How to become a PMP in 6 Steps

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Overview - How to Become a PMP in 6 Steps

The objective of this topic it to help jump-start your journey towards Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

There's a plethora of information available about the PMP exam on the internet. However, the challenge that faces most PMP aspirants is to figure out where to start. Sometimes, it may take upto 6 - 12 months for an individual to just figure out all the requisite information. This topic will help you focus on the essentials by providing you with filtered content.

This topic explains my proprietary (*winks*) 6-Step approach on "How to become a PMP" in reasonable amount of time, with reasonable effort and using the most economical means available.

Image Source: Most "number" images sourced from Flickr / Leo Reynolds

 


Construction Worker Reviewing a Drafting Plan



Is PMP Certification right for you? 

I'm assuming that you have heard some vague information about PMP certification from your friends, colleagues and other sources. Some of you may have done research to determine whether it's right for you. But, some may still be undecided. I'm recommending that you do some research and make up your mind before taking the plunge. Here's some information that may help you make up your mind.
Weigh the value of achieving PMP certification
Can a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification help consultants or others involved in project management stay ahead? What does a PMP certification tell a potential client or employer? Here's a look.
PMP Cert ... Worth It or Not
Is the PMP cert really worth it?
Value of a Credential
Few words from PMI on the value of a credential
Top 10 Reasons for Earning a PMI Credential
Certification is an important step in career development and recognizes qualified and competent individuals. Here are the top ten reasons why project management practitioners become PMI-certified.
Value of PMP Certification
Read and learn for the world has to say about the value of PMP certification.
Real value of PMP Certification
Discussion thread on LinkedIn
Will the PMP Certification improve my salary?
If salary increase is your primary motive, you might want to read this article.

Do you meet the eligibility criteria? 

It's all right to have the motivation to become a PMP, but it is also important to check whether you meet the rigorous eligibility criteria set by PMI, before you invest time in exam preparation.

To be eligible for the PMP credential, you must meet certain educational and professional experience requirements. All project management experience must have been accrued within the last eight consecutive years prior to your application submission.

The eligibility requirements depend upon your Education Background.

  1. If you hold a High school diploma, associate's degree or global equivalent, then you need:

    • Project Management Experience: Minimum five years/60 months unique nonoverlapping professional project management experience during which at least 7,500 hours were spent leading and directing project tasks.

    • Project Management Education: 35 contact hours of formal education (or PDUs)

  2. If you hold a Bachelor's degree or global equivalent, then you need:

    • Project Management Experience: Minimum three years/36 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience during which at least 4,500 hours were spent leading and directing project tasks.

    • Project Management Education: 35 contact hours of formal education (or PDUs)

For complete details, refer to the PMP Handbook.

 


Studio Shot of a Stack of Old Hardcover Books



Resources you'll need 

So much material is available online for the PMP Exam that finding the "best" material itself can be a daunting task. A simple search on Google for "PMP Certification" results in more than half a million results. It is a challenge that most PMP aspirants face when they begin their journey. They just do not know where to start from and what is "right" for them.

To address this challenge, I have compiled a list of the very "best" material, which can help jump-start your PMP Exam preparation and save you considerable amount of precious time in siphoning through huge volume of information. If you get this resource, you are well and truly on your path towards achieving the PMP credentials.

But before I unveil the hidden treasure of information, I want to request a favor. After you review the material, please post your comments and suggestions to help me improve the information further.

Having passed the exam, I can assure you that the material that I'm going to share with you is more than sufficient for anyone to pass the exam.

So, here you go - click on the link in the Sticky Note below and get started.

"Best" PMP Exam Resources


Click on the link below

Directory of "Best" PMP Exam Resources on the web



Disclaimer

Please use this information at your own discretion. Remember, what worked for me may not work for you ! Your mileage may vary.

Study Plan 




My 6-step approach will require approximately 4 months of preparation. See the schedule in the Gantt chart above. Note that some of the steps run simultaneously. For example, you can start your preparation (Step 5) while PMI is reviewing your application (Step 3).

