This is a second part of a series of five posts. Please read the first post “What is the PMP“, if you are landing here directly from any search result or a referral.
You can find all information about the PMP Certification exam in the PMP Credential Handbook available for free at www.pmi.org.
There are three PMP Eligibility criteria that you have to fulfill in order to sit for the PMP Certification examination. These conditions are as follows:
- You must be a Four Year Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or global equivalent) or Secondary Degree (High School Diploma, associates’s degree or global equivalent) holder: This is the first condition to be eligible for the PMP Certification examination. The Degree or Diploma can be in any discipline.
- Project Management Experience: Project Management Experience is the second condition to be eligible for the PMP Certification exam. If you are Degree holder, you should have at least 4,500 hours (about three years) and if you are a Diploma holder, you should have 7,500 hours (about five years) of experience in leading and directing projects.
- Project Management Training: You must have 35 contact hours of formal PM education training and this training can be obtained from a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). There are various modes of training available from R.E.P.s. Some are provided online and other through live classes. Online training programs are found to be cheaper than the live classes.
You can now move to third part, “What is the PMP Application Process?“
Thank You
The given information is very effective
i will keep updated with the same
This is very helpful site for the students who want to pass out PMP certification exam to become a certified project manager. This site provides the information about the eligibility criteria for PMP. This site provides the details about the education qualification required for PMP Certification examination.
I’m form Ethiopia I would like to take online training but it seems some what difficult to set for exam online because there is no center in our country. So…..
I hope that soon you will a Prometric test center in you country. Anyway but still you can learn the best project management practice, and when the Prometric set their center in your country, you can apply for the PMP exam.
Hi Fahad,
Found your site really useful; great source on info for future PMs.
I will complete 3 years of leading projects in Feb 2013, when i ll be eligble. So i ll probably plan giving my PMP in June or Aug 2013. Plan to study for 6 months a minimum.
I wanted to ask you is PMBOK 5 coming soon, does it make sense to me to study PMBOK 4 or PMBOK 5 will be totally different, were the past versions very different?
Ok, also I see that you are from INDIA (checked ur profile on linkedin), does CAPM have any value in INDIA?
Thank you so much for the info you have posted..
Regards,
Sankalp
Experienced Product Manger
Hello Sankalp, thanks for liking and visiting my blog.
Since you will be eligible for the PMP exam in February 2013, and considering the fact that within this month you will have the 5th edition of the PMBOK Guide in your hand, I would recommend you to prepare with the 5th edition of the PMBOK Guide.
There is a little difference between the 4th edition and the 5th edition of the PMBOK Guide because it is an upgraded version of the 4th edition.
Regarding CAPM certification, I advise you to not go for it because you are about to be eligible for the PMP exam.
CAPM certification is for the people who has very little or no experience.
And of-course this certification will help a fresh graduate to be noticed.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for a prompt response Fahad!
I just got the info from link below that PMBOK5 will be coming in 31/12/12
link: http://www.velociteach.com/2012/09/pmbok-guide-5th-edition-pmp-exam/
This article also states changes to the PMP Exam based on the 5th edition of the PMBOK® Guide will not occur until sometime in the 3rd quarter of 2013. So till June applicants will give exam based on PMBOK4
1. You mentioned that 5th ed is an upgrade of 4th ed PMBOK. Should I be expecting whole lot different questions in exam based on PMBOK5 ?
OR
2. PMBOK5 will have a little extra content than PMBOK4, and most of the questions and question types is the same?
3. Will it be advisable to jump and give exam before JUN 2013 as exam pattern and question types will remain the same then and change thereafter?
Thanks!
Sankalp
Yes, you’re right that the PMBOK 5th edition will be coming on 31st December 2012 and up to 31st July 2013 you’ll be allowed to take exam based on the PMBOK 4th Edition.
New PMBOK Guide will be an update on the old one. In new version of guide, PMI has added a new knowledge area about the Stakeholder Management and slightly updated the content. I don’t see any revolutionary change there.
Of course, there will be changes in exam questions as well; however, this change will be moderate and reflect the latest version of the PMBOK Guide.
As you said that in February you will become eligible for the PMP Exam and then you will apply for the exam and you will take six months for preparation. That is why I suggest you to start preparation based on the fifth edition of the PMBOK Guide.
Don’t take me wrong, but consider the worst case that you applied for the exam in March and attended the test at somewhere in June or July and you failed. In this case, you will be in difficult position because you still have two attempts and after July exam pattern is going to be changed.
