PMP FAQs

1. How do I get started with the PMP Certification Examination?
2. What do I need to do before I apply?
3. How do I prove my project experience?
4. What about education?
5. What are contact hours?
6. Where do I earn my contact hours?
7. How long does it take to get my PMP certification?
8. How many questions is the PMP exam made of?
9. How long is the PMP exam?
10. Can I give the PMP exam online?
11. What are PMP certification questions based on?
12. How do I prepare for the PMP exam?
13. Is the PMP certification permanent?
14. What does taking the PMP exam cost?
15. What else do I need to know?
      - PMI
      - PMP
      - PDU
      - PMBOK
      - PMO
16. What are the differences between the third edition and the fourth edition of the PMBOK® Guide?
17. How will updates to the PMBOK® Guide—Fourth Edition affect the PMP examination?
18. When studying for PMP® exam which edition of the PMBOK® Guide should I use?

1. How do I get started with the PMP Certification Examination?

Go to the PMI (Project Management Institute) website. They are the people behind the PMP exam. Next, if you are serious about being a project manager for life, you might want to consider becoming a PMI member (membership is not free, though). But you do end up saving money while registering for the PMP exam (more of this below).

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2. What do I need to do before I apply?

You need to qualify. Here’s how: the PMP is a professional certification which means you already need to have at least three years of experience and spent at least 4500 hours leading and directing projects.

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3. How do I prove my project experience?

As a project manager you must be reporting regularly to project heads and submitting reports. But if you’re applying online, you can use the experience verification section of the online application at the PMI website. PMI recommends that you document projects individually. Just remember that grouping project management experience is not acceptable.

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4. What about education?

Your bachelor’s degree can fit the bill. But if you’re just a high school diploma holder, your experience requirements change from 4500 hours to 7500 hours. Plus there are the contact hours you need to earn.

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5. What are contact hours?

In addition to showing project experience, you need to have completed 35 hours of formal project management education. Contact hours are also known as Professional Development Units (PDUs).

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6. Where do I earn my contact hours?

Right on this website if you want. Just take our PMP Exam Prep Course. Complete the exercises, assessments and practice test and we will send you an e-certificate stating you have earned 35 contact hours. Typically, one contact hour represents one hour of a planned, structured learning experience or activity.

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7. How long does it take to get my PMP certification?

You have 90 days every year to apply for your PMP certification. After submitting the necessary documents related to education and experience (see above), you will have to wait 5 business days for PMI to review your application. 5 additional business days are spent auditing your application if it is selected. You then have the choice to give the PMP exam during the next whole year, starting from the date of application approval.

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8. How many questions is the PMP exam made of?

PMP Examination is made of 200 multiple-choice questions.

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9. How long is the PMP exam?

The time for allotted for sitting for PMP exam is 4 hours

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10. Can I give the PMP exam online?

Yes. Computer based testing (CBT) is the standard method of administration for PMI examinations.

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11. What are PMP certification questions based on?

PMP questions are based on a certain percentage of questions related to each project management process group. Here’s a closer look at the breakdown of questions related to each proejct management domain:

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12. How do I prepare for the PMP exam?

Your first guide to passing the PMP is the PMBOK Guide 3rd edition. If you find the PMBOK too tedious to read or comprehend, try online classes such as PMP Exam Prep, which gives you a multimedia introduction to Project Management basics. Over 90 percent of people taking our online classes have earned their PMP certification.

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13. Is the PMP certification permanent?

Nope. PMP is not a one-time done deal. In order to retain their certification, PMPs need to give the PMP exam once every three years.

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14. What does taking the PMP exam cost?

PMP Exam fees for a PMI Member are $405 or approximately Rs. 17000
PMP Exam fees if you are not a PMI member = $555 or approximately Rs. 23000
PMI Membership = $119 + $10 first time fee or approximately Rs.5418

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15. What else do I need to know?

Don't know your PMI from your PMO? No need to worry. We got the essential definitions covered:

PMI: stands for Project Management Institute. This is an international body of practicing project managers established to publish standards related to project management. It also manages project management certification. As of 2006, PMI has over 220,010 members and over 180,000 PMP certificants in 175 countries.

PMP: Project Management Professional is a certification managed by the PMI based on PMP Examination Specification published by PMI in 2005. In order to take this exam, you are required to have performed 7,500 hours in a lead role directing tasks, performed tasks associated with being a Project Manager over a period of 60 months within the past 8 years, and completed 35 hours of education specific to Project Management and aligned with PMI methodologies. PMPs are also required to satisfy continuing certification requirements (through professional development) or lose their certification.

PDU: A PMP is required to document ongoing project management experience and education every three years to keep his certification current. This experience and education is measured in Professional Development Units (PDUs). PDUs can be earned through taking or teaching classes on the project management discipline.

PMBOK: stands for Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide. It is an internationally recognized standard that provides the fundamentals of project management as they apply to a wide range of projects, including construction, software, engineering, automotive, etc.

PMO: A Project Management Office is a usually a department set up within a professional enterprise to to standardize and introduce economies of repetition in the execution of projects. The PMO is the source of documentation, guidance and metrics on the practice of project management and execution.

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16. What are the differences between the third edition and the fourth edition of the PMBOK® Guide?

The Fourth Edition continues to reflect the evolving knowledge within the profession of project management. Like previous editions it represents generally recognized good practice in the profession.
However, the Fourth Edition also reflects a focus on improved consistency and clarity. Great consideration was given by the project teams to remove redundant information and add clarifying statements where needed. Terminology was updated only to present process names consistently in a verb-noun format.
The PMBOK® Guide—Fourth Edition continues the tradition of excellence in project management with a standard that is easy to understand and implement.

The major differences between the Third Edition and the Fourth Edition are summarized below:
• All process names are in a verb-noun format
• Enterprise Environmental Factors were more clearly defined to avoid confusion with Organizational Process Assets.
• A standard approach for discussing requested changes, preventive actions, corrective actions and defect repairs was employed.
• The processes decreased from 44 to 42. Two processes were deleted, two processes were added and 6 processes were reconfigured into 4 processes in the procurement Knowledge Area.
• To provide clarity a distinction was made between the project management plan and project documents used to manage the project.
• The distinction between the information in the Project Charter and the Project Scope Statement was clarified.
• The process flow diagrams at the beginning of chapters 4-12 have been deleted and replaced with data flow diagrams.
• A data flow diagram for each process has been created.
• A new appendix was added that addresses key interpersonal skills that a project manager utilizes when managing a project.

A complete list of changes can be found in Appendix A of the Fourth Edition. 

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17. How will updates to the PMBOK® Guide — Fourth Edition affect the PMP examination?

When an update to a standard, such as the PMBOK® Guide—Fourth Edition, is released, credential exams are updated to reflect changes in the professional reference. The PMBOK® Guide—Fourth Edition reflects a focus on improved consistency and clarity. Great consideration was given by the project teams to remove redundant information and add clarifying statements where needed. Terminology was updated only to present them consistently in a verb-noun format.

It is estimated only a small percentage of examination items/questions require updates that directly address actual changes in the standards. Of course new questions are always being produced, tested, and then used to replace older questions on a periodic schedule.

* Please remember that standards are only one reference in the full project management body of knowledge, therefore a sudden change in the examination does not occur.

Please note that PMP exam is based on the role of the project manager and not on PMBOK.  There is no change in the role definition.

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18. When studying for PMP® exam which edition of the PMBOK® Guide should I use?

If you plan to sit for PMP Examination after 30 June 2009 refer - PMBOK® Guide Fourth Edition.

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