You need to study for 1-2 hours everyday for 4 months, and approximately 200 hrs in total, including 40 hours of PM training. See my estimated preparation time break-up in the table below. You can certainly reduce the duration (even down to 6 weeks) by devoting 4-5 hours each day.

Step 1: Sign-up for Project Management Institute (PMI) membership 

Set your target certification exam date, and sign-up for Project Management Institute (PMI) membership. Detailed information about membership and exam is available on the PMI website.

This should be done before you even begin your preparation. Let's assume that your average preparation time is 4 months. So, working backwards, you should sign up for PMI membership about 4 months prior to your target exam date.

At this time, PMI membership fee is USD 129. PMI membership has several benefits. Some of the obvious ones are:


  • Save on exam fee: Do you know that PMI Membership plus PMP certification exam fee for members is less than just PMP exam fee for non-members. Here's how:

    PMI Membership = USD 129
    PMP Exam Fee for members = USD 405
    Total cost for Membership and Exam = USD 534 (Member cost)

    PMP Exam Fee for Non-members = USD 555 (Non-member cost)

    Obviously, Member cost < Non-member cost

    Refer to the PMP Handbook for more details.

  • Free soft-copy of latest edition of Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide.

  • Free access to Project Management books at books24x7 online.

  • Free access to award-winning, informative publications.

For more details, refer to 10 Benefits of PMI Membership.

Changes to the PMP Exam

Starting June 30, 2009, PMP Exam will be based on PMBOK Fourth Edition.

Step 2: Earn 35 Contact Hours of Project Management Education 

In Step 2, you need to get 35 Contact Hours of Project Management education, which is a pre-requisite for the PMP exam. Several classroom and online trainings are available that can help you meet this requirement. Classroom trainings can cost upto $2500. Online and self-paced courses are more economical.

I recommend using the self-paced learning option, PM Prepcast. Not only will it provide top quality Project Management training, you'll also earn your 35 Contact Hours. Read this section for details of Prepcast.

If you go with the Prepcast option, I suggest that you read the corresponding chapters from the PMBOK Guide as you go through the Prepcast lessons. The Prepcast really brings PMBOK Guide to life and makes PMBOK Guide very easy to understand. If you follow this approach, you can get your 35 Contact Hours and complete the first pass of the PMBOK Guide within the first month itself.

Step 3: Apply for PMP Certification Exam with PMI 

After you earn your 35 Contact Hours, apply for PMP certification exam with PMI. The explanation of the application process is a topic in itself and I won't delve into it too much. At a high-level:

  • You can apply for PMP Certification online using PMI's Online Certification System.

  • You need to report your project management experience (hours) to PMI as part of your application. Record your project management hours in an excel sheet first. This will come very handy when filling up the online application form. A sample worksheet is located here.

  • You need to achieve 35 Contact Hours of Project Management education "before" you apply for PMP Certification with PMI. Therefore, step 2 is a pre-requisite for step 3.

  • PMI reviews your application and if it is determined to be complete, PMI will send you an email to submit the exam fee. PMI typically takes about 1 week for application approval. Your application approval is valid for one-year from the date you receive the approval email.

  • After you pay for the exam, PMI will send you an email indicating one of the following next steps:

    • Examination scheduling instructions to help you schedule your examination

    • Application has randomly been selected for PMI's audit process

  • If you receive exam scheduling instructions, you can go ahead and schedule your exam with Prometric (Step 4).

  • If your application is selected for an audit, PMI will provide you the follow-up instructions to comply with the audit.


Note: that PMI does not ask for any documentation or other evidence at the time of application. However, if your application is selected for audit, you will be asked to provide copies of your degree/diploma certificates, signatures from your manager(s)/supervisor(s) verifying your project management experience and your Contact Hours certificate(s).

Step 4: Book the Exam with Prometric Testing Center 

You can book the exam after you receive the email from PMI with exam scheduling instructions. Try to book the exam with Prometric well in advance (at least 2 months in advance), as slots are always limited.

