In today’s blog post, I will explain the PMP audit, its process, and its purpose. After reading this post, I hope you will understand the PMP application audit process and why it is necessary.
The Project Management Institute (PMI), USA, offers the PMP certification, the most challenging and popular project management credential worldwide.
Every project professional aspires to become a PMP, and organizations seek PMP-certified professionals to manage their projects.
To maintain the credibility of its certifications, PMI conducts audits for applicants applying for the PMI certification exam.
What is the PMP Audit?
A PMP audit ensures that the right candidates pass the process and earn the certification.
Employers trust PMI’s certifications, so it is essential that PMI maintain the quality of its exam process so that only people with the required skills and experience can achieve them.
The PMP application audit upholds the high standards and reputation of the certification process.
No PMP applicant knows if they will be selected for a PMI audit since the selection process is random. However, any applicant has a chance of being audited, and the percentage of candidates selected for an audit is also a secret.
According to the PMI, “All applications are subject to an audit, although only a percentage of applications are selected for an audit. The selection of an application for audit is random.”
There is no way to avoid the audit and no reason to worry about it. You will easily clear the PMP audit if you have submitted the right information and have proof.
What is the PMP Audit Process?
The PMP audit process authenticates the information provided by an applicant and verifies that the applicant is eligible to apply for the PMP exam. Once you submit your application, PMI will notify you immediately if you have been selected for an audit.
If PMI selects you for the PMP audit, your eligibility clock stops until you pass the audit. You will then have three attempts to pass the PMP exam within one year from the date you cleared the audit.
If you are not selected for an audit, you will pay the exam fee, proceed to the Pearson VUE site, and schedule the PMP exam.
If you are selected for an audit, the PMI will email you instructions on completing the process.
The PMI will ask you to provide the following documents to complete the audit process:
1. Proof of Education
You must provide photocopies of your educational certificates. Ensure they are in order; start with the lowest and end with the highest, or vice versa.
2. Proof of Training
Attending a PMP training program to earn 35 contact hours training program is mandatory. Provide a copy of your training certificate.
3. Proof of Experience
The PMI will provide access to a special section of myPMI on the PMI website, where you can find your audit package. Download the forms, fill out your experience details, and make printouts. Next, collect signatures from your supervisors for each project on the experience form.
This process will take time, so get started right away. You have 90 days to complete the audit process.
Ask your supervisors to give you a signed experience certificate in a sealed envelope with another signature across the seal. This is important. You may fail your PMI audit if the forms are not sealed in an envelope.
Suppose you cannot get a supervisor’s signature because the company no longer exists, or you have a bad relationship with your old supervisor. In that case, I suggest you contact PMI customer care, and they will advise you on how to proceed.
I know some cases where the PMI asked applicants to get their experience certificate signed by a colleague on behalf of the supervisor.
Once all the experience certificates are ready, put them in a sealed envelope and send them to the PMI at the following address:
Project Management Institute
Att: Certification Audit
14 Campus Blvd.
Newtown Square, PA 19073-3299, USA.
The PMI will not accept your audit documents through fax or e-mail. Send all the documents in one envelope for faster processing.
They will review your package and inform you of the result in one week. If you have passed the PMP audit, you can complete the payment and schedule the exam.
If you fail the audit, rectify the issue and apply again.
What is the Purpose of the PMP Audit?
This is a quality assurance process for the PMP exam certification process, ensuring that only eligible candidates apply and filtering out fraudulent candidates from being certified. This process verifies the authenticity of the information presented by the candidates.
While the process may seem burdensome to applicants, it supports the credibility and reputation of the certification, ultimately benefitting all project management professionals.
I strongly recommend you download the PMP Handbook and read it. It will help you understand the application and PMP audit process.
How Long is the PMP Audit Process?
The PMI will provide the information required to complete the PMP audit process, and you must collect all required PMP audit documents and send them to the PMI.
After receiving your application, the PMI will take one week to review it. If the papers are in order, you will know your results a week later.
Before applying for the exam, ensure you have details of all previous supervisors so you can contact them quickly if you are selected for the audit. Try to send the package to PMI as quickly as possible.
Remember that PMI reserves the right to audit any candidate even after passing the PMP. If PMI selects you for an audit after passing the PMP exam and you fail it, you will lose your credential, and your fee will not be refunded.
Summary
The PMP audit process is one reason the certification is highly regarded. It maintains the certification’s credibility and ensures the right candidates hold the PMP title. Many aspirants worry about the PMP application audit process; however, if you are truthful and provide the correct information, you will pass the audit.
If you are selected for the PMP audit, please share your experience in the comments section.
I have written five posts on the PMP audit process. Please follow these links to learn more about it.
- What is the PMP Audit and its Purpose? (You are here)
- What Will Happen if I Fail the PMP Audit?
- What Will Happen if I Decide Not to Proceed With the Audit?
- What is the Percentage of PMP Aspirants Selected for an Audit?
- How Can I Avoid a PMP Audit?
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.
Hello Fahad,
Does it really matter that how many people you are directing or leading while working on any project. Let’s say if I was the project leader and only 1 person working in my team, would that be considered as valid experience. If I am self directing myself during the whole project which includes preparing scope of the project, scheduling, keeping track of the project, working on the design and taking it to the completion and reporting to my manager, will that be a valid experience?