How to Get a PMP Certification: An Overview

What does a PMP certification entail?

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, which is a widely respected project management credential, assesses a candidate's capacity to oversee the people, procedures, and business goals of a professional project. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), which oversees the certification, there are over a million PMP holders worldwide. It is useful to project managers in almost every area, including business, information technology (IT), construction, and health.

You must pass a certification test in addition to having the necessary experience to earn the certification.

Here are some essential details regarding the certification:

criteria for PMP certification

You must verify your education and project management experience to sit for the test. These are listed below:

35 hours of project management training, or coursework that was primarily focused on project management learning objectives. A Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® qualification may be used in place of this.

If you have a four-year degree, you must have 36 months of project management experience; if you just have a high school certificate or an associate degree, you must have 60 months of project management experience.

PMP test price

The exam price was $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members as of2024. With a PMI membership, the exam was somewhat less expensive because there was a $10 one-time application charge and a membership cost of $129 per year.

getting ready for the PMP test

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

your PMP certification is being renewed

The PMP certification is valid for three years, however, it may be kept up to date or renewed by accruing 60 PDUs—defined as hours spent on approved PDU activities—during that period.

How to get PMP certified

A step-by-step tutorial for earning your PMP certification is provided here.

1. Fulfill the prerequisites for PMP certification.

Make sure you are qualified before signing up to take the PMP test. You'll require one of the following:

If you have a four-year degree, you must have 35 hours of project management course training and at least 36 months of project management experience; if you just have an associate's degree or a high school certificate, you must have 35 hours of project management course training and 60 months of experience.

You should keep a record of your projects and training, including details such as your precise role, your duties, and the duration of the projects or training, so that you may refer to it when you apply. Having a CAPM certification entitles you to a waiver of the training requirement.

The three-year expiration date of the PMP certification. To keep it, you'll need to invest 60 hours in professional growth throughout that period. If not, you can register to retake the test.

2. Apply.

Create a PMI account to begin the application process for the PMP test. Sharing basic personal information like your school history and specifics of the projects you've worked on will be required.

After being accepted, you'll pay the exam price and make a test appointment.

3. Get ready.

This is the time when you prepare for the test, either independently or through coursework. Numerous test preparation companies advise devoting 60 to 120 hours to studying. The length of time depends on how regularly you study.

4. Pass the PMP test.

The test can be done online or in a testing facility close to you. A little under four hours are needed to finish the exam.

5. Keep your certification current.

The three-year expiration date of the PMP certification. To keep it, you'll need to invest 60 hours in professional growth throughout that period. If not, you can register to retake the test.

The PMP: Is it worth it?

Your particular situation will ultimately determine if obtaining a PMP certification can benefit you professionally and financially. To assist you in making your choice, below are a few advantages of having a PMP certification.

Industry reputability: The PMP certification can demonstrate to potential employers or clients that you have the expertise and education needed to be a professional in project management.

acquiring new abilities: As you study for the test, you'll probably learn a lot about project management as well. Spending time on project management essentials like budgeting and dispute resolution will strengthen your project management abilities.

greater wagesAccording to a recent study by the PMI, US respondents indicated median salaries of $123,000 for those who held the certification and $93,000 for those who did not [1]. The longer one had the PMP certification, the higher the median salary also tended to be. According to PC Magazine, among IT qualifications that were associated with the highest earnings in the IT industry, the PMP certification came in eighth place.

Career prospects: In a survey published by PMI and the Anderson Economic Group, it is predicted that by 2027, companies would require 87.7 million people to fill project management positions. The healthcare industry is predicted to increase the most, although substantial growth is also anticipated in the construction, information services, banking, and insurance industries.

How long is the PMP exam?

Here is a summary of the topics covered by the PMP certification exam as of June2024.

It takes 230 minutes (3 hours and 50 minutes) to finish all 180 questions.

Multiple-choice, multiple-response, matching, hotspot, and constrained fill-in-the-blank questions are included.

There are three categories for the questions:

People: 42% of the exam

The people component of the test, which makes up slightly less than half of it, has questions on themes like mentoring, managing conflict, assisting virtual teams, leading and creating teams, and others.

Process: 50% of the test

Your understanding of the procedures 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 choosing the best approaches.

Business: 8% of the test

The exam's section on the business environment broadly covers the more business-related issues that project managers have to deal with, such as compliance, creating value, and enabling organizational transformation.

Predictive project management techniques make up around half of the material, while Agile or hybrid approaches make up the other half.

Additional project management credentials

There are many additional project management certifications you might take into consideration, both from the PMI and outside organizations, if the PMP doesn't appear to be the best fit for you. Here is a couple.

Agile certifications: Agile is a project management methodology that emphasizes adaptation and speed through more compact and efficient delivery. It's a strategy that has become more well-liked in recent years. AgilePM from APGM International and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) certification are two well-known Agile credentials. On Coursera, get an introduction to agile development.

Scrum certifications: Scrum is an Agile project management paradigm that emphasizes adaptation and iteration. Being a scrum master implies you'll be assisting projects to successfully match the scrum methodology. The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) from Scrum Alliance and the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) from Scrum.org are two common scrum certifications.

Associate in Project Management (CAPM) CertificationIf you're seeking credentials to advance your career, the CAPM (also provided by PMI) is best suited for project managers at the beginning of their careers. The CAPM is a suitable certification for beginning project managers because it doesn't need prior project management expertise.

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