Also, having a clear target date will also bring focus into your preparation.

Note that you have exactly one year to take the exam from the date your application is approved. It is your responsibility to ensure that you book and take your exam with Prometric within the one year eligibility window.

Step 5: Get the right Exam Prep Material and Study 

All the resources that you need for the PMP exam (such as Books, online forums, mock tests, exam simulators, etc.) are listed on this page:

Directory of *Best* PMP Exam Resources on the web

Let's take a closer look at the resources.

  • Books: PMBOK + Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep + the free online books available on books24x7 (for PMI members) should be sufficient to pass the exam.

  • Online Forums: Join one or more online forums mentioned on the resource directory page. These forums offer Lessons Learnt by exam takers, PMP Exam Tips & Tricks, free question banks and more. Read as many lessons learned posts as you can find.

  • Free mock exams: Attempt free mock exams listed on the resource directory page.

  • Other exams simulators: Apart from free mock exams, I recommend that you invest in one good commercial exam simulator. My personal favorite is Rita Mulcahy's PM Fastrack program. Note: This simulator is based on PMBOK third edition; the new simulator will be available on Amazon soon. The quality is really top notch and the standard is comparable to the real PMP exam.

    Another good and more economical option is Ready Set Pass.


If you were to attempt all the practice exams mentioned above, you would be staring at a mountain of 3000+ questions ! With this amount of practice, your chances of success would be very high.

Additionally:


You can spend about 3 months in studying all the material at least two time. From my experience, you would need to review all the material 3 times before you take the exam, to have a really good chance of success (your mileage may vary).

Step 6: Take the Exam 

Last, but the not the least, take the exam. If you follow the schedule from step 1-5, you should sail through smoothly. You can take the exam even earlier if you feel prepared, and you manage to find an exam slot with Prometric.

PMP exam is four hours long, which is a lot longer than usual 2-3 hr exams that most people are used to. You need to condition your mind and body to build your stamina, as this doesn't come naturally to many people. Therefore, it is very important that you attempt a few (at least 2-3) full-length mock exams.

The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions. Out of 200, only 175 questions are actually scored. Remaining 25 are 'trial' questions and are not scored. But, you would not know which questions are scored and which are not. My best guess is that any questions that refer to terms which are not referenced in the PMBOK are probably not scored. But again, that's an unproven theory.

The distribution of exam questions across different project management process groups is:


  • Initiation - 11%

  • Planning - 23%

  • Executing - 27%

  • Monitoring and Controlling - 21%

  • Closing - 9%

  • Professional and Social Responsibility - 9%


Refer to the PMP Handbook for complete details on the exam information and blueprint.

Top 5 Books & Software for PMP Exam Prep 

Based on PMBOK Guide Fourth Edition

PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam

PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam

by: Rita Mulcahy, PMP

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $62.37 (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $99.00

The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try

The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try

by: Andy Crowe

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $50.37 (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $79.95

Head First Pmp: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam

Head First Pmp: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam

by: Jennifer Greene PSE, Andrew Stellman, Greene Jennifer, Stellman Andrew

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $44.09 (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $69.99

PM Fastrack Exam Simulation Software for the PMP Exam: Version 6

PM Fastrack Exam Simulation Software for the PMP Exam: Version 6

by: Rita Mulcahy

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $299.00

PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Includes Audio CD

PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Includes Audio CD

by: Kim Heldman

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $37.79 (as of 12/09/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $59.99

"Do you want to know the best way to earn 35 Contact Hours? Read the following section."

May I suggest some good Exam Prep tools for new PMP Exam 

Based on PMBOK Guide Fourth Edition

1. Project Management Prepcast

This is the new video version of the extremely popular PM Prepcast and is based on PMBOK Fourth Edition (latest). A few words on the Prepcast for those who are not familiar with it:

  • It is a video Podcast compared to the previous audio-only version.

  • It has 111 lessons and total duration is over 47 hours - 38 hours video and 9.5 hours of audio.

  • You can use it on your computer, iPod, iPhone or any modern smartphone or multimedia player.

