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Complete Guide on PRINCE2® Foundation Examination

The key to excelling in any examination is to analyse its structure, question-pattern, and most importantly, the syllabus of the subject that you are going to take the examination for. If you prepare for an examination blindly by ignoring any one of the three criteria listed above, then the final outcome of your exam might be something unexpected.So, in order to pass any examination with flying colours, you must tread carefully and follow a proper procedure to plan your preparation for an examination.In this article, we will discuss the structure of PRINCE2® Foundation Examination, being certified with which will help you understand how the themes of PRINCE2®, its principles, processes, themes, and terminology are applied towards finishing a project with success and establish you as an informed member of a project management team. It is better if you plan your preparations following a proper procedure.So, let us begin understanding the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination structure.At first, let us get a brief overview of what the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination expects you to know.PRINCE2® Foundation Examination will test your ability to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2® method within a project environment supporting PRINCE2®. From your end, you require to demonstrate that you understand the principles, themes, processes, and the terminology of the method.Once you pass the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination, you should be able to:Explain the purpose and major content of all roles, the seven principles, the seven themes, and the seven processes.State which management products are input to, and output from the seven processes.State the main purpose, and key contents, of the major management products.State the relationships between processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions of a project.The above gives you a brief but clear explanation of what this examination will demand from you in the form of the questions.Individuals who can go for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification:There are no eligibility criteria to appear for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification Examination. The PRINCE2® Foundation Certification is open for anybody to get accredited with, for ones who want to manage their projects, although it is found to be more useful for IT employees. But whether an individual is a designer, or develops and delivers projects, this certification will prove very effective. Moreover, if you currently are a project manager or planning to become one, then the PRINCE2® certification is the one for you.What is the examination format of PRINCE2® Foundation?Now, let’s dive a bit more into the structure of the PRINCE2® Foundation examination. The examination of the PRINCE2® Foundation Level is structured as follows :PRINCE2® Foundation examination will contain objective type testing questions. It will be a closed book examination and conducted by PEOPLECERT, who will give you an hour’s time to complete answering the question paper.This examination includes 60 questions, 5 out of them being trial questions and will not add to your final score.To pass the examination you will need to secure at least 55%, which is answering 33 out of 60 correctly.PRINCE2® Examination and Certification InfoInfo/ Examination typePRINCE2® Foundation ExaminationQuestion typeObjectiveConducted byPEOPLECERTCertification familyPRINCE2®Created byAXELOSTime allocated1 hourNumber of questions60Passing criteria 55%, i.e, at least 33 out of 60 questions need to be answered correctlyLevelFoundationNumber of Examination Languages6Re-certificationNot requiredClosed/Open bookClosed bookModes of languages for the examination:DutchEnglishFrenchGermanNorwegianPolishYou can check the PEOPLECERT website for more information.Which topics are covered in the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination?Here is the list of the necessary topics that are covered:Overview, Principles and Tailoring PRINCE2® to the Project EnvironmentBusiness Case (BC) ThemeQuality (QU) ThemePlans (PL) ThemeRisk (RK) ThemeChange (CH) ThemeProgress (PG) ThemeStarting up a Project (SU) ProcessDirecting a Project (DP) ProcessInitiating a Project (IP) ProcessControlling a Stage (CS) ProcessManaging Product Delivery (MP) ProcessManaging a Stage Boundary (SB) ProcessClosing a Project (CP) Process.How does one go about opting for the examination?You can opt for PRINCE2® examinations by either:Being a part of a PRINCE2® accredited training course through your PRINCE2® Training providerOnlineOr at a public PRINCE2® examination centre.The standard setup for classroom courses is paper-based. Ones who self-study, or practice eLearning courses, usually appear for the online examinations. The online examinations are invigilated too, and you should be in a quiet room separately with the webcam and microphone recording you.How difficult is the examination?There is no penalty for incorrect answers, keeping in mind that the examination is not expected to include every detail and advanced topics like tailoring. The passing score is low as well and you will require to secure at least 50% of the total. Therefore a random answer sheet already has a 25% score on an average. All you need to do is get 50% to pass the examination. The examination is rather simple and about 95% of the examination results are successful. This is stated by the seasonal reports from the examination institutes such as:APMG InternationalBCS, Learning and Development LtdCSMEEXINPeopleCert.PRINCE2® Foundation Syllabus:It is essential for you to have complete knowledge of the PRINCE2® principles, terminology, processes and themes. You must be able to:Describe the purpose and major content of all roles, the seven principles, the seven themes, and the seven processesMention which management products are to be included as input or output from the seven processesState the main purpose, and key contents, of the major management productsExplain how processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions of a project are related to each other.What is the main resource used to pass the examination?Many training organizations and candidates resort to the official manual by Axelos, Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2® for the main resource. However, the same should be only used when one goes for the PRINCE2® Practitioner Examination.The reason is, the official manual by Axelos is too long and holds too much information for somebody who is going just for the Foundation examination and can become quite daunting too.Like many candidates, you should go for simplified resources to prepare for the Foundation examination. You may also practice sample questions and examination questions of previous examinations to increase the chances of scoring more.Many candidates have set the trend of using the PRINCE2® Foundation Training manual because it is completely focussed on the PRINCE2® Foundation syllabus.Here is how the above-mentioned training manual different from the official one from Axelos:It is a manual for training purposes, not reference.It offers lots of examples of Management Products and that makes it easier for the candidates to understand.It focuses completely on the PRINCE2® Foundation syllabus and examination.It cites examples to·help explain new PRINCE2® terms.It offers an overview of all the types of questions that the candidates expect to face.It is available in PDF format that makes it easy to navigate to what you need.What is the procedure to prepare for the examination?There are three options:Take classroom courses: The standard course lasts for 3 days, with the examination to be conducted at the end of the last dayTake eLearning coursesOr self-study.It depends entirely on your experience and knowledge on how long you will take for self-study or in completing eLearning courses. This might be between 20 to 40 hours.It is recommended for you to opt for the classroom and eLearning courses from an Accredited Training Organisation. Why? Because the examination institutes reviewed and approved their material and the Accredited Training Organisations do mention the same information in their respective websites.What are the various types of questions?There are 3 types of question styles present in the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination, ‘Classic’, ‘List’ and ‘Missing word’. The questions are always presented in multiple-choice format. Therefore,  all you need to do is choose one out of the four given options. Each question in the examination paper has one correct answer.‘Classic’ style questions: This question style will feature four options. One of them will hold the correct answer to the question. You can select only one. Therefore, you should read the question and the options carefully to make your choice.‘List’ style questions: This question style will have a question followed by four statements and four options. Every option will have a combination of three statements. You will need to read the statements, relate each option with the question, and choose the correct answer.‘Missing word’ style questions: This question style will provide you with a statement instead of a question which will have a missing word, the question being followed by four options, with any one of the four being the possible missing word in the statement. But you will go through all the four given options and choose the one which is relatable to the statement.Paying and appearing for the examinationFor classroom training, the examination is usually being conducted by the trainer at the end of the course. The examination fees vary from country to country and you will need to check with the accredited training organisations to check for the correct figures.The PRINCE2® Foundation Examination fee offer from PEOPLECERT: £236.00 for India.Some eLearning courses also have the examination bundled with their offered courses, and you will get a voucher from the Accredited Training Organisation, the voucher which you can use when appearing for the examination in one of the examination institutes’ websites. You may buy the examination from the Accredited Training Organisations or examination institutes separately and go through the same process.Choices are also available to take the examination in certain test centres such as Prometric, but it is not as common as other options.Choosing the test centre and scheduling/rescheduling/cancelling the examinationFollow these steps in order to register for the examination and choose the examination centre.Via Pearson Vue:Step 1: Visit the link:https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/project-programme-and-portfolio-management/PRINCE2®-2/PRINCE2®-2017-foundation-2232.Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the header ‘Take the Exam’.Step 3: At the bottom right corner of the screen, under ‘Approved Test Centre’, click ‘Pearson Vue’.Step 4: You will be taken to the page of Pearson VueStep 5: At the right-hand side of the page, you will see a host of options. You will need to sign in or create an account to schedule, reschedule or cancel an examination.Step 6: To find a test centre, look just below where you are asked to sign-in and you will need to either  click on ‘Find a Test Center’ or ‘Find a test centre on a military base’ to search  for the test centre according to your choice.Step 7:  Proceed with the chosen test centre to schedule the examination date that you prefer.Via Prometric:Step 1: Repeat step 1 from above.Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the header ‘Take the Exam’.Step 3: At the bottom right corner of the screen, under ‘Approved Test Centre’ click‘ Prometric’.Step 4: You will be taken to the page of Prometric:             https://www.prometric.com/PCERT/Pages/landing.aspxStep 5: At the top of the page you will find four options:‘Schedule My Test’: Click this option if you want to schedule the day and date of your examination.‘Locate A Test Center’: Click this option if you want to find the test centre according to your choice.‘Reschedule/Cancel My Test’: Click this option if you want to reschedule the day of your examinations or cancel it.‘Confirm My Test’: Click this option if you want to get a confirmation on the test centre, the day and date when your examination will be held.ConclusionSo that was the discussion of the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination structure. This blog will help you to get a deep understanding of the core details of the system, structure, criteria, and nature of the examination. After this, you surely would have a clearer idea about how the entire examination system works and what you need to apply for the same. Not only that, but you will also be better positioned to move ahead in understanding the further details regarding PRINCE2®.All the best!
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Complete Guide on PRINCE2® Foundation Examination

