Hi Alyssa,

I’m pretty sure this must be a typo and that you actually meant months rather than weeks. At least, from my perspective, that would be much more realistic.

That said, I do understand that in exceptional cases, it might be possible to complete the entire PMP certification process—including stratification—in just 2, 3, or 4 weeks or within 30 days,
give or take. But to be honest, 2.5 weeks seems extremely tight, especially considering that the application validation by PMI alone usually takes up to 5 business days.

So yes, maybe it’s technically possible under exceptional circumstances. But realistically, and to be transparent, it’s not something I’d ever recommend. Sure, there might be scenarios
where such an accelerated timeline is necessary—for instance, when certification is required as part of a bidding process or something similar. But in general, I’m very skeptical about
these “fast-track PMP in 2, 4, or even 6 weeks” offers. I’ve even seen people claiming one-week turnarounds—and I find most of these offers questionable at best.

More importantly, whether or not they’re legitimate, I don’t think they’re helpful. I believe the PMP certification isn’t something you pursue to pass an exam or collect a title. Ideally,
it should be approached more like a course of study—with long-term benefits in mind, as part of a broader commitment to lifelong learning. Because if you engage with the
material seriously, you’ll gain far more than just exam prep—you’ll deepen your understanding of project management.

So, no offense intended at all—this is just my personal opinion—but I’d always recommend taking enough time to prepare appropriately. A minimum of 6 weeks, ideally closer to 12,
is sufficient time to feel genuinely ready to walk into that exam confidently.

BR,

Markus

The entire process took me roughly 2.5 weeks - from filling out the application, studying and exam.

I read the PMBOK twice - front to back -, took time to relate the concepts back to my own leadership roles, got feedback and examples from a corporate project manager mentor I met along the way, utilized YouTube, and took the PMPrepcast course.

The exam was tough, but fortunately I passed the first time around.

I celebrate my 12 year anniversary of being certified this July!

In 2014 it took me 6 weeks intensive study. Was even studying during some work days. Used Rita’s book. In feb 2025 I did the exam again bevis I had stupidly not maintained it during the pandemic. This time based I the 7th edition , it also took me 6 weeks of preparation but with much lower intensity. I looked for free pmlp mock exams but beware that they are based Ion the recent version. Found some good tests on LinkedIn that were quite good, but had to pay a little for those

Hey Jefferson,

First and foremost, I want to wish you the best in your pursuit of a Project Management career. I find it to be a very rewarding profession.

It took me a total of a year from the day I took an in-class bootcamp (In class hours requirement ). This was largely due to me being distracted with work and family. Once I locked in and committed to taking the test I would say it took me 8 weeks of preparation with the last 4 being very focused and heavy on practice. I was able to pass in my first attempt but I have an affinity for testing well, and have to admit, the test was tough.

My daily preparation was the following:

Initial 4 weeks:

• Read 50 pages of PMBOK 6th edition a day until completing the entirety (about a week and a half )
  once i was completed with the PMBOK i would restart from the top. I was able to get through the book twice in that time period (first Month)
  Take (2) -30 question quizzes (untimed) in PMPprepcast exam simulator per night on what was read
  Once I was done with exams i would review answers and textbook reference if incorrect

Final 4 weeks:

• I felt I had a grasp on the textbook at this stage so I began to view Youtube videos anytime i was on the go or in the car
  100 PMP Questionshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIH-u81XCxM
  
  I would then take (2) TIMED 30 question quizzes every day during the week.
  On the weekend i would take an exam in PMP Prepcast exam Simulator on Saturday early in am (8am) and retake it on Sunday am. I would review my answers at night

At the end of that 4 weeks I took the exam. Hoping this helps in relation to preparation time needed.

Hello Jefferson,

I would say the quickest and easiest would be to get a PMP bootcamp. It's not the cheapest option though. Self-study may work, but not if you're only using the PMBOK. The exam is actually built off 25-30 different books. So a prep book would be more useful. PMBOK 7 only goes over principles and nothing on agile that I know of.

Prepcast is what was recommended to me and what worked for me. Studying will usually take a few months. Biggest part is getting the necessary experience to apply. Once you're ready, you can take the test. If you fail the first time, tou should pass the second time.

Hello Jefferson,

I agree with the others that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The ideal study plan varies based on an individual’s schedule, experience, work commitments, and other responsibilities.
To accommodate different needs, we offer two structured guidebooks (see links below): a four-week plan and a 12-week plan. These study plans are designed to eliminate guesswork, especially when using The PM PrepCast training lessons and simulator platform. However, students can customize them as needed to better align with their personal schedules and learning preferences.

We have The PM StudyCoach Guidebook that features a 12-week study plan. Check out: store.project-management-prepcast.com/pmp-study-guide
We also offer The PM StudyCoach Guidebook Express for PMP, which assumes a 4-week plan. Visit: store.project-management-prepcast.com/pmp-study-guide-express

When you lay out your own study plan and path, do allow for some buffer (due to illness or other interruptions, for mental/study breaks, to allow you time to take & review practice questions) but set
clear milestones and deadlines for yourself.