Do you want to launch your career as a project manager and level up your education experience? Taking the PMP exam can help you get the qualifications and credentials you need to be successful in this field. The PMP exam isn’t a walk in the park; you’ll need to study hard and prepare prior to your exam date in order to pass with flying colors. Giving yourself enough time to prepare prior to your PMP exam date is key! In this article, we will explore what the PMP exam is, how to find dates and the best way to schedule your PMP exam.
PMP Exam Dates & Schedules – First Steps
Scheduling your PMP exam does not only consist of going to the PMI website to find an available testing date. There are a few preliminary steps you must take prior to booking your test.
First and foremost, you need to meet the PMP certification requirements before booking your test. If you have completed your PMP education hours and have met the minimum work experience based on your education level, you are able to apply for the exam at pmi.org. .
If you’re wondering, do I qualify to take the PMP exam, check out our article Determining your Eligibility Requirements for PMP Certification
Still need your 35 education hours required by the PMI or just want some help preparing for the PMP exam? One of the lowest cost and fastest ways to earn your project management education hours is with a self-paced PMP exam prep course.
Once you’re ready to go, it’s recommended that eligible test takers apply online with the PMI. This is the most efficient way to book your test date and solidify your eligibility. When you submit the PMP application online the review takes up to five days, while other methods, such as paper application, can take months to hear back.
If you are accepted by the PMI, you will be able to choose from the exam dates provided by the organization. Don’t worry, there are plenty of options, including doing your actual PMP exam online. Keep in mind that after you get accepted, you will have one year to book your PMP exam. If you wait longer than a year, you will need to re-apply and once again confirm your eligibility as a test taker.
PMP Exam Dates
The good news here is that once your PMP application is approved by the PMI and you’re prepared to take the exam, you may do so! Once you meet all of the qualifications necessary to take the PMP exam, you are able to schedule your test at the nearest qualifying PMP testing center and as of May 2020, you can even take your PMP exam online. Remember, your application must be approved prior to scheduling your exam.
The in-person PMP exam is organized by Pearson and held at specific VUE testing centers. You can find qualifying PMP exam centers by visiting the Pearson VUE test site, but keep in mind that not all centers will offer this exam! If you need to take an additional test, you can also use this link to book.
There are a variety of different certifications you can qualify for by taking an exam at one of these centers. We always recommend that qualifying exam takers schedule their test date a minimum of one month prior to their planned exam. This is because seats are limited in these exams, and you might not be able to find a seat as quickly as you anticipated!
Once you pass the PMP application step, you will have one full year to schedule your PMP exam date and go to take the exam. Remember, if you do not schedule your test within one year of having your application accepted, you will have to start the process over again and submit your qualifications for a second time.
How Do I Schedule My PMP Exam Date?
Once you are prepared to take your PMP exam, you can head to the website to schedule your exam date. Be sure you are prepared, as these exams must be booked far in advance and do require a fee. There are plenty of resources available to you to help you study and pass on your first try! Ensure that your study materials are the most recent versions, not outdated, and that they provide an answer key so that you can check your answers and gauge your preparedness.
What is the PMP exam length and passing score? In order to pass the PMP exam, you must score a minimum of 107 out of a possible 175. The exam is a total of 180 questions, and you will have 230 minutes allotted to answer all questions to the best of your ability. The exam itself will be a combination of matching, hotspots, multiple-choice, multiple responses, and a few fill-in-the-blank questions, too. Be sure that your study materials provide practice questions in each of the above formats for the best preparation!
If you are taking the PMP exam, we recommend that you schedule your test once you are able to score over 80% on your practice material. This way, you can be confident that you have adequate preparation for the exam, and you will be able to go into the test confidently! Although we recommend taking a PMP exam prep course to earn your required 35 education hours, there are also plenty of PMP exam simulators that can help you benchmark your readiness and allow you to be sure you will pass once the test date rolls around.
Some PMP exam prep courses include an exam simulator so that you can practice over and over until you’re ready. Here’s an inexpensive option that we’d recommend for a self-paced PMP exam prep course that includes an exam simulator and a 100% pass guarantee.
After you have scored at least an 80% passing rate on your practice exams, you are ready to visit pmi.org and log in under your profile to complete your PMP exam booking. You will now look under the PMP certification section and see available dates, times, and testing center options. You can follow the instructions and book your PMP exam at a testing center close to you on a date you feel comfortable with or choose to book an online exam (a new option as of May 2020!).
We hope this article helped you better understand how to go about scheduling your PMP exam and when you should do so. Feel free to click on the big red help button on the homepage and send us any questions you have about preparation, scheduling, or the exam itself!
Sign-up for a 7-day free trial! Try the first two modules of Brain Sensei’s story-based PMP and CAPM Exam Prep courses and a mini practice exam and see how it all works
Conclusion
Knowing the PMP exam schedule and preparing effectively are crucial steps on your path to becoming a certified Project Management Professional. By understanding the exam date options, following the registration process, and implementing effective study strategies, you can increase your chances of success on the PMP exam. Start planning your journey and prepare yourself to ace the PMP exam.
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