PMP – Answers to your initial questions

Project Management Institute (PMI) is the body headquartered in USA that issues PMP Certification.

If you do not have experience in leading/directing projects for 36+ months (designation not important),
you can do CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management. Training, book & study is the same but
exam is simpler (more theory based) and cheaper (around Rs. 22000) and has 150 questions to do in 3 hrs.

PMP computer based exam will cost $139 (membership) + $ 405 (exam fee) OR directly $555 (exam fee).
Membership gives soft copy of PMBOK Guide 6th edition. Thus, you spend $544 for the PMP Certification
besides the training cost. Exam is at multiple Pearson Vue centers or can be done from home (2 parts of 2
hours with 10 min break).

The center based test can be given any weekday with approximately 2-3 weeks lead time. It can be
rescheduled upto 2 days prior ($70 charge) or free (30 days prior). Results are immediate after test. You
can give the exam within 1 year of getting the exam form approved by PMI. Sequence: 35 hours training,
study using notes and books, register on PMI, fill exam form, pay membership, pay exam fee, schedule
exam, give exam, get certificate by post and online on pmi.org next day.

There are no passing marks indicated for PMP/CAPM. If it is a tougher paper, you will need lesser marks,
and more for a simpler paper. Generally speaking, if you get 75% in the mocks on an average, you should
be good to pass through. PMP has 200 objective questions in 4 hours. There are no negative marks. You
will be given a calculator for the exam by them. 2 exam reattempts – if needed, should be given within 1
year and will cost additionally. None of the participants has gone for a reattempt so far.

Most exam questions are scenario based. They are randomly chosen from a huge question bank. Question
papers are not available to take away by the participants. List of Free Mocks are given on day 4 of the
training in soft copy on google drive, besides also being mentioned in Cracking the PMP guide.

It will take around 150 hours for exam prep. This may change depending on your reading / grasping speed.

You may print the PMBOK 6 guide if you wish or get a hardcopy for ~Rs.4000. Or, you can take it from your
office library if available. It is necessary to read the PMBOK guide atleast once. It is suggested that you read
another reference besides the PMBOK called as Rita Mulcahy(online price ~ 7000), while preparing, if you
need to grasp better and have simpler wording. You can also borrow them on library basis from me.

You will get a copy of my training material soft copy (with audio recordings) on day 4. Also some additional
files will be shared on day 4. You will also get the certificate of training (35 contact hours) from me on day
4. Ensure your name needed on the certificate is communicated to me.

You need to maintain your PMP certification by earning 60 PDUs in 3 years after becoming a PMP. There
are various ways to earn it -attending / giving training, writing content, reading books etc.

Though your 35 hours training certificate will be based on the PMBOK 6th edition, you can give the exam
based on this certificate for the future editions also. However, it is strongly recommended that you
familiarize yourself with the latest edition (self-study or refresher course) at that time. The current version
of PMBOK may continue till 2021. Note that the PMP Exam Content outline is changing in Dec 2020. This
time they are adding 50% more content than the PMBOK Guide! Thus it is better to give it before this date.