A Guide on Choosing a Change Management Certification

Change management is essential to help implement structured changes to operations and improve productivity in an organization. Implementing the necessary changes requires you to be a change management professional. Identifying and completing any of the best change management certifications and programs can equip you with the necessary skills to identify faulty processes and implement changes in your workplace. In this article, we discuss the top change management certification courses and highlight the necessary skills to excel in change management.

Top change management certification

Suppose you aim to change operation methods, implement new project management techniques, or develop effective measures. Here are some of the best change management certification programs to help you become a great change leader in your workplace:

Certified change management professional (CCMP)

The Certified change management professional TM is a globally recognized set of credentials that confirm holders are individuals capable of implementing changes within organizations of any scope and size. The Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) offers the CCMP as proof of completing change management training. The certification has become the standard for all change management professionals over time. This course is self-paced while the exam follows the ACMP standard training. The program also allows third-party exam training.

The certification exam follows a training program created from thoroughly researched change management practices and tools and examines over 1,000 case studies. A qualified education provider conducts the CCMP program. This program is suitable for old change managers who intend to improve their skills and new change managers. The certified change management professional offers numerous benefits, such as exposing you to proven and practical course materials. It also trains you in best practices that are immediately applicable. Completing the CCMP confers you with prestigious credentials.

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Prosci certification

Prosci is a three-day course led by a virtual instructor. The program focuses on the Prosci industry-leading methods compiled from years of practice and research. The program defines the meaning of change in various scenarios, teaches candidates how to approach organization-wide changes, and examines how to make effective change management plans. As Prosci is a proprietary program, it sources its tools and content from a set of Prosci principles.

The program duration is three days. The Prosci certification is ideal for beginner and specialist change managers. It also teaches how to increase a project's return on investment (ROI) while effecting changes. Prosci grants candidates access to an exciting community of change agents.

Related: Understanding Project Management Methodology (With Examples)

ATD certification

The ATD organized its change management program for modern change facilitators and leaders. The program consists of in-depth training on how to apply organizational changes, effective change models through different application exercises, interactive program segments, and case studies. In addition, the Association for Talent Development created the certification program as a foundational certification for working change managers.

The program's duration is 14 learning hours. ATD program is ideal for prospective change coaches and trainers. The ATD certification offers various other benefits as it applies a leadership-oriented approach to applying changes. The material for the program is also comprehensive and data-centric. After you complete the program, you get 1.4 continuing education units.

Change management institute certification

This CMI certification is a joint program created by the CMI and the Accredited Change Manager Foundation. The three accreditation levels make the program all-encompassing. The specialist level has two courses, while the master level comprises three courses. Each stage equips you with a unique skill set to handle real-life challenges depending on your position and role in the company. There's no specific duration for the program.

The CMI certification offers various benefits, such as providing project-level and enterprise-level experience in change management. This program also assesses you against practical standards. CMI certification performs assessments on your real-world ability instead of standardized testing. As a result, the program is a good fit if you intend to become a major change leader in a big organization.

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Change management specialist certification

The Management and Strategy Institute (MSI), an accredited trade association for process improvement specialists, created the CMS certification for its members. It provides candidates with a comprehensive understanding of implementing change, how it works, and its application in various corporate environments. After completing the program, candidates receive 30 professional competency units from the MSI. You also qualify for 30 continuing professional development credits with no conditions.

The CMS certification offers various benefits, such as providing free training material with unlimited access. The program is affordable and provides great value for your money. It focuses on managing resistance to change, making it an ideal certification for new change management professionals.

ITIL Mastering change management certification

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library, a global leader in training candidates on the value of IT, created the mastering change management certification. It's a department-specific IT system course that focuses on making changes in the tech ecosystems. The program instructs candidates on placing technology at the vanguard of change. In this program, candidates use hypothetical case studies to define different aspects of change management in companies facing common problems in large-scale IT operations. They also learn to execute large changes, such as a complete system upheaval.

The mastering change management certification offers various benefits, such as allowing you to create a niche in IT, especially if you have knowledge of IT operations. The program also offers a special section on minimizing emergency changes. You can combine Six Sigma and ITIL to get more realistic change solutions. The program also offers SIPOC and extended SIPOC training.

Managing change in an agile world

This program applies the agile method as the basis for change management practices. The main provider for managing change in an agile world program is the Change Guides LLC. The ACMP Qualified Education Provider approves this provider and confers the advantage of dispensing practical knowledge with real-world applicability. As the program focuses on the agile methodology, it's more specified than other programs because it derives its change principles from the agile change management laws. The program's duration varies according to the company's specifications.

The managing change in an agile world certification offers various benefits, such as providing practical knowledge and expertise on a globally accepted methodology. Its customized pricing also gives an advantage to smaller businesses with multiple students. Lastly, the agile processes yield better results because of the practical approach and guidance.

Related: What Is an Agile Project Manager (With Crucial Skills)

Change management foundation certificate

APMG International offers the change management foundation certificate program in collaboration with the change management institute (CMI). The program is essential for beginners in change management because it offers foundational knowledge to help understand organizational change. Suppose you have experience as a change manager. In that case, it's mandatory to obtain this certification before you can earn other certificates APMG offers, like the change management practitioner certification.

The foundation certificate program helps you understand how people react to change and makes them accept it. It teaches you different processes to help implement change in the workplace. The certificate program aims to confirm that an individual has sufficient knowledge and understanding of change management to work as part of a team driving organizational change.

Change management skills

Here are some examples of some skills necessary for change management:

• Leadership skills: It's essential to have good leadership skills in any management position. Change managers lead employees through organizational transitions and delegate responsibilities to the right teams and individuals.

• Honesty: Ensure you disclose the reasons for implementing changes to other employees. Maintaining a transparent environment helps improve commitment and trust in the process.

• Organizational skills: When implementing changes, it's important to sort the relevant information properly, have a realistic timeline for your goals, and set deadlines for tasks. You may learn how to use planning software to help you organize the details of your plan.

• Communication skills: Fostering an environment that thrives on communication can help create a good work culture and allow employees to express themselves. It's crucial for you to communicate the details of your plans properly so other employees can understand your vision and their roles during the transition.

• Active listening skills: Ensuring you listen to the feedback and opinions of others when implementing change in work processes is important. Listening to criticisms and feedback may help implement a universally acceptable strategy and make other employees feel like part of the decision-making process.

• Research skills: Before selecting a plan, you can study different strategies other companies use and research ways to adapt them to your processes. You can also study the history and company-related data trends to find the best plan that fits the organization.

• Analytical skills: Effecting change in the organization requires making sense of different information. For example, it may also be essential to analyze the company's financial position to understand how much making a change may affect its finances.

• Strategic thinking: Implementing a change management strategy requires identifying faulty areas and how best to address their requirements. Strategic thinking helps you create an efficient plan to guide the change process.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions, or organizations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.