PMI certifications are project management credentials administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a professional project management organization. Ranging from the entry-level to advanced, the broad and the niche, a PMI certification can help early-career professionals boost their careers or solidify the expertise of seasoned project managers.

Professional certification from the PMI can show employers and other industry insiders your competency in project management. That said, deciding if a PMI certification can give you the skills you need and bolster your career depends on your unique situation, industry, and career goals. Though some employers might prefer project managers with certification, many opportunities don’t require them.

There is evidence that correlates specific PMI certifications to monetary benefit. The PMP, for example, has been linked to higher incomes—a PMI survey found that PMP certified members in the US reported a median salary of $115,000, compared to $92,000 for those without the PMP.