Project Management (PMP)

When and where do I take the exam? Upon completion of our course at our training center in Cedar Grove, NJ (20 miles outside of NYC) the PMP exam is administered at Prometric testing centers. Prometric has hundreds of centers worldwide and usually offers the PMP exam Monday through Saturday. Since each center is independently operated, you should check with your local center for hours of operation and exam availability. You can locate the centers nearest you by visiting www.prometric.com. Note that, in some cases, the availability of testing appointments reflected online may seem rather limited. We recommend you call the center directly if this happens, as the availability shown online may not always reflect the true availability (due to cancellations, re-scheduling, etc.). Our students have found this to be very helpful in many cases. What happens if my PMP Certification Application is audited by PMI? The audit process sounds painful, but it is actually pretty simple. You will know if you have been audited immediately after submitting payment for the exam (you will receive an e-mail if you are selected for the audit). Roughly 5-10% of all candidates will be audited. You will be asked to document your PDU contact hours, which you will do using the certificate we provide. You will also have the references you list in your application verify that the work experience you entered is correct (they will just complete a simple form, sign it and send it to PMI). Since the reference person can be anyone who was working with you on the projects, we recommend listing references with whom you are still in contact and will respond quickly (where possible). Most people can easily complete the audit process in a week or less. As part of our course we will walk you through the entire application process and assist you with any questions you may have. We also offer free post-class tutoring and assistance with the application, so you will have plenty of support along the way. How do I prove my experience? You will document your experience in your online application (www.pmi.org). You must list projects you have worked on, along with a reference person. Your job title need not be “project manager,” but you will need to show that you were leading and directing project activities. To keep everyone honest, PMI audits about 5-10% of candidates (see: “What happens if I get audited?”). What are the Eligibility Criteria for the PMP Exam? 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. 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). 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). What does 36 months of non-overlapping experience requirement mean for the PMP Exam? One of the eligibility criteria for the PMP exam is to have minimum 3 years / 36 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience during which at least 4,500 hours were spent leading and directing project tasks. So, what does “non-overlapping” experience mean? To answer this question, let me show the reverse situation – overlapping experience. Let’s say that you have managed 2 project in 2013. Project 1 ran from Jan’13 to Jun’13 (6 months), and Project 2 ran from Apr’13 to Dec’13 (9 months). In this case, you have an overlap between the two projects during Apr’09 to Jun’09 (3 months). So the experience from these 3 months is counted as 3 months, and not 3 x 2 = 6 months. Therefore, your total unique non-overlapping experience would be counted as 12 (3 + 3 + 6) months, not 15 (6 + 9) months. What is the application process for the PMP Exam? At a high level, the PMP application process involves the following steps: You submit an online application for the exam to PMI. PMI reviews your application and if it is determined to be complete, PMI will send you an email to submit the exam fee. 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 audit process If you receive exam scheduling instructions, you can go ahead and schedule your exam with Prometric. If your application is selected for an audit, PMI will provide you the follow-up instructions to comply with the audit. Note: If your application is selected for an audit, your one-year eligibility clock stops, and would restart only when you successfully clear the audit. How far back can I go for the Project Management experience on my PMP application? All project management experience must have been accrued within the last eight consecutive years prior to your application submission. How do I apply for the PMP Exam? PMP exam application must be submitted online through PMI’s Online Certification System. What are the fees for the PMP Exam? The examination fees vary depending upon whether you are a PMI member. For PMI Members Computer-based exam: $405 Paper-based exam: $250 For Non-PMI Members Computer-based exam: $555 Paper-based exam: $400 Tip: There’s an obvious benefit in joining PMI before signing up for the PMP exam. The discount on the exam is more than the membership fee. Is it possible to apply for the PMP exam without being a PMI member? Yes. You don’t need to be a PMI member to apply for PMP certification. But be mindful PMI membership costs $139, but you get a $150 discount on the exam, so it’s clearly sensible to join! Will PMI refund the membership discount, if I sign-up for the membership after submitting payment for the PMP Exam? PMI members enjoy $150 discount on the PMP exam fee. However, you must be a PMI member at the time of submitting your payment for the PMP exam, in order to enjoy the discount. If you sign-up for the PMI Membership after submitting your payment for the exam, PMI would NOT refund the membership discount amount to you. Therefore, it is important that you sign-up for PMI membership before you submit your payment for the PMP exam. How do I pay the fee for the PMP Exam? You can pay the exam fee on PMI’s Online Certification System. How long does PMI take to process each PMP Exam Application? Applications submitted online, 5 business days. Applications submitted via Paper by individuals, 10 business days Applications submitted via corporations, 20 business days How much time does it take to prepare for the PMP Exam? There’s no right answer for this. Preparation time varies by individual. Most people take about 3 months for preparation. Some claim to do it within a month too, while others take as long as a year.

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