Preparing for the project management professional (PMP) certification exam
By Michael W. Newell
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Pages displayed by permission of AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.
Front Cover
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
PMP EXAMS PREPARATION
Project Management Professional
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (May 2009)
Development of PMP Credential Holders 1995-2008Project Management Professional (abbreviation of PMP®) is a credential offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). Per 30 June 2009, there were 359,973 PMP certified individuals distributed globally.[1]
The credential is obtained by documenting 3 or 5 years work experience in project management, completing 35 hours of project management related training, and scoring a certain percentage of questions on a written, multiple choice examination.
Contents [hide]
1 Passing Score
2 The Exam Syllabus
3 Item References
4 Purpose of the Credential
5 The Examination Process
6 Item Writing
7 Pre-Requisites to Become Eligible
8 Language Aids
9 Continuous Credential Requirements (CCR)
10 Other PMI Credentials
11 References
12 External links
[edit] Passing Score
The passing score for the exam was 61% before 2006, when PMI made a decision to no longer publish the score. Estimates for the current score are between 70% and 75%.[2]
[edit] The Exam Syllabus
The PMP exam is based on the PMP Examination Specification per 2005[3][4].
This exam syllabus describes tasks out of six Performance Domains:
Initiating the Project (11%)
Planning the Project (23%)
Executing the Project (27%)
Monitoring and Controlling the Project (21%)
Closing the Project (9%)
Professional and Social Responsibility (9%)
The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions written against this specification. The numbers in parantheses describe the percentage of questions for each domain.
[edit] Item References
Each exam item (a question with its answering options) has one or more references to standard books or other sources of project management. Most of the questions reference to the PMI standard A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).[5]
Current PMP exam items reference to the PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition, which was published in December 2008.
The Project Management Framework, according to the PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition, embodies a project life cycle and five major project management Process Groups:
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitoring and Controlling
Closing
encompassing a total of 42 processes.
Mapped to these five process groups are nine of project management Knowledge Areas:
Project Integration Management
Project Scope Management
Project Time Management
Project Cost Management
Project Quality Management
Project Human Resource Management
Project Communications Management
Project Risk Management
Project Procurement Management
The processes out of these knowledge areas are described by their inputs, tools and techniques and outputs. They facilitate PMP professionals in developing and practicing specialization in one or more of the areas. For example, a PMP may specialize in Plan Quality, Perform Quality Assurance, and Perform Quality Control - the three processes that make up the Knowledge Area of Project Quality Management .
[edit] Purpose of the Credential
Government, commercial and other organizations employ PMP certified project managers in an attempt to improve the success rate of software development projects by applying a rigorous, standardized and evolving set of project management principles as contained in PMI's PMBOK Guide.
Professionals obtain the credential to verify their proficiency in project management with an internationally accepted certificate. It has proven especially helpful for project managers trying to find jobs or self-employed project managers selling their services to customers.
Many contractors hire certified PMPs to make their bids and proposals more attractive to prospects. Sometimes, IFBs or RFPs require that project managers must be certified PMPs.
The PMP credential was among CertCities.com’s 10 Hottest Certifications for 2006 on place 4—without actually being a pure IT certificate[6].
In December 2008, the PMP credential was among ZDNet’s 10 best IT certifications on place 7[7].
[edit] The Examination Process
The PMP exam is run as a computer test through the global network of Prometric.[8] There is also a paper-based option for locations with no Prometric Testing centers nearby.
The PMP exam contains 200 items (questions with answering options). 25 of them are pre-release items, which are not included in exam scoring. This score is calculated based on 175 questions.
Each item has 4 answering options. Only one option is right.
Candidates who take the computer-based test will receive their test result (passed/not passed) immediately after the examination. PMI will also evaluate proficiency level on each project management process group from high proficiency to low proficiency in a score report which they will receive after the examination.
Paper-based test candidates will receive their test result and score report typically in less than 4 weeks time.
