We have discussed several reasons which make people move on and getting a professional certification; but finally, do you really need a professional certification in order to become a great project manager?
I can say that I know a lot of great project managers who are successful in their field and who do not have professional certifications. Thus, a short answer is ‘No. To become a great project manager; or to even start your career in project management you do not have to have a professional certification.’
Actually, success in the project management field is a combination of your experience and your professional knowledge. As of that, to be a great project manager you need to surf the project management wave and to learn new flavors of this craft to be able to sail or to dive when needed.
Getting a professional certification or not getting a professional certification is absolutely up to you. However, there is another reason why you might finally want to get certified at the end of the day.