TOPIC: questions on PMP requirements

Hi,

Getting ready to go for my PMP and I'm confused by the 4500 hours. I have a 4 year degree, so I know its 4500 hours.

So, its 4500 hours of LEADING or directing projects? Is there a limit in the timeframe this can be? If i'm not clear, I mean can those 4500 hours be over how many previous years? Also, it seems to say you can't overlap, but then it contradicts itself a bit too. Is it that I can overlap if I'm doing different tasks on projects?
I just want to make sure how long of a time I can use for the 4500 hours and make sure I put them in the right way. Meaning, can I use experience from 6, 7, 8 years ago? Or less?

Thanks!

Also, I apologize if this is a common topic, i wasn't sure how to search this topic.

Thanks!

Mathew,

Here are my answers for you.

So, its 4500 hours of LEADING or directing projects?

Actually... it is "leading AND directing" projects. Please take a look at the PMP Handbook ( www.pm-prepcast.com/pmphb ) and you will find that on page 8. So what does "leading and directing" exactly mean? For that, please open up the PMP Examination Content Outline ( pm-prepcast.com/pmpoutline ) and compare the tasks here to what you have actually done. If you can honestly say that you cover most of these tasks then you are good to go.

Is there a limit in the timeframe this can be? If i'm not clear, I mean can those 4500 hours be over how many previous years?

Again, page 8 of the PMP Handbook has the answer at the top where it says that this has to be within the last 8 years.

Also, it seems to say you can't overlap, but then it contradicts itself a bit too. Is it that I can overlap if I'm doing different tasks on projects?

The overlap that the handbook talks about is in regards to the CALENDAR MONTHS. Take a look at the graphic on page 10. Projects 1 and 2 overlap in February and March. This means that you probably worked 50% on project 1 and 50% on project 2. So you can count 100% of the hours you worked (using a regular 8-hour day without overtime), but but even though you worked on 2 projects during that time, the calendar months only count once.

I just want to make sure how long of a time I can use for the 4500 hours and make sure I put them in the right way. Meaning, can I use experience from 6, 7, 8 years ago? Or less?

You can go back 8 years maximum. Experience that is older than 8 years does not count.

Thank you so much for answering!

hi, one more question. I'm trying to get through the grueling task of the experience on my application. Is there a limit to how many projects I can use to document?
I have some very long projects, but then a number of fairly short ones (40, 80, 120 hours). Just want to make sure.

Thanks in advance!

Matthew,

To my knowledge, there is no limit. At the time when I took the exam my experience was on small and medium sized projects of 1-9 months in duration. Because of that I had to add at least 15 projects onto my application. So you should have no problem adding yours.

Thanks again...

One more thing now that i'm thinking. As I go through projects I've worked on, some were more structured than others. Is there a mandate that every project needs to be by the book of the PMI? I'd assume not, but I want to make sure as it will make a difference to my application.
No one can deny they are projects with obvious tasks, budgets, etc, but I can't say that all were with PMI's standards and terminology.

Thanks again and the prepcast has been a great tool so far!

Matthew,

PMI cannot mandate that the companies you worked for follow PMI best practices. PMI understands that you will have used company internal methodologies, no matter how they are aligned with the PMBOK Guide framework. Nor that projects are 100% structured. So that is definitely not a requirement.

However, I always recommend to my students that they "translate" internal terminology into "PMI language". So if your company uses a "project base document" to start a project, then I recommend that you call this a "charter" on your application. Similarly, if your last project phase is called "Ending phase" then translate it to "Closing" on our application. This will make things easier for anyone who has to review your application.

I'm glad that you are enjoying The PM PrepCast so far. Please don't forget to tell your colleagues about it... Thanks!

one more question?
While creating the project in depth description of 500 words or less, I've read some places that describe doing it in bullet point format, is that acceptable?

I think that seems more clear and legible but I want to make sure that is a correct recommendation.

thanks again!

And, if I can use a bullet point or paragraph, does it make sense to break down the hours of each specific task I did, or just showing what tasks? And I think one more....lol... if is there a perceived minimum amount for the writeup too?

Matthew,

Just like every project is different, every PMP application and how the projects are described will be different. So there is no "best" or even "approved" way to describe your project. Some will describe their projects using high level descriptions, others will go a bit more detailed tasks and others again will use a mix. Some write more, some less. And all of them get approved.

Also, PMI doesn't give you 500 WORDS. PMI only gives you 500 CHARACTERS. So you really only have about 50-80 words for each of the 5 process groups to describe what you did. So don't "waste" characters with an hourly breakdown.

The best advice that I can give you is to not over-think it. Your description should NOT be written under the premise of "How can I describe this project, so that my application will be approved?", instead you should write the description with the intent of "How can I describe this project, so that I can properly reflect what project management work we did / I did on the project?". If you truthfully describe the work that you were involved in (i.e. Lead the development of the project charter - or - Assisted planning specialist in developing project schedule) then you will be fine.

Hi Cornelius,

Thanks for answering all the questions and for putting together the PM Prep Cast. I am also in the process of completing my PMP application. I have a quick question in regards to the 500 Characters comment you made.

Is it 500 Characters per project or per process group? I looked at the application and it simply says "Please ensure your description is between 50-80 words (300-500 characters)"; so I assume it's per project not for each Initiation, Planning, etc.. process groups. Please clarify?

Thanks for your help!

