In this blog, I will give advice, based on my own experience, how one can maximize the effort, and financial resources required to achieve the credential.
1. Become a member of Project Management Institute (PMI). The benefits of membership are numerous. First, you get an immediate savings of approximately $10.00 in your application fee. The application fee for CBT (Computer Based Test) is $405 for members, and $555 for non members. To become a member, you are charged some $140 membership fee. Thus, in all, a new PMI member PMP applicant is charged $545, versus $555 for non-members. BUT (the big BUT), as a member you get free access to the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBok), latest edition, which is the basis of 90% of the PMP exam questions. Also, as a PMI member, you get access to the MyPMI dashboard (a portion of which is shown above). The dashboard makes it easy for you to apply for the credential online. Applying online is a big relief. PMI requires you to fulfill 4,500 project hours for degree holders, or 7,500 project hours for secondary school (high school) diploma holders. These project hours should have spanned all five process groups (initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closing); and they have to be non-overlapping. These hours also need to be logged for each project, and confirmed by your direct supervisor.
I had a colleague who did the project hours logging using PMI paper forms. They are tedious, and tend to be messy. . The online application form is cleaner (shown in the right), and makes it easier for you to track if you already reached the required number of hours to apply for the credential.
Which brings me to my next advice.
2. Make sure to log your project hours accurately, and discuss the project description with your manager. The application process allows for certain liberties, after all the project hours are estimations. But if your application is selected for audit, your manager will be required to confirm (by a signature, with comments on a sealed envelop) your application - particularly the project hours, duration, and description. This also means...
3. Do note lie in your application. According to PMI, only a small percentage of applications are audited. But if you are selected for an audit, you have 90 days to complete the audit requirements such as: sealed signed confirmation from each of your project's direct supervising manager/lead, a copy of your diploma, etc. They are easy to cheat -- yes, but on occasion PMI do call your referees. Thus, it is advisable to discuss the project description in your application to your project's direct supervisor before you hit the "submit button". You can actually print your incomplete online application form in PDF format. Use this feature to print your application, and discuss with all stakeholders if the hours and project description logged is accurate as per their recollection. Being transparent with your bosses and getting their approval of your application is audit-fail-proof.
4. Read the PmBOK 5th edition from cover to cover, including the X.1 appendices. Also read the PMI code of conduct/ethics. When I took the exam, 90% of the questions are in the PMBok 5th edition. If you already read the PMBok, make sure you read, and UNDERSTOOD everything, including the appendices. Some form of memorization may be required, but a good command of the entire concept is needed to pass the exam. I passed the exam on the first take, but I did took the time to understand the concept, not just memorize them.
For example, remember the difference between the 'Perform Quality Assurance' process, and the 'Control Quality' processes. Quality audits are in the former, while inspection is a technique in the latter. If you ask me how I remembered it until the exam, its simple.... I took note of the key concepts on each process, including the ITTO (Input, Tools and Techniques, Output). In my example, the key concept to remember is that the 'Perform Quality Assurance' is concerned about auditing if the project team is applying the process correctly as planned, and according to your company's guideline; while 'Control Quality' is concerned if the project's products are as per the requirements.
So let me test you, after briefly discussing the difference between the two processes, can you differentiate between Validate Scope, Control Scope, and Control Quality? Which comes first, validate scope, or control scope?
There are other questions which you may think are not in the PMBoK Guide, but its there. If you already read the PMBok guide, would you know the difference between a standard and a regulation? Also, is the Project Management Body of Knowledge (aka PMBoK) a standard, or a regulation? Is it a methodology? The answer is in the PMBoK guide -- it is in the appendices! And YES, you will encounter these kind of questions in the exam. So read the entire guide, along with the appendices. Questions such as, "what are process inputs, and process outputs and how did PMI define process inputs and outputs" are in the exam, and they are in the PMBoK appendices.
While you're at it, also download the PMI lexicon, which is also a benefit of PMI members. you don't need to memorize every definition, but it comes in handy when reviewing definition of terms.
5. Practice tests are invaluable. Get your hands to as many practice questions as you can. Make sure you understand the answers especially those you got incorrect. There are a lot of free exam simulators out there. My personal favorite is http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com. What's good with pm-exam-simulator is that it does simulate the actual online exam, the look, the feel, the timer, etc. It was cool. The exam questions are also tough. I didn't pass any of them. But I did pass the actual exam.
There is also the PMWars segment at ProjectManagement.com. It's a good way to practice yourself in PMBoK concepts. Note that ProjectManagement.com is also managed by PMI so the PMWars questions are the kind you would expect in the exam.
There are also cheap simulators for iPad/iPhone/android - they are often cheaper than their online / PC counterparts. For my iDevices, I bought PMP Trainer for $10.00. It had 800+ questions, there is a study/trainer mode, and a 200-item exam simulator mode. For $10, it was a steal. When buying tablet/mobile phone PMP reviewers and simulators, check the time the application was last updated. Make sure it was updated recently to ensure that the exam questions are in line with the recent PMBok edition.
I did say that 90% of the exam are in the PMBoK Guide 5th edition. However, 10% of the questions aren't. They are usually found in some other management books, etc. Getting your hands into as many PMP quizzes and exams online. When you encounter a question from a simulator which is not in the PMBoK Guide, stop for a moment to take note of the question, then make sure you do additional readings regarding the subject. Usually, these concepts are mentioned briefly in the PMBoK guide but are not discussed thoroughly. Thus, it is very important to get your hands on every PMP quiz/test/simulator you can possibly get.
Lastly, make sure you are exposed to three or more exam preparation quiz/simulator. Most applications or simulators are biased on a particular subject and may phrase questions similarly. to avoid this bias, go through at least three different simulators. They need not be expensive. In my case, I bought one, and the two others are free.
6. Schedule the exam no more than one month after you reached a high degree of confidence that you will pass the exam. Either many people don't know this, or we are just accustomed to completing a task ASAP. After you get the confirmation email that your application has been verified and you can now schedule the exam, you actually don't have to rush to schedule the exam. You can wait... for the right time.
The exam is tough. It is composed of 200 questions, mostly situational kinds where at least 2 of the 4 choices seem correct. It will also test your knowledge of the PMI Project Management standard as outlined in the PMBoK. Questions like
"Jeff just finished the project charter, what should he do next: a. identify the team, b. develop the project scope statement, c. identify stakeholders, d. start collecting the requirements."
You should get used to seeing these questions (and answering them correctly). Once you start getting at least 80% in tough test-simulator exams, then its time to schedule the exam. Schedule the exam at most one month from the time your confidence level is already high. Once the exam is scheduled, continue to increase your review cycle, until 3-5 days before the exam, by which time, you should start easing down.
Goodluck and Happy Hunting!
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