The PMP application requires that project management professionals obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited higher education institution. If an applicant has an associate’s degree, he must also obtain five years of experience working as a project manager. If an applicant possesses a bachelor’s degree, he needs three years of work experience to meet the application requirements.
The Project Management Institute requires each applicant to also show proof of hours logged working on direct projects in the workplace. Project management professionals must acquire 4,500 to 7,500 hours of direct project management. The number of hours required will vary based on an applicant’s educational level. The PMP application, available on the Project Management Institute’s website, requires that all applicants log work hours and training directly on the online application. The Project Management Institute records project times in monthly increments.
The PMP application also requires that project managers log hours of training. A minimum of 35 hours of project management coursework or professional development training is required. PMP courses are available at higher education institutions and PMP-designated centers. When completing the PMP application, project managers should list each course individually, as well as hours logged in class. The PMP credentials handbook stipulates that each hour of contact in the classroom qualifies as an eligible PMP hour of training.
Once the Project Management Institute determines that a project manager has met the PMP application requirements, he is eligible to take the PMP exam. The PMP exam is a 200-question, multiple-choice test covering the core tasks of project management and the knowledge areas project managers will face in the workplace, such as risk, procurement and project integration. Once a project manager passes the PMP exam, he will be awarded PMP credentials from the Project Management Institute. Each year, the Project Management Institute re-evaluates credentials for renewal. Certified project managers are required to complete professional development courses each year to maintain credentials.