Are you ready to elevate your project management career? Whether you’re aiming to apply for the PMP exam, need a study guide to help you prepare, or want to learn how to keep your PMP certification, this blog will guide you through the essentials. We’ll break down the steps to applying, explore the best resources to study, and cover how to keep your certification active once you’ve earned it. Let’s get you one step closer to PMP success!

By Juliana Savage

Key Points

• Apply for the PMP Exam: Understand the application process and eligibility requirements to get started on your PMP journey.
• PMP Exam Study Guide: Explore top study materials and strategies to help you prepare for the exam.
• Maintain PMP Certification: Learn how to earn PDUs and stay certified long-term to continue advancing your career.

I earned my PMP certification back in 2015. I initially went to a PMP bootcamp but felt unprepared for the exam. After some research, I discovered Rita’s study materials, which are highly regarded in the project management community for their clarity and depth. These resources became a crucial part of my study strategy. This experience led me to share the same advice with my students during PMP bootcamps, and I also offer this guidance to friends and family seeking support on their PMP journey. Note that the PMP information was compiled in October 2024 and may change, so it’s important to visit the PMI website for the latest updates and make sure you have the most current information available.

If you’re looking to better understand why project management is important, check out my article Leverage the Power of Project Management for Business Success, which explores how leveraging project management can help you stay competitive, achieve goals, and improve your bottom line.

Apply for the PMP Exam Guide

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you apply for the PMP exam:

Confirm Your Eligibility

Before applying, make sure you meet the minimum eligibility criteria set by PMI (Project Management Institute). The requirements include both educational background and project management experience. You don’t need the title of project manager, but you should be involved in some capacity with projects.

If you have a four-year degree (bachelor’s or global equivalent):

• Experience: 36 months (3 years) of leading projects within the last eight years.
• Project Management Education: 35 contact hours of formal project management education (this can include courses, webinars, or boot camps). You don’t need to pay for expensive in-person or online courses; platforms like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning can meet this requirement. Just be sure to obtain a completion certificate you can include with your application. Once you finish the 35 hours, you don’t need to repeat it, and it doesn’t appear to expire.

If you have a four-year degree (bachelor’s or global equivalent) from a Global Accreditation Center (GAC) accredited program (GAC program is accredited by Project Management Institute (PMI)):

• Experience: 24 months (2 years) of leading projects within the last 8 years.
• Project Management Education: 35 contact hours of formal project management education.

If you have a high school diploma, associate degree, or equivalent:

• If you have a high school diploma, associate degree, or equivalent:
• Experience: 60 months (5 years) of leading projects within the last 8 years.
• Project Management Education: 35 contact hours of formal project management education.

Create a PMI Account

• Go to the PMI website: Visit the PMI website www.pmi.org and create an account.
• Set up your profile: Fill in your details and complete your profile. This account will be used to submit your application, check your exam status, and manage your certification.

Prepare Your Project Management Experience

• Document your experience: Before starting the application, gather information on the projects you have worked on. You’ll need to give the following information:
  • Project title.
  • Role in the project.
  • Organization and industry.
  • Project start and end dates.
  • The number of hours you spent on each project.
  • A brief description of the project and the tasks you completed.

Focus on describing your role in initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the project. This is essential, as PMI wants to confirm you have hands-on experience in managing different aspects of projects.

Complete the PMP Application

• Log in to your PMI account: Once you’ve gathered all the information, log in to your PMI account.
• Start the application: Navigate to “Certifications” and choose “PMP.” Follow the steps to start the PMP application.
  • Fill in your education details.
  • Add your project management experience (as gathered earlier).
  • Give the details of your 35 contact hours of project management education.
• Submit your application: After completing all the sections, review your application carefully and submit it.

Wait for Application Review

• Review time: PMI will review your application, which typically takes around 5 business days. They may contact you for additional information or clarification.
• Audit possibility: Some applications are selected for an audit. If chosen, you will need to provide documentation, such as:
  • Copies of your diploma or degree.
  • Signed experience verification forms from your project supervisors or managers.
  • Proof of completing your 35 hours of project management education.

