5 Steps to Getting Your PMP – PMP Certification Guide

5 Steps to Getting Your PMP – PMP Certification Guide

If you are already a project manager, or if you have been looking into becoming one, PMP certification is a great step into your future. Whether you have been working on projects already, are new to your profession with a college degree, or are ready to try a new field, project management is a great field to get into. Remember, project managers are needed in all industries, from construction to IT. No matter what your niche is, chances are there is a project manager somewhere in the building.

PMP certification is the most recognized project management certification in the world. Over 1,000,000 certified project managers are already reaping the rewards, higher salaries, and more exclusive jobs, just by going through the Project Management Institutes certification process.

It’s time to take a dive into the world of project management to see if PMP is right for you.

PMI

Since 1969, Project Management Institute has been promoting the field of project management. PMI is the leading project management association, promoting and encouraging growth, ethical standards, and governance throughout the profession worldwide. PMI not only certifies project managers through PMP exams, they also provide educational platforms for Agile methodology, including Scrum, and CAPM, the Certified Associate in Project Management certification. Their guidelines and standards supply those in the field, those who employ those in the field, and those looking to get into the field of project management with best practices to guide them.

3 Reasons to Get a PMP Certification

PMI defines Project Management as “use of specific knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to deliver something of value to people.” No matter the industry, projects are started to create a product, service, or achieve a result that will add value to the industry. Project managers are tasked to see the project through until the goal is achieved. But why is certification important?  

1.      The field of project management is growing. The projections are that it won’t stop. The estimates are that within the next 5 years there will be 22 million new jobs created. That breaks down to 88 million people in project-oriented jobs. With around 1,000,000 individuals currently holding a PMP certification, even if the rate of growth is equal to the amount of jobs, there will still be less than 7,500,000 project managers that are certified, leaving those that have taken that extra step ahead of the game.

2.      Some people think of a project manager being that person that pulls together the contractors and builders for a new real estate development. Some think it’s the individual that puts together all of the pieces to provide a new social media platform. Whether it’s the upcoming green initiatives that require many businesses to convert to sustainable energy, or a marketing company that is taking on a new client’s social media marketing, project managers provide professional service in a variety of industries. Knowing how PMP can benefit those industries that you’re interested in can help you decide where your future lies.

3.      Show You The Money!PMI’s exam jobs report shows that even with the current situation throughout the globe, there will be at least 25 million new project management positions in the next 7 years. Globally those with PMP Certification find a median salary increase of 16% higher than those without a PMP. In the U.S. that percentage is usually around 20% with many Project Management Professionals reporting an additional hike between 7 and 12% within the first year.

A few more things before we move on. A PMP allows your skills and knowledge to be recognized. If you’ve been working in a company as a project manager, by taking that extra step, it shows the leader you are, providing you with the recognition that leads to promotion. If you are applying for a new job, and there are expected to be millions out there in the next few years, the PMP certificate will give you a notch in your belt. One last reason that you may want to get that PMP is that you will be sought after. Clients, companies, stakeholders, they will know that you have gone the distance to better your skills and your knowledge. Your efforts will be rewarded.

Eligibility requirement for PMP certification

The education requirements for getting PMP certification are simple. If you already have a 4-year degree or above you need to document 4500 hours of experience. If you have a secondary degree, high school diploma or global equivalent, but have yet to receive your bachelor’s degree, you need to have 7500 hours of documented experience. Both educational requirements also require 35 contact hours which can be obtained through a PMI certified PMP training program. Once you’ve achieved that, all that’s left is the exam!

Approaching the Project – Getting PMP Certification

Let’s break you in. By applying project management principles, we can determine if this project is viable for you.

Step 1: Initiating

By this point you are ready to move forward and see if you can reach the goal. You have been provided with a basic understanding of the reasons why and the benefits of getting PMP certification.

Financial Appraisal: Cost Vs. Benefit

The coursework, or 35 contact hours, can cost anywhere from around $400 to upwards of $2,000, depending on which option you choose. There are a variety of courses to meet your financial needs as well as your learning style. The PMP first time exam costs $555 for non-members and $405 for PMI members. If your salary would increase by 20% right now, is $1,000 at the low-end worth it? Cost analysis 101.

Timeline

If you have a four-year degree and have been working in the field you may already have met all of the educational and experience requirements. All that’s left is the 35 contact hours and the exam. If you are able to take off a full week, you can attend a bootcamp and get your exam scheduled pretty fast. If you want to go a little slower to work around projects you are already contributing to, you can opt for an online self-paced course. Determining what your deadline is requires examining your means, motives, and masterplan.

