Friday, May 8, 2009

Chasing the PMP Certification Exam

Professionals from different fields covet the PMP Certification Exam not merely for increased compensation but for the respect it commands because this proves they have the mettle to handle project management on levels of excellence.

Begin the Chase with Self-Evaluation

The chase for the PMP Certification Exam begins with an assessment of your present skills and your qualifications to take the PMP course. If you have a bachelors degree, you must have three years experience in project management or an equivalent of 4500 hours. If you are a high school graduate or have a technical diploma and five years or 7500 hours of project management experience, you set the next stage of the chase.

This experience must include actual project direction, initiation, project planning and management, monitoring and project closing. This is verified through your documentation of the projects you have led and managed. Without these, you cannot qualify for a PMP Certification Exam and you waste your time and effort making inquiries. If you qualify, your application is immediately processed.

Choose Your Training Course

There are several institutions providing PMP training; be sure that the course you are going to take meets PMI's rigid standards for the training. Online sites offering these courses display the PMP registered certification mark; this is one way to detect the reliability of the site or service provider. A PMP training course should be equivalent to 35 hours and you can choose to self-study or sign up for a classroom course.

Choose Membership

Opting for a membership with the PMI will save you $150 on exam cost. By signing up online, you pay $119 and an additional cost of $20 or $30 for chapter membership in North America. This is not mandatory, but you get more perks as a member.

Application and Acceptance

Online registration applications for the PMP Certification Exam course are free and are processed immediately. You get your Authorization to Test after five working days. By this time you have been at your lessons and ready for a pre-test of what you have learned.

Test Site

There are several test sites for the candidates of the elusive PMP Certification Exam. Choose the one nearest your home to avoid the hassles and the stress of making it to the test site an hour before examination time.

Schedule Your PMP Exam

The best time to schedule your exam is preferably two weeks between the end of your course and the exam date. There are several preparations to do before the exam, hence the time gap but it is preferred to take the exam nearest to the closing of your lessons when you are at your peak. Some providers provide all the exam tools needed to help you prepare for the PMP Exam and earn that PMP Certification Exam.

Take Sample Exams

Take the sample exams until you bat an average of 90%, don't settle for less if you want to pass the test. Answer all questions from the PMI mindset and don't leave any blanks. An unanswered question is deemed a wrong answer so answer all the questions. Learn how to time the exam in the pace of four hours so you can gauge how you are going during the test to earn that PMP Certification Exam.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks, I liked this post. I pointed to it on my blog today.

    http://pmstudent.com/chasing-the-pmpJosh Nankivel
    pmStudent.com

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  2. Hi All,
    Sorry, but as a life-long practitioner of project management, I have yet to seen ANY substantiation that "proves" people who hold their PMP "have the mettle to handle project management on levels of excellence".

    If you look at the PMBoK 2004, at the bottom of page 3, you will see PMI clearly states that they are advocating not "best" practices, but practices "used on most projects, most of the time".

    And I would caution everyone not to confuse "brand recognition" with "respect". Yes, without question, the PMP is by far the best KNOWN credential, but most widely "RESPECTED"? Certainly not in my eyes nor in the eyes of many other practitioners I know and trust.

    Stepping back and taking a pragmatic look. Exactly how much credibility should be given to ANY credential that requires only 4500 hours of UNDOCUMENTED experience; requires taking a 35 hour training course, that can be fulfilled by reading a book of questions or listenting to a podcast; then taking a 200 question, multiple choice exam, of which only 175 questions actually count and require a grade of ~62% to pass?

    To help you put this in perspective, would you get on the next commercial jetliner, if you knew that the pilot had never successfully taken off or landed a plane? Or that he got his pilots license by taking a 175 question, multiple choice exam and passed with a grade of 62%?

    No, I didn't think so.....

    Folks, PLEASE look beyond PMI's marketing hype and recognize that when the PMP was first implemented, the objective was to serve as a screen or filter to ensure that people coming from functional areas and being assigned to a project team, knew and understood the terminology and concepts. The PMP was NEVER intended to stand as evidence the holder has "the mettle to handle project management on levels of excellence".

    BR,
    Dr. Paul D. Giammalvo, CDT, CCE, MScPM,
    Senior Technical Advisor, PT Mitratata Citragraha, Jakarta/Singapore/Anchorage/Amsterdam/Johannesburg www.getpmcertified.com

    Adjunct Professor, Project/Program Management, Lille Graduate School of Management, Paris, FRANCE www.esc-lille.com

    Curriculum Development Consultant/Adjunct Professor, Asset and Project Management, University of Western Australia, Perth, www.blendedlearning.ecm.uwa.edu.au

    Board of Directors, Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) Sydney, AUSTRALIA www.globalpmstandards.org

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  3. Hey hi,

    Thank you for giving this information on PMP Certification Exam and project management on levels, I impress to see your blog…

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  4. Thanks for the summary. Looks like I've done it right so far. :) Working the sample exams now. This far in the process now, I have to agree with Paul (above). I find value in the structure, but the whole PMBOK is way overthought, and the testing is at such a granular level. Wouldn't be a good test of expertise, but a good reassurance of baseline knowledge. I think it works as a credential, showing some career commitment, showing some training and baseline knowledge. Despite some years of experience, I'm finding some insights as I study for the PMP exam. I find some validation for things I've done well, and some insights into things I could have done better. Now I know better _why_ I've succeeded in PM work thus far.

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