Any PMP's in the house?

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I'm looking to make the big leap from being a strictly technical IT professional to a more management/project management position.

In my current job I've been the sole facilitator for rolling out any major systems that we have had to implement, but I have no formal training or experience in project management.

I'm getting stonewalled in my job searches because I'm lacking certification in project management. I've just started scratching the surface in what it takes to get the different certifications.

For those do hold certifications in this area, how did you achieve, how long did it take, and are there any one certifications that pull more weight than the others?

Thanks in advance for any comments or insight that you can provide.