Project Management Certification has really expanded to a greater extent. You better not be late for the great job opportunities together with this course. Getting yourself certified creates a wider span into the business industry for the reason that most big companies and large organizations are searching for certified project management professional. So, if you feel you are ready to get into this job, there are certain requirements we need to obtain.
The first thing you need to attain is your education degree: high school diploma, Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree. Complete your education – generally, you should also have 35 hours of project management training. This training would be a classroom like training. And then experience being a project manager. Mainly, the 4 year course degree holders need to cover up 4500 hours of PMP training and for diploma holders, it would be 7500 hours. In this training, you could either choose online or classroom-like training; your choice. You need to experience the 5 process groups: project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure.
Also, during your experience, you will need to record everything you did. Make a complete documentation for your training experience. Gather all your information from your education until on your experience. Then, the most important part of your PMP preparation is studying the PMBOK or Project Management Book of Knowledge. This manual is the main material you need in preparing for the PMP exam. Try practicing quick reading with understanding so that you are able to answer all the questions within 4 hours only. If you have completed this, you can now take the project management professional certification exam.
This exam is composes of 200 questions which are multiple-choice. What so convenient in this exam is that you can take this either written or online. If you are really that far from a PMP center, it is recommended that you take online. In fact, you can see your results in the exam directly. As of 2009, the passing score is about 61%.
Aside from all these study preparation, you also need to set aside some money for the cost. Mainly, you will need $555 USD. But, if you are a PMI member, you will receive discounts. You will only need to set aside $405 USD.
If there will be a case that you failed the exam, you could still retake the exam. But, the exam will not be the same as the previous one you’ve taken. The PMP Exam always changes their questions, which is the reason why the PMBOK always have new editions for us to cope up with the changes. The time span you need to wait before taking again is a year. In taking re-certification exam, you will have another requirement. The least of them is 60 Professional Development Units or PDU.
Now, I want to inform you that this PMP exam is a difficult exam. Being able to read the lesson will not be enough. You should understand it. Have a plan on how to answer all the questions within 4 hours and get techniques on memorizing formulas and acronyms. If you put your heart into it, nothing will be impossible! Being a certified project management professional will be at reach.