If selected, gather the necessary documents and submit them for PMI’s review. This process can take up to 5-7 days after submitting the audit materials.

Pay the Exam Fee

Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to pay for the exam.

• Fees:
  • PMI members: $425.
  • Non-members: $675.
  • Consider PMI membership: It may be beneficial to become a PMI member for a discount on the exam fee. Membership costs $129 annually and provides access to many resources, including the PMBOK Guide, and a reduced exam fee.

Schedule Your Exam

• Receive the eligibility ID: After payment, you’ll receive an eligibility ID, which is needed to schedule your exam. You will have one year to take the exam from the date your application is approved, and you can take it up to three times during this period.
• Choose between in-person or online exam:
  • In-person: You can schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE test center.
  • Online: You can also choose to take the exam online via Pearson VUE’s OnVUE platform, where you can take it remotely under live proctoring.
• Schedule your exam date: Use the PMI website or Pearson VUE website to choose a convenient exam date and location.

Take the PMP Exam

• Exam format: The PMP exam consists of 180 questions (both multiple-choice and scenario-based), and you’ll have 230 minutes (just under 4 hours) to complete it.
• Exam structure: Questions are based on three domains: People (42%), Process (50%), and Business Environment (8%).

Receive Your Results

• Immediate results: After finishing the exam, you’ll receive a preliminary pass/fail result on the screen.
• Official results: Your official results will be sent by email shortly after the exam.

PMP Exam Study Guide

Based on my experience, the most effective way to pass the PMP exam is by using Rita Mulcahy’s “PMP Exam Prep” book. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you utilize the book efficiently and succeed in the PMP exam:

Set a Study Schedule

• Commit to a timeline: Create a study schedule with all the chapters, ensuring time for practice tests and review. Aim for a study period of 2-3 months. Once you begin, maintain consistency, as there is a lot of material to cover, and taking long breaks can lead to forgetting information.
• Daily or weekly goals: Break down each chapter into manageable sections and assign specific dates for completing them. Allow extra time for more challenging chapters like Risk or Procurement Management.

Follow the Book’s Structure

• Read the chapters carefully: Rita’s book is designed to mirror the PMI’s Process Groups and Knowledge Areas. Start from the beginning and read each chapter thoroughly. Begin studying the Hot Topics flashcards as you go. Keep in mind that you likely know more about project management than you realize. Try comparing your work to the study material—you might not label it as such, but you probably already use many of these practices in your work. Regardless of your actions or thoughts, it’s essential to consider PMI and plan how you would manage a large project.
• Understand the mindset: Rita emphasizes the mindset PMI expects from project managers. Pay attention to this, as the exam often tests your ability to apply concepts, not just memorize them.

Focus on the Process Chart

• Memorize the Process Chart: Rita introduces a process chart that outlines the 49 processes within the five process groups and 10 knowledge areas. Spend time learning this thoroughly, as it’s the backbone of the PMP exam.
• Practice building the chart: Each day, try to replicate the process chart from memory. Knowing this will help you answer many questions on the exam.

Do the Exercises and Quizzes

• End-of-chapter quizzes: After each chapter, complete the quizzes to test your understanding. These questions are meant to reinforce key concepts and expose any gaps in your knowledge.
• Take notes: As you review the answers to quizzes, make notes of any topics or processes you struggle with and revisit those sections in the chapter.

Use the PM FASTrack Simulator

• Practice with exam simulations: Rita’s book pairs well with her PM FASTrack exam simulator (worth the cost). These questions will give you a sense of how the actual exam will be formatted, focusing on scenario-based questions.
• Aim for 80% or higher: For each practice test, aim to consistently score 80% or above. This gives you a cushion for the real exam. Be mindful of how many you test out, as you don’t want to end up memorizing the questions.