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Complete Guide on PRINCE2® Foundation Examination

The key to excelling in any examination is to analyse its structure, question-pattern, and most importantly, the syllabus of the subject that you are going to take the examination for. If you prepare for an examination blindly by ignoring any one of the three criteria listed above, then the final outcome of your exam might be something unexpected.

So, in order to pass any examination with flying colours, you must tread carefully and follow a proper procedure to plan your preparation for an examination.

In this article, we will discuss the structure of PRINCE2® Foundation Examination, being certified with which will help you understand how the themes of PRINCE2®, its principles, processes, themes, and terminology are applied towards finishing a project with success and establish you as an informed member of a project management team. It is better if you plan your preparations following a proper procedure.

So, let us begin understanding the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination structure.

At first, let us get a brief overview of what the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination expects you to know.

PRINCE2® Foundation Examination will test your ability to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2® method within a project environment supporting PRINCE2®. From your end, you require to demonstrate that you understand the principles, themes, processes, and the terminology of the method.

Once you pass the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination, you should be able to:

  • Explain the purpose and major content of all roles, the seven principles, the seven themes, and the seven processes.
  • State which management products are input to, and output from the seven processes.
  • State the main purpose, and key contents, of the major management products.
  • State the relationships between processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions of a project.

The above gives you a brief but clear explanation of what this examination will demand from you in the form of the questions.

Individuals who can go for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification:

There are no eligibility criteria to appear for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification Examination. The PRINCE2® Foundation Certification is open for anybody to get accredited with, for ones who want to manage their projects, although it is found to be more useful for IT employees. But whether an individual is a designer, or develops and delivers projects, this certification will prove very effective. Moreover, if you currently are a project manager or planning to become one, then the PRINCE2® certification is the one for you.

What is the examination format of PRINCE2® Foundation?

format of PRINCE2® Foundation

Now, let’s dive a bit more into the structure of the PRINCE2® Foundation examination. The examination of the PRINCE2® Foundation Level is structured as follows :

  • PRINCE2® Foundation examination will contain objective type testing questions. It will be a closed book examination and conducted by PEOPLECERT, who will give you an hour’s time to complete answering the question paper.
  • This examination includes 60 questions, 5 out of them being trial questions and will not add to your final score.
  • To pass the examination you will need to secure at least 55%, which is answering 33 out of 60 correctly.

PRINCE2® Examination and Certification Info

Info/ Examination typePRINCE2® Foundation Examination
Question typeObjective
Conducted byPEOPLECERT
Certification familyPRINCE2®
Created byAXELOS
Time allocated1 hour
Number of questions60
Passing criteria 55%, i.e, at least 33 out of 60 questions need to be answered correctly


LevelFoundation
Number of Examination Languages6
Re-certificationNot required
Closed/Open bookClosed book

Modes of languages for the examination:

  • Dutch
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Norwegian
  • Polish

You can check the PEOPLECERT website for more information.

Which topics are covered in the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination?

Here is the list of the necessary topics that are covered:

  • Overview, Principles and Tailoring PRINCE2® to the Project Environment
  • Business Case (BC) Theme
  • Quality (QU) Theme
  • Plans (PL) Theme
  • Risk (RK) Theme
  • Change (CH) Theme
  • Progress (PG) Theme
  • Starting up a Project (SU) Process
  • Directing a Project (DP) Process
  • Initiating a Project (IP) Process
  • Controlling a Stage (CS) Process
  • Managing Product Delivery (MP) Process
  • Managing a Stage Boundary (SB) Process
  • Closing a Project (CP) Process.

How does one go about opting for the examination?

You can opt for PRINCE2® examinations by either:

  • Being a part of a PRINCE2® accredited training course through your PRINCE2® Training provider
  • Online
  • Or at a public PRINCE2® examination centre.

The standard setup for classroom courses is paper-based. Ones who self-study, or practice eLearning courses, usually appear for the online examinations. The online examinations are invigilated too, and you should be in a quiet room separately with the webcam and microphone recording you.

How difficult is the examination?

There is no penalty for incorrect answers, keeping in mind that the examination is not expected to include every detail and advanced topics like tailoring. The passing score is low as well and you will require to secure at least 50% of the total. Therefore a random answer sheet already has a 25% score on an average. All you need to do is get 50% to pass the examination. The examination is rather simple and about 95% of the examination results are successful. This is stated by the seasonal reports from the examination institutes such as:

  • APMG International
  • BCS, Learning and Development Ltd
  • CSME
  • EXIN
  • PeopleCert.

