PMP Exam Application
By Duncan Haughey
The PMI (Project Management Institute) has three levels of certification, starting with the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) which is the basic level and is intended as certification for project team members. The PMP (Project Management Professional) is the second highest level and regarded as one of the most valued credentials in project management. Anybody who has passed the PMP certification exam successfully and met the PMI's requirements for documenting their professional experience is entitled to use the abbreviation PMP after their name. A new certification, PgMP (Programme Management Professional) has been introduced by the PMI in late 2007 for Programme Managers.
PMP Credentials
To be eligible for the PMP certification you must meet certain educational and professional experience requirements:
- High school diploma, associate's degree or global equivalent
- 60 months professional project management experience within the past 8 years, of which at least 7,500 hours were spent leading or directing project tasks
- 35 hours formal project management education from an approved provider
Alternatively:
- Bachelor's degree or global equivalent
- 36 months professional project management experience within the past 8 years, of which at least 4,500 hours were spent leading or directing project tasks
- 35 hours formal project management education from an approved provider
In addition, you must agreed to adhere to a code of professional conduct and pass an examination (200 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours) designed to objectively assess and measure your project management knowledge.
A PMP must satisfy continuing certification requirements through professional development or lose the certification.
Candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements for the PMP certification can apply for the CAPM examination.
Exam Application
When applying for the PMP exam, you might find it helpful to record the hours you've worked against each of the 30 tasks for the 6 process groups in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet below. This can easily be transferred to the application form as you fill it in.
