PgMP Requirements: Prerequisites & Eligibility Criteria in 2025

PgMP stands for Program Management Professional, a globally recognized project management title in recent times. The Project Management Professional Certification is a credential course that is provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to interested candidates.

There are certain PgMP requirements and PgMP eligibility criteria that you need to fulfill to take up this course with the ability of high-level experience and expertise in the field of program management. The certification is intended for seasoned program managers upon whom the overall success of a program relies. 

Following my experience, if you wish to upskill yourself in a career in program management then opting for the PgMP certification is the best course of action for you! I also recommend checking out PgMP exam prep course by KnowledgeHut to explore the benefits of the course.

For now, let’s dive in and explore more about this impactful career.

What is PgMP?

PgMP stands for Program Management Professional, which is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute to managers who deal with dynamic and complex programs to achieve organizational objectives. The PgMP program is one of the most reputed and highest credential programs that offers credibility to your managerial skillset. 

Understanding the PgMP requirements is essential before pursuing this prestigious certification. These requirements typically include a combination of education, extensive project and program management experience, and passing a rigorous multi-phase evaluation process conducted by PMI.  PgMP is a training program aimed to instill abilities in professionals that are required to plan and execute multiple projects in accordance with the organizational objectives. A program manager is an integral part of an organization responsible for coordinating projects, avoiding clashes between the objectives of the various projects, and supervising the everyday progress of the projects to ensure their timely completion.

As a PgMP professional, you can attain the highest return on investment for your company by applying your program management techniques. The PgMP certification is designed in such a way that will help you to inculcate the necessary knowledge and skills that are essential for managing organizational initiatives. We believe that it will help you to advance in your career and secure high-paying jobs.

Objectives of PgMP Certification

The objectives of PgMP certification are numerous as they benefit both organizations and individuals. PgMP helps to better execute organizational plans and develop more efficient ways of compiling various projects of the same nature.

For a better understanding, let me take you through some of the objectives of PgMP certification:

• It aims to allocate and share resources more effectively.
• Program management techniques initiate quick resolution of issues and disputes in an organization concerning various projects.
• PgMP imbibes the ability of professionals to make better and wise decisions, both strategically and technically.
• It helps to establish clear communication channels and procedures throughout the organization.
• Program managers use techniques to better optimize resources by performing project prioritization.
• A major goal of the PgMP certification is to provide the knowledge and skills of risk mitigation while performing program management.
• PgMP allows professionals to understand international quality standards so that they can perform quality evaluation tests.

PgMP Examination Details 

The PgMP exam is designed to thoroughly assess your ability to manage complex programs and align them with organizational objectives. Unlike the PMP exam, which focuses on single projects, this exam evaluates your strategic thinking and leadership skills across multiple related projects. Once your application and panel review are approved, you’ll receive an eligibility ID that stays valid for one year. During this time, you must schedule and complete the exam at an authorized testing center. 

The exam itself consists of 170 multiple-choice questions. You will have 4 hours to complete it, with no scheduled breaks in between. This makes time management essential. The questions are divided across five major domains, each covering critical aspects of program management. These domains are weighted differently based on their importance. 

• Program Lifecycle Management (44%) focuses on planning, executing, and closing programs. 
• Stakeholder Engagement (16%) tests your ability to connect, communicate, and manage expectations across various groups. 
• Program Strategic Alignment (15%) ensures that your programs stay aligned with the company’s changing strategies. 
• Program Governance (14%) assesses how well you oversee programs and maintain accountability. 
• Benefits Management (11%) looks at how you define, deliver, and sustain program benefits. 

This is not a test of memorization. Most questions are scenario-based and designed to test how well you apply knowledge in real-world situations. Preparation is vital. It’s helpful to use PMI-recommended resources, like The Standard for Program Management, and to join training programs, workshops, or peer groups. 

Clearing the PgMP exam proves that you have advanced expertise and are fully capable of leading high-value, strategic initiatives at an enterprise level. 

PgMP Requirements

The PgMP requirements and eligibility criteria quite strict, and they must be adhered to. Before submitting a PgMP application, candidates must fulfill the PgMP prerequisites that are provided:

1. Educational Background

To take up the PgMP certification, you must fulfill the following PgMP certification requirements:

• To become a PgMP candidate, you must possess a secondary degree (High school diploma, associate's degree, or any global equivalent)
• You must have at least 48 months of work experience as a project manager or PMP.
• You should have at least 84 months of program management experience in the last 15 years.

2. Program Management Experience

Apart from the educational qualification, you can become eligible for securing a PgMP certification if you meet the PgMP requirements for experience. The PgMP prerequisites in this regard are as follows:

• 4 years of a professional degree in a related field.
• At least 48 months of work experience as a project manager or PMP.
• 48 months of program management experience in the last 15 years. The management of at least two separate programs, each with a minimum of three projects, must be part of this experience.

3. Project Management Education

As a PgMP candidate, you are required to take at least 35 hours of professional project management training. You must also complete this educational training before applying for the PgMP certification.

PgMP Exam Fee

The PgMP exam fee is USD 800 (INR 43,249) for the members of the Project Management Institute (PMI), and for non-members, the cost of PgMP certification is USD 1000 (INR 54,061). The PMI membership also provides additional benefits for the members besides reducing the PgMP exam fee. Your PgMP application gets processed only when you apply to the panel for review. If your application is approved by the panel, you will only have to pay PgMP certification cost.

