I have decided that the PM certificate course will be a better use of my time for 2021 vs. the CAP as I would like to move towards more PM roles in the future. I would like to speak to anyone who has taken this course to see if you found it valuable. Did you complete the CAP first? Did it open up opportunities for you?

Project Management is a Specialty which is achieved after CAP.  Happy to chat offline with you.

Hello Kathleen. There are a lot of career opportunities opening for project management professionals. Project Management Institute offers a great program along with national certification, if you wish to pursue it separately from the CAP designation.  https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp  I took my PM through a continuing college education program and it was well worth the time and effort! 

Agree with Jean and Kim. You must be a CAP designee to become a PM specialty holder through IAAP, but I know a lot of colleagues who have sought PM certification outside of IAAP and been successful. You need to consider all of your options and do what is best for you and your career.

If you were thinking of pursuing the Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, it requires that a substantial amount of your daily activities revolve around project management. It's quite a rigorous certification.

If you were referring to IAAP's project management specialty, it has a prerequisite of holding the CAP certification, as mentioned above.