People interested in obtaining this certification should join PMI (Project Management Institute). PMI is a professional organization for anyone in project management industry. PMI offers classes and current information on all topics related to project management and has several chapters around the world which hold local events and enable its members to network and communicate with other project managers at both local and global levels. It is possible to get a PMP certification without being a PMI member, PMI members gain certain benefits from a professional perspective.
People applying for the PMP certification are required to fill out the application based on their education level. Applicants with secondary degrees (high school diploma or global equivalent) must have five years of project management experience and a minimum of 7,500 hours spent on specific project tasks. Applicants with a four-year degree (or global equivalent) must have three years of project management experience and a minimum of 4,500 hours spent on specific project tasks. Lastly, all candidates must take 35 hours of project management education. Once the formal application is approved, the applicant can schedule the test at a testing center.
People preparing for the exam need the right tools to study. Candidates need to recognize and keep in mind their best learning style prior to selecting different books, online tools and classes. The test is comprised of 200 questions (25 of which are being used as potential questions for future exams, but candidates don't know which questions don't count). The PMP candidate is allotted four hours to take the test and given blank sheets of paper, pencils and a calculator (in some cases the calculator is on the computer). The candidate must get 106 questions correct to pass the exam.
Once the application has been approved, the student should create a study schedule. The PMP candidate should practice taking a 200 question test (in one sitting) as well as taking a variety of practice tests. A key book is the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Fourth Edition (also known as the PMBOK Guide). PMI members have access to this book. The student should be well versed in the 42 processes (by knowledge area and process group) as well as an elaborate list of formulas. In addition to the PMBOK Guide, most people use additional study material and methods to pass the exam. The PMP exam was updated in July of 2009 so the study material should reflect the updated version of the test.
After passing the exam, the PMP certification is official---and the PMP recipient will receive a examination report at the testing center confirming that he passed. The official PMP certification comes in the mail within a month. The Project Manager can maintain his PMP by getting 60 PDU's (Professional Development Units) over the course of three years. There are several ways to get PDUs, such as writing papers and articles, attending classes (in classroom as well as online) and events.