Want to be PMP Certified? Follow these steps

Is getting PMP certified on your bucket list? Are you confused with an overdose of information online? Is this confusion delaying your PMP certification?

Here are the 10 most important steps to follow to get your PMP certification.

Step-1: Understand the PMP Certification: The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a globally recognized credential provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It demonstrates your knowledge and experience in project management.

Step-2: Meet the Eligibility Requirements: Before pursuing PMP certification, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria set by PMI. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the requirements were as follows:

• A four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or global equivalent) and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, plus 35 hours of project management education/training.
• OR a secondary diploma (high school diploma or global equivalent) with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects, plus 35 hours of project management education/training.

Please note that eligibility criteria may have changed since then, so it’s essential to visit the PMI website or contact them directly to verify the current requirements.

Step-3: Find an ATP: Authorized Training Providers (ATPs) are organizations authorized by PMI to offer PMP training courses. Visit the PMI website and search for ATPs in your area or online. Ensure that the ATP you choose is reputable and offers high-quality training.

Step-4: Enroll in ATP Training: Once you’ve selected an ATP, enrol in their PMP training program. These programs are designed to help you understand project management concepts and prepare for the PMP exam. The ATP will provide you with the necessary study materials, resources, and guidance to support your learning.

Step-5: Attend the Training: Participate actively in the ATP training sessions. Take notes, ask questions, and engage in discussions to enhance your understanding of project management principles, processes, and best practices. The training will also help you align your knowledge with PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide.

Step-6: Complete the Required Training Hours: PMI requires PMP applicants to complete 35 hours of project management education/training. Ensure that the ATP training you choose fulfills this requirement.

Step-7: Study and Prepare for the Exam: Alongside the ATP training, you should dedicate time to self-study and review the PMBOK Guide, which serves as the primary reference for the PMP exam. Create a study plan, review the exam content outline provided by PMI, and make use of additional study resources such as practice exams and books.

Step-8: Submit Your Application: Once you feel adequately prepared, submit your PMP certification application through the PMI website. The application requires details about your project management experience and education/training. Ensure that you accurately document your experience and meet the application criteria.

Step-9: Pay, Schedule and Take the Exam: After your application is approved, PMI will provide you with instructions to make the payment and then schedule your PMP exam. The exam is typically conducted at Pearson VUE Testing Centres or through online proctoring. Select a suitable exam date and location, and make sure you’re fully prepared before taking the exam. Our experience says, Center based tests at Pearson VUE testing centres should be preferred over online proctored tests.

Step-10: Maintain Your Certification: If you pass the PMP exam, congratulations! You will be awarded the PMP certification. Remember that PMP certification requires ongoing professional development to maintain its validity. PMI mandates earning a specific number of Professional Development Units (PDUs) within a certification cycle to keep your PMP certification active.

Note: Do not get attracted towards 100% money back, pay after you pass kind of offers.

Money-Back offers: Mostly they are misleading or they put stringent conditions that you will never be able to meet to get the money back. This trick is not new and has been used for a long time but has failed miserably.

Pay after you Pass: Mostly they are scammers and you will be cheated. Remember, while some may get the certificate by using proxy exam takers, PMI’s security team will catch them and cancel the credentials or you will never clear an interview without proper prep and real-time exam experience. You will be exposed. Hence, it is not worth the money.

Doing the Right Thing? Then do it the right way!

All the very best!