The valuation of your PgMP application is done in two parts; the first is a panel review of your experience in program management, and the second is a multiple-choice examination. You can only take the exam once the panel approves your application.

In the panel review process, a group of professionals who have already obtained the PgMP certification evaluates your initial application and the program management summaries you have submitted. The panel review process may take up to 60 days.

After you clear the panel review process, you must take a multiple-choice test consisting of 170 questions. Potential PgMP candidates are given a time of 4 hours to complete this examination conducted in a testing center. The questions are divided into 5 parts consisting of a program life cycle, strategic program management, benefits management, stakeholder management, and governance.

PgMP Benefits

PgMP certification provides a lot of benefits, including salary hikes and various other perks. I believe that this is just the time to make the most of program management certification, and you can do so by going through the short courses in Project Management by KnowledgeHut that will help you learn the necessary skills required to become a program manager.

According to statistics, almost 80% of program management jobs require a qualification of a bachelor's degree that can yield an average salary of USD 82,000 per annum. 7.2% of recruiters select candidates having a master's degree to get an average salary of USD 94,000 every year. Lastly, 8.5% of recruiters go for candidates who have a diploma in high school and offer an average salary of USD 47,000.

After attaining a PgMP certification, individuals have seen a sudden growth in their salary, and their demand in the industry has also increased. Professionals with PgMP certification and an experience in program management are offered handsome salaries based on their years of experience, as mentioned below:

• With an experience tenure of 0 to 2 years, professionals are offered a median salary of USD 60,000.
• When the range of experience is between 3 to 5 years, the median salary of professionals is around USD 84,000.
• With an experience tenure of 6 to 8 years, professionals are offered a median salary of USD 1,05,000.
• Professionals who have more than 9 years of work experience have a median salary of USD 1,15,000.

PgMP professionals have different roles in an organization according to their work experience, which are listed as follows:

• A senior program manager must have a work experience of 7 to 14 years, and they get an average salary of USD 2,800,000.
• A principal program manager is offered an average salary of USD 3,600,000 and must possess a work experience of 15 years and above.
• A PgMP professional with a work experience of 17 years and above may be appointed as a head program manager who is offered an average salary of USD 4,100,000.
• A program management Vice President must possess a work experience of 20+ years and gets an average salary of USD 5,200,000.

Difference Between PgMP and PMP

In order to get a better understanding, let me take you through the difference between PgMP and PMP certification exams:

1. Background

• According to me, the PMP certificate is a more common degree for professionals to become project managers and gain a pay raise.
• On the other hand, the PgMP certification centers its attention on programs, which are regarded as a grouping of multiple interconnected projects operating in a manner that can generate combined business advantages.

2. Potential salary

• A project manager with a PMP certificate's average potential salary is USD 66,137 per year.
• Whereas, for a program manager with a PgMP certification, the average potential salary is USD 58,804 per annum.

3. Exams

For the PMP examination, you shall be given 4 hours to complete 200 multiple-choice questions, including five sections, which are;

• Initiating
• Planning
• Executing
• Monitoring & Controlling
• Closing

On the other hand, for the PgMP certification, which has specific PgMP requirements, you will be allotted 4 hours to complete 170 multiple-choice questions consisting of five sections, that are; 

• Strategic Program Management, 11 tasks
• Program Life Cycle, 35 tasks
• Benefits Management, 8 tasks
• Stakeholder management, 7 tasks
• Governance, 11 tasks

4. Minimum requirements

The minimum requirements for earning a PMP certificate are stated as follows:

• At least 5 years of project management experience.
• Secondary education degree with 35 hours of project management education.

In case you have a four-year degree course as the highest education, you must possess the following minimum requirements for earning a PMP certification:

• At least 3 years of project management experience.
• 4,500 hours of experience in project leading and directing.
• 35 hours of project management education.

On the other hand, to earn a PgMP certification, you must process the minimum qualification mentioned below:

• At least 6,000 hours of experience in project management.
• 10,500 hours of experience in program management if you have a secondary education as your highest degree, or
• 6,000 hours of work experience in program management if you have a 4 years degree as your highest qualification.

5. Cost

• In the case of PMI certification, you'll have to pay USD 405 if you are a member of the Project Management Institute. If you are a non-member, then you will have to pay USD 555.
• Whereas, for PgMP certification, you will have to pay USD 800 if you are a member of the PMI and USD 1000 if you are a non-member.

6. Process

• The process of PMP certification is much easier and shorter than that of PgMP certification.
• In the case of PgMP, a panel review and audits can require a longer period of time and may result in a lengthy procedure.

Conclusion

Have you achieved success in executing independent projects within your company? Are you now poised to tackle an entire program alongside your team? If you find yourself in this situation, I suggest PgMP certification as the right path. This certification, along with meeting the PgMP requirements, equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary for a program manager to strategically orchestrate program operations. It cultivates proficiencies that extend beyond the responsibilities of a project manager. 

If you have sufficient work experience in project management and want to take a higher step in your career, consider checking out KnowledgeHut's PgMP Course outline. I believe that this course will help you navigate through the various aspects of PgMP certification and help you reap the benefits of this certification in your professional life.