Complete Guide for PMP® Certification Process 2024 [Updated]

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“What do you want to become when you grow up?”

This frequently asked question never failed to daunt me during my growing up years.

“If I knew, you would most definitely be the first to know.”

“I wish I had the foggiest idea.”

“Maybe you could give me some enlightening guidance and advice, O supremely experienced adult!”

These replies took birth in my young impressionable mind but met with a premature demise before being put to words. In all fairness, the query was made purely out of innocent curiosity, maybe even genuine concern or simply to strike up a conversation.

My hesitance to reply was not only out of respect for the questioning elder but also because I really didn’t know the answer.

Choosing a career is no easy task for any teen. The dilemma commences early on. Selecting the relevant academic stream and institution is crucial, based on the career that has to be built. A monumental burden on adolescent shoulders, still coping with social and peer pressures, strange physical metamorphosis, and the effects of surging hormonal tides.

Maybe I do have an interest in a certain field, but is it a practical career choice? Is it commercially and finically viable? Can my parents afford the monumental fee structure? What if I can’t cope if I don’t have what it takes? OR, what if I realize mid-term that this isn’t meant for me?

A bit of research will be of immense help and paint a clearer picture.

Gone are the days when the only preferred career choices were to be a Doctor or Engineer. The internet has opened our eyes to numerous professions and careers existing in the market, as well as how to prepare and qualify ourselves adequately.

The market value for a certified professional is astronomically higher than for someone who is not certified.

In this article, I will present a step by step process guide towards acquiring a certification of a PMP® (Project Manager Professional), the eligibility criteria for the PMP® Certification process, an insight into the PMP® Training, clearing the PMP® Exam and the PMP® Exam Preparation.

Enroll in our PMP Certification today and develop a strong foundation in the principles of project management.

What is a Project?

My first experience with projects was way back in school when I had to create a themed science project. It was a miniature model of a field, with a working irrigation system… it looked great but was disappointingly far from “working”. A step up from that was the annual team research project assigned in college. These had bonus marks added to the final examination score… a highly motivating factor.

All projects, whether big or small are created to fulfil a purpose.

A jigsaw puzzle or a DIY airplane model are projects designed to develop dexterity, imagination, and even teamwork. All industries and business ventures are actively involved in projects at various levels. These are also designed for a specific cause and to achieve a result that is beneficial to the organization.

Some additional examples of projects are:

• Customizing a bike
• Designing a vehicle
• Home renovation
• Creating a new product
• Introducing a new service
• Planning an event or workshop
• Implementing a new operational process
• Construction of a building or facility

A project is a temporary undertaking, carried out by an individual or a team to achieve a required goal. It is a finite undertaking with a start and endpoint. The aim is to create a deliverable, which could be a product, service, or a result e.g. 10% reduction in operational costs.

The Project Manager is responsible for the stakeholders for conducting the processes of the approved project. The Manager plans, controls, and executes the project, to successfully achieve the desired outcome.

The Project Manager might not be a PMP® Certification holder, but needs to be equipped with the following project management skills:

• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Team building
• Time management and scheduling
• Risk management
• Critical thinking
• Technical expertise

Project Management Professional (PMP®)

PMP®is a globally recognized designation launched by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) in 1984. As of May 2020, there are over 1 million certified Project Management Professionals all over the world.

A Certified PMP® is paid up to 25% higher than an uncertified counterpart.

The Project Management Institute is an American non-profit organization for Project Management, founded in 1969. In an attempt to standardize Project Management procedure, PMI published the first Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) in 1996. The sixth edition of PMBOK was released in 2017.

Eligibility Criteria For PMP® Certification Process

To be eligible, the following criteria need to be met with:

• Secondary education degree/high school diploma or the global equivalent
• 5 years or 7,500 hours of experience in leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education

OR

• A 4-year degree
• 3 years or 4,500 hours of experience leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education

The hours of experience could also be in the capacity of the Project Head, who has been given the complete undertaking of the planning and execution process. This could be under the supervision of a Senior Project Manager.

The listed projects must be of a strictly professional nature i.e. NO personal events such as family weddings, home renovations, or academic research projects that were part of the curriculum.

Enroll in a  PMP® training course to bag the mandatory 35 hours of project management education.

How to Apply?

Once the above requirements are fulfilled;

• Get onto the PMI®website and create an account. to start the PMP® certification process
• Fill in the online application form. Your progress is saved as you go along so you can always come back to the form to make any changes before submitting. However, complete the process within 90 days, or else the data will be erased.

Fee Structure and PMP® Membership

The application processing time is 5 calendar days, after which you will receive an email requesting payment.

