Project management training is the key to career progression.  A lot of project management professionals are working in this field without having passed any formal training.  They will usually be degree educated individuals who happen to be great at management people, time and tasks so make ideal project managers.   The PMP certification can help to illustrate your current knowledge but may also help you to run projects more efficiently thus benefiting the business.

How long does PMP exam prep take?

PMP exam prep takes time if you want to do it properly.  The actual exam consists of a four hour paper during which you are marked on 175 multiple choice questions. There are a further 25 questions included to make a total of 200 as well as a survey and questionnaire although extra time is allowed for these.   The PMI won’t let you sit the exam unless you meet the PMP certification requirements. These include 35 hours of completed education which must be completed via a recognized training provider.

Can the PMI offer any help to pass the PMP exam?

The project management institute offers elearning courses to help those who do not have the time or inclination to attend class based training. Computer based training (CBT) is becoming more common as people like to study when time permits particularly when working in a challenging field such as project management.

If you do not currently meet the PMP certification requirements you can look at the other certification exams offered by the PMI.  They include the CAPM exam which is suited to those at the start of their project manager career although you do need to have a certain number of hours experience in project management.

Are there alternative project management certifications?

If you only work in risk management you may prefer to pursue the PMI Risk Management Professional certification (PMI-RMP).  Alternatively you may wish to study for the PMI Scheduling Professional qualification.  Once you have completed the PMP, if you wish to continue with certification you can opt to sit the PgMP.

You should join the PMI not only to help you with your exam prep but you can also benefit from their careers service. You may find a new job or at the very least meet new contacts who could prove very beneficial to you and your business.  If you need a crash course in project management fundamentals their eSeminar courses are very popular.

There are lots of companies who offer project management certification training courses but before you take out your credit card you need to check that they have a reputation for helping people to pass. They must be accredited by the project management institute or you will find that the study you do may not allow you to meet the 35 hour education requirement.

As with any professional exam, the more work you put into the exam prep the better.  At the very least you should read the latest version of the PMBOK guide and standards which can be found on the professional management institute website at www.pmi.org.

You should also practice on past PMP exam questions not only to test your knowledge and identify any potential weak spots but also to prepare you for this style of exam. Having completed degrees or other university courses you may not be used to the multiple choice format.  People often find that they misread the question and pick the answer to the question they think they are being asked.  Being multiple choice that answer is usually one of the four choices. This is one reason people are often surprised when they fail as they may have felt that the exam was relatively easy.

So don’t let yourself down due to lack of preparation and don’t leave everything to the last moment hoping a crash course will get you through.   They are not inexpensive exams and you do not want to be wasting your money.  Treat your PMP exam prep just as you would any other project and make sure you undertake sufficient project management training and you should be fine.