[edit] Item Writing
Item writing is an ongoing process at PMI and new items (questions with 4 answering options each) are added to PMI's collection of exam items while others may be removed from it from time to time.
Items are written by PMPs in special sessions in a high-security environment. Item writers use the PMP Examination Specification to identify item contents and a reference (""PMBOK Guide"" or another standard source of project management) to verify the correctness of the item.
Individuals who are active in the field of PMP exam preparation like trainers, courseware developers, book authors, etc. are not allowed to participate in item writing sessions.
[edit] Pre-Requisites to Become Eligible
Candidate must verify:
High school diploma Bachelor Degree
60 Months / 7,500 h of PM Experience
35 contact hours of project management education 36 Months / 4,500 h of PM Experience
35 contact hours of project management education
The application for the exam and verification of education and experience are done online at [9]
[edit] Language Aids
PMI offers official language aids for the exam in 10 languages:
Chinese (simplified)
French
German
Hebrew
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Russian
Spanish
[edit] Continuous Credential Requirements (CCR)
To maintain the PMP qualification a number of 60 professional development units (PDUs) must be earnt over a three years cycle, from activities such as researching, authoring articles or speaking on Project Management related topics or being engaged full time in a project management[10].
[edit] Other PMI Credentials
PMP (Project Management Professional) is one of five credentials offered by PMI:
CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management
PMP Project Management Professional
PgMP Program Management Professional
PMI RMP PMI Risk Management Professional
PMI SP PMI Scheduling Professional[11]
[edit] References
^ PMI Today, August 2009 issue, page 17
^ Comparison CAPM/PMP exam
^ PMP Examination Spec in PMI's e-Reads (digital library, access for members only)
^ PMP Examination Spec in PMI's online bookstore
^ PMP Credential Handbook
^ CertCities.com’s 10 Hottest Certifications for 2006
^ ZDNet’s The 10 best IT certifications
^ www.prometric.com
^ Exam application at www.pmi.org
^ CCR on www.pmi.org
^ About PMIs Credentials
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (May 2009)
Development of PMP Credential Holders 1995-2008Project Management Professional (abbreviation of PMP®) is a credential offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). Per 30 June 2009, there were 359,973 PMP certified individuals distributed globally.[1]
The credential is obtained by documenting 3 or 5 years work experience in project management, completing 35 hours of project management related training, and scoring a certain percentage of questions on a written, multiple choice examination.
Contents [hide]
1 Passing Score
2 The Exam Syllabus
3 Item References
4 Purpose of the Credential
5 The Examination Process
6 Item Writing
7 Pre-Requisites to Become Eligible
8 Language Aids
9 Continuous Credential Requirements (CCR)
10 Other PMI Credentials
11 References
12 External links
[edit] Passing Score
The passing score for the exam was 61% before 2006, when PMI made a decision to no longer publish the score. Estimates for the current score are between 70% and 75%.[2]
[edit] The Exam Syllabus
The PMP exam is based on the PMP Examination Specification per 2005[3][4].
This exam syllabus describes tasks out of six Performance Domains:
Initiating the Project (11%)
Planning the Project (23%)
Executing the Project (27%)
Monitoring and Controlling the Project (21%)
Closing the Project (9%)
Professional and Social Responsibility (9%)
The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions written against this specification. The numbers in parantheses describe the percentage of questions for each domain.
[edit] Item References
Each exam item (a question with its answering options) has one or more references to standard books or other sources of project management. Most of the questions reference to the PMI standard A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).[5]
Current PMP exam items reference to the PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition, which was published in December 2008.
The Project Management Framework, according to the PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition, embodies a project life cycle and five major project management Process Groups:
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitoring and Controlling
Closing
encompassing a total of 42 processes.
