PMP Application & Certification Process

How to Apply, Prepare and Appear for Project Management Exam

Nov 23, 2009
Prem Anand

PMPs Manage Projects Efficiently - Scott Maxwell [lumaxart.com]

Getting certified as a PMP is a wise choice for project managers and those who would like to pursue project management as a profession.

The Project Management Professional (PMP) is a professional certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The PMI is a non-profit professional organization established in 1969 with the objective to set a standard to the profession of project management. It is now the most renowned association in this field, with nearly half a million members in 185 countries.

Professionals involved in managing projects or wanting to be project managers can greatly benefit by becoming a member of PMI and/or pursuing certification to become a PMP. PMI advocates the standard for project management using a knowledge guide called Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide).

Benefits of Becoming a Member and Getting Certified as a PMP

Project managers can hone their knowledge by getting certified, thereby managing projects more efficiently and effectively.
Project managers can greatly enhance the way projects are managed by using several project management processes that are defined in the PMBOK guide. These are derived from the experiences of members from various industries.
PMI has set a standard for terminology, which the project management professionals can use to communicate across organizations, stakeholders of the project and across geographic boundaries.
Becoming a member opens up networking opportunities with other managers through PMI chapters and communities recognized by PMI.
Almost all organizations around the world recognize PMI and certified PMPs will have an added advantage when seeking job advancement opportunities.

About the PMP exam

PMP certification exam is offered as computer-based-test (CBT) as well as paper-based-test (PBT), although PBT is less common and only regions around the world with limited access to computers take PBT. CBTs are offered in testing centers, mainly Prometric. The exam consists of 200 questions (25 are for research purposes and are not scored) and takes 4 hours to complete. For CBT, the result is known immediately after the exam, but for PBT it may take up to several weeks. The CBT can be scheduled online anytime, where as the PBT is offered only on certain dates.

The exam costs $555 US for non-members and $405 US for members. The membership costs $129, so it is advantageous to become a member and then register for the PMP exam (re-examination costs $375 and $275 for non-members and members, respectively).

Preparing for the PMP exam

The PMP exam is mainly based on PMBOK Guide (4th edition) published by PMI [2008]. However, there are some areas like Professional and Social Responsibility, Human Resource theories, and Quality Management theories that are not covered in PMBOK. Although some candidates who pursue the PMP exam might have several years of project management experience, they may not be able to pass the exam without studying the PMBOK guide.

There are several preparation aids and guide books available on the market which are very helpful in explaining the concepts and providing full length mock tests. Some of the preparation aids are:

PMP Exam Prep (6th edition) by Rita Mulcahy [RMC Publications, Inc, 2009]
The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try (4th edition) by Andy Crowe [Velociteach, 2009]

There are also numerous websites offering free sample tests.

How to Quality & Apply for the PMP Exam?

To qualify for the exam, candidates with a Bachelor’s degree or higher must have 35 hours of project management education and 3 years of project management experience. Otherwise, 5 years of project management experience in addition to 35 hours of project management education is required

Filling an application can be done online at PMI’s website. This could take a few days because in involves entering the details of project management experience for qualifying years and education details. After the application is approved, which takes about 5 business days, applicants will be notified to pay for the exam. Once exam fee is paid, a confirmation code is sent which is used to schedule a test on Prometric website. After approval of the application, the exam has to be taken within one year.

Give Career Opportunity a Boost

A PMP certification on a resume is a definite differentiator in tough market conditions. In addition to that, it will help a project manager to conduct projects of any size within functional as well as matrix type of organizations. It enhances the problem solving and conflict resolution skills and improves the chances of overall success of a project. With proper planning, focused studying, and commitment, one can pass the exam in the first attempt and become a part of professional project management community.

For tips on preparing for the PMP Exam read How to Crack the PMP Exam?

Prem Anand - The writer is educated in engineering and information management and is interested in reading non-fiction books. He is excited about his ...