Are you eligible to appear in the PMP exam?
Flickr Attribution - worak
So, you have been hearing of the advantages of being a PMP and have finally decided to appear in the exam!
Great! Before you get set to prepare for this exam, you need to spend a moment verifying whether you are eligible to appear in it. Through this article, I will help you do exactly this.
So, what is it that you need to be eligible?
(1) You should be able to show a minimum of 4500 hours of project management experience, if you possess a Bachelor’s degree (or a global equivalent), or a minimum of 7500 hours of experience otherwise. Also, this experience should span across all the 5 process groups. So, you should specify your experience in Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, as well as Closing process groups. However, relax! You do not need to have experience in every process group in every project that you have worked on. You might have joined some project in the middle of the execution phase and thus, might not have been involved in Initiating and Planning phases for the same. Or, you might have moved out of some project midway after initiating and planning for it. In this case, you would not have participated in any ‘Closing’ activity for this project. All this is fine, and perfectly acceptable, provided you have experience on all of these process groups in at least one of your projects.
(2) You must have completed at least 35 hours of Project Management education. You will be required to put in the start date, end date, name of the course provider as well as the name of the training course when filling in the application form. You can go in for training classes conducted by your employer or you may want to attend some online courses. You may also attend some classroom based sessions organized by different training institutes. Only, you should make sure that the course deals with Project Management topics only. Another option to earn your 35 contact hours with this audio training course.
Remember, you do not need to submit any proofs of your experience or educational qualifications at the time of submitting your application for the exam. In fact, you might not have to submit these documents at all. The only time you will have to produce documentary proof of your education and experience is if your application gets selected for an audit. But it is always advisable to have documentary proof of your experience and educational qualifications in place, just in case they are needed.
Another important thing to remember is that you should fill in your examination form only after you have attained PMI membership. This makes sense not only because you get access to additional study materials but also financially. If you apply for the exam without becoming a PMI member, you need to pay USD 555. However, if you become a PMI member and then apply for the exam, you pay $129 for the membership, in addition to the USD 405 examination fees. The latter amounts to a total of USD 534. So, which option would you go in for? I would prefer becoming a PMP member first, any day. However, make sure that you apply for your exam within one year of becoming a PMI member, otherwise your membership would lapse and you would again have to pay the whole amount of USD 555 for apearing in the exam.
So, get set and be ready to appear in your PMP exam!
Nov 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 am
Hi Raja,
Knowing that you have both your PMP as well as your CTAL, I am sure you recognize the real value of any credential that:
1) Does not require that you ever actually worked on a SUCCESSFUL project;
2) You can prepare for by listening to a 35 hour podcast;
3) Consists of 200 multiple choice questions, of which, only 175 actually count, and;
4) Requires only a passing grade of ~62% (D- in school)
What really scares me is how many advertisements I am seeing (especially from India) which require a PMP in order to qualify for a job!! What is happening to common sense???
Does anyone out there REALLY believe that holding a PMP makes one a professional project manager? In all honesty, I know of a couple of employers who sort out the PMP’s from everyone else…… Then throw those CV’s with the PMP out….. Why? On the basis that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”….
Folks, let’s be real. The PMP is nothing more than an entry level credential, which, as it was designed to do (before PMI got taken over by marketing specialists)establishes that people who have the PMP are speaking the same language and have a MINIMUM level of knowledge. Nothing more….. IF you want to really challenge yourself, you need to seek out those organizations which offer COMPETENCY based credentials. And in choosing an organization which offers competency based credentials, I would urge you to seek out those which offer credentials which have been benchmarked against an INDEPENDENT standard, which is available through OPEN SOURCE licensing.
Interested? Go visit the Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards http://www.globalpmstandards.org .
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
Dr. Paul D. Giammalvo, CDT, CCE, MScPM,
Senior Technical Advisor, PT Mitratata Citragraha, Jakarta/Singapore/Anchorage/Amsterdam http://www.getpmcertified.com
Adjunct Professor, Project/Program Management, Lille Graduate School of Management, Paris, FRANCE http://www.esc-lille.com
Curriculum Development Consultant/Adjunct Professor, Asset and Project Management, University of Western Australia, Perth, http://www.blendedlearning.ecm.uwa.edu.au
Board of Directors, Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS) Sydney, AUSTRALIA http://www.globalpmstandards.org
Reply
Nov 24th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Raja — you just violated the PMI Code of Ethics by referring to yourself as a “Certified Project Manager.” If you have a PMP, you are a “Project Management Professional.” Your experience does NOT have to be as a project manager.
Duncan
Reply
Nov 25th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
does holding a position in student organization where you planed social and educational event and conferences around you university or college count as project management experience ?
Reply
Nov 25th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Bill, like you I don’t agree that the PMP means “Certified Project Manager”, but the role described by the PMI is the role of a project manager, albeit a junior PM role suffices.
