Are you planning to write your Project Management Professional(PMP) certification exam and you need tips on how to prepare for it so that you can ace it at first attempt? You don’t have to look further. Below are some great tips to help you make the right study decision to prepare for your certification tests.
It is crucial to note that the Project Management Professional certification is one of the top credentials in the project management field. Professionals with this certificate have a greater chance of maintaining their jobs and also possess the ability to deliver beyond expectation at projects they handle. In addition to this, they also enjoy better salary packages compared to their non-certified counterparts. So, are you ready to learn what you need to do to pass this sought-after certification test? Explore the various tips listed below and start your exam preparation.
6 Tips for Passing PMP Certification Exam
Study the certification handbook
The PMP certification handbook is a very important material you need to study as the first step towards preparing for your certification exam. The handbook details all you need to know about the techniques and process of writing the PMP certification test and becoming a certified project management professional. It doesn’t take so long to read and understand the handbook because it is quite straightforward and compact. Going through the handbook takes about half an hour, and you can bet that this short reading will have a great impact on your exam preparation. The handbook is designed in such a way as to provide answers to most of the questions you have about the process and procedures involved in applying for the certification and writing the exam.
Check out the prerequisite for taking the PMP certification
Before you go ahead and register for the PMP exam, it is important that you first check the prerequisite so that you know if you are eligible to write the test or not. To be eligible to do this, you are required to possess a high school diploma, an associate degree or its equivalent. You should also have at least 60 months (5 years) of exceptional and strictly professional experience in project management out of which a minimum of 7,500 hours must be spent on directing and managing project tasks. Professionals with bachelor degrees or its equivalent can also register for the PMP exam. In addition to the degree, they must also have at least 36 months (3 years) of exceptional and straight professional experience in project management out of which 4,500 hours should be spent on directing and managing project tasks.
In addition to these prerequisites, it is also important that you have a proof that you have had at least 35 contact hours of training in project management. The contact hours include all the related project management training you have ever had. Read More Here:https://www.prepaway.com/pmp-certification-exams.html
Become a member of PMI
Registering as a member of PMI before you write your certification exam makes a lot of financial sense. This is because PMI members enjoy some privileges that other non-members don’t. For example, as a member, you will have access to a free version of the PMBOK Guide (Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge). In addition to this, you also get to enjoy significant discount on your PMP certification exam which can actually be more than the amount you pay to register as a member. It is also recommended that you register as a member of the local group of PMI. By becoming a member, you get to attend thePMP Prep Workshop and you can also get substantial discounts on some of the products offered at the local group. It is important to note that the local group of PMI is a very good source of gathering information on the PMP certification, as you get to network with other professionals and fellow exam takers.
Register for the PMP certification exam
The major step you need to take to become PMP-certified is to register for the exam. Do not only plan to write the certification exam; take the step to register for it and start preparing towards it. When you register for the exam, you have a deadline to work with and you can focus on covering the exam content before your scheduled exam. To register for the test, visit the official page of the certification. Fill in the online application form with your accurate details and submit to PMI for the approval. As soon as you submit, you will receive a confirmation number which you will use to schedule your exam. It is important to note that PMI does not conduct the certification exam themselves. They use a third party platform, Thomson Prometric, to perform the exam all over the world. Your location determines where you will be writing your exam. It is essential that you register for your exam in advance so that you can know your exam location. You might need to travel a far distance to write the exam, depending on your location.
Read over the PMBOK Guide again
The primary reference for the certification exam is the PMBOK Guide. According to some experienced instructors, the right answers to about 75% of the exam questions in the PMP exam are hidden somewhere in the PMBOK Guide. Studying the book is therefore critical for your exam success. You should go over it again and again until you understand everything that is detailed in the guide.
Get the PMP personal study course and read at least one PMP preparation resource material
There are numerous self-study resource materials that are available for the PMP certification exam. You can get some free materials on different personal sites, forums, and wikis. You can also buy preparation books from Amazon or the local bookstores around you. By going through the study materials, you can expect to learn about 25% of additional information about the exam that is not available in the PMBOK Guide. Many exam takers believe that this guide is quite boring and using other resources from third-party providers will help in understanding the exam topics. The resource materials will interpret the concepts, techniques, and tools from the PMBOK Guide and provide examples that you are conversant within your regular project management role to help you understand the concepts of the book.
Conclusion
Earning the PMP certification is not difficult if you invest some time and effort in the study. The first step to achieving your success is to understand what you are required to study during the exam preparation and go all out to cover all the bases.