• Rs.42,863 for non-members

If you choose to avail of the PMP® Membership program, you can avail of special discounted rates:

• Rs.23,459 for members, as well as many useful benefits, such as the PEMBOK Guide for free.

The membership is $129 for a year with $10 one-time application fee.

For any reason, if you choose to not take the examination, you can avail of a refund within 30 days from the date of payment.

Schedule the examination date within 1 year from submission of fees.

PMP® Application Audit

All submitted applications can be audited. If your application is short-listed for audit, you will receive an imitation of the same. You then need to verify the details mentioned in your application, via relevant documents e.g.

• Education certificates
• Experience letters mentioning work hours dedicated to projects, signed by the project manager
• Certificate or letter from the training institute verifying the 35 hours of Project Management education

Submit these documents to PMI within 90 days. The audit process will be completed in 5 working days, from receipt of the documents.

PMP® Exam

The allotted time to complete the exam is 4 hours, and the exam is divided into 2 sections. On completing section 1, there is a 10 min break. Once the break starts, you can’t review any of the questions from the previous section.

After the break, complete section 2 in the remaining time available. At times, candidates complete the examination before the 4 hours have elapsed.

The PMP® exam has 200 multiple-choice questions. However, only 175 of these are scored. 25 questions are randomly placed, these are pre-test questions and are not scored. All 200 questions must be attempted all the same.

PMP® Re-examination

If you do not pass the PMP® exam on the first attempt. You have a total of 3 attempts, including the first exam given, within the 1-year eligibility.

Re-examination fees:

• For members Rs.15,929
• For non-members Rs.28,961

If you fail to clear the examination after the 3 attempts, you are subjected to a 1 year cooling-off period from the date of the last attempt. Only after this, you may re-apply for the certification.

PMP® Certification validity

The PMP® certification is valid for 3 years, after which it is subject to renewal. However, certification holders must earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) to fulfill the Continuing Certification Requirement (CCR).

To earn PDUs, participate in professional development activities centered on one of the following…

Education:

• Update your knowledge and skills by enrolling in academic courses related to project management from universities and training institutes
• Attend seminars and workshops held by PM1® or PMI® recognized institutes
• Personal initiatives to increase self-awareness on project management and related topics, like reading books, articles, listening to podcasts, watching videos, etc.

Giving back to the profession:

Any activities that require you to share your learned knowledge will be considered as a valuable contribution to the profession.

• Writing books, articles, and blogs on project management or related topics
• Host seminars/webinars
• Facilitate guest lectures on project management at colleges and institutes
• Spearhead project tasks for organizations

Maintain all records of earned PDUs and update the PDU Activity reporting form on the PMI® website

PMP® Exam Prep

Just like any other exam the basic fundamental strategy in the PMP® exam prep is plenty of self-study and research.

The PMBOK guide is an infallible source of information and knowledge that will be necessary to master. The key is to start early, start small, but be consistent. Once you have completed the PMBOK, do consider other credible reference guide books.

Sample questions and PMP® exam simulators are available online too.

Enroll yourself in a PMP® training course. Consider a renowned institute offering a PMI® accredited program. This will ensure you will be provided with quality tools and PMP® exam prep guidance from experienced faculty.

The institute will also open a gateway to forming connections with other PMP® candidates. This will expose you to out-of-the-box exam prep ideas like flashcards, study groups, and much more.

Closing notes

Projects will always be a part of our lives personally and professionally, as well as essential undertakings for every establishment or organization.

A qualified and skilled Project Manager, at the helm, is crucial to help steer the endeavor towards a favorable, result in yielding a conclusion.

If you have the tenacity and focus towards the completion of any given task, take a moment to seriously consider a career as a Project Manager, and work towards acquiring the prestigious PMP® Certification.

Recommended Reads:

• Top 9 Project Management Courses in Kolkata
• PMP certification exam cost
• TOP 20 PMP Exam Questions and Answers
• Is PMP Certification Worth It in India?
• 10 Best PMP CERTIFICATIONS IN SINGAPORE

Also Check this Video

FAQs

Q1. What is the passing score for the PMP® exam?

Ans: The passing score fluctuates since it is based on the overall performance of the candidates. The current requirement is to get 131 correct answers out of 200.

Q2. Is PMP® Certification better than MBA?

Ans: Because the MBA is a managerial course, it is versatile in its application to various fields. However, PMP® is a specialized course and has higher value in the market as of today.

Q3. Do I have to pay for the re-exam if I fail?

Ans: Yes, the re-examination fees will apply. You must clear the PMP® exam in 3 attempts max.

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