PMP Certification c

This blog post will discuss “What is the PMP Certification?”

Project management is an essential function for every organization that works with projects. The demands placed on businesses regarding quality standards and timelines are becoming increasingly stringent. Your reputation and ability to bring in new business will suffer if you cannot execute a project on schedule and within the allotted budget.

To meet the challenges of conducting business in the modern day, businesses have begun recruiting project managers that are qualified, experienced, and accredited in their fields.

Even while many different organizations offer certification, the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is by far the most sought after.

You will find this blog post helpful if you are interested in project management and looking for information.

After reading this piece, you will understand the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, its prerequisites, and how to obtain and keep your PMP certificate.

What is the PMP Certification?

PMP stands for Project Management Professional. It is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the USA, to experienced professionals working on projects.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a non-profit organization that assists professionals in furthering their careers in project management and provides the best practices, tools, and methodologies for project management.

The PMP application process is designed to make you an efficient project manager so you can complete projects successfully with minimal obstruction.

The PMP certification is considered to be a benchmark in the business. Your resume will be seen by many more people if you have this title, and you will come off as a more desirable job candidate.

This accreditation is recognized anywhere around the globe and applies to all different kinds of businesses. It demonstrates that you are qualified to lead initiatives due to your education, experience, and expertise.

How to Attain the PMP Certification

You must pass a computer-based test in a controlled environment to attain the PMP certification. After applying and proving that you are eligible.

PMP Certification Requirements

There are three eligibility requirements to get the PMP certification:

  1. Education
  2. Project Management Experience
  3. Project Management Training

Education: You should have a diploma or a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

Experience: If you are a degree holder, you should have at least three years of project management experience. If you are a diploma or secondary degree holder, you should have at least five years of experience. If you have a PG degree, the experience requirement is two years.

Project Management Training: You must attend a 35 contact hours training program to educate you on the concepts. This PMP training should be aligned with the latest PMP Exam Content Outline.

If you are looking for an affordable online PMP training program, you can take the following course to earn your 35 contact hours: PMSprout’s PMP Training Program.

If you satisfy all three prerequisites, you will be eligible to apply for the PMP certification exam.

Please be aware that if you currently hold an active CAPM certificate, you are exempt from the requirement to complete training. If you have the necessary experience, you are eligible to apply for the PMP exam even if you haven’t attended any training.

PMP Exam Application Process

There are two ways to apply for the PMP exam: offline and online. The same information must be provided to proceed with either technique; however, the online method is far more expedient. The offline procedure consumes a lot of time because you have to use a courier service to submit hard copies of your paperwork to the PMI.

I would recommend you proceed with the online process.

To begin the PMP exam application process, go to pmi.org, create your account, and fill in the application form. You must provide proof of your education, experience, and training.

Once you begin the process, you have 90 days to complete it.

After receiving these items, the PMI will evaluate your application within one week. At that point, you will be able to pay the examination cost and take the exam (if you are not selected for an audit). This day marks the beginning of your one-year eligibility period for the PMP exam, during which you are required to get a passing score. You will have a total of three chances to pass.

You may be selected for an audit after you submit the form. If you are selected, the PMI will send you an email with further steps. They will ask you to submit copies of your educational qualifications, experience certificate, and proof of training program completion.

Within one week, the PMI will review your document, at which point you will be informed of the audit outcome. If you are found eligible after the audit, the eligibility period will begin counting down from that day. You can proceed with the payment and set up the appointment for the exam now.

After making the payment, you will receive a code. Go to the PearsonVUE site and use this code to schedule the exam.

I recommend getting a PMI membership before applying for the PMP exam. Doing so will reduce your exam fee significantly.

As a member, you can download the PMBOK Guide for free. Your PMP exam preparation is incomplete without reading it.

What is on the PMP Certification Exam

As of July 2022, the PMP exam consists of 180 questions and lasts 230 minutes. The exam has two scheduled breaks for ten minutes. The break time is not included in the exam time.

The exam questions are broken down into three domains:

  1. People – 42% 
  2. Process – 50%
  3. Business Environment – 8% 

The half exam questions will be from the predictive (waterfall) project management methodology and another half from the agile or hybrid methodologies.

Once you submit your answers, you will know immediately if you have passed or failed.

If you fail the exam, you will have two more attempts within your time limit. If you fail in all three attempts, you must wait for one year to apply again.

If you pass the exam, you can use the designation “PMP” after your name in your resume, email signature, and publications.

If you are looking for a course that can help you prepare for the PMP exam at an affordable price, you can join the “PMP Exam Preparation Tool” course.

The PMP Exam Passing Score

The PMI keeps this number a secret, and no one knows the PMP passing score except the PMI.

Generally, it is assumed that the exam’s passing score is around 70%.

Please note that the PMP passing score is not fixed. It depends on the level of difficulty of your individual questions. If you are given straightforward questions, your passing score will be higher; on the other hand, if you are given challenging questions, your passing score will be lower.

How to Get PMP Certified

The process of getting PMP certified is lengthy but straightforward. 