I think you go too far in alleging that Raja violated the PMI Code of Ethics. The intention of deception would be required, and he would have to not fill the role described by the PMI. If someone fills the role and actively manages projects, it’s a tough case to gig them for a PMI ethics violation. Additionally, it is possible that anyone who is not a practicing project manager, but is PMP certified, and says they are a “Certified Project Manager” is probably just wrong, not deceitful. Who knows how it was sold to them? Reading the PMP Handbook, the above mistake could certainly be implicitly believed.
You know I’m a supporter of competency-based certifications and plan on pursuing them myself. While it is non sequitur that a PMP is necessarily a project manager, it is also non sequitur that a PMP is necessarily unqualified, incompetent, or not a real project manager.
Perhaps it would be better to say “Certified PMP Project Manager”, where “Certified PMP” refers to the certification, and “Project Manager” refers to his job role/title. Or, “Certified PMP and a Project Manager”.
Reply
Nov 25th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hi Josh,
I think the appropriate way to introduce yourself would be “I am a project manager who holds my PMP and/or [Insert your certifications here].”
One of the very interesting questions for my PhD research research was how does a person introduce themselves. Do you say “I work for XYZ company as a project manager” or do you say “I am a project manager who works for XYZ company”. Professionals tend to associate themselves with job title, while employees tend to associate themselves with a company. (Obviously not an absolute, but clearly the trend is there) (As in “My son, the doctor”)
Good dialog…..
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
Reply
Nov 28th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Josh — a couple of thoughts …
First, I NEVER said, suggested, or even implied that PMPs were unqualified, incompetent, or not real project managers. What I did say is that you cannot CLAIM to be any of those things simply by virtue of holding a PMP. Raja’s claim that he is a “certified project manager (PMP)” is equivalent to saying that he is a “certified pmstudent author (PMP).” He is certified as a PMP, and he is an author for pmstudent. But putting the two statements together misrepresents his qualifications.
Next, where is the “role” of a PMP defined by PMI? PMI publishes (or at least it did) something called a “Role Delineation Study,” but that work was circular. It asked a bunch of PMPs what were the requirements for the “role of a PMP” without actually defining that role. The subject matter of the PMP exam is just as relevant to a cost engineer, scheduler, task leader, or project team member. And experience shows that one can easily pass the exam without any experience as a project manager.
Third, if the PMP is limited to project managers (even very junior PMs), why doesn’t PMI say that? The ONLY place in the certification booklet where the phrase “project manager” is used is on the form where you submit your experience, and even then, it is but one of several possibilities.
Finally, a key aspect of professionalism is taking responsibility for your own acts. Raja has an affirmative duty to understand what a PMP is and what a PMP isn’t. If we excuse his behavior because “he didn’t know any better,” then you eliminate one of the most vital aspects of professionalism — personal responsibility — from the process.
Please keep in mind that I have no complaints about the design of the PMP. It was originally targeted at the individuals who provided support to the project manager. It is still appropriate as an entry level certification. PMI (and its apologists) allow and encourage you to THINK that it provides evidence of both experience and competence as a project manager. When you justify and accept Raja’s error, you perpetuate the misunderstanding.
Duncan
Reply
Nov 28th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Very nicely explained, Bill!! Thanks!!
Just a bit more elaboration for Josh, Raja et al- The subject matter (“BoK”) covered by the PMP is also relevant to asset managers, operations managers, industrial engineers, systems engineers and quality engineers as well, and much of what we subscribe to as project managers is derived from Henry Fayol, a French mining engineer from the late 1800’s – early 1900’s. http://www.12manage.com/methods_fayol_14_principles_of_management.html
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
Reply
Nov 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Dear Dr. Paul, Bill and Josh,
I have gone through the whole discussion thread till now and am grateful to you all for sharing your valuable thoughts.
Just to clarify things, I have been working as a PM for quite some time now and am also a PMP, that is why I described myself the way I did. Actually, as Josh correctly pointed out, the PMP certification is usually sold this way and also, many organizations around the world specifically ask for PMP certified resources when they are looking for PMs. In fact, there are a large number of organizations where you have to be a PMP in order to proceed ahead in your career. If you do not achieve this certification, you are considered to be someone who does not deserve to be promoted, or may be even someone who deserved to be expelled because of being incompetent. This is one of the reasons why so many people are still yearning to get PMP certified at any cost.
Anyways, I respect your opinion, and shall refer to myself as a PM who holds PMP certification.
Best Regards,
Raja
Reply
Nov 28th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Ahmed,
To answer your question, YES, you can count your experience in conducting these activities as long as you have evidence to prove that you were responsible for directing and managing them.
Bill / Dr. Paul,
Please correct my response and let Ahmed have the correct response if you believe that I am wrong.
