Understanding PMP Certification Requirements

The Project Management Institute (PMI) certifies PMP which is Project Management Professional. The Project Management Professionals practicing community utilizes PMP to ensure that ethical and professional standards are kept high.

Understanding Eligibility Criteria and PMP Certification Requirements

In order to be exam eligible and complete the process associated with PMP certification all requirements in either of two categories has to be met.

Category 1

Holder of a Baccalaureate degree. In order to meet the PMP certification requirements, these candidates are need to:

1. Required to have a minimum of three years projects managements experience during the previous six years. The candidate should be a project stakeholder, not necessarily a project manager. There should be experience totally 4500 hours during those three years in the area of projects management process groups that are recognized.
2. Project management formal training should have been taken for a total of 35 hours.
3. The PMP exam has to be passed.

Category 2

Those who do not hold a baccalaureate degree are required to do the following to meet the PMP certification requirements:

1. A minimum of five years project managements experience during the past eight years. The candidate should participate in projects or as a stakeholder but does not have to be a project manager. The candidate should average 1500 hours each year for 7500 hours of experience during these three years in the project management process groups that are recognized.
2. Candidates should have 35 hours of project management formal training. One contact hour is obtained per one hour of classroom instruction that has been approved.
3. PMP exam has to be passed.

Applying For The Exam

A paper form or the use of PMI’s website can be utilized to apply. The application is made up of three parts:

1. Education form for PMP.
2. The form to verify PMP Experience.
3. Application form for the PMP Examination.

Cost To Meet The PMP Certification Requirements

Non PMI members pay a fee of $555 while PMI members only pay $405. The fee for membership is $129 which includes member benefits making it cheaper.

Time For Application Review By PMI

Typically five working business days are required. Additional details for the exam reservations and an identification code will be emailed or mailed in the eligibility letter after the applications approval. Once eligibility is gained the exam for PMP should be taken within the following twelve months. The exam may be written three times during the year.

Understanding PMP Certification Requirements Recommendations and Advice

It is important to be accurate and honest filling out the application. It is possible that the candidate will be in the applications that are randomly audited by PMI. Formal verification of education and employment is done during this audit. Do not cheat or add things that you do not have during the application process. Candidates that have invalid information on the application that is found during PMI’s audit can not take the exam. Certification for PMP will be stripped if application information is found invalid after the PMP certification requirements have been met.