Details of PMP Certification Exam

If you're planning to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, you'll want to familiarize yourself with some of the details.

By
Visual PMP Academy
,
on
August 9, 2022

If you're planning to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, you'll want to familiarize yourself with some of the details. The exam is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). A successful completion results in becoming a PMP—a person who has met the profession’s standards and is qualified to be hired as a project manager.

PMP is awarded by PMI (Project Management Institute) on passing the PMP Certification exam

PMI is a popular non-profit organization committed to the development and improvement of project management. It was established in 1969 and is one of the founding members of the International Project Management Association (IPMA).
PMI offers professional certifications for those engaged in project, program, or portfolio management in any industry. PMP credential aims to demonstrate that you have a standard knowledge and experience level in project management.

Eligibility

The eligibility for the certification is based on a combination of your education, experience, and training in project management.
You must have a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, or the global equivalent)
You must have at least 7,500 hours of leading and directing projects
You need to have 35 or more hours of project management training
OR, it would be best if you had a 4-year degree and at least three years of project management experience (4,500 hours leading and directing projects) and 35 hours of project management education.

Types of Questions

The PMP Exam is a combination of several types of questions, including multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, hotspot, multiple response, and matching. The exam consists of 180 questions.

There are five sections to the exam. The sections are known as domains. They include;

  • PEOPLE: The domain focuses on the candidate’s soft skills necessary for leading project teams effectively in the modern environment
  • BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: The domain reinforces the connection between an organizational strategy and its projects.
  • PROCESS: The domain emphasizes the technical aspects of managing a project successfully.

The PMP Certification exam is a closed book exam. So, you don’t have access to the PMBOK Guide or any other reference during your test time.

Candidates have 4 hours to take the test and score at least 61% to pass the exam.

  • The test lasts four hour, with 230 minutes being allocated to taking the test, while 10 minutes are for break.
  • You have to get at least 61% of the questions correct to pass.
  • The exam is graded as pass/fail, which means you can't get a percentage score or equivalent letter grade. You'll receive your results within five business days by email or mail.
  • You can retake the exam if you fail, but there's a waiting period for each subsequent attempt. The following exam must be scheduled at least 30 days after taking the last one.

You should appear for the PMP certification exam within one year of getting your application approved.

Before appearing for the PMP Certification Exam, your application needs to be approved by PMI. Once your application gets approved, you get one year time to schedule and appear for the Exam.

Exam cost

PMP certification is a considerable investment in your future, but it’s not as expensive as you might think. The exam costs $405 for [Project Management Institute (PMI) members and $555 for non-members. This includes the cost of taking the exam and having your application reviewed. There are additional fees if you want to repeat or reschedule your exam, so read PMI’s cancellation policy carefully to avoid extra expenses, especially if you’re using a payment plan.

Choosing an institute for PMP Exam Courses

When choosing an institute or college offering classes or a boot camp, make sure PMI accredits them. There are many PMP Boot Camp programs provided by various institutions. Visual PMP Academy, for example, is one of the certified institutes for studying all the PMP certification exam-related courses.
Although you can study independently and prepare for the exam without any formal training, it is not advised for beginners. When choosing an institute or college offering classes or a boot camp, make sure PMI accredits them. This accreditation status means that the institute meets the standards set by PMI. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a non-profit organization that provides training, education, and certification to project managers worldwide.
PMI accreditation is essential for institutes that offer PMP training and certification because the industry recognizes them as R.E.P., which stands for Registered Education Provider. Their courses are reviewed and followed closely by their project management program staff members, who have ample experience to ensure that candidates receive quality training when they enroll in any of these courses or classes offered to prepare them for the certification exams.

Importance of Passing the PMP Certification Exam

Passing the PMP Certification exam earns you the PMP certification. The credential helps prove your experience, knowledge, and ability to project managers worldwide. It helps prove your pedigree as a project manager to potential employers and peers alike.
PMP® is the most respected and valued certification in the project management community. It is recognized and demanded worldwide by employers, recruiters, academic institutions, government entities, healthcare organizations, etc.
It provides you with an edge over your peers. A global survey shows that Project Management Professionals (PMPs®) earn more than their non-certified counterparts by 23% (Source: PMI’s Earning Power).
It helps ensure successful project delivery for many organizations worldwide. According to the 9th Global PMI Pulse of the Profession, “Organizations which had more than 35% of their projects managed by Project Management Professionals (PMPs®) were three times more likely to record better financial results and general business performance.

Conclusion

While the PMP certification process can be a little overwhelming, you've got to admire the thoroughness and attention to detail that goes into it. Sign up for the PMP certification exam courses at Visual PMP Academy and get ready to pass the test on the first attempt.

Want to build a successful career in Project Management, Agile and Scrum? Or you need free templates, ITTO Games, or Electronic Books?

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form
Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights, expert tips, and the latest updates. Do not miss out on the key to unlocking your PMP success – sign up today!

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form
Create a SWOT analysisGet Your Free PMP ITTO TablesGet Your PMP ITTO Game