How to Earn Your PMP Certification?

Answer 1

The Project Management Professional Certification is the most valuable certification level that can be earned by a Project Manager. This certification shows that the Project Manager has successful mastered their career field and would be an asset to any company in which they represent. There are some special requirements, training courses and a written examination that must be completed to earn a PMP certification.

Special Requirements That Must Be Met

In order for a Project Manager to earn their PMP certification they must meet certain requirements that are set in place by the Project Management Institute. This is a non-profit organization that was set up to help Project Management professionals reach higher career levels within their field. This organization provides the project manager with services and resources such as training sessions, research data and information, networking opportunities and publications that can be used with various project ideas.

Before the Project Manager can complete the PMP certification training they must first be able to verify that they have at least 60 months of on the job experience in a Project Management career field or 36 months of on the job experience if they hold a Bachelor’s degree in this area. They Project Management specialist must also be able to prove that they have 35 contact hours of training in the area of Project Management education in either case. To complete the PMP certification examination, the Project Manager needs to register this information and complete an application for the exam online at the PMI website.

The Project Management Professional Certification Examination

There are two options for taking the PMP certification examination. This can be done at a certified testing center or online. The examination consists of 200 multiple choice questions, of which 25 of the questions are not included in the grading process because they are pre-release questions. For people who opt to take the online test, they will receive their results immediately following the completion of the examination. People who take their PMP certification exam at a testing center usually receive their results in the mail within four weeks.

Ongoing Requirements for Maintaining a PMP Certification

The PMP certification is good for three years following successful completion of the examination. However, the Project Manager must complete 60 professional development units within this time period to maintain their PMP certification. This includes any activities such as authoring articles engaging in full time project management, speaking about project management-related topics and completing research in the area of Project Management.