PMI’s two flagship credentials draw on the same body of knowledge but guard different gates: the CAPM certifies foundation, the PMP certifies experience.
One question decides which is yours to take.
CAPM: the on-ramp
The CAPM has no experience requirement—just 23 contact hours of education. It suits career changers, new graduates, and coordinators who work alongside project managers and want the vocabulary certified.
It also conveniently satisfies the 35-hour education requirement pathway toward the PMP later.
PMP: the credential job posts actually name
The PMP requires documented months of leading projects, and that gate is exactly why it carries salary weight. When postings say “certified project manager,” this is the certification they mean.
The deciding question
Can you document 36 months of leading projects (60 without a degree)? If yes, apply straight for the PMP—the CAPM adds little on top of eligibility you already have.
If no, take the CAPM now and log project hours deliberately; the PMP becomes a scheduling decision instead of a someday.