CAUTION – This article was written in 2011 and may no longer be accurate.

How to Become a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)^®

Becoming a PMP^® is not a difficult thing to do. This article will explain how to get PMP^® certified the easy way. In response to queries looking for material titled “PMP^® Certification for Dummies”, we have written this document to outline the basic information in relation to the credential and its attainment.

Follow the guidance below and this will help you to get PMP^® certified!

The PMP^® exam
The PMP^® exam is based on the Project Management Institutes PMP^® Examination Specification. The PMP^® exam consists of 180 multiple choice questions which deal with the 6 respective Project Management Processes. These are;

1. Initiating the project (11%)

2. Planning the project (23%)

3. Executing the project (27%)

4. Monitoring and controlling the project (21%)

5. Closing the project (9%)

6. Professional and social responsibility (9%)

To pass the PMP^® Exam, candidates need to score 106 out of 175 questions. Please note that 25 random questions within the exam are unmarked.

The Project Management Institute PMI
PMI serves practitioners and organizations with standards that describe good practices, globally recognized credentials that certify project management expertise, and resources for professional development, networking and community.*

PMP® Certification Prerequisites

To apply for the PMP^®, you need to have either:
• A four-year degree (bachelor’s or the global equivalent) and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
OR
• A secondary diploma (high school or the global equivalent) with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
We will provide an excel template and guidance to assist you in compiling your Project Management experience for the PMP Exam Application form.

How to get PMP^® certified

To get certified, you will need to sit and pass the PMP^® Exam. Once you pass the exam and receive your results you will be added to the list of PMP^® credential holders worldwide.

New PMP^® Exam format

According to the PMI approximately 30% of the exam will change (August 31st 2011). The Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6) will now be tested in every domain rather than as a separate domain previously.

1. Initiating the project (13%)

2. Planning the project (24%)

3. Executing the project (30%)

4. Monitoring and controlling the project (25%)

5. Closing the project (8%)

PMP^® Exam and Certification Costs

The combined cost for both the PMP^® Exam and all Certification costs are*

PMP^® Exam and Certification preparation
In order to prepare for the PMP^® Exam, candidates should enroll on a PMP^® Preparation or revision course; click here for information about Velopi’s PMP^® Preparation Courses. Following this course, they should practice with Velopi’s 800 PMP^® Question Exam Simulator.

How much time does it take to prepare for the PMP^® Certification Exam
The amount of time required to prepare for the PMP^® Certification Exam depends very much on the candidate, the academic background and other commitments. A guide to preparation time would be 4 weeks study after attending Velopi’s PMP^® Preparation Course, but again this is dependant on the individual.

* Taken from Project Management Institute Website