Master Key Concepts

• ITTOs: While memorizing Inputs, Tools & Techniques, and Outputs (ITTOs) isn’t necessary, understanding their flow and relationships is critical. Rita’s book simplifies this, focusing more on understanding than rote memorization.
• Agile and Hybrid Approaches: Be sure to pay attention to the Agile and hybrid project management approaches, which are increasingly tested on the exam. Rita’s book covers these areas well, so take the time to learn them.

Review the Process Chart Games

• Play Rita’s Process Chart games: These exercises are designed to reinforce the logical flow of the processes. They’ll help you understand the relationships between the processes, which is a key to passing the exam.

Take Mock Exams

• Full-length mock exams: Use the full-length mock exams in Rita’s book to simulate the 4-hour exam experience. This helps build your stamina and time management skills.
• Review your answers: After each exam, carefully review both your correct and incorrect answers. Understand why the correct answer is right and why the other options are wrong.

Revisit Weaker Areas

• Go back to difficult chapters: Identify your weakest areas based on quiz and mock exam results and revisit those chapters. Re-read the sections, focus on exercises, and take additional quizzes.

Final Review

• Glossary and key terms: In the final weeks leading up to your exam, review the glossary and key terms in Rita’s book. This will refresh your memory on important concepts and ensure you’re familiar with PMI’s terminology.
• Brain dump: Practice creating a brain dump (key formulas, the process chart) that you can mentally refer to during the exam.

Day of the Exam

• Relax and stay calm: On exam day, make sure you’ve had a good night’s sleep and arrive with plenty of time. Trust the preparation you’ve done with Rita’s book, and remember to carefully read each question on the exam.

I don’t believe it’s necessary, but if you decide to attend a PMP bootcamp, I recommend first thoroughly reviewing this entire study guide before proceeding with the bootcamp. Most people won’t pass the PMP exam by only attending a one-week bootcamp without additional study because there is a lot of material to cover. Schedule the PMP exam for the week following your bootcamp to maximize its benefits, provided that you’ve studied Rita’s PMP materials.

Maintain PMP Certification

To maintain your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, you need to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three years and report them to the Project Management Institute (PMI). Here’s a breakdown of the process:

Understand PDU Categories

• Talent Triangle PDUs: You must earn at least 35 PDUs in this category, which can be achieved through learning opportunities like courses, webinars, or reading.
  • Ways of Working: Focus on selecting and adapting appropriate methodologies like traditional, agile, or hybrid.
  • Power Skills: Emphasizes essential soft skills such as communication and decision-making.
  • Business Acumen: Understand the business context and aligning projects with strategic goals, including financial and risk management.
• Giving Back PDUs: You can earn up to 25 PDUs by volunteering, mentoring, teaching, or creating content.
  • Work as a Practitioner: You can claim PDUs for working in project management.
  • Giving Back: Share your knowledge by speaking at events, writing articles, or mentoring others.

Claim PDUs via PMI’s CCR System

• Once you earn PDUs, log them through the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) system on PMI’s website.
• You’ll need to log in to your PMI account, access the CCR, and report your activities under the appropriate categories.

Maintain Balance Between PDUs

• Make sure you have at least 35 Education PDUs and no more than 25 Giving Back PDUs.
• Ensure your PDUs are spread across Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen categories (a minimum of 8 PDUs in each).

Renew Your Certification

• Once you’ve earned 60 PDUs, you can apply to renew your PMP certification.
• Pay the renewal fee (around $60 for PMI members and $150 for non-members).

Track Your PDUs

• Keep a record of webinars, training, or volunteer activities to make logging PDUs easier.

By regularly engaging in professional development activities and tracking your progress, you can ensure you meet the requirements to maintain your PMP certification.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you’re paving the way pass your PMP exam on the first try. By having a strategic study plan, and a focus on mastering the material, you’ll approach the exam with confidence. Remember, preparation is crucial. With persistence and dedication, you’ll soon join the ranks of certified Project Management Professionals. Now it’s time to take action: commit to your study plan and get ready to excel in the PMP exam. The finish line is within reach—go for it!