Dilanka

Dilanka,

I'm sorry but I do not know for sure, but I would expect that it's 500 characters for each process group (because each has an input field). This expectation is based on the PDF version of the application form, but I also know that PMI sometimes changes their online forms without changing the PDF application form.

The easiest way to find out is to start your online application on the PMI website (you have 90 days to complete it once you start). Now simply take a look at the online form and you should instantly see it. If not... fill in some text > 500 characters into the boxes and try saving it. The system will probably give you a nice error message that clarifies things.

And of course... please return here and tell us what you find.

Thanks for the quick response Cornelius.

I followed your advice and the answer is: the applicants have 550 characters to write a description per project. It is no longer divided into process groups like in the paper based application, it's just simply one text box to enter information. Also notice that they have increased it to 550 characters.

Few questions to you:
- Under the primary industry, there is a an industry name "Communication"; do you think they mean Telecommunication? which is where most of my experience based out of.
- Can I include volunteer experience from the charity organization I started?
- Can I include experience from the online business I started, but wasn't able to fully commercialize the idea?

Thank you,
Dilanka

Hello, do you mind answering the above questions when you get a chance?

Thanks!

Dilanka,

I followed your advice and the answer is: the applicants have 550 characters to write a description per project. It is no longer divided into process groups like in the paper based application, it's just simply one text box to enter information. Also notice that they have increased it to 550 characters.

That is great to know and shows that even PMI is not able to keep the PDF document and online application in sync. I'm not surprised and mean this in no way negative. It's just a fact of life that online/paper tend to move apart from each other.

- Under the primary industry, there is a an industry name "Communication"; do you think they mean Telecommunication? which is where most of my experience based out of.

Good question and I don't know for sure. Most likely yes, but this would be a question to direct to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

- Can I include volunteer experience from the charity organization I started?

Only if that experience involved an actual assignment as project manager. So if you were the PM in charge for... say... implementing the new charity website, then yes. If it is just "normal" volunteer work, then the answer is no. It has to be PM focused.

- Can I include experience from the online business I started, but wasn't able to fully commercialize the idea?

Same as above for volunteer work. If you can show that your work on the business was treated and executed as a formal project, then yes. The fact that the project didn't deliver it's deliverables is secondary.

I am interested in starting the PMP process. However, I am not sure how I will add up the 4500 hours. You see, I want to have a PMP designation and transition into PM work, but currently the majority of my experience has been in teaching and training. All of it has been Project Based. I have had a few instances where I led other staff, and I have definitely been involved in planning, design, and implementation stages on many projects, but I have not worked as a PM. Ever. What kinds of things can a Sr Trainer and Instructional Designer use towards this 4500 hour requirement?

Tony,

In order to qualify for the PMP exam you must be able to demonstrate that you have led a project or multiple projects and have some experience across all of the 5 major process groups while in a leadership capacity; Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing. That process group experience doesn't necessarily need to be in the same project. The real question to ask yourself is whether you were the project leader regardless of your particular job title.

Also, if you have not already done so you should check the PMP handbook at:
www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public...ssional-handbook.pdf

Hope this helps.

Mark

Hi, if you document overlapping projects I assume your hours need to represent the percentage of time you work on each project. For example: I work on Project A for 75% of the time while Project B 25% of the time. Is that right?

You can count the overlap for one of the projects, not both. There can be no overlapping of projects.

Question,
I just got my PMI Accredited Graduate Certificate in 2017 (education requirement), and also four years of project implementation experience. Currently, I am a small IT Project Manager/Analyst at a Financial IT company. To my experience, I always thought the experience requirements were about leading and managing teams not tasks. Would I be able to use my direct implementation tasks as project experience?

Does a Masters in Pharm (Industrial pharmacy) degree work for earning eligibility? My wife has worked on a few projects at her workplace in their different stages. Would that be applicable in being eligible for PMP? and would PMP prepacast in that case help her in preparing a resume, which I guess, is one of the eligibility criteria for PMP certification? Thanks

Hi,

In Prepcast video tutorial 00.20 - "PMP Exam Overview", Cornelius Fichtner suggests that we mention our deliverable in project description. I have been a Business Analyst aiming to give PMP. Hence, my deliverables have been Business Requirement Document, Functional Specifications Documents, Solution Specification Document, etc as opposed to being sole author on project charter, project plan, etc. Would that be a problem? Is PMI looking for deliverables from project manager's point of view only?

Reshma,

Yes. You are 100% correct. The qualification requirements for the PMP Exam are ONLY from the perspective of a project manager. This is because the PMP exam is a certification FOR project managers, who have been leading and directing projects for at least 3 years. If you are not a project manager or have not had the responsibilities of a project manager then you don't qualify to take the exam...

Hi Cornelius,

Thank you for your reply. I spoke to Project Managers in my organization. They told me:
1. My role is Consultant and I have taken over PM responsibilities. So even if my official designation is not of a project manager, I can apply for PMP.

In PMP application, in calculating PM hours, I was planning to consider only 50% of my project time as towards leading and directing projects. But count the full non-overlapping month. Will that be a problem? Should I rather consider the same % in hours calculation and month calculation?

My Projects were IT projects. But my clients are in Banking industry. Should my primary industry be IT or Finance?

For part of my experience, I have been a freelance contractor with my own firm incorporated. In organization details for that experience, should I enter Client's organization details or my own firm's organization's details? My firm is a 1 employee firm and isn't as widely known as my multinational client.