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Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, sponsored by the Project Management Institute (PMI), is the most recognized and respected certification credential in the field of project management.
To achieve PMP certification, each candidate must satisfy all educational and experiential requirements established by PMI, agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct, and must demonstrate an acceptable and valid level of understanding and knowledge of project management. The PMP certification examination tests this knowledge. PMP-certified professionals must also demonstrate ongoing professional commitment to the project management field by satisfying PMI continuing certification requirements program.
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Tips on taking the PMP exam
The PMP certification examination is a computer-based exam that is offered at PMI locations in the United States, Canada, and in other countries worldwide.
The exam is based on information from the entire project management body of knowledge. The “Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge” (PMBOK), which is published by PMI, provides an outline of the topics covered.
The four-hour exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions with four possible answers (a through d). The participant needs to correctly answer 137 of the questions (68.5%) to receive a passing grade. Because the exam is computer based, participants can find out how they scored by reading the detailed report on performance that is available when the exam is completed.
The examination covers the five groups of project management processes and professional responsibility. (See Figure A).
Figure A
Breakdown of Questions by Process Group | ||
---|---|---|
Process Group | Approximate Number of Questions | Percentage |
Initiating | 17 | 8.50 |
Planning | 47 | 23.50 |
Executing | 47 | 23.50 |
Controlling | 46 | 23.00 |
Closing | 14 | 7.00 |
Professional Responsibility | 29 | 14.50 |
Questions on the PMP exam are grouped by project management processes.
The basic PMP exam is not industry specific. The PMI Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ), which tests your knowledge of a particular industry, can be added to certify your expertise in Information Technology Project Management, Establishing a Project Management Office, and Project Management in the Automotive Industry.
Tips for taking the PMP exam
Passing the PMP exam requires extensive preparation. Use the following tips and techniques as part of that preparation, which should also include developing a comprehensive understanding of the PMBOK concepts and terminology, practicing previous exam questions when possible, and attending a PMP course.
Question-oriented tips
PMI concept-oriented tips
General tips
Who recognizes the PMP certification?
Major companies and government agencies worldwide recognize the PMP certification. Several Fortune 1000 companies demand that all of their employees or subcontractors that are engaged in project management activities should be PMPs. In other words, the PMP certification has become a market differentiator; companies that do not have PMP certification programs are at a competitive disadvantage.
Some of the major companies that support project management certification include AT&T, Bell South, Bell Core, Bell Atlantic, US West, Motorola, GSK, Novartis, Citibank, IBM, EDS, HP, ABB, Pacer International, Barclays, Microsoft, BBC, NCR, Eurotel, Shell, BP, and many others. Government agencies supporting PMP certification include the U.S. Defense Systems Management College, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Canada’s Department of National Defense.
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