PMP certification is...

PMP (Project Manager Professional) is the world’s most reputable project management title, as offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).



Evidence of your commitment to a project management career. It demonstrates your fundamental knowledge of senior project management and its associated processes to potential employers.

There are two fundamental PMP certification requirements.

1-) If you have a four-year degree or equivalent diploma, you should have 3+ years of project experience. If you do not have four-year degree, you should have 5+ years of project experience.



2-) You must have attended a 35 contact hours project management education. (This PMP certification training qualifies for this requirement.)

-Why do I need PMP certification?

PMP is the abbreviation of Project Management Professional and it is the world’s most reputable project management title. The PMP certification is awarded to professionals who pass an exam consisting of 200 questions.



There are more than one million certified PMPs around the world and counting. Currently, successful corporate organizations (especially fortune 500 companies) look for project management candidates with a PMP certification. This achievement demonstrates that the professional has both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.



Also, fun fact - a survey conducted by Indeed, states that certified PMPs earn on average 20% more than their uncertified peers.

Learn more about the value of PMP certificate.

-What is the PMP certification cost?

PMP certification exam fee is $405 for PMI-members and $555 for non-members. Cost of PMI membership is $150 and gives one-year access to PMI documents including PMBOK. Therefore, being a PMI member and applying for PMP certification exam is recommended since total cost you will pay for PMP certification exam will not change.

Note that, this is only the exam fee. In order to sit for the PMP exam, you must have attended a 35 contact hours PMP training as well. PMP training cost is not included above.



Recommended way is enrolling in a PMP online training. This does not provide cost advantage only. You will have the flexibility to attend in PMP online courses based on your schedule, availability and you will be able to revisit the lectures as you wish.

Learn more about PMP certification cost.

-How should I choose my PMP training program?

In order to take the PMP exam, you must earn at least 35 contact project management education hours.

You have only three options to get 35 hours PMP training.

1- Self-Paced Online PMP Training

2- Virtual PMP Training – PMP Class Online Training

3- In Person PMP Classroom Training

Yes, Master of Project Academy provides all of these options.



We feel online PMP trainings are more convenient for the majority of PMP candidates. Students are able to follow the online PMP course lectures on their own time and can fit the PMP online training into their own schedule. If a student doesn’t fully understand a topic, they have full access to all online PMP training materials and can learn at their own pace.



Our online PMP training is also available as a resource and we’re readily available to answer students’ questions promptly. Additionally, online PMP course programs are around 3 times more affordable than the regular PMP classroom courses.

Be careful when choosing your online PMP training provider. Some project management courses are pretty basic so be sure to do your research and ensure that online PMP course program you will choose is up to standard and cover the PMBOK content fully.



If you are preferring an instructor-led PMP training, you can consider our PMP Online Class

Our PMP virtual training sessions have weekdays and weekend sessions. Weekday sessions start every Monday and end on Thursday.

PMP Virtual Training weekend sessions start biweekly on Saturdays. Total duration of PMP Virtual Training is 4-days. If you opt for Pro or Xclusive plan, you will have access to self-paced PMP training materials as well.



Master of Project Academy offers in-person PMP classroom training options in various locations around the world. You can fill in the form and get a quote for an in-person PMP training in your city as well.

-How should I study for PMP certification exam?

After helping more than 125,000 worldwide professionals, we prepared a 7-step PMP study plan. If you follow these steps, you will double your chances of passing the PMP exam with flying colors, on your first attempt.



1-) Determine the Target Date You Will Take PMP Exam. This will help you prioritize and arrange the lesson plan to ensure you’re ready come exam day.

2-) Develop a Study Schedule After You Set Your PMP Exam Date, plan which sections you will complete and when. Be sure to allow time for days off, holidays etc.

3-) Take Diligent Notes While You Study. The PMP certification process is a long journey. You keep coming back to these notes - they’ll be essential in retaining information throughout the study process.

4-) Practice, practice, practice:There are so many online PMP practice questions available to you via online, peer study groups, and training provider resources - like Master of Project Academy.

5-) Spend Time Reviewing Your Incorrect Answers. If you find a particular section difficult, make sure you revisit the PMP material and and retake the quizzes when necessary.

6-) Go through your PMP study notes frequently. The PMP certification journey is a long one - so every two weeks, take an hour to go through the section notes you’ve already taken. This will help you retain the PMP exam material better.

7-Take the exam and earn your PMP certification! If you followed steps 1-6, you should be ready to ace the PMP exam! Be sure to get enough sleep before PMP exam day, and be confident. You got this!