PRINCE2® Foundation Syllabus:

It is essential for you to have complete knowledge of the PRINCE2® principles, terminology, processes and themes. You must be able to:

  • Describe the purpose and major content of all roles, the seven principles, the seven themes, and the seven processes
  • Mention which management products are to be included as input or output from the seven processes
  • State the main purpose, and key contents, of the major management products
  • Explain how processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions of a project are related to each other.

What is the main resource used to pass the examination?

Many training organizations and candidates resort to the official manual by Axelos, Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2® for the main resource. However, the same should be only used when one goes for the PRINCE2® Practitioner Examination.

The reason is, the official manual by Axelos is too long and holds too much information for somebody who is going just for the Foundation examination and can become quite daunting too.

Like many candidates, you should go for simplified resources to prepare for the Foundation examination. You may also practice sample questions and examination questions of previous examinations to increase the chances of scoring more.

Many candidates have set the trend of using the PRINCE2® Foundation Training manual because it is completely focussed on the PRINCE2® Foundation syllabus.

Here is how the above-mentioned training manual different from the official one from Axelos:

  • It is a manual for training purposes, not reference.
  • It offers lots of examples of Management Products and that makes it easier for the candidates to understand.
  • It focuses completely on the PRINCE2® Foundation syllabus and examination.
  • It cites examples to·help explain new PRINCE2® terms.
  • It offers an overview of all the types of questions that the candidates expect to face.
  • It is available in PDF format that makes it easy to navigate to what you need.

What is the procedure to prepare for the examination?

procedure to prepare for the examination

There are three options:

  1. Take classroom courses: The standard course lasts for 3 days, with the examination to be conducted at the end of the last day
  2. Take eLearning courses
  3. Or self-study.

It depends entirely on your experience and knowledge on how long you will take for self-study or in completing eLearning courses. This might be between 20 to 40 hours.

It is recommended for you to opt for the classroom and eLearning courses from an Accredited Training Organisation. Why? Because the examination institutes reviewed and approved their material and the Accredited Training Organisations do mention the same information in their respective websites.

What are the various types of questions?

There are 3 types of question styles present in the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination, ‘Classic’, ‘List’ and ‘Missing word’. The questions are always presented in multiple-choice format. Therefore,  all you need to do is choose one out of the four given options. Each question in the examination paper has one correct answer.

  • ‘Classic’ style questions: This question style will feature four options. One of them will hold the correct answer to the question. You can select only one. Therefore, you should read the question and the options carefully to make your choice.
  • ‘List’ style questions: This question style will have a question followed by four statements and four options. Every option will have a combination of three statements. You will need to read the statements, relate each option with the question, and choose the correct answer.
  • ‘Missing word’ style questions: This question style will provide you with a statement instead of a question which will have a missing word, the question being followed by four options, with any one of the four being the possible missing word in the statement. But you will go through all the four given options and choose the one which is relatable to the statement.

Paying and appearing for the examination

For classroom training, the examination is usually being conducted by the trainer at the end of the course. The examination fees vary from country to country and you will need to check with the accredited training organisations to check for the correct figures.

The PRINCE2® Foundation Examination fee offer from PEOPLECERT: £236.00 for India.

Some eLearning courses also have the examination bundled with their offered courses, and you will get a voucher from the Accredited Training Organisation, the voucher which you can use when appearing for the examination in one of the examination institutes’ websites. You may buy the examination from the Accredited Training Organisations or examination institutes separately and go through the same process.

Choices are also available to take the examination in certain test centres such as Prometric, but it is not as common as other options.

Choosing the test centre and scheduling/rescheduling/cancelling the examination

Follow these steps in order to register for the examination and choose the examination centre.

  • Via Pearson Vue:

Step 1: Visit the link:

https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/project-programme-and-portfolio-management/PRINCE2®-2/PRINCE2®-2017-foundation-2232.

Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the header ‘Take the Exam’.

Step 3: At the bottom right corner of the screen, under ‘Approved Test Centre’, click ‘Pearson Vue’.

Step 4: You will be taken to the page of Pearson Vue

Step 5: At the right-hand side of the page, you will see a host of options. You will need to sign in or create an account to schedule, reschedule or cancel an examination.

Step 6: To find a test centre, look just below where you are asked to sign-in and you will need to either  click on ‘Find a Test Center’ or ‘Find a test centre on a military base’ to search  for the test centre according to your choice.

Step 7:  Proceed with the chosen test centre to schedule the examination date that you prefer.

  • Via Prometric:

Step 1: Repeat step 1 from above.

Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the header ‘Take the Exam’.

Step 3: At the bottom right corner of the screen, under ‘Approved Test Centre’ click‘ Prometric’.

Step 4: You will be taken to the page of Prometric:

             https://www.prometric.com/PCERT/Pages/landing.aspx

Step 5: At the top of the page you will find four options:

  • ‘Schedule My Test’: Click this option if you want to schedule the day and date of your examination.
  • ‘Locate A Test Center’: Click this option if you want to find the test centre according to your choice.
  • ‘Reschedule/Cancel My Test’: Click this option if you want to reschedule the day of your examinations or cancel it.
  • ‘Confirm My Test’: Click this option if you want to get a confirmation on the test centre, the day and date when your examination will be held.

Conclusion

So that was the discussion of the PRINCE2® Foundation Examination structure. This blog will help you to get a deep understanding of the core details of the system, structure, criteria, and nature of the examination. After this, you surely would have a clearer idea about how the entire examination system works and what you need to apply for the same. Not only that, but you will also be better positioned to move ahead in understanding the further details regarding PRINCE2®.

All the best!

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KnowledgeHut

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KnowledgeHut is a fast growing Management Consulting and Training firm that is a source of Intelligent Information support for businesses and professionals across the globe.


