In our title link Sandy Farnan answers how to prepare for a PMI® credential examination in a recent PMI Community Post. I have been asked about my experience taking the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential exam, so I'll summarize my thoughts here as well.
1. Plan before you commit.
When you apply and are accepted to sit for the PMP exam, you have a 12-month window to pass the exam with up to 3 attempts, before needing to re-apply. One instructor recommends "about 12 weeks preparation" as a balance between learning and diminishing returns. There may be a 3-6 week lead time to schedule an exam at a time of your preference. Apply no less than one month and no more than 9 months before you plan to sit for the exam.
In addition to the PMP, the PMI also offers the CAPM®, PgMP®, PMI-RMPSM, and PMI-SPSM credentials.
2. Find your peers.
2.(a) Become a member of the PMI and your local PMI chapter.
As a PMI member, you receive a discount on the PMP exam fee--but why not enroll in the PMI today and enjoy the benefits sooner? The local chapters of the PMI offer networking opportunities, training, and many form study groups to prepare for credential examinations. After you receive your credential, your local chapters will be a key resource in your continuing education.
2.(b) Optionally seek out (or create) other peer and/or study groups.
Your workplace or other professional group might provide another venue for peer networking with other project managers. In my company, we started a Project Management Roundtable with only the willingness for attendees to give up their lunchtime (bring your own lunch) and meet together in an available conference room or on the conference bridge. We are not specifically a PMP study group; topics are consensus-selected and vary. The chair is responsible for logistics and minutes, but that roles rotates each meeting to share the burden.
My PMI local chapter was a great way to get connected with a PMP-specific study group, which had weekly teleconference meetings and resources including lessons learned from previous members.
3. Fulfill 35 hours of project management coursework.
There is no time limit on coursework. I had more than enough project-management specific coursework during my graduate studies, but it was from long enough ago that some of the best practices in PM hadn't been codified yet. For instance, the language around earned value had changed from what I thought I remembered. I elected to take a 2-day "exam prep" course and had great results. It gave me a roadmap to the PMBOK® I could (more easily) understand. It demystified the exam process so I knew what to expect. Practice examinations identified the holes in my own knowledge so I could prioritize them for my ongoing self-study.
Five-day or 10-week "exam prep" courses similarly prepare PMs for the exam and also fulfill the 35-hour requirement. I've reviewed the agenda for some with PMs who have sat through them. These courses cover a lot of information, and they are not the easiest way for the uninitiated to learn project management. They can be a great tool for many experienced PMs to come up to speed on PMP standards, however.
4. Read the PMBOK Guide.
You'll receive this on CD as a PMI member. It can seem dry, but you need to know what's in it. Keep in mind that the PMP also draws on your experience, so not everything you need to know as a project manager is in the PMBOK.
The current Third Edition of the PMBOK Guide applies to credential examinations on or before June 30, 2009.
5. Don't limit your studies to the PMBOK Guide.
The PMBOK is the body of knowledge for all things project management, but the written PMBOK Guide is only a synopsis. Professional journals, recommendations from course instructors, and topical books all apply. Some texts are focused on exam preparation, other more generally on topics in project management. In the quality management knowledge area, I needed more than the PMBOK Guide alone provides. I was glad to have reviewed a pocket guide for six sigma and lean manufacturing.
Practice examinations were helpful to me. Early on, they identified my weaknesses. Later, they confirmed my progress and helped me feel more comfortable with the mechanics of answering questions. I received practice examinations through my 2-day prep course. You may also find some available in text books, or online.
5. Practice, relax, and have confidence.
You are prepared. You do not need a perfect score. You will have time to finish. And when you do, your continuing education begins. Don't neglect making a plan to earn PDUs and continue your education as you strive for excellence in the profession. Your three year renewal will be here before you know it!
Recap and Resources
- Become a PMI member
- Find a local PMI chapter
- Apply for the PMP Credential
- Schedule your exam
- Prepare, and succeed!
- Continue your learning
Q. What did you learn from your experience with the PMP?
