Kristoff,
"Difficulty" is a subjective measure. Each individual will have their own experience with the process of preparing for and taking the exam. For me, I found it to be the most challenging professional exam that I have ever taken. Not because it was technically difficult (I'm a scientist), but because to me it was like learning a second language. You also have to shift your way of thinking for the exam, as the "correct" answer may (or may not) be the answer that you would personally give in a situation. "Correctness" of an answer is based solely on how the scenario should be approached through the PMBOK/ANSI standard. I found there to be a painful level of detail that I had to not just memorize, but to understand fully to pass the exam. For me, I passed on the first attempt, but I prepared hard for the 6 months prior to the exam with study and exam simulator time.
Yes, the "pass rate" is low, as it should be. Recognized professional certifications are difficult to obtain and are a mark of career learning and understanding. I was once told from a colleague that hires project managers that PMPs "Know how to get stuff done" and I've found that observation generally true. Additionally, recognized professional certifications have generally have ethics requirements that reflect the organization.
A July 2026 date is plenty of time to prepare for the exam, if you are dedicated to studying for it. I took 9 months of preparation: The first three were testing the waters with light research and reading and the six months run up to the exam were hard-core, 2-3 hours/night study and practice.
