Professionals seeking PMP certification must possess an associate's or bachelor's degree to apply for the PMP examination. In addition, PMI stipulates that an applicant must obtain three to five years' experience as a project manager with a minimum of 4,500 hours logged on projects. Once an applicant is accepted into PMI's program, he must complete 35 hours of project management training before he is eligible to take the PMP exam.
One of the primary priorities of the Project Management Institute is education. The PMP credential process requires project management professionals to prepare for the PMP exam months in advance. All applicants should thoroughly review the PMP credentials handbook, available on PMI's website. The handbook reviews the PMP credential process, exam policies, exam sites, eligibility requirements and the processes for appeals, refunds and credential maintenance.
The PMP exam is a 200-question multiple-choice exam. Applicants must take a paper-based test at an approved PMI testing site, as detailed in PMI's credentials handbook. At the exam site, professionals are restricted from bringing calculators or scrap paper into the exam room. The testing facility will provide a PMI-approved calculator for the PMP exam.
The PMP exam covers the core tasks of project management and the knowledge areas of project managers. The core tasks include project initiation, execution, monitoring, controlling and closing. Multiple-choice questions on the exam will also test an applicant's knowledge of project management knowledge areas, such as project communication, risk, time, quality and integration. Professionals can prepare for these questions by utilizing the sample question database available on PMI's website.
Once PMI processes test results and an applicant has passed, he will obtain PMP credentials. The credential process does not end, though, with the PMP exam. PMI requires that credentialed project managers complete professional development units each year to renew PMP certification. PMI reviews project managers annually to determine eligibility for PMP renewal.