PMI announced that the PMBOK® Guide 7th edition will be released on August 1, 2021. Now is the last time to start studying for the current exam.
Hi, my name is SATOSHI!
In this page, I will explain about PMP® certification in an easy-to-understand manner.
I’m a project manager in the plant industry.
I thought it was “Maybe a bit reckless … ” to challenge the PMP® exam while working and raising children, but I passed the exam with flying colors.
Thanks to this, I am now entrusted with the largest development project in the company.
I feel that having acquired the PMP® qualification has strengthened my knowledge of project management that can be used in my daily work.
On this site, I, SATOSHI, who passed PMP® exam at the first attempt will introduce the method of acquiring the PMP® certification,
- for beginners as well,
- Anyone in any industry,
- As easy to understand as possible.
In addition, the following questions can be solved by reading this site.
- How much does it cost?
- How long should I study
- Is it really useful?
- Can I pass too?
Anyway, it’s easy to understand, and I’ll explain it in the steps below!
STEP-1: What is PMP®?
PMP® (Project Management Professional) is an international certification awarded by PMI, the Project Management Institute, based on the PMBOK® Guide.
Bidding for public works projects is increasingly required to have a PMP® qualification holder. The management of a company also wants to increase the number of employees with PMP® certification in order to enhance competitiveness and improve the corporate brand image.
Passing the PMP® certification will officially certify your project management skills.
It is versatile regardless of industry, and will be useful for career advancement and job change.
Before that, what is “project management”?
What is project management?
Project management is about balancing various constraints, such as schedule and cost, in order to achieve the goals that the project should achieve, while managing to meet the expectations of stakeholders.
For example, when buying a car, it can be said that one project management is to go around to achieve the goal (purchase of a car) while considering the needs of the family while there are budget constraints.
In today’s highly competitive society, the success or failure of a business is not limited to technical skills and other expertise.
It is also important that many people involved in the work can work toward the same goal.
The power of project management is truly being questioned.
It is no exaggeration to say that the success or failure of a project depends on “project management”.
As you begin your studies
The road to PMP® certification is not an easy one.
You will need to invest a good amount of time and energy.
Even after obtaining the certification, you will need to study and spend money to maintain it.
I think the reason why the number of people aiming for PMP® qualification is increasing rapidly is that it can be a means of proof of skill and career advancement. In addition, it is a great advantage that you can learn the tips for working toward achieving various goals through studying and practicing PMP®.
As you begin studying for your PMP® certification, be aware that it will definitely benefit your life!
PMP® is not an honorary certification, but a practical certification that is useful for both professional and personal life.
STEP-2: Meet the PMP® eligibility requirements
Years of experience in project management
If you have a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or global equivalent), you must have minimum of 5 years/60 months of unique, non-overlapping professional project management experience.
If you have a four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or global equivalent) , you must have minimum of 3 years/36 months of unique, non-overlapping professional project management experience.
If you have Bachelor’s or post-graduate degree from a GAC accredited program (bachelor’s degree or master’s or global equivalent) , you must have minimum of 2 years/24 months of unique, non-overlapping professional project management experience.
These project management experiences must be within 8 years prior to the date of application.
Attend 35 hours of project management training
To take the PMP® exam, you need to prove that you have taken 35 hours of training with learning objectives related to project management.
The training is offered by various organizations, but the quickest way is through online seminars.
A certificate will be issued upon completion of the course.
You may be asked to submit it in response to an audit as described below, so be sure to save it.
STEP-3: Study for the PMP® exam!
Study time to the PMP® exam
Generally speaking, the amount of study time required to pass the PMP® exam is between 150-250 hours.
However, it varies from person to person, so if you are usually busy with work and household chores, you should first plan to have 100-150 hours of total study time.
Many people only have time to study on weekends.
However, even on weekdays, it is better to study efficiently using gaps in time such as morning, evening and lunch breaks.
Passing the PMP® exam is one of the projects, and self-control is the key to winning or losing. The point is to make a proper plan first and create a process that allows you to manage yourself objectively so that you will not be sloppy because of your busy schedule.
How to study for the PMP® exam
When planning your PMP® exam, consider the following two phases.
- Build a foundation to establish the contents of the PMP® as knowledge.
- Practical training for the purpose of passing the PMP® exam.
The “PMP®-like correct answer” and “rule of thumb” of project management accumulated in a particular industry are not always the same.
Let’s not underestimate the importance of building a foundation.
The longer the experience of project management, the more people skip the foundation and start studying for the exam, but that does not eliminate the risk of failure.