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Get PRINCE2® Certified

Gone are the days when one can stay satisfied with one’s job and stay relaxed about securing one’s future. Nowadays, it is no longer an ‘An easy and relaxed life’ anymore. Things have changed a lot and will keep doing so. It is a ‘Dog-eat-dog world’ where the competition is as fierce as it can possibly be.So what does one need to grow in one’s career? A tool that gives an advantage over others. Project management is the key to ensure that the project triangle is properly maintained which results in keeping the budget, scope, and timely delivery in check. This also unites the team and keeps everybody on the same page. Projects being delivered effectively on time creates a positive impact on the entire organisation as well.To do that, we need a methodology. PRINCE2® is one of those methods, excelling in which will take you to that next level in handling a particular project for any organisation in the most effective manner. It is the most frequently-used project management method and will offer you the confidence to manage your project effectively with success.In this article, we will discuss what PRINCE2® certification holds, the requirements needed to apply for the same, the benefits involved, and the proper procedure to apply for the examination.If you are interested to know about the above, then you have reached the right place.So, let us begin.What does the PRINCE2® Certification hold for you?PRINCE2® is made up of 7 principles, themes, processes, and project environment. The method used aids in managing projects with success no matter what the size and scale of a project are.PRINCE2® includes the following:The PRINCE2® manual – Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2® 2017 EditionA Certification Scheme to help you reach either the ‘Foundation’ level or the ’Practitioner’A Membership subscription facility.To get PRINCE2® certified, you need to know that there are four levels in PRINCE2® Certification:PRINCE2® Foundation is the entry levelPRINCE2® Practitioner is the advanced levelPRINCE2® Agile FoundationPRINCE2® Agile Practitioner qualification.Even if there are four levels of certifications for PRINCE2®, the first two, PRINCE2® Foundation, and PRINCE2® Practitioner are the most sought after and the prerequisites vary for each of them.Let us have a look at each of their requirements and what you will learn from them.PRINCE2® Foundation qualification will educate you with the principles of PRINCE2®, its themes, terminology, and the way you will be able to implement PRINCE2® methodology to a project environment supporting PRINCE2®, thus making you an informed member of a project management team.Prerequisites:There are no specific pre-conditions for the Foundation level certification.You may study this on your own or as take it as a prerequisite to the PRINCE2® Practitioner courseHowever, with respect to PRINCE2® Certification Requirements, while it is not mandatory, having a basic knowledge of managing projects is always preferred.In that way, training in PRINCE2® will prepare you for the Foundation level certification in a much better manner in familiarising you with the methods, terms, and concepts.PRINCE2® Practitioner qualification will prepare you to apply PRINCE2® methodology in running and managing a project in an environment which supports the idea of implementing PRINCE2®. Once are able to do so, you will be able to apply PRINCE2® accordingly to take care of the requirements and issues that emerge from a specific project scenario. This results in you getting a comprehensible knowledge about relating PRINCE2® principles with its themes, processes, and PRINCE2® products, and understand them at the same time.Prerequisites:To go for this course and examination, you will need to provide proof that you  passed one of the following:PRINCE2® FoundationProject Management Professional (PMP®)Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager)IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager)IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate).Only present-day certifications will qualify as a prerequisite.PRINCE2® Agile Foundation qualification comes into the picture once you are aware of what PRINCE2® processes, themes, and principles are, will educate you about governing PRINCE2® and an extensive range of agile concepts. It is similar to PRINCE2® Foundation and after being qualified, you will be able to understand how PRINCE2® 's methodology goes hand in hand with agile concepts while being an informed member of an agile project team simultaneously.PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner qualification teaches certified project managers on how to combine PRINCE2®'s structure, governance, and control with agile methods, techniques and approaches to get an effective result.Prerequisites:Just like PRINCE2® Practitioner, you will need to furnish proof of having passed one of   the following:PRINCE2® Foundation (or higher)Project Management Professional (PMP®)Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager)IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager)IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate).Like before, only current certifications will qualify as a prerequisite.However, all the levels of certification have the same examination style and structure.Who can go for PRINCE2® certification?Anybody can use PRINCE2® to manage their projects. If you are a project designer, or into the development and delivery of projects, then you will find this certification very helpful. Moreover, if you currently are a project manager or planning to become one, then PRINCE2® certification is the one for you.The PRINCE2® Foundation certification is for professionals who want to indicate that they can be an informed and effective member of a project management team by knowing PRINCE2® methodology, its themes, principles and processes within a PRINCE2®  supporting environment.Moreover, the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification also acts as a prerequisite for professionals who want to get PRINCE2® Practitioner or PRINCE2® Agile certified.The PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification is for professionals who have sufficient knowledge about PRINCE2® methodologies and the application of the same, working effectively and actively with a project management team in a specific scenario and within a PRINCE2®  supporting environment.What are the PRINCE2® training options?You can attend classroom training or study onlineVisit this Axelos link or the PRINCE2® website to find a local PRINCE2® Classroom Training or Online Training centre.Tell me about the PRINCE2® Certification examinations.Now that we have discussed the requirements of the PRINCE2® Certifications, let us understand the style and structure of the PRINCE2® Certification examinations to help you know how to pass it.Understanding the examination formatIt is quite normal to have lots of questions about the examination format, as this is one of the most crucial inquiries.PRINCE2® examinations are either undergone:As a part of a PRINCE2® accredited training course through your PRINCE2® training providerOnlineAt a public PRINCE2® examination centre.Regardless of which option you choose, the style and structure of each examination remain nearly the same.First, we will cover the examination structure. Let us go through them one by one.PRINCE2® Foundation Level Certification Examination 2009:The duration of the examination is 60 minutes.It includes 75 questions.You will need 50% to pass the examination. So you will need to get at least 35 out of the total 70 questions correct. Please note that 5 of the questions are for trial and are not counted in your final score.It will have a ‘Multiple Choice Question’ pattern.There is no negative marking.PRINCE2® Foundation Level Certification Examination 2017:The duration of the examination is 60 minutesIt includes 60 questionsYou will need 55% to pass the examination. So you will need to get at least 33 out of the total 60 questions correctIt will have a ‘Multiple Choice Question’ patternThere is no negative markingThere will be a Reference Book: Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2® publication, 2017 edition. But, it will be a closed book examinationThere will be various types of questions: You may be