How to Get a PMP Certification: An Overview

What does the PMP certification entail?

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is a widely recognized project management credential that assesses a candidate's capability to manage the people, procedures, and business priorities of a professional project. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), which oversees the certification, there are more than a million PMP holders worldwide. It applies to project managers in almost every field, including business, information technology (IT), construction, and health.

You must have the necessary experience and pass a certification exam to obtain the certification.

These are some essential details concerning the certification:

criteria for the PMP certification

You will need to verify your education and project management experience before you can sit for the exam. They are as follows:

1.35 hours of project management training, or instruction that particularly addressed project management learning objectives. A Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® credential may be used in its place.

2.36 months of project management experience, or 60 months of project management experience, if you have a four-year degree.

The price of the PMP test

Exam costs were $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members as of 2022. The exam cost was marginally reduced with membership because a PMI membership cost $129 per year with a $10 one-time application charge.

preparation for the PMP test

Planning and dedication are required to study for the exam; exam guides normally advise at least a few months of preparation. You can study with the aid of numerous courses, books, and other resources. Learn more about getting ready for the test in the sections below.

maintaining your PMP certification

The PMP certification is valid for three years, but it can be renewed or maintained by accruing 60 professional development units—defined as hours spent on approved professional development activities—during that time.

How to obtain your PMP certification

Here is a step-by-step tutorial for obtaining your PMP certification.

1. Comply with the standards for PMP certification.

You must ascertain your eligibility before registering for the PMP exam. You will require one of the following:

If you have a four-year degree, you must have 1.35 hours of project management course training and at least 36 months of project management experience; if you have an associate's degree or a high school diploma, you must have 2.35 hours of project management course training and 60 months of experience.

You should keep track of your projects and training, including details such as your precise role, duties, and duration of projects or training so that you have them handy when you apply. If you hold a CAPM certification, the training requirement can be eliminated.

The PMP certification is good for three years. To keep it, you'll need to invest 60 hours in professional development activities during that time. Otherwise, you can register to retake the test.

2. Apply.

Create an account with PMI to begin the application process for the PMP test. Once you've been accepted, you'll pay the exam price and make a test appointment.

3. Be ready.

This is the time when you prepare for the exam, either through coursework or independently. Several exam preparation companies advise spending 60 to 120 hours studying. Depending on how frequently you study, this may take many months.

See more:11 Effective Studying Techniques

4. Pass the PMP test.

The exam can be taken online or in a testing facility close to you. A bit less than four hours are needed to finish the exam.

5. Keep up your certification.

The PMP certification is good for three years. To keep it, you'll need to invest 60 hours in professional development activities during that time. Otherwise, you can register to retake the test.

Is the PMP certification worth it?

Your particular situation will ultimately determine whether a PMP certification will be beneficial to you professionally and financially. To aid you in making your choice, consider the following advantages of having a PMP certification.

Recognition in the industry:

The PMP certification can demonstrate to potential employers or clients that you are knowledgeable about project management, possess the necessary experience and education, and are qualified to practice as a professional.

gaining new abilities:

When you study for the exam, you'll probably also learn a lot about project management. Spending time on project management essentials like budgeting and dispute resolution can improve your project management abilities.

The PMI discovered that US respondents to a recent poll reported a median salary of $123,000 if they held the certification and $93,000 if they didn't [1]. The longer a person held a PMP certification, the higher the median earnings are also likely to be. According to research from PC Magazine, the PMP certification came in sixth place among IT certifications that were associated with the best earnings in the IT industry.

Employment prospects: By 2027, employers will require 87.7 million people to fill project management positions, according to a forecast published by PMI and the Anderson Economic Group. The healthcare industry is predicted to increase the most, although substantial development is also predicted for the construction, information services, banking, and insurance industries.

What is on the PMP exam?

Here is a summary of the topics covered on the PMP certification exam as of June 2022.

1.180 questions require a total of 2.230 minutes (3 hours 50 minutes) to accomplish.

3. Two 10-minute pauses

4. A mix of multiple-choice, multiple-responses, matching, hotspot, and constrained fill-in-the-blank questions

The questions are divided into three categories:

People: 42% of the test

The people component of the exam, which makes up slightly less than half of the total time, has questions on themes including mentoring, managing conflict, supporting virtual teams, leading and creating teams, and others.

50 percent of the exam is the process.

Your understanding of the methods for carrying out a project from start to finish is tested in the process section. You can be questioned about scheduling, handling changes in the project, managing funds and other resources, and selecting the best approaches.

Business: 8% of the test

Compliance, generating value, and enabling organizational change are just a few of the more business-oriented topics covered in the exam's business environment section.

The information is split almost evenly between Agile or hybrid methodologies and predictive project management approaches.

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