Moreover, it is always good to prepare with the latest edition of the standard rather than the edition which is already been expired.
Thank you Sir.
Just the perfect answer.
I am starting my studies in mid JAN 2013:-
Starting it off with
1. Andy Crowe Passing PMP in first attempt & its brain dump (the present version)
2. Will purchase updated version of Rita later when it comes for PMBOK5
However, I am happy to know that PMBOK5 is not a major makeover and upgraded version of PMBOK4.
Be assured that I will trouble you with lots of questions once I start preparing.
Thanks a lot for guiding me! PMSC rocks!
Keep up the good work, God Bless You!!
Sankalp Navghare
Experienced Product Manager
Thank you and good luck for your studies.
Hi Fahad,
I am not a holder of 4 year degree(As mentioned in PMI website). I am BSC graduate, 3 years degree holder and working in the IT product and bank industry for nearly 10 years.
But, relevant project management experience as follows: would require your valuable input/advice whethe i am eligible to write PMP.
==>Worked with Banking industry under operations for 5 years. – This would not be considered. I am aware.
==>Worked with an IT Product vendor for 2 years under implementation team for various bank projects and also involved in Presales activities of various banks.
==>Working in IT division of a UAE bank for nearly 18 months under strategic projects team on implementaion of new banking product.
Please validate my eligibility. Looking forward. Thanks in advance.
Regards
Mathan
PMI asks you to be a bachelor’s degree holder or a global equivalent. In many countries; e.g. in India three years BSC degree is considered as a graduate degree; therefore, I believe that PMI may consider you as a degree holder.
As per you, your experience is as follows:
5 years – under operations,
2 years – under project management
18 months (1-1/2 years) – under project management.
If you add all of it, it is equal to eight and half years, and your experience in 10 years. I did not see your remaining one and half year experience. If you have this remaining experience in project management as well then you should not have any problem because you can be eligible under the secondary degree qualification.
However, I suggest you that in case of such technical doubt, it is best to contact the PMI customer care.
Hope it helps.
Please note that the PMP certification is not domain specific. It is a generic Project Management training certification.
Given below are the requirements for applying for the PMP Certification Exam:
For a person having a baccalaureate or equivalent university degree,
Minimum of 4500 hours of personal project management experience AND
Minimum of 36 non-overlapping (unique) months of personal project management experience.
For a person not having a baccalaureate or equivalent university degree, but who holds a high school diploma or equivalent secondary school credentials,
Minimum of 7500 hours of personal project management experience AND
Minimum of 60 non-overlapping (unique) months of personal project management experience.
More details login to : PMstudy
I am having 7 years of exp. and working as Business System Analyst.
Please let me know if I am elligible for PMP exam or not.
Please provide me your job description in brief, then only I would be able to comment on your query.
Fahad,
I have read through the PMP handbook and other materials and could not find an answer to my question. I’m hoping you can help. How far back into my professional career can I go to document legitimate Project Management experience?
Years ago (from 1993-2003) I was a construction project manager leading an average of 40-50 turn-key home building projects annually. I migrated into the IT field in 2003 and since have had some (maybe 2500+ hours) of PM experience, but those 10 years would definitely ‘seal the deal’. I have a Masters Degree in International Affairs.
Pete
Hello Pete,
If you read the PMP Handbook page:8, it clearly says,
“….All project management experience must have been accrued within the last eight
consecutive years prior to your application submission…”
As you’re saying that you hold a master degree, so you need to have at-least 4500 hours of the project management experience in order to apply for the PMP exam. And these 4500 hours (3 years) should be earned in last eight years.
To answer your exact question – You can not go back beyond eight years into your professional career to document your project management experience.
Hope it helps.
Hi Fahad,
Thank you for this detailed information. I need to know what do we need to provide as a proof of 4500 hrs of project management experience. Do I need to submit some kind of letter for this.
Thanks,
Tarun
You can submit your experience certificate to the PMI if they ask you through the audit. If you are not selected for an audit then you don’t have to submit anything.
Dear Fahd,
Firstly thanks for the feedback and lot of effort put into. Well passed in 1980 Diploma would like to appear for PMP exam, following experience below:
12 Years Computer Aided Design (CAD) application.
11 Years IT product Operations and Maintenance of different products.
10 Years IT Project Management Role with vendors.
Pls. advice what are the documents required to prove above said experiences.
Thanks in Advance
Kind Regards
Mohammed
Hello Mohammed,
Only your experience certificate is needed. This certificate may include your job description in brief.