Mapped to these five process groups are nine of project management Knowledge Areas:
Project Integration Management
Project Scope Management
Project Time Management
Project Cost Management
Project Quality Management
Project Human Resource Management
Project Communications Management
Project Risk Management
Project Procurement Management
The processes out of these knowledge areas are described by their inputs, tools and techniques and outputs. They facilitate PMP professionals in developing and practicing specialization in one or more of the areas. For example, a PMP may specialize in Plan Quality, Perform Quality Assurance, and Perform Quality Control - the three processes that make up the Knowledge Area of Project Quality Management .
[edit] Purpose of the Credential
Government, commercial and other organizations employ PMP certified project managers in an attempt to improve the success rate of software development projects by applying a rigorous, standardized and evolving set of project management principles as contained in PMI's PMBOK Guide.
Professionals obtain the credential to verify their proficiency in project management with an internationally accepted certificate. It has proven especially helpful for project managers trying to find jobs or self-employed project managers selling their services to customers.
Many contractors hire certified PMPs to make their bids and proposals more attractive to prospects. Sometimes, IFBs or RFPs require that project managers must be certified PMPs.
The PMP credential was among CertCities.com’s 10 Hottest Certifications for 2006 on place 4—without actually being a pure IT certificate[6].
In December 2008, the PMP credential was among ZDNet’s 10 best IT certifications on place 7[7].
[edit] The Examination Process
The PMP exam is run as a computer test through the global network of Prometric.[8] There is also a paper-based option for locations with no Prometric Testing centers nearby.
The PMP exam contains 200 items (questions with answering options). 25 of them are pre-release items, which are not included in exam scoring. This score is calculated based on 175 questions.
Each item has 4 answering options. Only one option is right.
Candidates who take the computer-based test will receive their test result (passed/not passed) immediately after the examination. PMI will also evaluate proficiency level on each project management process group from high proficiency to low proficiency in a score report which they will receive after the examination.
Paper-based test candidates will receive their test result and score report typically in less than 4 weeks time.
[edit] Item Writing
Item writing is an ongoing process at PMI and new items (questions with 4 answering options each) are added to PMI's collection of exam items while others may be removed from it from time to time.
Items are written by PMPs in special sessions in a high-security environment. Item writers use the PMP Examination Specification to identify item contents and a reference (""PMBOK Guide"" or another standard source of project management) to verify the correctness of the item.
Individuals who are active in the field of PMP exam preparation like trainers, courseware developers, book authors, etc. are not allowed to participate in item writing sessions.
[edit] Pre-Requisites to Become Eligible
Candidate must verify:
High school diploma Bachelor Degree
60 Months / 7,500 h of PM Experience
35 contact hours of project management education 36 Months / 4,500 h of PM Experience
35 contact hours of project management education
The application for the exam and verification of education and experience are done online at [9]
[edit] Language Aids
PMI offers official language aids for the exam in 10 languages:
Chinese (simplified)
French
German
Hebrew
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Russian
Spanish
[edit] Continuous Credential Requirements (CCR)
To maintain the PMP qualification a number of 60 professional development units (PDUs) must be earnt over a three years cycle, from activities such as researching, authoring articles or speaking on Project Management related topics or being engaged full time in a project management[10].
[edit] Other PMI Credentials
PMP (Project Management Professional) is one of five credentials offered by PMI:
CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management
PMP Project Management Professional
PgMP Program Management Professional
PMI RMP PMI Risk Management Professional
PMI SP PMI Scheduling Professional[11]
[edit] References
^ PMI Today, August 2009 issue, page 17
^ Comparison CAPM/PMP exam
^ PMP Examination Spec in PMI's e-Reads (digital library, access for members only)
^ PMP Examination Spec in PMI's online bookstore
^ PMP Credential Handbook
^ CertCities.com’s 10 Hottest Certifications for 2006
^ ZDNet’s The 10 best IT certifications
^ www.prometric.com
^ Exam application at www.pmi.org
^ CCR on www.pmi.org
^ About PMIs Credentials
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