Succeeding your PgMP exam and obtaining your Program Management Professional certification from PMI!

Introduction

This article aims to provide an in-depth perspective on the journey to becoming a certified Program Management Professional, commonly known as PgMP. The focus will be on eligibility criteria, readiness assessment, effective study strategies, essential resources, and exam preparation tips. My intention is to share valuable insights gained from my personal experience navigating this extensive certification process.

According to PMI: "This elite certification recognizes the advanced experience, skills, and performance necessary to manage and align a portfolio of projects and programs to realize organizational strategy and objectives. Only a few thousand professionals have earned their PgMP? certification, so completion indicates a tremendous depth of knowledge and actionable expertise."

Assessing Eligibility and Readiness

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Begin by asking yourself two critical questions:

1. Do you possess multiple years of project management experience?
2. Have you managed interconnected projects within the same program for at least four years?

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The objective of these questions is to assess your readiness for the certification candidly. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), candidates must demonstrate eight years of combined program and project management experience. For those already PMP certified, the requirement narrows down to four years of program management experience.

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Navigating the Application Process and Panel Review

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The certification process comprises two stages. The initial stage requires you to submit an application that justifies your project and program experience. Exercise extreme caution during this phase, as inaccuracies can result in partial forfeiture of the examination fee.

I recommend paralleling your application preparation with a cursory review of PgMP materials. Tailor your responses to align with the domains defined by the PgMP: Stakeholder Management, Governance, Strategy, Program Lifecycle, and Benefits Realization. Seek peer reviews to strengthen your application before submission. Successful completion of this phase without an audit makes you eligible for the examination. An audit will slow it down by a few days. Comply quickly, you will have limited days to respond, in case.

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Once you pass the panel and are eligible, don’t schedule your exam!

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After successfully passing the panel review, it's advisable to hold off on immediately scheduling your exam. PMI levies a $70 fee for any changes to the exam date made within 30 days of your appointment. Given the rigorous preparation involved and the likelihood of needing to adjust your exam date, retaining the freedom to reschedule without incurring financial penalties is beneficial. As long as you remain within your eligibility window, you can select a date that suits you without additional costs. To stay mentally committed, mark a tentative date on your calendar and formally schedule the exam just a few days prior to avoid any rescheduling fees. This approach not only safeguards unnecessary rescheduling fees, but also accommodates life's unpredictability and varying commitments.

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Start your study plan, and make it as diverse as possible

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Begin your study journey with the Standard for Program Management V4. Complement this resource with the Exam Content Outline (ECO) to get an overview of program management domains and tasks; this is how you will be scored & tested during the exam when you obtain your exam results. For a well-rounded preparation, consider incorporating various learning materials. Platforms like O'Reily and Udemy offer a range of PgMP courses tailored for different learning styles. The investment is worth it and the videos will help you listen, visualize, repeat, and absorb the material well!

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Additionally, consider investing in supplementary books to deepen your understanding of the subject matter. There are various options by good authors, for example, check out PgMP Handbook by Anand Vijayakumar. What I liked about his book is the friendly manner of portraying different kinds of concepts in an easy-to-understand fashion. He also offers “words of wisdom” from time to time which let you relate some of the concepts in real life. The author also inspired me to invest in his other book: PgMP Exam Cram: A smart companion for achieving PgMP exam success. In this publication, readers will encounter two distinct sections designed for comprehensive preparation. The initial section provides concise bullet-point summaries covering all major PgMP concepts, offering a streamlined review. The latter section serves as a practice ground, featuring two practice exams comprising over 400 questions. While these questions may not mirror the exam's exact level of difficulty, they present an excellent starting point for honing your test-taking skills.

It's crucial to accurately assess your progress and determine your weekly study capacity. Exercise honesty in evaluating your availability and capabilities, and avoid the pitfall of overcommitting through an overly ambitious study plan!

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Practicing questions: Quality AND Quantity!

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To quell the apprehension of failing your exam, the mantra is simple: practice, practice, practice! The key to safeguarding your substantial $1,000 investment and passing on your first try hinges on rigorous preparation. A recommended approach is to engage in qualitative questions, aiming to complete at least 1,500 of them!