given the regular question pattern with 4-Answer options, or filling a missing word type or pick 2 correct statements from a given list of 4 statements.But you might be wondering how the 2009 Certification differs from the 2017 version, and if either the requirements or the content has changed. Well, here is what is new about PRINCE2® 2017:It has a revised PRINCE2® GuidanceEmphasises the approach in the methods of managing projects using the same 7 principles, themes and processesCustomises PRINCE2® for the specific organisational and environmental needFocuses on the relationship between themes and principlesRedraws ‘Themes’ to include pertinent and specific examples of tailoringProvides more examples of practical application of methods and guidance to enable you to use for project managementHas become even more a ready reckoner and reference for all aspects of managing projectsPuts more emphasis on membership for practitioners and foundation level certification holders to stay up to date and validate their certifications.Now, let us analyse the PRINCE2® Practitioner examination requirements as well.PRINCE2® Practitioner Level Certification Examination 2009:Type of questions: ObjectiveThere will be 8 questions – 10 question items per question, each worth one markYou will need 55% to pass the examination. So you will need to get at least 44 out of the total 80 questions correctThe duration of the examination is 150 minutes (2 and a half hours)It will be an open book examination (Official PRINCE2® manual only).You might get this question about what you will need to do if you have a 2009 certificate, that whether you will need to reappear for the examination in the new 2017 format or wonder what the PRINCE2® certifications might reflect.If you hold a 2009 credential, you will not need to appear for the examination again!But, as the update was made to add more best practices or make subtle adjustments to the existing content, it is good to have an understanding of the revised material.This can be done by:Purchasing the 2017 PRINCE2® manual:Take AXELOS membershipGo through the FAQs published on AXELOS websiteBe a part of the AXELOS community account.PRINCE2® Practitioner Level Certification Examination 2017:Type of questions: ObjectiveThere will be a total of 68 questionsYou will need 55% to pass the examination. So you will need to get at least 38 out of the total 68 questions correctThe duration of the examination is 150 minutes (2 and a half hours)It will be an open book examination (Official PRINCE2® manual only).What is the outcome of being certified as a PRINCE2® Practitioner?When you become a certified PRINCE2® Practitioner, you demonstrate your ability to implement PRINCE2® methodology in multiple environments for any kind of project, and according to the specifications of your organisation. That is why, in project management, PRINCE2® Foundation certification level remains as one of the crucial requirements to pursue the Practitioner level.About the validity of the Practitioner certificate:Although the PRINCE2® Foundation certificate has lifelong validity,  the Practitioner Certificate is not. It will expire three calendar years from their original certification.You either will need to resit for the Practitioner examination or renew your certificate through a subscription to My PRINCE2®.Here are the criteria that you need to meet within the three-year period, to make sure that you stay updated through My PRINCE2®:Join My PRINCE2® within three months of passing your Practitioner examination and renew your subscription every year during the three-year period. The membership fee is £50.00 + Taxes per year.You will need to maintain the PRINCE2® digital badge which you will get as a part of My PRINCE2® during the three-year period. During that period of time, you will require to earn 20 CPD points each year in the prescribed categories to be eligible for the renewal extension of your badge.This will result in you getting your Practitioner certificate renewed for a further three years.You will have the one year’s subscription included with your PRINCE2® Practitioner certificate.                My PRINCE2® is an online subscription to the latest resources and content assisting you to apply everything that you learned during the PRINCE2® Practitioner examination to the workplace, as well as sharpening your skills and knowledge in line with future innovations in project and programme management.What are the benefits of being registered My PRINCE2®?As a My PRINCE2® subscriber, you will have access to:PRINCE2® templates and publications to apply ‘PRINCE2® best practice’A CPD toolset to keep your certificate up-to-date.Axelos will contact the successful candidates with a discount code. When contacted, the chosen candidates should have opted into AXELOS’s Successful Candidates Register at the time of examination registration. For any relevant enquiries, the candidates can email Axelos at membership@axelos.com.What is My PRINCE2®?My PRINCE2® is the go-to best practice subscription for project management professionals. It provides you with every possible practical help, easily accessible support, and professional approval to develop your project management career.You will get easy access to:PRINCE2® 2017 and PRINCE2® Agile official online guidancePRINCE2® 2017 templates to support you with every projectExclusive white papersMember’s discounts to industry publications, training courses, and events.But what are PRINCE2® digital badges?Digital badges are tokens that look like icons. They are granted to imply that you have reached an accomplishment. It is a simple process to verify and share information online. Your digital badge contains and reveals information regarding the activity of your professional improvement along with the issue date and an expiry date.AXELOS authorises this information and delivers it using metadata to avoid alterations. Employers and recruiters can use these badges to verify an individual’s credentials and can act as a differentiator.Your badge will show the highest certification that you hold. For example, if you hold both a PRINCE2® Foundation and PRINCE2® Practitioner certification, then you will receive a PRINCE2® Practitioner badge.What is the outcome of being certified as a PRINCE2® Practitioner?When you become a certified PRINCE2® Practitioner, you demonstrate your ability to implement PRINCE2® methodology in multiple environments for any kind of project, and according to the specifications of your organisation. That is why, in project management, PRINCE2® Foundation certification level remains as one of the crucial requirements to pursue the Practitioner level.Cost of PRINCE2® certificationsFirstly, the components involved in the PRINCE2® certification cost are:PRINCE2® TrainingPRINCE2® examinationCost of Sample Examination papersStudy GuideMembership fee.From PRINCE2® Foundation to PRINCE2® Practitioner, the training and examination costs change from country to country and from one accredited training organisation to another. All the fees are approximate values and you will need to contact the accredited training organisations to check the exact costs.The components involved in the PRINCE2® certification cost are:PRINCE2® TrainingPRINCE2® examCost of Sample Examination papersStudy GuideMembership fee.Choosing a PRINCE2® course online results in the cost of your training component in PRINCE2® being as low as under $300. Do keep in mind to go for a PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner Certification examinations bundle. By doing so, you will get access to the entire course that will last for a year. Some training providers do provide such courses for just $60 if you desire to finish the same in one month’s time. Generally, you could have to pay around $900 for the Foundation examination, but if you get one of those combined courses featuring both PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner Certification examinations, then you automatically would end up paying much less on the PRINCE2® certification.Nevertheless, if you decide to attend classroom training, then you may have to pay around $1000 for your PRINCE2® certification. Quite some of these PRINCE2® courses cover the cost of the PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner Certification examinations. So do make a note of the cost of the PRINCE2® certification if you