You can read more detailed guidelines about each step in our PMP study plan post.

-Will I need a PMP Prep Book for my PMP study?

If you would be asking this question in 2000s, I would definitely recommend to get a PMP book. Because, there were no online PMP materials, online PMP training options and several resources that you can access easily. However, now, it is not mandatory to get a PMP book for your PMP study.



Some PMP aspirants find reading a PMP book more convenient than following a training. Note that, even if you will use a PMP book for your PMP preparation, you cannot use it for satisfying 35 contact hours PM education requirement of PMP exam. You must attend in a 35 hours PMP training even if you will follow a PMP book. If you ask our recommendation, attending in a comprehensive PMP training is more important. Following a PMP book is up to you.



We have reviewed the available PMP books in the market and created the Best PMP Books list available in the market. You can read and pick the best PMP prep book if you will feel more confident in your PMP preparation if you follow a PMP book.



You can check our PMP Prep Book as well. It is a unique PMP book which focuses on case studies and organized like a real project.

-What is PMP coaching or PMP mentoring?

PMP certification preparation requires a detailed plan, well-structured PMP study plan and understanding the PMP exam content clearly. Although you can find several information in various PMP resources, these might not be sufficient for you or you might have specific questions about PMP certification.

You might have following queries about PMP certification

Any questions you might have about PMP certification

Questions about particular PMP knowledge areas that you could not understand well

How to submit your PMP application

You might have general questions about how to study for PMP exam, tips and tactics

PMP coach or PMP mentor will help you to clarify your questions about PMP exam and make sure you will pass the PMP exam in your first attempt. You can work with a PMP coach to clear all your PMP questions.



You can learn more about PMP coaching.

-What is the passing score for PMP certification exam?

There is a big debate about this question. In many resources, you will find that PMP passing score is 61%. However, PMI never explained this ratio as a PMP pass rate. Many PMP influencers and PMP blogs mention that if you answer 61% of the PMP exam questions correctly, you will pass the PMP exam so it is something like an accepted myth.



There are 200 multiple questions in PMP certification exam. 25 of these questions are for quality control purposes and unscored. We recommend you to score at least 70% from the PMP quizzes, PMP exam simulator questions and sample PMP exams you will use. This will ensure you to pass the PMP exam in your first attempt.



Learn more about PMP passing score.

-How can I apply for the PMP certification exam?

There are three methods for applying for the PMP certification. A PMP online application, a paper application, or through your training provider. The fastest and recommended way to apply for PMP certification is online.

It’s easy, Visit pmi.org and create your profile. After you’ve created your profile, you’ll see the certifications required by PMI, the Project Management Institute to apply. Select the PMP certification and follow their instructions. They’ll ask you to share education details, work experience, project experience, project management education details etc.

After you submit your PMP application online, PMI will review and within five business days, they’ll come back to you with three possible outcomes:

1-) They’ll confirm you’re eligible to take the PMP exam and the next step is simply to schedule the exam.

2-) PMI might ask you to provide additional documents regarding your work experience or education background. PMI audits online PMP applications randomly and may ask for these documents. Don’t take it personally, it’s just a part of their process. Be sure to send required documents to PMI via mail within 90 days. Upon review, PMI will then approve you’ve passed the audit.

Upon review, PMI will then approve you’ve passed the audit. 3-) If your PMP online application is rejected, PMI will give you more information on why it was denied and then you can plan to reapply in the future.



You can read more about PMP application

-What Should I Do In Case of PMI Audit?

Regardless the completeness of your PMP application, your PMP application might hit PMI audit. PMI selects PMP applications randomly for ensuring quality controls.

If your PMP application hits audit, there are three options that PMI might ask you to provide:

1-) They can ask you to provide documents about your attained education. In this case, you should provide your diploma, transcript or relevant documentation as a proof of the attained education you submitted during your PMP application

In this case, you should provide your diploma, transcript or relevant documentation as a proof of the attained education you submitted during your PMP application 2-) PMI might ask you to provide proofs about project management education In this case, you must contact your PMP training or PMP course provider to provide you a certificate of completion, course curriculum, letter of enrollment or similar documents showing that you completed 35 contact hours of project management education.

In this case, you must contact your PMP training or PMP course provider to provide you a certificate of completion, course curriculum, letter of enrollment or similar documents showing that you completed 35 contact hours of project management education. 3-) You might be asked documents regarding your project management experience. In this case, you must contact your employers, supervisors or colleagues to provide reference letters or relevant documentation regarding your project management experience



Note that, PMI might ask one or more of these during an audit. After collecting regarding documents, you must mail them to PMI within 90 days. After PMI reviews your documents, if you are eligible to sit for PMP exam, you will pass the audit.

