The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is one of the most prestigious and sought-after certifications in the project management field. Earning the PMP shows employers, clients and peers that you have the experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects.
Education Requirements
To be eligible for PMP certification requirements, you must have a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or global equivalent), plus:
- 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and
- 35 hours of project management education
The 4,500 hours must be spent leading and directing projects as well as experience in all five process groups of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Experience can come from a variety of industries including construction, IT, engineering, manufacturing and more.
The 35 contact hours of project management education must cover the 10 project management knowledge areas from the PMBOK Guide. This education can come from courses, training sessions, conferences etc. A Bachelor’s degree or global equivalent fulfill the education requirement.
Application Requirements
The application process for the PMP exam involves several key steps once an individual has fulfilled the required education and experience criteria. The candidate must first completely fill out the online application form, including all required personal and contact information. The candidate must upload their resume in addition to completing the application form. The applicant’s project management expertise should be fully outlined in their CV, including information about the projects they worked on, their roles and duties, durations, and the sectors they worked in.
Two important parts of the application involve references. The applicant must provide accurate contact information for two professional references who can verify the applicant’s project experience as stated in their resume. These references will later be contacted by PMI to confirm the applicant’s role and responsibilities. The applicant then pays the non-refundable application fee to finish the process. The application package will be carefully reviewed by PMI after submission to make sure all eligibility conditions have been met.
If approved, the applicant will receive official email notification authorizing them to schedule the PMP exam. This notification confirms the application review is complete and the applicant is cleared to take the next steps to sit for the exam. A thorough, complete application is essential to obtaining authorization to advance to the exam stage of PMP certification.
Taking The Exam
The PMP exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 4 hours. It is administered in person at testing centres or online via remote proctoring. Some tips for taking the exam include:
- Studying the guide and practice questions
- Arriving at the testing centre early to avoid stress
- Pacing yourself and using the full-time allotment
- Flagging questions, you’re unsure of to review later
You will get your results right away when the test is over. A passing score is between 105-175 questions correct.
Maintaining Certification
Once you earn the PMP credential, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every 3 years to maintain it. PDUs can be earned through activities like project experience, formal education, volunteering, authoring and more. This ensures PMP certified professionals keep their skills up to date. Failing to earn the required PDUs will result in your certification becoming inactive.
Conclusion
Fulfilling the PMP certification requirements involves meeting the education and experience criteria, applying online, taking the 200-question exam, and maintaining your certification every 3 years. Earning the PMP opens doors to new career opportunities and demonstrates your commitment to the best activities in project management profession. With proper preparation, anyone can achieve this respected credential.
