6 Best Change Management Certifications in 2023 (2023)

Are you looking for the leading change management certificates in 2023?

Change management is the process of a company that deals with internal and external changes. Since it’s a structured approach to change that minimizes disruption, you need a change management expert. The best way to identify an expert is by looking at their change management certifications.

It’s hard to get recognition in a specialized field like change management; that’s why most professionals opt for a specific career path that involves several change management certifications over the years.

They help establish you as an experienced authority and give you the necessary credentials to succeed. However, knowing what change management certifications will help you become the ideal change manager is also important.

In this article, we’ll go over the best change management certifications you can opt for today.

Let’s dive right in.

What are the Best Change Management Certifications?

Becoming a certified change management professional is the right step toward your professional development as a change management specialist. However, you must ensure you get the correct change management certificate at the right time in your career.

That means you should avoid investing in the most expensive change management certification. Instead, focus on getting certified according to your needs and career path.

As a change management practitioner, you must understand all aspects of organizational change management, change initiatives, and the methodology behind effective change.

The following change management certification programs are a great option to start and enhance your change management career.

1. Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) by ACMP Global

Price: $595 for Members and $745 for Non-Members

Duration: Approximately 3-Years (with Renewal Exams Every 3-Years)

The Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) is an internationally recognized and trusted source of advocacy, discipline, and professional excellence within the change community.

The ACMP’s Certified Management Professional Certification (CCMP) is one of the industry’s most widely recognized change management certifications. Many companies keep it as a requirement when hiring a change management professional.

This particular certification is not for newcomers in the field. It’s for people who’ve had a good amount of experience in the area and vast knowledge of the subject. This is the kind of certification that helps you turn into change leaders through systematic professional development.

When you take the exam and pass the certification, you get 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs). That helps you establish yourself within the change community and opens up new avenues.

Some of the key reasons that the CCMP certification is great for you are:

• Receive official credentials developed against ISO and ANSI standards
• Learn new best practices based on working examples of change
• Increase your knowledge about the Standard for Change Management
• Get better career prospects and an improved stance in competitive situations

Keep in mind that there are some prerequisites you need to consider, including the following:

• You need a 4-year degree and at least three years of change management experience (4,200 hours)
• You can apply if you only have secondary education (high school diploma) but have five years (7,000 hours) of change management experience
• You’ve completed 21 hours of instructor-led change management training programs in the last seven years

To learn more about ACMP Global’s CCMP certification, go here.

2. Prosci Change Management Certification

Price: $4,500

Duration: Three-Day Program

Prosci dedicates to helping organizations build change capabilities through scientific principles and best practices.

The Prosci Change Management Certification is an excellent option because it uses a unique approach to change. The three-day program introduces you to Prosci ADKAR. That includes the Prosci methodology and the ADKAR model and how you can apply both in any ongoing or future projects.

This particular certification is for change management professionals who are at mid-manager levels. That means you should only opt for it if you’ve had a few years of experience.

According to Prosci, the ADKAR model goes like this:

• Awareness – of the need for change
• Desire – to support the change
• Knowledge – of how to change
• Ability – to demonstrate skills and behaviors
• Reinforcement – to make the change stick

The instructor-led program combines real-time and in-person learning through collaborative efforts. While going through the program, you will meet other industry professionals on the same career path. That will give you a chance to network with like-minded professionals.

The following are reasons to opt for the Prosci Change Management Certification.

• Learn about the Prosci ADKAR Model and how you can use it to facilitate change
• Gain knowledge about research-based methodologies and various change management tools
• Get an idea of the change management best practices
• Learn about the 3-phase Prosci process for change management in projects
• Get a one-year subscription to the Prosci Practitioner e-toolkit
• Gain access to several relevant materials, including a program workbook

If you’re interested in learning more about the Prosci Change Management Certification, you can do so here.

3. Change Management Certification Program by APMG International

Price: Adjustable Price ($300 On Average)

Duration: Self-Paced

The Association of Project Managers Group (APMG International) is an internationally recognized association dedicated to becoming the go-to organization for all project and management-related issues.

APMG’s change management certification helps you plan, implement, and manage organizational change. They allow you to find a training provider, book your exam at your convenience, and more.

The change management course is developed with CMI (Change Management Institute). Furthermore, it follows the same principles as the Institute’s CMBoK (Change Management Body of Knowledge). CMBoK is about how change affects individuals, teams, organizations, and change leaders and how change agents affect each factor.

You’ll be able to provide support and motivation to individuals to help them keep up with change. You’ll also be learning professional approaches to the change process and how you can speed up the implementation of change initiatives.

After completing the course, you’ll get a certification recognized by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).

When you opt for the Change Management Foundation certification, you’ll be learning the agile side of things.

Change Management Practitioner

Price: Adjustable Price ($500 On Average)

Duration: Self-Paced

The Change Management Practitioner certification is the advanced version of the change management certifications provided by APMG.

This certification is about learning the process and framework of change management to manage organizational change. You will also learn how to build a team that’s best for change and how you can manage all the team members and stakeholders.

