What You Need To Know To Be PMP Certified

PMP certification is great for employers as well as employees

If you are in the field of project management, you would have heard about PMP certification. However, you might not be sure of exactly what it is and why you should pursue it. The PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is provided by the PMI (Project Management Institute). It is a certification that an individual working as a project manager should pursue. It provides you a credential that is recognized all over the world as a standard for measuring the competency of project managers. 

Project managers are involved in a wide variety of fields and industries. From education to Information Technology, almost all industries hire project managers. Of course, any industry would want to hire the best of the lot. When companies hire new employees, they look for aspirants with the ability to lead and direct different projects and multiple team members. If an employee has a PMP certification, it indicates that the company can rely on the project manager to complete their projects on time and within the specified budget. 
 

PMP certification is great for employers as well as employees. You get better job opportunities and have a higher earning potential upon getting certified. Seeking PMP certification is a recognized way of making advances in your project management career. The certification helps you improve your skills and prove that you have what it takes to be a good project manager. 

What Is PMI?

PMI stands for the Project Management Institute. It is a globally recognized organization known for providing PMP certification. It is possible to become a PMI member. All you need to do is complete an application and pay membership fees. In your application, you need to provide details like your education, experience as a project manager, and contact number. 

Becoming a PMI member provides several benefits. For instance, you get access to a Guide to the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge). This book serves as the basis for questions on the PMP certification exam. To pass the examination, you have to understand the concepts in this book. PMI membership also provides project managers access to useful resources like webinars, blogs, articles, professional development opportunities, etc. 

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for PMP Certification?

To become PMP certified, there are 2 routes:
 

• Obtain an associate’s degree, high school diploma, or any such equivalent degree. You need to have a minimum of 5 years of experience as a professional project manager, with a minimum of 7500 hours spent as the leader of project tasks
• You can also obtain a bachelor’s degree. In that case, you need a minimum of 3 years of experience as a professional project manager, with a minimum of 4500 hours spent as the leader of project tasks. 

What Is the PMP Examination?

In total, there are 200 multiple choice questions in the PMP examination. You need to answer these questions within a time limit of 4 hours. You are not allowed to use reference materials during the examination, although you can use scratch paper. There are 5 process groups on which exam questions are based upon, including Initiation, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. 

The questions on the processes are from the PMBOK guide. You will be asked how to handle a specific situation. You need to study the following to learn how to respond to such questions:
 

• Best practices
• The proper process sequence for projects
• Basic project management formulas
• Managing stakeholders
• EVM graphs, calculations, completion estimates and metrics

If you are a professional project manager, you will have a good idea of what to do to handle a situation effectively. However, to answer the exam questions, you need to refer to the PMBOK guide. 

You should answer all the questions on the exam. You will not lose any point for an incorrect answer. So, if you are in doubt, try to at least make an educated guess. A good practice is eliminating the weakest answers as it helps to narrow down the options. You may find questions to be tough but they are meant to be challenging. These questions test the confidence of project managers. 

How Do I Prepare for the Exam?

When you register for the PMP exam, you get an idea of the timeline you have for studying. Taking at least a month to study is helpful, but try not to take too much time. When you have more time to study, you may start putting it off until it's too late to prepare sufficiently for the exam. 

The way you prepare for your exam depends completely on your personal preference. You need to choose a study method that suits you the best. Enrolling in a PMP course works for most. You can also read the book, get in touch with others preparing for the exam, or even arrange for someone else to test you on the examination questions. 

Taking practice tests is one of the best ways of preparing for the exams. That way, you will get an idea of the types of questions that you will have to deal with during your exam. It will also help you improve your pacing and make you more prepared for the actual day of the exam. 

What if I Do Not Pass the Examination?

You can retake the examination if you fail it. It is possible to retake the examination up to 3 times each year. However, there is a fee involved every time you retake the examination. So, you should try to pass the exam on the first attempt to save yourself a considerable amount of time and money. 

If you are retaking the examination, make sure you look closely into your detailed score report. It will give you an idea of the Process Groups you did not perform well in on the exam. This will help you understand what you need to focus on as you prepare and study for your next attempt. 

If you do pass the exam, you will receive the PMP certification. However, you will need to be recertified every 3 years to maintain your certification. 

Author Bio

Melody F. Stern is an entrepreneur and chief editor of Bizusa Today. She helps small business owners to grow their online businesses worldwide.  Follow @melodyfstern1

Additional Resource
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