Project management is a valuable skill, and one that is sought after in professionals in the information technology field. It is its own discipline, and it may be complimented with programming, sales, business or general management skills. Learning project management and acquiring certification can be an important first step to advancing one’s career in information technology and business.

The PMP, or Project Management Professional certification, is offered by the Project Management Institute. The PMP certification is recognized in many countries around the world as a recommended project management certification. At the PMI.org website, one can find information about the certification process, handbooks describing each of the credentials available, online applications for the certifications, training, events, study aids and resources.

Who should pursue the PMP credential?

The PMP certification is designed for those who lead cross-functional teams and observe the constraints of time, cost and scope to deliver those projects. Candidates for PMP certification are responsible for all aspects of individual projects, from inception to completion. To take the exam, a PMP candidate must have a high school diploma or equivalent, 5 years of project management experience, and 35 hours of project management education. If they have more education, such as a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, they will qualify with 3 years of project management experience, and 35 hours of project management education.

I am interested in obtaining my PMP certification and am actually in the process of completing my application. The application takes you through 3 steps, and the first step has several parts to it. It takes several hours to complete the process, and a candidate for the exam may return to the application several times to complete more of it. Applicants have 90 days to complete and submit their application for the PMP certification and following this, they have a 1 year window in which they may take the exam.

The application

Completing the application is not difficult, but some portions will take more time than others. I moved smoothly through the contact information and education areas in step 1 of the application. I am now working on the requirements section, where I must document my project management experience. To do this, I plan to reference my files for different projects so that I can honestly state which responsibilities I held for those projects and the time required by each project.

There are a few issues to observe here. One is that, a PMP candidate can only list experience acquired in a given time period once, even when two projects were managed at the same time and experience was acquired in both. Gaps in experience also do not count. In other words, if I need 36 months of experience, I better be able to prove it. Also, since it is possible I may be audited, it is wise to contact the companies I worked at and speak with my supervisors about my intentions to take the PMP examination and list projects I worked on there as evidence of my project management experience. Project management experience is required in the following project management processes: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Fortunately, as a PMP candidate, it is not a requirement that one have experience in each of these project management processes in every project documented.

My own story

I am interested in PMP certification because project management is largely what I do and have always done. My career has made several transitions over the last two decades, and I have always had the ability to manage, work with people, switch gears and learn something new. My career is like this: I started as a graphic designer, became an art director, began leading projects, started my own small design firm, began doing website development, teamed up with a website development company, projects grew bigger and more involved with IT, the projects evolved into solving real business problems and I started leading web software (SaaS) projects. Now, years after managing my first project, I’m working at my own business again as a consultant and I’ve decided it’s time to get formal IT and project management education and certification.

Professional development keeps you sharp

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PMP Study Process

One thing I really admire about PMI is its dedication to continuing professional development. PMI has adopted a CCR, or Continuing Certification Requirements Program to support the professional development of individuals who have taken and passed the certification exams. Following passing the exam, PMPs must renew their PMP credential every 3 years, show the equivalent of 60 Professional Development Units obtained during that period of time, and complete an application for certification renewal. Along with that, PMPs must reaffirm the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and PMI Certification Application/Renewal Agreement and pay a renewal fee. This sounds harder than it is. There are a number of professional development activities and voluteer services that will qualify as PDUs. In addition, if you take any courses that qualify as Continuing Education Units or CEUs, 1 CEU will convert to 10 PDUs. Most continuing education courses or short courses and workshops in project management can be converted to PDUs.

It’s win-win for students

As a student at an accredited U.S. college or university (or global equivalent), once your college program is verified, membership is only $30 per year plus a $10 application fee for new members. The fee for the PMP credential examination is also offered at a discount to members, at $405. For non-members, the fee for the exam is $555. If a student thinks the PMP certification is appropriate for their career, the discounts and membership benefits offered by PMI are a quick and easy decision. Combine these benefits with taking one or two courses in project management, and I can only speak for myself, but I’d be a fool not to get certified.