intend to go for PRINCE2® training. On top of that, do pay attention to the extent of course coverage, flexibility and the bundled services that each accredited training organisation has to offer. Doing so will help you save money on the cost of PRINCE2® certification.PRINCE2® course onlineGoing for a PRINCE2® course online will help you save a lot of money on the cost of PRINCE2® examination. The online course for PRINCE2® Foundation level may cost you €450 or more. However, the classroom session may cost €1000 or higher. So, in this manner, you will be able to cut down on the cost of the PRINCE2® examination if you choose for the online course.PRINCE2® Examination and Certification InfoInfo/ Examination typeFoundationPractitionerQuestion typeObjectiveObjectiveCertification familyPRINCE2®PRINCE2®Conducted byPEOPLECERTPEOPLECERTCreated byAXELOSAXELOSLevelFoundationAdvancedRe-certificationNot requiredRequiredNumber of questions6068Time allotted60 minutes150 minutes, 180 minutes for languages other than EnglishMarks to qualify33 out of 6038 out of 68Closed/Open bookClosed bookOpen book Only the manual is allowedExamination Languages66The languages that the examinations are held in are:DutchEnglishFrenchGermanNorwegianPolishYou can check the PEOPLECERT website for more information.Choosing the test centre and scheduling/rescheduling/cancelling the examinationFollow these steps in order to register for the examination and choose the examination centre.Via Pearson Vue:Step 1: Visit the link:https://www.peoplecert.org/browse-certifications/project-programme-and-portfolio-management/PRINCE2®-2/PRINCE2®-2017-foundation-2232.Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the header ‘Take the Exam’.Step 3: At the bottom right corner of the screen, under ‘Approved Test Centre’, click ‘Pearson Vue’.Step 4: You will be taken to the page of Pearson VueStep 5: At the right-hand side of the page, you will see a host of options. You will need to sign in or create an account to schedule, reschedule or cancel an examination.Step 6: To find a test centre, look just below where you are asked to sign-in and you will need to either  click on ‘Find a Test Center’ or ‘Find a test center on a military base’ to search for the test centre according to your choice.Step 7:  Proceed with the chosen test centre to schedule the examination date that you prefer.Via Prometric:Step 1: Repeat step 1 from above.Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the header ‘Take the Exam’.Step 3: At the bottom right corner of the screen, under ‘Approved Test Centre’ click ‘Prometric’.Step 4: You will be taken to the page of Prometric:Step 5: At the top of the page you will find four options:‘Schedule My Test’: Click this option if you want to schedule the day and date of your examination.‘Locate A Test Center’: Click this option if you want to find the test center according to your choice.‘Reschedule/Cancel My Test’: Click this option if you want to reschedule the day of your examinations or cancel it.‘Confirm My Test’: Click this option if you want to get a confirmation on the test centre, the day and date when your examination will be held.PRINCE2® SyllabusIn order to excel in the PRINCE2® certification examinations, you will need to know exactly what will be taught in the certification courses. We will go through the syllabus of both the PRINCE2® Foundation and PRINCE2® Practitioner certification levels.PRINCE2® Foundation Syllabus:The PRINCE2® Foundation examination intends to test your capability to understand how Prince 2 methodologies work in a project and to be able to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2® methodology within a project environment.You will need to exhibit that you have a proper understanding of the principles of the method and terminology. You must be able to:Explain the purpose and major content of all roles, the seven principles, the seven themes, and the seven processesMention which management products are to be included as input or output from the seven processesState the main purpose, and key contents, of the major management productsTell the relationships between processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions of a project.PRINCE2® Practitioner SyllabusThe Practitioner is the second of the two PRINCE2® examinations that you require to pass to become a Registered PRINCE2® Practitioner.This PRINCE2® examination test your ability to be able to understand and implement PRINCE2® in running and managing of a project within an environment supporting PRINCE2®. You will require to show that you have what it takes to excel to get qualified with the Foundation certification. You need to demonstrate that you can fine-tune PRINCE2® to address the requirements and issues of any given project scenario. You should be able to:Elaborate all the principles, themes and processes and examples of all PRINCE2® products that are worked on, in the manner they might be applied to address the particular situation of a given project scenarioShow that you do understand how principles, themes, processes, and PRINCE2® products are related to each other and can implement the sameDemonstrate that you do understand the reasons behind the principles, themes, and processes of PRINCE2® and the principles assisting these elementsYou must be able to fine-tune PRINCE2® to different project circumstances.Now, after knowing all about getting PRINCE2® certified, you definitely will be curious to know how this certification benefits you.Here are the benefits of getting PRINCE2® certified:Growth in career: Both levels of certifications, be it PRINCE2® Foundation or PRINCE2® Practitioner, boost your career in the best manner possible. If you think you fill in all the checkboxes of the PRINCE2® Certification Requirements, then PRINCE2® certification should become one of your most sought after resolutions.Increase in salary: As it is a much sought after credential, PRINCE2® definitely increases your chances to get a raise.Professional Recognition: As a result of being PRINCE2® certified, you will get more recognition and credibility from your peers and organisation.Best Practice: You know what it takes to manage projects in the most efficient way possible and thus you can implement your ideas on the same, The certification adds value to your career, which in turn makes you a valuable asset to your company.PRINCE2® Vs PMP®Both PRINCE2® and PMP® are two well-acclaimed certifications in Project Management. They comprise of different ideas that are special in their own way. It is really difficult to ascertain which one of these two is better and proves itself as the best choice for an individual in Project Management.Let us have a look at the similarities between these two and compare them with each other Conclusion.Similarities:Both deliver the methods of project management.The prime focus is to manage projects with efficiency.Both are well-known throughout the world.In order to complete both the certifications, proper training and evaluations are to be conducted and completed successfully.Comparisons:PRINCE2®PMP®It is a methodology including processes and templates in details.It is based on PMBOK, which is not a methodology but a standard.It is more applicable to the IT industry.It is a general knowledge base for project management and relevant to many industries.It originated in the UK and is widely accepted in Europe and Australia.It was born in the USA and is very popular in North America, the Middle East and Asia.It has three levels: Foundation, Practitioner and Professional.It has only one level.A Project Manager is a mediator between the project and the control board.A Project Manager is the one responsible for the outcome of the project.ConclusionAs we come to the end of our discussion, you do realise that the PRINCE2® Certification requirements give you a proper head start to realise what exactly you need to become a PRINCE2® certification professional.It is quite evident that you will need proper training to help you clear the examination, even if this point is not mentioned in the requirements. So, you will require to choose an accredited and certified training provider to guide you throughout the term of certification. Good luck on your ventures ahead!
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Am I Eligible to Get PMP® Certified? - A Complete Checklist of PMP Exam Prerequisites

