3 Essentials to Qualify for the Project Management Institute (PMI)® Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam
The (PMP)® certification is the most widely recognized project management credential you can obtain. But, as Spiderman learned, with great power comes great responsibility.
That’s why the PMI® insists that applicants meet certain necessary prerequisites before taking the exam and obtaining certification. If you already meet these requirements, you’re in an excellent position to prepare for and take the PMP exam. If not, use them as a guide in planning your route to eventually earning the (PMP)® certification.
3 years/36 months or 5 years/60 months consecutive project management experience
The purpose of this prerequisite is to confirm that anyone who takes the test has a significant backlog of project management experience under their belt and is not simply “book smart”.
If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, the lower 3-year requirement applies. If you do not have a Bachelor’s Degree, you must be able to record 60 months of consecutive project management experience within the last eight years.
It’s important to note that multiple projects overlapping during the same time period do not count as additional time in meeting this requirement. There must be at least 36 (or 60) consecutive months of project management experience accrued.
4500/7500 hours of project management experience
This hour requirement adds context to the consecutive time requirement noted above.
Again, if you have a Bachelor’s degree, the lower hour requirement applies. If not, 7500 hours of experience must be logged.
This ensures that a project manager working a few hours a week for several years is not viewed as having the same level of experience as a full-time project manager working consistently for that same amount of time. In this case, the hours spent directing or leading multiple projects simultaneously do count toward the total.
35 Professional Development Units (PDUs) or Contact Hours
In addition to the practical experience reflected by the consecutive months and hours requirements, the accumulation of at least 35 PDUs reflects the applicant’s efforts to continually educate him or herself on the skills needed to effectively manage projects.
This education is available from many sources, both in-person and online, both instructor-led and self-led study. PDUs are only available from educational sources accredited by the Project Management Institute, so they are assured of the quality of instruction you are receiving.
An excellent way to obtain 35 PDUs is to take one of cPrime’s PMP Certification Training Bootcamps, either in person or online. These courses offer a solid foundation that prepares you specifically for the PMP examination while also providing tons of practical knowledge designed to enhance your experience and improve your skills in project management.
Good luck in working toward obtaining your PMP!
(PMI-ACP)®, PMBOK® Guide, and PMI® are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