PMP® Study Method: Phase 1, Building the Foundation
In the first phase, building the foundation, you will focus on reading reference books and exercises so that you can firmly understand the body of knowledge of PMBOK®.
“I think this is the correct answer, but which is the correct answer for PMP®?”
It is effective to proceed with your studies from this perspective.
If you do not get a score of 50% or higher after conducting the mock exams included in the reference book, do not proceed to the second phase.
Objectively determine if you can move from the first phase to the second phase.
PMP® Study Method: Phase 2, Practical Training
In the second phase, it is recommended that you focus on solving the number of questions and learning the characteristics of the questions.
As you work through the numbers, you will be able to feel the difference between the correct answer in your industry and the results of PMP®.
In the exam, you will usually be narrowed down to two choices.
All that remains is your industry choice and your PMP®-like choice.
If you can sort out those differences and connect them to your score, you are more likely to pass.
If you try the mock exams included in the reference book and get a score of 70% or higher, you have a chance to pass!
Recommended reference books
This is the famous "Rita's book". This book is introduced on various websites and had a good reputation. It is a good book that is easy to understand. It contains exercises and sample questions, which are also useful. I recommend this book with confidence.
This is a best seller on Amazon. It contains many problems and will be useful for practical training.
This book has also been featured on many websites and is highly rated.Many people have passed the exam on the first try using this book alone.
These flashcards are compatible with the new version of the PMP exam (2021).If you practice repeatedly before the exam, you will be sure to pass.There is also a Kindle version.
This book is also very popular. It contains a lot of practice questions and can be used to prepare for the exam. There is also a Kindle version.
STEP-4: Apply for the PMP® exam!
PMP® Exam Application Process
You can apply for the PMP® exam online.
In addition to basic information such as your name and address, you will also need to provide the following:
- Academic Educational
- Project management experience
- Professional education
PMI will review your application.
Once the review is complete, PMI will send you an email with payment instructions and you will be required to pay according to the procedure.
When you apply for the exam, make sure you have the approval of someone who can verify your work history, typically your supervisor.
This is because you may be asked to submit supervisor’s signature in response to an audit as described below.
Examination Fees
It is $405 for PMI members ($275 for reexamination) and $555 for the nonmember ($375 for reexamination).
PMI Audit
A percentage of applicants will be selected for audit.
If you are selected for an audit, you will be notified via email prior to payment.
You will need to submit the following documents within 90 days
- Copies of your diploma/global equivalent
- Supervisor’s signature on your work history verification
- Copies of certificates from the training institute for project management education
Re-examination
You must pass the exam within one year eligibility period.
You can take the exam up to three times during the period.
If you fail all three attempts during the one-year period, you will have to wait one year from the date of the third attempt before you can apply to take the exam again.
If you do not pass, the trick is to challenge the revenge battle without opening too many days.
STEP-5: Maintain your PMP® certification!
After passing the PMP® exam, you will still have to renew your certification every three years.
The renewal fee is $60 for PMI members and $150 for the nonmenbers.
What is CCR?
As a professional in project management, you are required to engage in a program called CCR (Continuing Certification Requirements) program for continuing education and professional development.
You are required to earn and report a minimum of 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) during the CCR cycle (3 years).
What is PDU?
A PDU (Professional Development Unit) is a unit of measurement for hours of study and professional activity.
One PDU is equal to one hour and can be applied for in 0.25 units.
Learning is also offered through online seminars, and these are probably the simplest way to take advantage of this.
We shall maintain PMP® certification as a professional who can work on the front line.
Conclusion
I hope that the above information has helped you understand the process of obtaining the PMP® certification, no matter if you are new to the field or from any industry.
If you can prepare well as described, I think you have a good chance of passing the exam.
If you have any questions, please check here first, as there is a collection of frequently asked questions at the following link
You can also ask me directly.
I provide support according to the circumstances of each person who wants to obtain the PMP® certification.
PMP資格取得サポートします 勉強時間67時間、夫婦共働き&育児しながら合格したコツ
I’m currently working in project management, and I have to make decisions every day.
Most of the time, it is about problems that occur between people with conflicting feelings.
At such times, stopping and thinking, “What should I do from a PMP® perspective? (Again, the right answer from the PMP® perspective is not necessarily the right answer for each problem in the field.
Jumping into the field of project management without any backing is like going into battle empty-handed.
It is amazing that people are able to achieve results in such a situation.
However, I think it’s a waste not to prove your skills in the form of PMP® certification.
I would be happy if this site could help you get your PMP® certification.