?The Road Map to become a PMP Introduction and Importance of PMP
PMP (Project Management Professional) is a globally recognized certification issued by PMI (Project Management Institute) to the project managers. If a person wants to establish his/her career in project management field, then PMP serves as a road map for his/her success. PMP certification offers many benefits as organizations are most likely to hire those individuals as their project managers who have PMP certification. As PMP is the most widely recognized certification globally for project managers, therefore, a person holding a PMP certification can work anywhere in the world on any project irrespective of his geographic location. A research shows that PMP holders earn more than their non PMP peers. Another benefit of PMP is that it establishes a common practice among project managers which help them to work collaboratively with each other while following the common methodology. PMP certificate indicates that a person understands the global language of project managers and is capable of applying globally accepted project management methodologies to his/her projects. More than one third of the project managers in organizations are PMP certified which exhibits the acceptance and global nature of this certification.
Eligibility/Requirements for PMP
Now the question is that how to become a Project Management Professional? Achieving PMP is not as simple as it seems. Project Management Institute (PMI) has set certain prerequisites to attain a PMP certificate. In order to be eligible for PMP, one should fulfill the following criteria.
- A person should possess a secondary degree (an associate degree, a high school diploma or equivalent).
- He/she should have experience of approximately 7500 hours of managing the projects and has got at least 35 hours of project management education.
Alternatively, a person may also be eligible for PMP if he/she fulfills the following criteria
- Possess a four years bachelor’s degree
- A project management experience of 4500 hours and at least 35 hours of project management education.
Study Plan for PMP
Now that if a person fulfills the above mentioned eligibility criteria, the next step would be to apply for an exam online and start preparing for it. It should be kept in mind that giving a PMP exam is not so easy as one has to prepare thoroughly and extensively to get through this exam. Here the question arises how and from where a person can start his preparation for a PMP exam? Well, most of the PMP exam is based on PMBOK which stands for “Project Management Body of Knowledge”. PMBOK has all the terminologies, knowledge area and processes which are necessary to become a successful project manager. PMI revises PMBOK editions frequently; therefore, one should always use the latest version of PMBOK for the preparation purpose.
Rita Book
Certain preparation books are also in the markets which are proven to be useful for PMP aspirants. One such author of the prep book for PMP aspirants is written by Rita Mulcahy. PMP Exam Prep Book by Rita Mulachy is the most popular and is the best seller book around the globe. PMP exam has many difficult questions about project management which also include questions based on real life scenarios. Therefore, to cope up with these questions, the preparation materials and books by famous authors like Rita Mulcahy come in handy.
PMP Exam Prep Workshops
On the other hand, if one wants to prepare for PMP exam through a class room type environment, then PMP Exam Prep Workshop enter the picture. Since, PMP is globally recognized and most popular certification for project managers, therefore, PMP prep workshops are frequently organized around the world for PMP aspirants. These workshops also help in networking with other PMP aspirants and project managers in that area. One can also choose to study for a PMP exam through online workshops where one can access the course material for PMP exam.
Exam Simulators or Mock up exam
Exam simulators or mock up exam for PMP are particularly helpful in preparation as in these simulators or mock up exams, there are questions like real PMP exam and one can test his/her ability to answer these questions after preparation. As questions in these exam simulators or mock up exam are much similar to those in the PMP exam, so eventually a person can perform much better in real PMP exam after these simulators. There is great Exam Simulators at pmlinks.org
Flash Cards
Since PMP exam has questions on different methodologies, knowledge areas and processes of project management, therefore, sometimes it becomes difficult for a person to memorize them. A person who finds it difficult to memorize, he/she can use flash cards. Flash cards for PMP exam can be accessed online and printed according to the ease of a person. Flash cards are especially useful for the applicants to memorize the main concepts of PMBOK. Flash cards are the easiest way to check that whether a PMP aspirant has an understanding of all the concepts, tools and techniques, methods, knowledge areas and processes listed in PMBOK.
Online video courses
There are series of online video courses that give a new applicant in depth knowledge and information about PMP and PMBOK. These Videos had project management tutorials and one can easily grab information by watching these videos. These online e- learning videos are especially helpful for the busy professionals who find it difficult to take time and attend workshops in their areas. There are usually the series of videos one can have an excellent understanding of all the tools and techniques of project management by watching these videos.
After becoming PMP
PMP Exam is approximately of four hours and after the exam if a PMP aspirant passes an Exam, a congratulation message by PMI appears on the screen and now the person is a PMP. The name of the successful candidate comes in the PMP directory after just 48 hours. PMP certificate usually takes six to eight weeks to reach the successful candidate through mail. Besides certificate, PMI also sends information regarding maintaining the PMP credential.
One can use this PMP credential in his resume and cover letters as the chances of the candidate for being hired as a project manager increase significantly. If the successful candidate is already a professional working in an organization, he/she can update his qualifications by contacting the relevant contact person in his/her organization which will definitely have a positive impact on his career.
How to maintain PMP Credential
After passing PMP, an applicant has to maintain his PMP credential by following certain rules and regulations set by PMI. A PMP certificate is renewed after every three years. The period of these three years is termed as CCR (Continuing Education Certification requirements) cycle which starts immediately after the candidate passes his exam and expires after three years. An applicant has to earn 60 PDU’s in three year period to maintain this certificate. PDU is an acronym of professional development unit. One PDU equates to one hour of project management training. A person can earn PDU’s either by engaging him/her in education and learning activities related to project management or by giving back to the community by working as a practitioner or a trainer in this field. The candidate can register his PDU’s online through a system designated by PMI. One has to submit the renewal fee to PMI after submitting his PDU’s. After that, PMI issues new and updated certificate to the applicant with renewed CCR dates.
Senior System Engineer / SharePoint Admin at SAIC.
8 年You are all obfuscating the point. The PMP cert makes you no more of an expert than the fresh college grad with a BS. It's the starting point. It shows you have put in the work and effort. Anecdotal evidence is a poor way to make a point.
Your Project, Our Expertise: Solving complex project challenges through strategic planning and control. Delivering efficient, cost-effective, and on-time project execution.
8 年Jim...What is the meaning of PMP? and what does it test...knowledge or experience?
IT Project Manager @ Culmen International | Cyber PM associate support to CISA
8 年PMP does not make one a professional.
This is quite an over-simplified criterion for the job which not necessarily guarantees one capable. This is a bit generic a qualification list. I learned the business starting as an Assistant with more than enough college qualifications and actual site experience. This is not what made me excellent at Project Management. I learned under some of the best: Dave Thomas, Robert Carver, and Jerry Jernigan. by the time I had been there 6 months I could do all aspects from: walking potential bid sites, documenting site, estimating and preparing bid packages, contracts, pre-con, and --well I could go through every division and aspect here but will refrain,. By the time i was done I was building at one time 7 sites from two offices in different regions and still came i ahead of schedule and under budget. That was with all problems of having to come with keeping to Timberscan schedule, back-charges, IA, PCOB's, etc. I was completing all close-out documents within 30 days of final walk-through and was included in 1-year final walk-though. There are many of us like this that simply needed excellent mentors..now we exceed without having been ones who fell into your specific categories. I am not tooting my my horn when i say that i am one of the best.