How Long to Study for the PMP Exam Preparation?

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

Each aspirant will take their own PMP exam preparation 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, the second year 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.

A few months later, I read another lesson learned from a successful exam taker in the same forum. She wrote that she had to prepare for the PMP in less than one month.

She said that she rescheduled and canceled her exam many times because of her tight schedule. Finally, when her eligibility deadline came, she had no choice but to take the exam. This time, she scheduled the exam within one month, prepared, and passed.

She explained how she studied to pass the PMP exam and then advised aspirants not to follow her example.

I gave you two extreme cases, but I don’t recommend you follow either.

Time Required for PMP Exam Preparation

To prepare for the PMP exam, you will have to go through the following steps:

1. Collect Information
2. Attend the Training
3. Prepare for the PMP Exam
4. Attempt the Test

Collect Information

Once you decide to become a PMP, the first to do is to collect all the necessary information. 

You can find information on the best study resources and types of training programs you can join for your 35 contact hours training program.

You should not invest more than one week in this.

Attend the Training

You cannot apply for the PMP exam until you complete your formal education in project management and earn your 35 contact hours certificate.

This should only take one week as well. 

If you plan to participate in a boot camp, they typically finish the course in three or four days. However, if you are subscribed to an online program, I strongly recommend you complete the PMP training as quickly as possible, even though you may have access for one year.

Prepare for the PMP Exam

This is where you will spend most of your time for the PMP exam preparation.

For your PMP exam preparation, you must study at least one PMP reference book; however, I recommend you use two to give you a different perspective. This will help you understand and remember concepts in the PMBOK Guide.

Afterward, you will need to practice some questions and attempt mock tests. This will help you find your knowledge gaps and prepare for the exam.

If you feel you are not ready, revise the concepts and make sure your knowledge gaps are filled.

I suggest you take at least three months to prepare for your PMP exam. Not only do you have to read the material, but you need to digest the information thoroughly. 

Three months of around three hours of studying per day should be enough for you to prepare for the PMP exam.

I have seen many aspirants apply for the exam right after completing the training, attempt the test within one month, and fail. Then, they complained that time constraints kept them from preparing well.

Don’t do this. Make a plan for your PMP exam preparation and give yourself a reasonable timeframe. Don’t use fast-tracking or crashing here.

Prepare a realistic schedule and follow your plan. To pass the PMP exam, You must understand all project management concepts and the PMBOK Guide.

Attempt the Test

This is the final day. 

Attempt the PMP exam and pass it.

Good luck with your PMP exam preparation.

Summary

If you can spend three hours a day studying, three months’ duration is enough to pass your PMP exam. I suggest you not spend any longer than three months, as you may lose interest and give up. However, in any case, I do not recommend you plan for less than two months to prepare, as the exam pressure can overwhelm you.

Have you attempted the exam? How much time did you take to prepare for the PMP exam? Please share your experiences in the comments section so other PMP aspirants can benefit.