Doesn’t this question sound familiar? Your quest for PMP® certification begins with this question and it is also an important piece of information for every PMP® aspirant. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is the most important certification for project managers across all industries. It is a truly global certification which allows you to lead projects almost in every country. Further, it enables you to work in any industry by deploying any methodology in any location.But before you begin your PMP® journey you need to meet certain education and experience requirements to meet the standards set by PMI in order to appear for your PMP® exam. The experience requirement shows your soft skills to sit for the PMP® exam and the educational requirements show that you have enough theoretical background to manage a project. However, your experience requirement for PMP® changes depending on the educational requirement which you satisfy. This blog will answer all your queries about the eligibility requirement for PMP® certification.The eligibility requirements for PMP®A salary survey conducted by the Project Management Institute (PMI) shows that PMP® certified project managers tend to earn more compared to their non-certified counterparts. PMP® certification warrants a certain level of knowledge on the project management area. The reason that companies and organisations give high credit to PMP® certification compared to other certificates in the industry because PMI has a very strict application and audit process for relevant education and experience requirements that one needs to be PMP® certified.As the employer has high regards for the certification, once you show a PMP® certification in your resume he or she will that you have met the strict PMP® certification requirements which proves a certain level of practice and knowledge on project management. It is not easy for someone to sit and pass the PMP® certification exam.If you are wondering about where can you check for these requirements then you will find all the criteria set by PMI for taking the PMP®  exam in the PMP® Credential Handbook. You can download the free version of this handbook from PMI's Website. It will help you to know everything about PMP® certification, who is eligible to apply, and how to go about applying. The eligibility requirements for taking the exam are as follows:You should hold a bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent with at least three years of project management experience. The three years of experience is expected to be comprised of 4,500 hours which you have spent directing and leading projects and 35 hours of project management education.In case, you don’t have a four-year degree, you need to have a secondary diploma (high school or global equivalent) with at least project management experience of 5 years. The five years of experience should comprise of 7,500 hours which you have spent directing and leading projects and project management education of around 5 hours.Need more clarity on the eligibility criteria? Then the following chart will surely help you to clarify your doubts.Eligibility RequirementFour-year degree or global equivalentSecondary degree or global equivalentYears of Project Management Experience3 Years (36 months)5 Years (60 months)Hours Leading & Directing Projects4,500 Hours7,500 HoursHours of Project Management Education35 Hours35 HoursMeet the 35 contact hours Project Management Education Requirement for PMP®You need to match one of the eligibility requirements which is required for you to appear for your PMP® certification exam. But it is also important for you to complete 35 hours of Project Management Education in order to fulfill the eligibility requirement to sit for the PMP® exam.You must be wondering about how can you earn the 35 hours of Project Management education requirement. You can enroll in a PMP® certification training to earn the same. These training also help you to prepare for your PMP® exam and get proper support from the experts to clear your PMP® exam at one shot.Acceptable experiences to be eligible for PMP® examThe experiences mentioned by you in your application should cover all the five processes as mentioned in the PMBOK® Guide. But you should keep in mind that it is not necessary for all of these processes to be in one single project. You can find a full list of acceptable tasks, knowledge, and skills in PMI’s PMP® Examination Content Outline. Few of the tasks that you might be performing and which would be acceptable are as follows:You should define the high-level scope of the project based on the requirements of business and compliance to meet the customer project expectations.Obtain approval to execute the project by presenting the project plan to the key stakeholders (if required).Achieve the project deliverable within the schedule and budget by executing the tasks as defined in the project plan.Get feedback from the stakeholders by communicating the project status to ensure that the business needs are aligned to the project aligns.Work with the customer and the sponsor to obtain final acceptance of the project deliverable to confirm that project deliverables and scope were met.Ways to gather the required experienceYou need to meet the PMP® experience requirement to be eligible in order to gain PMP® certification. But how can you gather enough experience? As discussed, you need to earn experience of 4,500 to 7,500 hours of directing and leading projects depending on your educational qualification.The following ideas can help you to overcome this obstacle:Full-time Project ManagersIf you are working as a Project Manager or in a similar position which gives you a full-time opportunity to lead and direct projects, then it’s easy. If you don’t have enough hours then you can go ahead with what you are doing and with time you will gather the required number of hours. If you are not a full-time Project ManagerDon’t have enough hours to meet the required experience eligibility? It even gets trickier when you are not in a role which gives you an opportunity to direct or lead projects. If you are not managing projects at all or managing projects part-time, you are collecting hours of experience at a slower rate compared to a full-time project manager. You can increase the rate in the following ways:By changing your roleYou can increase the amount of time spent on managing projects using the most effective solution, i.e. by changing your role. You can go for a wider discussion about your career development with your employer by stating clearly that you would like to provide more value to your employer by directing and leading projects.If you get an opportunity to become a full-time project manager then you are on your way to collect the required hours as soon as possible. By changing your companyIn case you are not getting an opportunity to shift to a different kind of responsibility in your current company then you should change the company you are working for. You might find a suitable opportunity to negotiate better terms and conditions than you are having in your current company. This will surely allow you to speed up the process of earning the required hours of experience in order to meet the PMI eligibility requirement.VolunteeringYou can always check for volunteering opportunity with your local PMI chapter which would also expose you to additional benefits. This will also provide you with more and better networking opportunities at the same time. You can earn the required experience hours through volunteering.Is PMI Membership Mandatory for me to get PMP®  certified?This is another question that you tend to ask while beginning your PMP® journey. You don’t have to be a PMI member in order to appear for your PMP® certification exam. But there are surely a few benefits which you can reap from your PMI membership. The benefits are as follows:As a PMI member, you can receive a significant discount on your PMP® exam application fee. Once you become a PMI member, you will realise that the cost of membership is comparatively lesser than the discounts which you get.You get access to a free PDF copy of the PMBOK Guide as a PMI member which is an important resource to prepare and pass your exam.Moreover, many local PMI chapters offer discounts on their PMP® exam preparation workshops to PMI members.PMP® certification costApart from the above-mentioned information about the eligibility requirements, there are certain costs related to PMP® exam. We can divide the cost of PMP® certification into the cost of PMP® certification training and the PMP® exam fee. But there is another hidden cost related to it which you should be aware of. This is the cost of the time which you will spend while studying for the PMP® certification exam. Let’s try to understand these costs in detail.Cost of 35 hours of Project Management TrainingYou are expected to meet certain eligibility criteria before appearing for the PMP Certification exam. Apart from other eligibilities, it is necessary for you to attend at least 35 hours of project management course. So, the major question which arises here is that how much do these certification courses cost?The cost of PMP® certification training varies based on the type of training which you are willing to take. Mostly, you need to make a choice between PMP® certification classroom training and online PMP® certification training. Also, the cost of your training depends on the country you are located. Usually, the cost of PMP® certification training ranges between $500 to $2,000.  The following chart will give you a clear idea about the cost of PMP® certification classroom training across other countries:CountriesPrice of classroom trainingAmerica, Canada, Australia$1,500South America (Brazil, Chile etc.)$600China, India$500European Countries$1,200Arabian Countries$2,000Exam Preparation TimeAs a busy professional, the time you spend for your project management education might cost you your precious leisure time. But you can save your time by opting for a self-paced online PMP certification training cost. For instance, you can plan to spend 5 to 6 hours a week to study in order to pass your PMP® exam. The duration of your training will certainly depend on your dedication, professional experiences, and your background in project management.  PMP®  Exam FeeOnce you are done with your 35 hours of project management education, you need to take your PMP® exam in a Prometric test center. You need to schedule your exam date in the nearest Prometric test center after PMI accepts your application. The PMP® certification exam fee can be brought down by becoming a PMI member.You can also get a free copy of PMBOK® by becoming a PMI member. Other than that, there are numerous other benefits which you can reap from your PMI membership.To sum up, the cost of PMP® certification depends on the course you decide to take. Your total PMP® certification cost will be nearly $750 if you choose to get your project management education through an online course. You can also continue preparing with a PMP® certification classroom training by spending around $1,700 including the exam fee.ConclusionThis blog will surely help you to understand the eligibility requirements to sit for your PMP® certification exam and the ways to attain them. This information will help you to prepare to begin your PMP® certification journey by fulfilling the required educational qualification and work experience. Further, the PMP® certification cost is a really essential piece of information when you plan to begin your PMP® certification journey.Earn the required experience hours by changing your role or volunteering with your local PMI chapter. Wish you all the best for your PMP® journey!
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Am I Eligible to Get PMP® Certified? - A Complete Checklist of PMP Exam Prerequisites
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9 Steps To Becoming a PMP® Certified Professional