More importantly, you’ll be learning how to mix project management with change management. The standards of change management tend to change, and the course materials adjust according to those changes.

Remember that you get a certification badge once you pass your exam. However, to keep that certification, you must appear for a re-exam every five years.

Once you have the certification, you’ll be able to implement change throughout your organization. Successful change is about competency, and you’ll learn about various change cases. Going through a case study helps set up a baseline of expectations. Furthermore, you’ll also be getting resources from known organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Whether you go for the foundation or practitioner certificate, you’ll get accreditation from APMG International.

To learn more about the change management training and certifications by APMG International, you can go here.

4. Change Management Specialist Certification by MSI

Price: $299.95

Duration: Self-Paced (One Year Completion Deadline)

The Management and Strategy Institute (MSI) is a dedicated trade association created for the needs of process improvement professionals.

MSI developed the Change Management Specialist (CMS) certification for its members. It also offers students a deep and robust understanding of how change works, how you can implement it, and its implications in the corporate environment.

When you opt for the certificate program, you will also get a lot of training materials. They will help you manage change programs, help you understand how to persuade people to change, how you can manage any resistance to change, and various other FAQs.

After online courses, you’ll take the certification program exam. You will get your certification badge and a professional certificate mailed to your home when you pass it.

It’s one of the industry’s most affordable change management certification courses. More importantly, all the training material you receive is free. However, the most important thing is that you can take the exam at your own pace.

There are no prerequisites when opting for the certification. That means you can apply for it even if you’re new to change management.

You will receive 30 Professional Competency Units (PCUs) from MSI upon completion. The certification also qualifies for 30 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.

To learn more about the Change Management Specialist certification by MSI, you can go here.

5. Change Management Certificate by ATD

Price: $1,495 for Members and $1,745 for Non-Members

Duration: Six Weeks of Online Training or Two Days of In-Person Training

The Association for Talent Development is an organization that’s on a mission to empower professionals to develop necessary talent in their respective workplaces.

ATD developed the Change Management Certificate for mid-level managers who tend to take care of change management projects. Furthermore, it’s also one of the few change management certifications designed for HR professionals.

If you want, you can attend the program in-person or online, depending on your preference. Remember that they are strict about attendance; if you miss a single session, you will not receive the certification.

The primary benefits of this certification include the following.

• You will understand how to analyze data for feedback.
• Understand various change models and how you can design strategic plans based on those models.
• Get an idea about the change management theories, such as open systems theory, systems thinking, appreciative inquiry, and more.
• Learn to conduct diagnostic assessments.
• Develop implementation designs.

Upon completion, you will receive 14 CEUs (Continuing Education Units).

To learn more about the Change Management Certificate by ATD, you can go here.

6. Managing Change in an Agile World Certification Program by Change Guides

Price: Custom Pricing for Private Sessions

Duration: Depends On the Organization’s Requirements

Change Guides LLC is a company dedicated to offering change-related services, including a complete certification program on change management.

The Change Guides Change Management Certification Program is an ACMP Qualified Education Provider (QEP). That means they can prepare people for the ACMP CCMP certification.

Their change management course relies on the Agile project management methodology. The key learning objectives of the Agile change certification include the following.

• Various ideas and approaches toward change management
• Principles of ensuring change in an Agile environment
• The 10 Laws of Agile Change Management
• Change management history and process
• Tools, tips, tricks, and tactics for change leaders

To complete the certification, you must complete a two-day on-site training program or a six-week online course. The USD price varies depending on your requirements.

You must also score 90% on the electronic Change Guides Agile Change Management Certification exam. Lastly, you must submit three change management tools within the Agile management methodology within 90 days for review.

If you want to learn more about the Agile Change Management Certification by Change Guides, you can do so here.

Wrapping It Up

Change management is an essential part of any organization, and hiring accredited and experienced change professionals is crucial.

That’s why it’s best to complete a certification program or course if you’re looking to go into change management or want to take your career further.

The change management certifications listed above are among the best you can find today. Depending on your industry, where you are in your career, and your budget, you can decide on a certification course and give a boost to your change management career today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about change management:

Which is the best change management certification?

The best change management certification is HR University’s Change Management Leader. It will help you learn about change management, how to lead change in your organization, and how to plan for change.

How do I get a change management certification?

You can get a change management certificate in two ways: either take an online course or sign up for one of their training. The classes last from three days (online) to four weeks (in-person).

How do you become a certified change manager?

To become a certified change manager, you need to take an online certification course with a final exam assessing your new knowledge.

What is change management?

Change management is the process by which people, ideas, and knowledge are brought together in a way that increases value while reducing risk. Successful change managers share common traits like a positive attitude, strong communication skills, a high emotional intelligence quotient, empathy towards stakeholders, and the ability to solve problems creatively and collaboratively.

How do you become more effective as a change leader?

To increase your effectiveness as a change leader, make sure that you have these qualities: self-awareness, empathy towards others; open-mindedness about different cultures; creativity in problem in solving.