Project management has become a key part of any successful organization. Businesses these days are facing increased competition, better quality requirements, and harsh deadlines. The price of failure is sky high, with every mistake costing valuable customers.

To combat the demands of modern day business, organizations have started hiring experienced, capable, and certified project managers.

Many authorities provide project management credentials; however, the PMP certification stands out from the crowd as the most in-demand certification.

In this blog post you will read about the PMP certification, eligibility requirements, how to attain it, and once you do, how you can maintain this credential.

If you are wondering if you can download the PMBOK Guide for free from the PMI website after joining the PMI, the answer is yes.

In fact, this is the prime benefit of joining the PMI.

Please note that opening an account at PMI.org and getting a PMI membership are two different things. Anybody can go to the PMI website and open an account, but you will have to pay a 139 USD to join the PMI.

I am writing this blog post because many aspirants have thought that after opening an account with the site they could download the PMBOK Guide for free.

So, they opened an account, tried to download the PMBOK Guide, and when they failed, they contacted me about the issue. They were thinking that signing up for the site is the same as signing up for the PMI membership.

You might wonder what you can take into the examination hall while attempting the PMP exam.

You cannot take anything except your ID and a key. After completing all check-in formalities, the staff member will ask you to put your belongings in a locker next to the exam room.

You may enter the test room with your ID and the key to your locker. This can be any government-issued ID card, for example, a national ID card, driver’s license, etc.

Keep in mind that in some countries they only accept a passport as a form of ID from a non-citizen, like in Kuwait.

As soon as you pass the PMP exam, you will be anxious to see your name on the PMI online certification registry.

I have passed two PMI certification exams: the PMP on December 13th, 2010, the PMI-RMP on April 9th, 2012, and I had the same feeling.

In both cases, I received congratulatory emails from PMI within 24 hours, and then I was able to see my certification information in my PMI account and on the PMI online certification registry.

This is what I experienced in 2010 and 2012.

If you pass the PMP Certification Exam, then as per the PMI, you’ll receive your certificate package within eight weeks.

When I passed my PMP Certification Exam I was greeted and informed immediately through the computer screen that I would receive my certificate package within eight weeks.

I received it in the third week.

In my PMI-RMP test, I saw the message on the screen that I would receive my certificate package within six weeks (but in an e-mail from the PMI, they mentioned that I would receive my certificate package within eight weeks; I don’t know the reason for this discrepancy).

Now I am waiting for my PMI-RMP Certificate package.

Many aspirants are worried about math-based questions and the calculations involved in solving these questions. They wonder if they can use a calculator during the PMP certification exam.

Yes, you can use a calculator during your PMP certification exam.

In fact, you have two choices: you can use the built-in calculator application through the computer or ask the Pearson VUE staff to provide you with a calculator.

They will let you borrow a non-programmable basic calculator.

How long you need for PMP exam preparation depends on one thing: you. How many hours can you put in each day, and how big is your knowledge gap?

Each aspirant will take their own time..

Once I read the lessons learned of a successful exam taker who took three years to prepare.

He dedicated the first year to reading the PMBOK Guide, and the second year was to reference books, and, in the final year, he reviewed all these materials again and practiced some questions. He then took the exam and passed.

I regularly receive emails from PMP aspirants asking if they have to pay any extra fees to reschedule or cancel their PMP exam.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions because many aspirants regularly need to reschedule or cancel the exam.

The short answer is: it depends.

It depends on when you want to reschedule or cancel the exam. You will not be charged if you reschedule or cancel the exam at least 30 days before the scheduled date.

The PMI will charge you a 70 USD fee if you decide to change your appointment within 30 days of your date.

However, your full exam fee will be forfeited if you decide to cancel or reschedule the exam within two days of the appointment; there is no refund in this case.

What happens if you have scheduled the PMP exam, and when the time comes, you have to cancel or reschedule due to an emergency.

I regularly receive many emails where aspirants ask me if they can change their PMP exam appointment.

Yes, you can reschedule your PMP certification exam appointment two days before the date. You will have to pay 70 USD to the PMI to change your exam date 30 days before your scheduled time, but doing so within two days of the exam will forfeit your full exam fee.

However, if you give more than 30 days’ notice, you can reschedule your exam for free.

A similar rule applies to cancellation.