The growing complexity of industrial challenges has led to a crisis of human resources who can meet the demands of projects across the globe. PMP® certification offered by PMI is designed on rigorous standards and ongoing research to enable you to meet the real-world challenges of organisations.Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is the gold standard of project management certification which is developed by practitioners for practitioners. If you are getting curious about how can a certification help you to be in demand for various organisations across all industries, then you have picked the right spot to clear your doubts.Become a PMP® Certified Professional in 9 stepsIf you are planning to take up the PMP® certification exam soon then the following 9 steps will surely help you to plan your schedules to clear the exam at the first attempt: Step 1 - Begin with the PMP® Handbook The PMP® Handbook is a guide to all your queries about the procedures for applying and taking the exam. It consists of all the information that you need about the process of taking the PMP Exam and become a PMP® certified project manager. Step 2 - Fulfill the prerequisites to become a PMI certified project managerYou must fulfill the following educational and experience requirements in order to take the PMP® exam:If you have a high school diploma, an associate degree, or the global equivalent of these, then you must hold a minimum of 60 months of unique, non-overlapping project management experience. Moreover, you should have spent at least 7,500 hours of these 60 months in leading and directing project tasks.If you have a bachelors or its equivalent in your country then you must possess a minimum of 36 months of non-overlapping and unique project management experience of which you must have spent 4,500 hours in directing and leading project tasks.You must also show 35 contact hours of project management training in both cases.Step 3 - Become a Member of your local PMI Chapter Once you get a PMI membership, you realise that the discount is bigger than the membership fee. Apart from the free PDF version of PMBOK® Guide and discount on PMP® Exam, you stay updated with information related to PMP Prep Workshops once you become a PMI member.Moreover, you also get an opportunity to network and interact with the new and seasoned PMPs which increases your chance to clear your exam at the first go.Step 4 - It’s time to sign up for your PMP ExamI am sure, you will agree that exam preparations work better when there’s a deadline. Start with your PMP application procedure by visiting project management institute to register and then filling up your PMP Credential Application. You need to submit the same to PMI for approval. Once you receive your confirmation number, you can schedule your exam on the Prometric website.Step 5 - Study the PMBOK® GuideOnce you start preparing for your PMP® certification exam, you can use PMBOK® Guide as your primary reference. According to most trainers, one can find the correct answer for around 75% of the PMP® exam questions in the PMBOK® Guide. So, you must treat it as a resource and read it thoroughly.Step 6 - Get study materials for self-studyAs mentioned above, PMBOK® guide will give you a rough knowledge about the answers for your PMP® certification exam. So, apparently, you will have to use other study materials to cover up the gap. You can download the same from the internetYou can also try the self-study courses like PM PrepCast which will also help you to earn a certificate for the PMI-required 35 contact hours which you can’t earn by reading books.Step 7 - Attend a PMP® WorkshopPMP® workshops for 2 to 6 days are conducted by PMI Chapters, universities, and training companies around the world. These workshops give you an opportunity to interact with the instructors and other students to help you clear your queries about the PMP® certification exam.Step 8 - Answer Sample PMP® Exam questionsThere are numerous free sample questions which are available on the internet and you can use the same to check your learning curve. You should also keep a track of your scores to see where you are.Step 9 - Take the examAfter all the hard work, it’s time for you to appear for your PMP® certification exam. Don’t skip the short tutorial on how to use the computer and the software at the beginning of the exam to avoid a blunder.PMP®  Certification: Why should you get one?‘Professionals with a PMP® certification garner a higher salary (20% higher on average) than those without a PMP® certification’; Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey Ninth Edition. Well, this statement might have answered one of your major queries. Having this PMI certification under your belt helps you to land up in any industry, anywhere in the world, and enable you to work with any project management methodology.    So, if you meet the following eligibility requirements as an experienced project manager then you should go ahead with adding this certification to your collar:Responsible for all aspects of the project for the life of the project and perform duties under general supervision.Deliver projects within the constraints of resources, schedule, and budgets by leading and directing cross-functional teams.Demonstrate sufficient experience and knowledge to appropriately apply a methodology to projects that have reasonably well-defined project deliverables and requirements.The PMP® certification enables you to understand and speak the global language of project management and connects you to a community of experts, organisations, and professionals worldwide to become a project hero.The Misconception About PMP® Certification Cost A common misconception prevails among all the PMP® aspirants about the PMP® Certification cost that it only consists of the exam fee. But least does anybody thinks about the other costs involved in it. The PMP® exam fee for the members and non-members of PMI are $405 and $555 respectively. Then other factors responsible for the cost of PMP® Certification are as follows:Online training cost for PMP® certificationPMP® classroom trainingPMI membership fee and joining feePMI membership renewal feePMP® Certification Exam feePMBOK Handbook cost for non-membersCost of study guides and resourcesCost of practice testsRenewal cost of PMP® certificationOnline and classroom training for PMP® certification: It gets very tricky when it comes to clearing your PMP certification exam at the first attempt. So, to be at a safer side you can choose between online or classroom PMP® training from any leading training provider in the market.The features and costs of these training might vary for every training provider. Also, this gives you the opportunity to meet the 35 hours of training requirement which you need to qualify for your PMP® certification exam.PMI Membership fee and joining fee: You need to pay a processing fee of $10 along with a membership fee to the PMI chapter to avail the PMI membership. Now, did you know that you can bring down your fee for PMP® certification exam, Re-examination, and CCR certification renewal by becoming a PMI member?Other than this, you can get free access to PMBOK® Guide, save money on globally recognized certifications and more, master new skills through free events and webinars, stay ahead of deadlines using 1,000+ free tools and templates, and make local as well as global connections.Cost of learning resources and PMBOK®: As soon as you get a PMI membership, you get access to a free version of the latest version of PMBOK® which a foundation standard for project management developed by Project Management Institute. Other than that, you require additional materials to prepare for your PMP® certification exam which costs you between $40 to $100.You can also buy practice tests for $60 to $100 which will give you a fair idea about the test format for PMP® certification.Renewal cost of PMP® certification:Once you get a PMP® certification, that’s not the end. Your credentials are valid for only three years and you need to renew it after that. You can renew your certification by paying $150 which can be brought down to $60 by getting a PMI membership.Maintain your PMP® certification with 60 PDUsGetting PMP® certified is not the end of your journey, as it is only valid for 3 years. You need to maintain your PMP® certification by earning 60 PDUs to fulfill the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR).You can earn these PDUs by engaging yourself with various professional development activities which center around the areas of Education and Giving back to the Profession. You can also earn your 60 PDUs at one go by signing up for a 60 PDU bundle online training program offered by an established Registered Educational Provider.The way beyond PMP® CertificationGetting a PMP® certification opens your door towards a promising career. A PMP certified professional earns 20% more than a non-PMP certified professional. The following list consists of the country-wise industries along with the average salary earned by the Project Managers:CountryIndustryAverage PMP SalaryAustraliaAgriculture/Mining$166,000AustraliaFinancial services and Consulting industry$150,000United StatesPharmaceuticals$125,000United StatesAgriculture/Mining, Consulting$120,000CanadaAgriculture/Mining$115,000CanadaUtilities$110,000IndiaAgriculture/Mining, Healthcare$25,278IndiaTelecommunication, Engineering$23,874Salary of a Project Manager: Certified Vs Non-CertifiedGetting a PMP® certification apparently contributes towards increasing your annual earning. A non-certified Project Manager may earn up to $91,000 whereas, this figure can go up to $111,000 by adding a PMP® certification to your collar. However, even work experience contributes to an increase in salary for a PMP® certified professional but this growth is not uniform across the globe. Singapore tops the list where the difference between a three-year experienced and a twenty-year experienced PMP® certified professional is 177%.Your salary can also vary based on the type of job you are in. The salary of a PMP® certified professional is higher in IT. The following figures show the salary of  PMP® certified professionals by job in the United States:JobSalary RangeProject Manager  (Information Technology)$65,161 to $125,836ProjectManager (General)$57,877 to $122,485Program Manager$68,150 to $139,552Further, the size of the company also plays a key role in determining the salary of a PMP® certified professional. The following table will give you a clear idea of how the salary figures increase with the company size:Company SizeSalary Range1-9$94,72450-199$93,614600-1999$103,697>5000$111,620ConclusionIf you wish to grow in the field of Project Management, then getting a PMP® Certification is the best way to do that. Also, you can avail a lot of discounts and networking opportunities by becoming a PMI member. Further, it gives you access to the free PDF version of the latest PMBOK® Guide.  To conclude, this blog gives you a clear idea of how to begin your PMP® certification journey. Moreover, you also get a glimpse of the professional future which lies ahead of PMP® certification.
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9 Steps To Becoming a PMP® Certified Professional
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9 Steps To Becoming a PMP® Certified Professional

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