Project managers seeking PMP certification must first meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the Project Management Institute. PMI stipulates that prior to taking the PMP exam, professionals must acquire 35 hours of project management training through continued education courses, as well as obtain three to five years experience working as a project management professional. In addition, professionals must possess an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and show proof of a minimum of 4,500 hours of work on direct projects in a workplace setting.
In addition to meeting PMI’s eligibility requirements, project management professionals must review the PMP credentials handbook, available on PMI’s website. The handbook details the credential and certification process for project management professionals and includes information on the exam process and procedures, project management courses available, the appeals process, training courses and certification time lines.
The PMP exam is the final process of the certification process. The exam is a comprehensive multiple-choice test administered at PMI-approved testing sites nationwide. Project management professionals spend months or years reviewing sample test questions to prepare for the PMP exam. The PMP exam tests each applicant’s knowledge of core tasks of a project manager, including project communication, project execution and management practices in the project management field.
The PMP exam covers not only core tasks of project management, such as initiating, monitoring, executing and closing projects, but it also tests applicants knowledge of performance areas in project management. Key performance areas include social and professional responsibilities of project managers, as well as human resources management.
Once a project management professional acquires training required for PMP credentials and passes the PMP exam, he must continue to participate in PMI-approved continuing education courses to maintain his PMP credentials. Each year, the Project Management Institute evaluates the credentials of certified project managers based on the number of training workshops attended, hours logged on direct projects and professional practices displayed in the field.