Milestones

Have you set a deadline to complete your training? Is there a job that you know is opening up, or a project that is in the works that you want to be the head of? These are milestones.

Good online PMP certifications programs provide you with the support and training you need, when you need it to get the job done

Stakeholder

Your company, your colleagues, and your family are all stakeholders in this project. Make sure to discuss the costs to them as well as the benefits. Time is as important as money, especially with your most important stakeholders.

Step 2: Planning

A planning guide can help you approach PMP certification methodically.

Creating a PMP Study Plan

A study plan is essential in studying for your PMP exam. It assists you in managing your time and provides you with room to focus on areas that need more study. Knowing what, when, and how should all be included in the plan.

Managing Stakeholders

Knowing what your family, boss, trainers, and friends expect is key to making the time to prepare for your PMP exam and training. Let those around you know what your schedule is and stick to it, for your sake and theirs.

Scope

• All things Scope start with the PMBOK, PMI’s Project Management Book of Knowledge. You can check the exam questions as well as study the key knowledge areas required to pass the exam.
• Know where you are on the path. If you still require 500 hours of experience, or if you can’t take time away for boot camp for a couple of months, make sure to work that into your scope of work.
• Each phase requires planning. Keep it Simple, but make it concise.
• You can choose to focus on the study guide or the PMBOK. The choice relies on which will provide you the most benefit for achieving your goal.
• Change driven or Plan driven are two of the methods to approach your project. A predictive plan or Plan driven approach tries to identify the entire scope from the beginning. While an adaptive plan or Change driven approach is just that, it adapts and changes based on what is occurring around the project.
• A key to reaching any goal is PDCA, Plan-Do-Check-Act. Plan the project, do the project, check the project, get the certificate!

Scheduling & Cost

• Many online courses provide self-service sample exams. They can give you a look into the wording and how to determine the answers, allowing you to know what knowledge areas you may be lacking in. Decide what comes first, the study guide or the PMBOK and then work through the exam.
• Studying the relationships of the dependencies on your project, whether it’s Finish to Start (FS), Finish to Finish (FF), Start to Start (SS), or Start to Finish (SF) can let you plan and schedule optimally.
• Examine your resources. Resources are any person, place or thing that can help you complete your project. Make sure that you have set aside time with your significant other if you want them to quiz you, or that you have the living room to yourself when you need quiet to study.
• Scheduling takes the activity, dependency, and an estimate of time available into account. When you make a schedule try and stick to it to keep the project on track. Deviations can set you back.  
• Practice exams show you where you have gone off the rails and what you need to focus your study on. So many knowledge areas are co-dependent so taking the time to improve your knowledge in one often helps you with the others.
• Time, budget, location, action, all are parts of your plan that require careful monitoring to keep you on track.

Planning your schedule will help you achieve your goal.

Budget

• Take into account the positive and negative aspects revolving around going forward with PMP certification.
• Know the costs of the type of project management education, or 35 contact hours you plan on pursuing. While Bootcamps cost a bit more initially, the time constraint may make up for the monetary cost. But most bootcamps or live instructor trainings have attendance requirements and missing one class or even half a class can set you back to square one with no reimbursement.
• Don’t forget the PMP exam fee, resource materials fees, and PMI membership fees. If you continue, PMI membership is a great resource, not just for your new career in the beginning, but also for keeping up to date with the field in the future.

Risk

Risk management is something we do every day. From the time you get out of bed, there is risk. Taking the time to pinpoint as many variables as possible in the beginning might make or break your end goal.

• Pinpoint as many risks in the planning stage as possible. That time used is usually time saved in the long run.
• Weather, other projects, or emergencies, may change your schedule. Know how you plan to work through those risks.
• Some companies may not provide you with all of the materials you need to learn the way you need to learn. Flash cards, mind maps, cheat sheets, additional study guides, all can impact and increase your budget.
• Time, there is never enough of it so manage it accordingly and appropriately to negate the risk of missing a class or a family function.

Using Risk Management to Achieve PMP Certification

• Know how you can and will respond. You know your personality so how do you handle risk? What is your plan if things don’t go as planned?
• Research everything from courses, to additional materials. Ask colleagues who have gone through certification what helped them. Check the instructors and companies that you are looking into.
• Have a Plan B. If you can’t get into a bootcamp can you accomplish the same thing with the self-paced course, or do you want a tutor? Can you afford a tutor, or will that take you over budget?
• There is a possibility that you may be audited for your experience portion of the requirements. You may want to go forward with your application immediately after completing your 35 contact hours.
• Continually monitor your progress against your plan so you can determine any additional risk that may arise.

