May 6, 2016

PMP Certification Roadmap

Finally took time this weekend to jot down my memories on my preparation for PMP (Project Mgmt Professional) certification . Hope this helps you..

Should I take PMP certification?

I am not going to address this question here as the answers are very subjective. In a nut shell, I would say that “it depends”. If you have already made up your mind to consider attempting for PMP certification, I will do my best in this blog to give you all the details to help you succeed.

Who Gives this Certification?

Project Mgmt Institute (PMI) is the only authorized company to provide this certification. They are a private body that involves itself in creating certification content, authorizing REPs to conduct trainings and administer the certification process. PMI does administer many other certifications beyond PMP. A full list can be found on their website.

Am I eligible?

Here is the eligibility criteria for someone attempting the exam.

Prerequisites

Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
7,500 hours leading and directing projects
35 hours of project management education

Four-year degree
4,500 hours leading and directing projects
35 hours of project management education

Is there any mandatory training that I need to attend?

Yes. In the prerequisites above, you will notice a reference to “35 hours of project management education”. This is a mandatory training that every applicant needs to undergo. There are various options at different Quality levels and different price points delivered in a wide range of mediums.

Here is a quick summary of few

Live class room trainings (Duration : 3+days) , costs up to $1500. Boot camp style. ex: http://pmsimplify.com/pmp_course_structure.php
Online , costs as less as $15 and you have your own schedule to complete it.

I prefer online course mainly due to cost factor and it makes it easy for me to pace up as required instead. The best resources that I could find after little bit of research was @ udemy.com . Here is a sample course that gives you 35 PDUs.

I personally used Joseph phillips course for less than $20. But, you can always keep looking for cheaper options and check for reviews.

How much does it cost overall?

Training ~ $20

PMI Membership $129

Exam fees $405

Total ~ $ 554