Best Regards,
Raja
Reply
Nov 28th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Ahmad,
Yes, it does…… You do NOT have to be working in a paid environment, however, as I understand it, you cannot count projects worked on as part of your coursework, only voluntary, extracurricular activities.
Understand that my opinion is based not on any formal, written policy I have ever seen coming from PMI, but on the first-hand experience my graduate students have had in applying to PMI to take their PMP Exam.
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
Reply
Nov 30th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Hi Raja,
While I can agree with you that at least in India, I am seeing where the PMP is REQUIRED, most (but not all) advertisements I see refer to “PMP preferred” or PMP or similar certification “desired”.
While you are obviously proud of holding your PMP, do you REALLY think it made you a better project manager? Being honest with yourself, how many of the “tools and techniques” do you really employ in managing your projects?
Bottom line Raja……. What do you think taking a 200 question, multiple choice exam, after studying for 35 hours, and passing with a score of ~62%, really qualifies a person to do? How much weight or “value” should anyone really put in a person who holds their PMP?
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta
Reply
Nov 30th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Re your response to Ahmed … I have no idea. I am no longer involved with PMI in any way, so I obviously can’t speak for the organization.
Reply
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 2:28 am
Hi raja,
icompleted my mca and have 6+ yr of IT exp.I dont have any project manager exp.am i eligible for PMP exam.Plz give some advise.really i want to write this exam.
thank you
Revath
Reply
Josh Nankivel Reply:
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 am
Revath, I would say you are not eligible for the PMP exam yet. If you have a bachelor degree you’ll need 4500 hours of non-overlapping project management experience. I’ll point out it’s been said that the PMI requirement is that many hours “leading and directing” project work…..it translates to being a project manager as far as I’m concerned.
If you are interested in project management, you could start with the CAPM test to get some core knowledge, or I believe IPMA has an equivalent knowledge-based certification with very little experience requirements. (Bill, please correct me if I’m wrong about that)
Check out this post for my advice on becoming a project manager.
Thanks for reading pmStudent Revath!
Reply
revanth Reply:
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
HI josh
Thanks for your reply.i dont have project manager disignation but working as a lead from past 3 yrs and have some knowledge on project management.do we need any proofs to submit before or after writing PMP exam.
thanks
Revanth
Reply
Josh Nankivel Reply:
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
The best place I can point you is to the PMP Handbook. Take a look at the credentials and see if your experience is a fit.
Excerpt:
The PMP Role Delineation states that candidates for the PMP credential:
• Perform their duties under general supervision and are responsible for all aspects of the project for the life of the project
• Lead and direct cross-functional teams to deliver projects within the constraints of schedule, budget, and scope
• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience to appropriately apply a methodology to projects that have reasonably well-defined project requirements and deliverables
Check the full description for more info. You can also use this PM experience log to help see if your experience fits.
Reply
Oct 3rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
hii i hve read the criteria about pmp certifiace there is two option 1st u hve to complete 4500 hr project
and 2nd one 35 hours of Project Management education.
i have done MBA with 3 yr work experiance
during my MBA i have done 2 projects tat more den 35 hr
so what your suggestion can i apply for that
Reply
Josh Nankivel Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
If those 3 years are project management experience than yes. You’ll need documentation from the university for class time that is specific to project management education.
Reply
TS Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:44 pm
ASIF,
I believe you need to have:
1) both 3 years of PM experience AND 35 hours of PM education at a PMI registered education provider if you have a Bachelor’s degree (or global equivalent),
OR
2) both 5 years of PM experience AND 35 hours of PM education if you have a high school diploma (or global equivalent).
In your case, since you have a MBA degree, option 1) above applies to you.
Having the PM work experience OR PM education alone doesn’t qualify you to sit in the PMP exam. Since there are lots of professionals out there with a MBA degree, but without any professional management experiences, I don’t think having MBA degree is a qualified substitute for 3 years of PM experience. (You might want to call/email PMI to double-check this.)
Like Josh mentioned, if your 3-year work experience is of PM experience, then, you should be covered for a part of 1) or 2) eligibility criteria. In addition, I will need to complete 35 hours of PM education to go with your PM work experience.
Reply
TS Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
One mistake…. Obviously, the last sentence, “In addition, I will need to complete 35 hours of PM education to go with your PM work experience.” should read as “…., you will need to complete 35 hours….” Sorry about that.
Reply
Oct 12th, 2009 at 6:32 am
HI,
I am a test leader and doing all testing realted activitied including leading the test group . am i eligible for PMP certificaion..
Reply
Dec 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
[...] http://pmstudent.com/are-you-eligible-to-appear-in-the-pmp-exam [...]
Dec 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
[...] http://pmstudent.com/are-you-eligible-to-appear-in-the-pmp-exam [...]