How to Prepare for PMP® Certification
Last Updated May 27, 2012
If you currently work in or aspire to enter the field of project management, earning the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is one of the most important things you can to do advance your career and increase your earning potential. In order to obtain this certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), you’ll need to fulfill education and work experience requirements, as well as pass a certification exam.
What’s the Value of the PMP® Certification?
Achieving the PMP® certification involves dedicating time, energy and money to the process. The payoff at the end, though, is well worth the investment for a number of reasons.
First, by successfully completing the PMP® certification exam, you’re able to prove your mastery of essential project management terminology and tools. You’ll also have a common frame of reference that will enhance your interactions with other certified project managers and enable you to apply your skills to many different companies, regardless of industry.
As part of your training for the PMP® certification, you’ll acquire a full set of project management strategies and techniques that will make it easier for you to adapt when unexpected circumstances arise on any job. In addition, earning this prestigious credential can give you a great sense of accomplishment as well as the self-confidence to pursue loftier career goals.
On a practical level, holding the PMP® certification will make you a much more attractive candidate to prospective employers and position you for advancement. While it may not always be the determining factor, the PMP® certification will distinguish you from your peers. This is especially true if you are competing against someone who does not hold this credential.
Basic Requirements of PMP® Certification
Since the PMP® certification is such a valued distinction, it takes more than casual experience to sit for the certification exam. In fact, there are several requirements you must fulfill before you can even apply.
The PMP® certification candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) in any major, 35 credit hours of project management education and a minimum of three years of related work experience – at least 4,500 hours of which involve guiding and managing projects.
Individuals with at least a high school diploma (or equivalent) but less than a bachelor’s degree are still eligible for the PMP® certification, but require additional experience. Beyond 35 hours of professional education, these candidates must hold a minimum of five years of experience in project management, at least 7,500 hours guiding and managing projects.
Those who don’t meet the PMP® certification education or work experience requirements may still be eligible for another PMI certification. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® designation is ideal for professionals just starting out in the field of project management. To apply, candidates must have at least a high school diploma (or equivalent) and either 23 credit hours of project management education or 1,500 hours of relevant work experience.
What You Need to Know to Pass the PMP® Exam
Passing the PMP® or CAPM® certification exams requires a thorough understanding of the entire A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), which is published by PMI and covers the key terminology and techniques that effective project managers use. The exam not only requires you to know this information, but also to be able to apply project management principles to practical situations.
You can help improve your chances of passing the PMP® certification exam by completing formal project management training and participating in a PMP® exam prep course.
Prepare for the PMP® Certification Exam 100% Online
You can gain valuable credentials and prepare to sit for the CAPM® or PMP® certification exams by enrolling in the PMP® Exam Prep certificate course offered 100% online by Villanova University. Recognized as a leader in project management education online.
Available on its own or in conjunction with a three-course certificate program, the PMP® Exam Prep is designed to help you hone your project management skills and master the PMBOK® Guide – Seventh Edition. It includes hundreds of new graphics, animated exercises, case studies and interactive features.
Villanova’s innovative video-based e-learning platform enables you to view lectures via streaming video or downloads. You’ll also have access to state-of-the-art communication tools like two-way voice over IP (VOIP), live chat rooms, online message boards, virtual whiteboards and a dedicated email system, so you can interact quickly and easily with the expert team of instructors and fellow classmates.
Get the knowledge you need to pass the exam – along with prestigious university credentials – through Villanova’s 100% online training leading to a Certificate in Applied Project Management.