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The PgMP is notoriously challenging, necessitating an in-depth grasp of the subject matter and familiarity with the complex questions that the exam presents. A critical asset in your preparation arsenal is access to high-quality question materials, and I have credible sources and a strategy to offer.

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If you've invested in the earlier-mentioned cram book, you've made a commendable start by covering 400 beginner-level questions. A logical subsequent step would be to download the uCertifyPrep PMI PgMP app from the AppStore. This resource provides 150 free questions and offers additional practice tests for purchase. These medium-difficulty questions serve as an excellent warm-up for more advanced material. A unique advantage of this app is its comprehensive explanations, which elucidate not only why the correct answers are valid but also why the incorrect options are not—a feature seldom found in other resources.

Next, you can invest in another app called PgMP exam: Exam Test Preparation Q&A, also on the AppStore. This one has more than 500 difficult questions which are extremely resourceful. You will find high-quality situational questions in a classical interface, well worth the very low price! Finally, to top off your preparation, I highly recommend Shadi Ismail’s book, PgMP Exam Questions Bank. He provides 3 full 170-question practice tests, with very high-quality questions, quite similar to the exam. The difficulty ranges from medium to high, and you will appreciate the readiness you will feel after you finish practicing his exams.

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Incorporating all these resources, you'll have a repository of approximately 2,000 questions for hands-on practice and learning. This approach, however, will only yield dividends if you meticulously review your mistakes to understand the rationale behind each incorrect answer. If you've marked an answer but harbor uncertainties, it's prudent to flag it for later review—even if it turns out to be correct. This practice enables you to clarify any educated guesses you may have made, thereby solidifying your grasp on the subject matter and dispelling lingering doubts.

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As a rule of thumb, allocate approximately four hours for every set of 170 questions, with an additional hour dedicated to reviewing your responses. While your initial scores may be less than ideal, consistent application of this strategy will manifest in progressive improvement over time. According to online sources, failure rate of the exam is about 30-40%! Don't be one of them!

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Use mapping/Visuals to train your brain and connect concepts

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The Standard for Program Management is not as visual as the PMBOK guide, which offers a lot of visually visible processes. It might be difficult to digest the Program Lifecycle domain, which covers around 44% of the total material, without any visual aids.

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A very useful tip is to draw or map all the activities that align with the different Program Phases; Program Definition, Delivery, and Closing. Every activity has different input and output that are clearly mentioned in the SPMV4, but are very hard to remember if not visually retained. This can easily be done on a tablet, computer, or paper/notes.

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Navigating the exam's challenging questions becomes more manageable as you gain expertise in the lifecycle domain area. Such questions often present convoluted scenarios only to ask for the next logical step after a specific event. Typically, this involves updating a particular document before proceeding. To excel in these questions, it's crucial to understand the sequence of outputs and inputs. Creating your own visual map, based on the Standard for Program Management V4, serves as an invaluable tool for grasping this order.

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Conclusion: Are you certainly ready to take on the challenge??

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Every project or program manager should anticipate a significant time commitment for mastering the complexities of a long-term endeavor. A minimum of 100 hours of preparation is a reasonable expectation for such a certification. Candidates vary in their experience, skills, availability, focus, and obligations. They require a multi-faceted approach that includes reading, watching videos, listening to lectures, practicing questions, and even failing in the first few attempts during preparation. The process, though demanding, is undeniably rewarding. If you are already overseeing multiple projects that benefit exclusively from being managed under a single program, which is aligned with your organization's strategic goals, you stand before a golden opportunity. Conversely, if you're still contemplating this career milestone, and feel that you are not yet ready, there's no harm in planning for the future. Surprisingly, I’ve had my sights set on this certification since 2019. Good luck on your journey!

?Disclaimer:

• General Advice Only: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as professional or expert advice.
• No Guarantees: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this article, it does not guarantee that you will pass the PgMP exam. Each individual’s study and preparation methods should be tailored to best suit their own learning style and schedule.
• External Links: This article may contain links in which I have zero affiliation, or commision. I only recommended them because they have served me well.
• Updates and Errors: The PgMP exam format and content can change over time, and while every effort has been made to keep this article up-to-date, there may be developments that are not included herein in the future.
• No Affiliation with PMI: This article is based on personal experience and is not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, authorized, or sponsored by the Project Management Institute (PMI).?PgMP, PMP, and PMBOK are all registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc. (PMI).