PMP Certification Guide
PMP Certification is one of the most coveted and prestigious certifications in the world. It entails a two-step process:
(a) Application Submission – This included earned PDU’s + Prior project management experience
(b) Application Acceptance – PMI reviews the application and accepts it. Post this, the exam can be scheduled. (excluding the scenario of Application entering the audit)
There is no thumb rule for a particular preparation methodology but I will describe what I followed. I will break it into sections for easier reference.
I. Preparation time period for PMP Certification
I took 45 days to finish my preparation (excludes PDU’s earned and time spent on application)
Weekdays: Studied for 4-5 Hours daily
Weekends: Studied for 8-9 Hours
II. Sources for Study & Reference for PMP Certification
| Sources | Syllabus Covered | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| PMBOK | Read the book thrice- All topics (This is the Bible of Project Management)-DO NOT SKIP THIS | Extremely helpful for conceptual understanding. Exam is based on PMBOK |
| Rita Mulcahy | Read Risk Management & Stakeholder Management/Attempted all questions at the end of all chapters and read tips & tricks in between | You can read the whole book if you have time in hand |
| Youtube videos by Aileen Ellis, Izenbridge, PMPwithRay | Referred to their videos in case of any specific doubts in a topic or where more clarity was required. Practiced Questions from these videos(Especially the situational questions) | Do not waste your time watching all videos. If the concept is clear, skip the videos |
| Mocks by Tridib Roy | I purchased Tridib Roy’s mocks at Udemy and there were a set of 6 mocks (33/ 50/100/200) format. They are really good and give you accurate understanding of your level of preparation | I attempted all of them twice to get my concepts correct |
| Social Media | Joined PMP specific groups on Facebook where a lot of knowledge sharing happens w.r.t. questions/sources/content etc. | DO NOT OVER INDULGE but surely you must be a part of the few groups to gauge your preparation and seek guidance |
III. MOCKS for PMP Certification
- Practicing questions based on Knowledge Areas and full length mocks is extremely crucial. This is a paper of time and accuracy. So, knowledge area questions solidify your concepts and mocks ensure you are within your time limits and accurate.
- I practiced at least 4 full length mocks and purchased question banks on Udemy from 3-4 sources to get a maximum coverage on all type of questions. Also, I referred few videos listed above for questions.
- Always TIME YOUR SELF. Whether preparing or during mocks, keep the time factor in mind.
- Finally, have a single minded determination and focus.
Remember, this exam is not on memorization but your understanding and applicability in various situations.
IV. KEY POINTERS for PMP Certification
- No need to memorize ITTO. Understand it.
- You should be aware of all the Tools and Techniques and their applicability
- No need to make a brain dump during exam. It will waste your time.
- Try to visualize the topics process group wise rather than knowledge area wise. That would help you to get your questions correct
- Finally, always remain motivated. This is a great learning experience.
I hope all the points I have listed will help the aspirants to kick off their preparation effectively and efficiently.
Good Luck to all!!
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