  • Using this workshop, you can earn the 35 Contact Hours, which are a pre-requisite for the PMP Exam, at your own pace and anywhere.

  • You need to pass a 25 question online test to receive your 35 Contact Hours Certificate. You need to answer 17 out of 25 questions correctly in order to pass the exam. You can take the test 2 weeks after purchasing the Prepcast. The good part is that you can take it anytime and as many times as you want.

  • It comes with lot of bonus material, the most useful of which is a sample exam with 60 tough questions.

  • It comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee.

  • Price: $99.97

I have an evaluation copy of Prepcast and posted a comprehensive review here. I suggest you read the review before purchasing it.


If you are interested in the Prepcast, you can buy it by clicking on the image below:

Project Management Prepcast



2. 1,750 PMP® Exam eFlashCards

PMP® Exam eFlashCards is one of the first products in market for people who want to take the exam on or after June 30, 2009. The flashcards are based on PMBOK Fourth Edition (latest).

Here are some product facts:

  • 1,750 cards are in the set

  • Bonus Item 1: Three sets of 167 ITTO eFlashCards.

  • Bonus Item 2: Demystifying the PMBOK® Guide Email Course.

  • Bonus Item 3: Access to Exam Discussion Forums.

  • For PMP and CAPM

  • Based on PMBOK Guide 4th Edition standard

  • eFlashCards can be used on a computer or "any" modern device like iPod, iPhone, Blackberry, Treo and most "smart phones".

  • It comes with a 1-year unconditional money-back guarantee.

  • Price: $29.99

Disclosure: I own a copy of this product and can testify that it's a wonderful tool for PMP Exam Preparation. I'm going to post a comprehensive review, on this blog very soon. Even at $29.99, it's a steal. What more, it comes with a 1 year money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied for any reason - absolutely no questions asked.

If you are interested in the PMP eFlashcards, you can buy it by clicking on the image below:

PM Flashcards



3. PMP Exam Formula Study Guide

Here's another new product for PMP Exam based on PMBOK Fourth Edition - PMP Exam Formula Study Guide.

Some product facts:

  • You get 3 PDF documents:

    • Formula Study Guide

    • Formula Pocket Guide

    • 105 Exam Sample Questions

  • Mainly for PMP. Overkill for CAPM.

  • Based on PMBOK Guide 4th Edition standard

  • Price: $29.97

I have an evaluation copy of the PMP Formula Study Guide and posted a comprehensive review here. I suggest you read the review before purchasing it.


If you are interested in the PMP Formula Study Guide, you can buy it by clicking on the image below:

PMP Exam Formula Study Guide

Cool Gift Ideas for Project Managers 

Check out more gifts at http://www.cafepress.com/deepfriedbrain
PMP Tag Cloud Golf Shirt

PMP Tag Cloud Golf Shirt

Got PMP? Flaunt it ! Or gift it to your PMP friend.

Price: 24.99Buy Now

PMP Tag Cloud Mug

PMP Tag Cloud Mug

Cool Design with Project Management Labels. Great gift for Project Managers. Great Gift.

Price: 12.99Buy Now

PMP Tag Cloud Ceramic Travel Mug

PMP Tag Cloud Ceramic Travel Mug

Cool tag cloud design. A great gift for Project Managers.

Price: 19.99Buy Now

Got PDUs Trucker Hat

Got PDUs Trucker Hat

Fun way to network with your PMP friends. Great Gift too !

Price: 14.99Buy Now

PMI's PMP Wall Clock

PMI's PMP Wall Clock

PMI's PMP Wall Clock - A great gift for a PMP

Price: 14.99Buy Now

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Good luck to all PMP aspirants ! 


Good Luck

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Are you spending $$$$ on PMP Training? 

If you thought Project Management training is really expensive, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Here's a 15-hour series of PMP Lectures. The following video is the introduction module of this series. The entire series is available on Google Videos. Click on the link below:

Project Management Lectures
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by Brain_Washer

I'm an IT Project Manager and a certified PMP.




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