Procurement

We’ve talked a little bit about the choices you have for your 35 contact hours. All companies don’t provide all types of training. Some companies are strictly in person training or local online only. Some provide online courses only and no inhouse. Understanding the providers can help you choose your training.

• Online certification education keeps you from spending valuable time traveling to a facility. Take it a step further to self-paced training and the flexibility to learn whenever, wherever, and however you can, that may make all the difference for you if you are involved in a project.
• Bootcamps are intensive training that are usually held during the week during office hours. While you would need to take time off of a project to attend, for people that want to get it done and get the exam scheduled this may be the option.
• Online live instructor trainings is often held in the evenings and on weekends allowing you to keep your focus at work and spreading out the information over a few weeks or a couple of months.
• How you learn is as important as when you learn. If you are a crammer, then the bootcamp is the way to go. If you are methodical, you may want to use the self-paced courses.

Once again the key is knowledge, not just of the providers, but of yourself.

Source selection criteria for 35-hour training program

It’s time to make a list. Knowing what features a training provider offers may make all the difference. Making a list of what each provider offers can help you make the right choice.

• Is there access to materials?
• Do they provide learning modules?
• Do they have different options with a variety of prices and are the prices readily available?
• Do they offer customer support, or peer support?
• Are the instructors vetted?
• Is the provider PMI approved?
• Does the course count as the 35 contact hours?
• Is there a pass guarantee?

Execution, Monitoring & Control PMP Certification Step 3&4:

Attending the course

It’s time to start. You have the provider. You have the dates set. Go forward and learn the Project Management Knowledge Areas. It’s the next step to getting your PMP certification.

PMP Application Process

Once your PMP 35 hour coursework is started, go forward with the application process. Take time to go over the application process. Do you have all of the requirements? You need to have times, project names, your role in the projects, your title, the name of the organization you worked for. Make sure you have the name and contact information required for the projects, how many hours you worked on the five process groups. This where you can avoid an audit of your experience, by supplying the information completely and concisely. You’re about to be a certified project manager and this is just part of the project.  

By completing this portion of the application before or during your training, if you are selected for an audit you have plenty of time allotted in your schedule to handle it.

Once you’re ready to go

• Apply on the PMI website
• Pay the PMP certification exam fee: $555 for non-members or $405 for PMI members. Remember, membership with PMI is $139and the benefits are worth the price.
• Get your eligibility ID from PMI, and schedule your exam.

PMP Exam Preparation

Dividing your preparation may make all the difference in passing your PMP exam.

Phase 1:

1. Go through the study guide chapter by chapter. Answer the Knowledge Area questions and study those areas that you need to work on.
2. Take as many exams as you can in order to feel comfortable with the way the questions are asked and the way the answers are reached. Many of the providers have exam exam simulators and/or sample questions and answers that will not just give you the answer but provide you with how the answer connects to the question.
3. Take time after each exam to examine how you did and what you need to improve on.
4. Modify and plan how you are going to take the exam. Clearly define the amount of time you take for the questions, which ones take you longer to answer, and focus your time on those Knowledge Areas.

Phase 2:

If you haven’t read the PMBOK, now is the time. Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, & Threat (SWOT) analysis will help you focus on your study. Read. Test. Repeat. Know your limits and know your target. The goal is in reach so adjust your plan of action accordingly.

Phase 3:

If math isn’t your strong suit, now is the time to study up. Take math tests that may not be part of PMI course material. Continue to monitor your successes and weaknesses to solidify your goals. Always keep the scope of work in mind.

Phase 4:

Make sure all of your documentation, including proof of identity, is at the ready. If necessary make a list so that you can double check before the exam.

On the day of the exam, know you have studied, you have learned, you are ready. Answer the questions, you’ve already answered them dozens of times. Complete the exam in a timely manner, you’ve studied to the point that it’s second hand for you. Leave no question blank. There are no negative markings in PMP. Complete the exam and look up to see: Congratulations!!!

Closing PMP Certification Step 5:

It’s all over. Now is the time to sit back, but only for a minute. You have work to do.

Go over your project. Think about what you’ve learned and how it benefits you. Think about the resources you utilized and what ones you can recommend to the people who don’t have their certification yet. You are now part of a global community that strives for excellence.

Final Thoughts: PMP Renewal

Now that you are a proud member of Certified Project Management Professionals, you don’t want to stop learning and growing. That’s why every three years you have to renew your certification. During those three years you will document, earn, and report, 60 Professional Development Units (PDU). You will fill out your application for certificate renewal and pay the small fee to show that you are a qualified, certified, verified, Project Management Professional.

Congratulations!!