The following step will help you become a PMP certified:

  1. Check the Requirements: First, determine whether or not you meet the requirements to apply for the PMP exam. Work on it if you are not yet qualified to take the Project Management Professional exam. For instance, if you do not have the necessary educational requirements, you should enroll in college and earn a diploma or degree.
  2. Gather Information: This is the most important step. The PMP exam format and process have changed multiple times in recent years. Ensure you have the right information. I strongly recommend downloading the PMP handbook from the PMI website and reading it thoroughly.
  3. Join the PMI Membership: The PMI membership has many benefits; the two most important for you now are free access to the PMBOK Guide and a reduced exam fee. Join the PMI membership and download the PMBOK Guide for free.
  4. Collect Study Material: Collect study resources you will use during your PMP exam preparation. This includes PMP exam reference books, the PMBOK Guide, etc.
  5. Get the Training: Read the study resource, the PMBOK Guide and then join the training to get your 35 contact hours. This is a mandatory requirement, so you must attend it.
  6. Schedule the PMP Exam: After you complete the training, fix the date for your PMP exam. Give yourself three months for the PMP exam preparation.
  7. Prepare for the Exam: Now time to start the PMP exam preparation. Read the PMP exam reference books, the PMBOK Guide, practice questions, etc.
  8. Attempt the Exam: If you are going to take the test at a testing facility, make sure you have adequate rest before it and arrive at the center earlier than the allotted time. When taking the tests administered by a proctor, you need to ensure that the computer is in working order and that you have uninterrupted access to the internet and a PC in a secure location.

I hope you pass your PMP certification exam on your first attempt.

Is the PMP Worth it?

There is no doubt that getting the PMP certification is worthwhile. However, that largely depends upon you and the field in which you are currently employed.

The Project Management Professional credential is valuable for many reasons, including the following:

Global Recognition: The PMP certification is globally recognized, and employers will know that you are aware of project management and know the best tools and techniques used to manage projects. They are going to have faith in your capabilities.

Learning Skilled: Obtaining a PMP certification is a tough process, and having this certification shows that you are highly motivated and interested in learning new skills. It demonstrates that you have gone through an organized process and that you do not have any knowledge gaps. This certification demonstrates that you are dedicated to expanding your skill set.

Better Job Opportunities: If you browse job sites, you will see that many employers require PMP certification for the project manager position. This is because PMP certification is recognized as the industry standard. If you do not hold the PMP credential, however, your chances of being interviewed will be lower than those of someone who does hold the credential.

Higher Salary: Various studies have found that in the United States, a project manager who holds a PMP credential is paid, on average, 20 percent more compensation than a project manager who does not carry a credential. Therefore, if you hold the PMP certification for project management, you may be eligible for a higher income.

Every company wants to recruit the most qualified project managers who are up-to-date on the latest tools and methods, aware of current trends, and can successfully lead and direct projects. Because you have already shown your ability, employers will have more faith in your capabilities if you have PMP certification.

Some other benefits of the PMP certification are:

  • Demonstrates your professional achievements.
  • Boosts clients’ confidence in your organization.
  • Increases your employer’s confidence in you.
  • Improves organizational productivity.
  • Boosts your self-confidence.
  • Improves your organization’s brand.

Maintaining the PMP Certification

The PMP certification credential is valid for three years.

To renew it, you must earn 60 professional development units and report them to the PMI. Once the PMI accepts PDUs, your credential will be renewed for another three years.

Other Certifications Offered by the PMI

As of today, July 2021, the PMI offers eight certifications:

  1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
  2. Project Management Professional (PMP)®
  3. Program Management Professional (PgMP)®
  4. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)®
  5. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
  6. PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®
  7. PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®
  8. PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®

I Don’t have Project Management Experience. Can I apply for the PMP Certification?

No, you cannot.

The PMP certification is for experienced professionals. The minimum amount of project management experience required is five years if you hold a diploma or a certificate. If you hold a degree, the prerequisite for experience is three years.

If you do not fulfill the PMP requirements, you have a different choice: submitting an application for the CAPM exam. Another certification offered by the PMI, this one does not require any previous experience in project management.

Get this certification, earn project management experience, and apply for the PMP exam.

Is the PMP Certification Right for Me?

Project management skills are useful in all industries, and the PMP certification is highly valued. Earning this certification will surely fill your knowledge gaps, and you will learn many new techniques. 

Though you may not get an immediate salary raise or a new promising job, you will be an asset to your organization, and your peer will respect you for being highly skilled.

The PMP certification will help you in your career growth.

Summary

It is estimated that over one million working professionals already hold a Project Management Professional certification, making it the most popular credential. This certificate is recognized by various government bodies and commercial and public sector enterprises. Obtaining one’s PMP certification is not a simple task, yet, doing so is a significant accomplishment.

If you are in the project management field, you should get started on the application process as soon as possible.

This is the final part of the post titled “What is the PMP Certification?” Please use the comments section below to ask any questions about the Project Management Professional certification, and I will do my best to respond to each.

I have compiled the answers to some fundamental concerns regarding the PMP certification into five separate blog pieces. This is the first post in a series that will include a total of five parts. The other blog posts are as follows:

  1. What is the PMP Certification (You are here)
  2. What are the PMP Eligibility Criteria?
  3. What is the PMP Exam Application Process?
  4. How Expensive is the PMP Certification?
  5. What is the PMP Examination Structure?

I strongly encourage you to visit www.pmi.org for the most recent and detailed explanations and further information.

Fahad Usmani, PMP

I am Mohammad Fahad Usmani, B.E. PMP, PMI-RMP. I have been blogging on project management topics since 2011. To date, thousands of professionals have passed the PMP exam using my resources.