TOPIC: Is the Google PM Course Worth It for PMP Prep?

Hi everyone,

I recently started the project management certificate program from Google because I’m hoping it will help me prepare for the PMP exam offered by the Project Management Institute. I don’t have formal project management experience yet, so I figured it might be a good foundation.

For those who’ve gone through this path, is this actually a good use of time, or would you recommend a different approach or prep resource instead? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Ryan,

While I ascribe to the philosophy of "No education of any kind is ever wasted" that phrase does not extend to "time." If you do the Google PM certificate course, it might prepare you somewhat for the PMP course. But, the drawbacks are several:

1. The biggest one: You will be learning Project Management from the Google Perspective, not PMI's perspective. And, for the PMP exam, PMI is the ultimate arbitor of knowledge.
2. You will still have to complete a 35 hour PMI approved course.
3. I doubt that the Google PM certificate will prepare you the way a robust exam simulator will.

If it were my time and my money, I would spend them both preparing for the PMP exam using PMI-approved courses getting a few of the top-shelf references (e.g. the PMBOK guide) and a robust exam simulator.

I have a bias towards the PrepCast exam similator. It works well.

Good luck