Project managers seeking the PMP credential must have completed a combination of education and work experience in order to be eligible for the designation. Individuals who graduated from high school or have a two-year associate degree must have at least five years of project leadership experience. In addition, they should have obtained a minimum of 7,500 work hours in project management. According to the PMP handbook, those that have a bachelor degree should have three years of experience, resulting in at least 4,500 hours of project leadership. Regardless of their academic qualifications, all PMP candidates must also obtain at least 35 contact hours in project management education.
Candidates must complete the PMP credential application forms available on the PMI website. They need to provide information about their academic degrees as well as their completion of required project management education. In addition, applicants must provide detailed information about their project management experience. They need to list the industry they work in, project titles and their roles in the projects. Candidates must detail how their experience meets the PMI project process requirements: initiation, planning, execution, control and closure. They will need to provide contact information for those involved in the projects for verification purposes, according to the application materials.
Once PMI approves candidates' application materials and the required fees are paid, they will be able to sit for the PMP examination. The exam contains 200 multiple-choice questions; only 175 are scored. Takers have four hours to complete the computer-based exam, according to the PMP handbook. Questions focus on the five project management processes, with more questions devoted to planning, executing and monitoring. In addition, the exam also contains questions regarding professional responsibility. Candidates take the PMP credentialing examination at Prometric testing centers. They must bring government-issued identification that shows both a signature and photograph. Examples include driver licenses, passports, military IDs and national identification cards.
Individuals who obtain the PMP designation are required to renew their credential every three years, according to the PMP handbook. They must complete at least 60 hours of professional development units in project management during each three-year period. Continuing education credit can be obtained through the Project Management Institute, academic institutions, professional activities, volunteer work or other education providers. Certified project managers will need to report their continuing education and complete a renewal form in order to maintain their credential.