-How can I access sample PMP exam questions?

Most PMP training organizations offer dozens of sample questions. Here at Master of Project Academy, we offer more than 1,000 PMP exam questions. By enrolling in the online PMP training course, you’ll have full access to these. The questions are prepared by project management experts who know the PMBOK content and the exam like the back of their hand.



Also, if you didn’t know - the PMI uses a randomized PMP question pool to distribute 200 exam questions to each candidate. Once they select the questions, the candidate has four hours to complete the PMP exam.



See: Sample PMP Exam Questions.



See: PMP Exam Simulator.

-Can I study for the PMP exam on my own?

Absolutely! You can get ready for PMP exam today if you wanted. You can enroll in an online PMP training and you can follow the 7 steps we outlined in our PMP study plan post. After you prepared your PMP study plan and with the help of our online PMP course, you can pass the PMP exam in your first attempt!

-What are the PMP formulas and PMP cheat sheets?

PMP exam includes 15 to 20 earned value management questions. These questions will be related to cost management, activity estimation, number of communication channels in the project etc. In order to answer these PMP math questions correctly, you must know PMP formulas.



PMP cheat sheets include explanation and examples of frequently occurring concepts in PMP exam. These can be:

Organizational Process Assets

Enterprise Environmental Factors

Work Breakdown Structure

Cost Baseline

Schedule Baseline

...

Having a PMP cheat sheet will help you to memorize frequently occurring concepts in PMP exam.



You can read more about PMP Formulas and PMP Cheat Sheet

-What is PMP Flash Card?

Flash cards are used to memorize important points in many areas. Actually, it is not special to PMP exam content and used in many other areas when learning a new language, concept, theory etc. PMP flash cards show a term, concept or formula in one side of the card. You should memorize the answer for the PMP flash card you have seen. By this way, you keep your PMP knowledge up to date.



PMP preparation is a long journey. Therefore, it will be important to keep your knowledge fresh. Especially, when you progressed in your PMP preparation and learned new PMP content, you should be memorizing what you learned weeks ago. PMP flash cards will help you at this point. You can work with PMP flash cards and while you learn new PMP exam topics, you can remember what you learned previously.



Learn more about PMP Flash Cards.

-Can I take the PMP exam online?

As of now, the only method for taking the PMP exam is through a Pearson VUE test center. As soon as your online PMP application is approved by PMI, you can then schedule to take your PMP exam at an approved location near you. We recommend you schedule your exam at least month in advance.

-When is the next PMP exam?

There is not a PMP exam schedule or a fixed PMP exam date you must sit for the exam. PMP exam is conducted by Pearson VUE test centers. Once you applied for the PMP exam and passed the PMP eligibility, you can schedule your PMP exam. You can book your PMP exam after completing your PMP study and when you are ready to take PMP exam.

Learn more about PMP exam schedule.

-Is PMP Certification valid for lifetime? Should I renew my PMP certification?

Once you passed the PMP certification exam, you must earn 60 PDUs in every three years and then apply for PMP renewal. For instance, if you passed the PMP certification exam on January 21st 2019, you must earn 60 PDUs until 21st of 2022.



There are several categories to earn PMP PDUs for renewing your PMP certification. The most convenient way to earn PDUs is online PMP PDU resources.



Learn more about PMP Renewal and 60 PMP PDU Bundle.

-What is the difference of "PDU" and "Contact Hours"

PDU is the abbreviation of "Professional Development Unit". Once you passed the PMP certification exam, PMI requires you to earn 60 PDU hours in each three years to retain your PMP certification. Generally, one hour of project management related activity counts for one PDU.

Learn more about PMP PDU Requirements.



"Contact hours" is a term related to project management education you must take before sitting in PMP exam. In order to sit for the PMP exam, you must take 35 contact hours of project management education. One contact hour represents one instructional project management education you will take from an instructor, webinar, online training or similar resource.



The main difference of "PDU hours" and "Contact Hours" is, you can earn PDU hours through self-study methods such as reading a blog, reading a book etc. or through practicing project management profession. On the other hand, you must attend a training, or instructional activity to earn contact hours.



Learn more about this in Free PMP PDU article.

-Want to learn more about PMP certification?

Enroll in our free PMP training course.

Read PMP Certification Ultimate Guide

This course is qualified for Continuing Education Credit by AAPM

Disclaimer: PMI, PMBOK, and PMP are registered trademarks of Project Management Institute.