If you’re trying to decide how to approach your PMP preparation right now, the best path depends on three things:

• When you plan to take your exam
• Where you are in your preparation
• Whether you can realistically secure an exam seat before the current exam is retired on 2026-July-08

That last point is often overlooked. As the transition date approaches, exam availability becomes limited. Even if you feel ready, you may not be able to schedule your exam in time.

Also keep in mind the exact transition timing:

• Last day of the current PMP exam: 2026-July-07
• No exams are expected on: 2026-July-08 ("Blackout Day")
• First day of the new PMP exam: 2026-July-09

Let’s walk through both scenarios.

Planning to Take the Exam On or Before 2026-July-07

If your goal is to take the current PMP exam, then your focus should be on finishing what you’ve started and moving efficiently toward your exam date.

If you have already started your training, continue with your current study plan. There is no need to switch approaches at this stage.

If you have already completed your 35 contact hours, then your priority should now be exam readiness. This is where focused practice with a high-quality exam simulator becomes critical.

If you have not yet completed your training, then time is becoming a factor. You will need to commit to a focused and consistent study plan in order to be ready before the exam change.

As a general guideline:

• Starting in April → Good timing to prepare for the current exam
• Starting in May → Still possible, but requires strong focus and commitment
• Starting in June → Better to prepare for the new exam instead

Let me repeat what I said above: exam seat availability becomes a real constraint as we approach the transition date. Even if you feel ready, you may not be able to find an open slot before 2026-July-08. If you decide to go for the current exam, make sure you secure your exam date as early as possible.

If you have not yet purchased any PMP exam prep materials and want to take the current exam, we recommend choosing a complete training solution that allows you to move quickly from learning into exam practice.

Planning to Take the Exam On or After 2026-July-09

If you are planning to take the new PMP exam, then your goal should be to align your preparation with the updated exam content from the start.

If you have already purchased our current PrepCast training materials, you may qualify for a free or discounted upgrade to the new version. Be sure to review the upgrade options available to you.

If you have not yet purchased any PMP exam prep materials, you have two options:

You can wait until early May, when the updated PrepCast training course and simulator become available, and begin your preparation with materials that are fully aligned to the new exam.

Or, if you want to get an early start, you can begin building your foundation now by reviewing core concepts and selected materials that will continue to apply to the new exam. Just keep in mind that you will transition to the updated materials once they are released.

For most students, especially those starting from scratch, waiting until the updated materials are available in May provides the clearest and most straightforward path.

We’ve outlined the full timeline, upgrade options, and product availability here:
www.project-management-prepcast.com/pm-prepcast-update-2026

Recommended Path for Most Students

If you are early in your journey or starting from scratch, the most practical approach is:

• Begin your preparation in May with the updated materials
• Complete your training and application over the summer
• Target an exam date in September or October
• Keep November and December as buffer time for a retake if needed

This approach avoids unnecessary time pressure and ensures that your preparation is fully aligned with the new exam.