One of the best sources of information you currently have at your disposal is the use of an internet forum. The opinions and information available on these forums can be extremely valuable and they often provide specific examples and personal experiences to help guide you in your quest for knowledge and instruction. Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam prep internet forums are no exception.
Congratulations! You are a Project Management Professional (PMP)® as soon as you pass the exam. There is no waiting period. As soon as you see "Passed" on the screen you hold the PMP certification. Go home and send an email to all your friends and colleagues and tell them that you are now a PMP. Celebrate!
Spoiler Alert: You are not a PMP® for life without a little extra effort.
In accordance with Project Management Institute (PMI)® rules, every three years you will need to collect and claim Professional Development Units (PDUs) to keep the certification active. You will need 60 PDUs every three years to keep your certification active.
In this article, you will learn the 3 easy steps to maintaining your PMP certification.
By applying to take the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam you also automatically agree to comply with the audit terms. The Project Management Institute (PMI)® writes about this in the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credentials Handbook as follows:
"To ensure that only qualified individuals attain credentials from PMI®, we routinely conduct audits of candidate applications. The audit process is primarily random however, PMI® reserves the right to audit any candidate or PMI® credentialed individual at any time."
It's no secret! The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from Project Management Institute (PMI)® is a stepping stone for project managers to climb up the corporate ladder. It provides you with the most sought after appreciation and visibility within your organization. The certification enhances your chances of professional growth within the organization and opens up new avenues. It validates your skills as an efficient project management professional. It not only enhances your earning potential but also provides you with a competitive stand in the job market.
The PMP® certification confirms that you have the skills necessary to execute projects on time and within budget. It is one of the most globally recognized and respected certification credentials in project management. The certification requires a rigorous and comprehensive preparation for the exam. The closer the exam gets, the more stress you will feel. Your best answer to this pressure is to be well prepared through weeks or even months of studying.
Do you feel that in order to pass the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam you should memorize the ITTOs (Inputs, Tools, Techniques and Outputs) from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)? Do you think that the PMP® exam is full of ITTO type of questions? Many people still believe this myth. Well, let me clear some misconceptions...
Many project managers have successfully passed the PMP exam without any memorization. The current PMP exam is all about an in-depth understanding of applying project management concepts and principles from the PMBOK® Guide as well as general management knowledge from other sources to project situations.
Please note: This article shows just one side of the story. If you want to get the full and balanced picture, read our article "5 Reasons NOT to take an Exam Boot Camp".
Talk to any project management trainer and you’ll find that they have an opinion on the pros and cons of Project Management Professional (PMP)® boot camps. Some people love them, some people don’t. Last time, we looked at five reasons why a PMP® exam boot camp may not be the right choice for you on your journey toward becoming a PMP. Today we’ll be considering the reasons why you might want to choose this form of learning. Then, you can make your own decision about what sort of training is the most suitable for you.
(Note: This article shows just one side of the story. Please also read our article "5 Reasons FOR taking an Exam Boot Camp" to get the full and balanced picture")
Often touted as “ideal targeted training” for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam, many people find PMP® boot camps are an attractive option for PMP exam preparation.
While boot camps are designed to deliver noticeable results with a high-output of effort in a short period of time, the drawbacks of choosing this path for exam preparation often outweigh the benefits.
PMP bootcamp may work for some because the instructors are usually highly qualified with master’s degrees, prior training, and years of industry experience. Most also offer a pass guarantee and will assume financial risk if you fail. They may offer to pay for your exam re-take or provide custom coaching and feedback.
The Project Management Institute (PMI)® has published the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credentials Handbook, which you can find at the following URL: http://www.pmi.org/Certification/~/media/PDF/Certifications/pdc_pmphandbook.ashx. The Credentials Handbook explains everything that you want to know about the process of taking the PMP® exam and becoming PMP® certified. It discusses the following topics and questions:
Eligibility: Who can take the exam? How much project management experience do I need? What are these 35 contact hours all about?
Examination Information: What is the format of the exam? How much does it cost? How do I get my score? What about re-examinations? Can people with handicaps take the exam?
Studying for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam is a highly individual journey; however, here are a few basic study tips that you may want to consider:
1. Go to www.pmi.org today and register for the PMP® exam. Having signed up and paid your fee is the best incentive possible.
2. Read the PMP Credentials Handbook to learn everything there is to know about the exam procedures.
3. Create a study plan. Define when and for how long you will study. This estimation will tell you how long it will take until you should take the exam. Plan the work and work the plan. Don't forget to tell your friends and family, so that they can support you and give you the time and space that you will need.
You now have 35 contact hours and has been reading A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) cover to cover but is it enough to make sure you'll pass the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam?
Anyone who has sat for the PMP® exam knows that studying the PMBOK® Guide and having 35 Contact Hours is just not enough. When you talk to them about the PMP Exam, they will tell you it covers a lot of ground and the questions are not as straightforward as one would hope. Of the ones that have passed the exam, an overwhelming percentage of them will tell you that they used more than just one study method.
Just as a golfer must learn to “drive” and “put” before they ever step onto a 18 hole golf course, the PMP Applicant must also learn the mechanics of taking the exam and what to expect when they arrive on game day. Employing multiple study methods may give you a triangulated understanding of the material as well as illuminating what you do know and what you don’t know.
Being able to answer PMP Exam sample questions is crucial to your exam success. Simple? In concept; yes. After all, the PMP exam has only multiple choice questions. However, there are a number of question styles; each has their purpose and caveats, which makes knowing how to get the most of each question exponentially crucial.
Let’s jump into the PMP Exam question types:
In order to apply for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam you will have to evidence "35 contact hours of formal education.” The Project Management Institute (PMI)® explains this as follows in the PMP® Credentials Handbook:
"Verify at least 35 contact hours of specific instruction that addressed learning objectives in project management. Document all education hours regardless of when they were accrued. The course work must be completed at the time you submit the application. The course hours may include content on project quality, scope, time, cost, human resources, communications, risk, procurement and integration management."
