Opportunity for Empowering the Data-driven Organization (10%); Understanding, Validating, and Qualifying the Opportunity for Enabling Workplace Productivity (10%).

As for the preparation for the exams, HPE offers to take following certification training online courses:

Selling HPE SMB Solutions and Services Training Course

Selling HPE Enterprise Solutions Training Course

FREE course study materials are available in the Resource section for each of the training courses after registration.