Understanding PMP Certification

The PMP Certification is the litmus test for project management professionals the world over. This certification is awarded by the PMI or the Project Management Institute which is a global not-for-profit organization that is internationally recognized and has four chapters spread around the world. The PMI conducts the PMP certification exam and issues the certificate to project management professionals on successfully passing the exam. The duration of the PMP exam is four hours and is considered very difficult to pass. Those who enrol for the exam are professionals in project management with many decades of work experience to their name. With its recognition worldwide as a project manager’s test of abilities and calibre this exam is even sponsored by employers who wish to help their employees get PMP certified. But unfortunately studies have shown that only a mere 6 percent of the overall candidates that appear for the exam actually pass it on the very first attempt. The PMI has many rules and regulations regarding membership, eligibility, contact hours, exam fees, coaching classes, recognized study centres and much more for those intending to appear for the exam and almost all details can be got from their official website www.pmi.org.

What is PMBOK?

The PMI publishes a handbook for project managers, which is sold on their official website as well as in reputed bookstores online. The purpose of this handbook, Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is act as a reference material for preparation of the PMP exam. It includes research material, theories, concepts, case studies, diagrams, lessons, live experiences, articles along with valuable inputs from some of the most highly regarded project management professionals in the world acls recertification.

What Does PMP Online Training Involve?

It is a well known fact that to be eligible for the PMP exam, one has to have had 35 hours of contact classes whether online or in-campus. These contact hours are available through the PMI and their Registered Education Providers (REPs). The price of the training can vary from a mere few dollars right up to hundreds of dollars depending on the kind and intensity of the PMP certification course chosen. On the internet one can find hundreds of online PMP certification courses with model questions, case study scenarios, examples, self test problems and lessons. Yet finding the perfect PMP certification course can be tedious. Despite that, an estimated 40% of the PMP hopefuls take some sort of online PMP certification course to prepare for the exam. Of the hundreds of PMP certification courses, there are some that are quite popular like PM Basics, PM Software Tool Training and PM Skill Development. In order to select the best PMP certification course here are a few things to verify about each course like the success rate, the reputation, past student reviews, cost, duration of training, number of contact hours gained for the exam, quality of teaching, convenience of self study, mode of learning and teaching methods and so forth. Every PMP certification course should include all of the five major areas of project management namely Initiating, Planning, Monitoring, Controlling and Closing of the Project. With these five major areas of study covered the candidate will learn about the 42 different, calculated processes that make up large scale projects. Mainly a good PMP certification course enables a candidate to be well prepared in high n confidence for the PMP certification exam. The PMP certification course should cover the major areas of knowledge in a project which are as follows:

• Project Integration Management
• Project Scope Management
• Project Time Management
• Project Cost Management
• Project Quality Management
• Project Human Resource Management
• Project Communications Management
• Project Risk Management
• Project Procurement Management

So before picking any PMP certification course it is necessary to do a thorough check as to whether the course is comprehensive in its approach towards the subject and covers all topics adequately.

Where Are PMP Certification Courses Found?

For those who have enrolled for the PMP exam, there are many training programs available to prepare from. These courses are given by the PMI itself along with its Registered Education Providers (REPs). The PMP certification course can be online or in campus. The mode of training for a PMP certification course depends on the individual as to the time, duration, cost, quality of the program and the reputation of the program. The internet based PMP certification course can be in real time or asynchronous, which include online seminars, group discussions, lessons, test questions, articles, case studies, video conferences and so forth.

Individuals can opt for either of the two types of online training programs namely;

• PMP certification course where a mentor provides live assistance.
• PMP certification course where all study and learning is done by the individual without assistance.

However in the latter case there is a mentor available on call too but most of the preparation is done by the individual.

PMI’s Registered Education Providers (REPs)

On the official website of the PMI, www.pmi.org are a list of courses and training institutes approved and accredited by the PMI, from where individuals can take their online or in-campus courses and prepare for the exam. The institutes approved by the PMI are known as Registered Education Providers (REPs). All the training courses done from these centres provide contact hours which are counted for the PMP exam.

Some of the most popular Registered Education Providers (REPs) are:

PMI Seminars World

This is a PMP certification course conducted by the PMI. The course is known as eSeminarsWorld and has a mix of research articles, theories, online mentoring, model and practice test questions, group discussions and case studies. With this PMP certification course an individual can earn up to 14 Professional Development Units (PDUs) which are carried forward to the eligibility of the exam and this PMP certification course is reputed and considered comprehensive. This course lasts for nearly two weeks and is almost as good as attending many seminars on project management right from the comfort of your office or study desk.

PMCampus
The PMI certifies PMCampus as a Register Education Provider and since 2005 this institute has been offering quality online training programs for the PMP exam. Most of the courses offered by this institute last for 3 months duration and there are PDUs for each course as well. The PMP certification course contain audio-video modules, group and individual lessons, online mentoring, project work, virtual role play, partnering exercises, case study and partnering modules. This PMP certification course is known for its success rate and quality. Depending on the program, the cost of the PMP certification course ranges from $100 to $500.

Villanova University
This university offers a PMP preparation program known as the Professional Education Online Program and is considered as a Master’s Degree in Project Management by the PMI. One can choose from general and tailor-made programs in Operations, IT, Infrastructure, Construction and so forth.

Global Knowledge Training LLC

There are two courses offered by Global Knowledge Training LLC. They are: Guided PMP Exam Prep and PMP Exam Prep Boot Camp. Both are totally different in terms of the approach and duration of the training program. However both use the PMBOK from the PMI as the key training material.

Training Camp
The Training Camp Institute offers a Certified Associate Training in Project Management and this is one of the Registered Education Provider of the PMI. This PMP certification course, includes lessons, lectures, reviews and lab modules worth approximately 35 contact hours. There is a certified PMP trainer to conduct this PMP certification course.

PM Study
The PM study Institute offers the PMStudy Plus which a PMI recommended PMP certification course. The course includes exam preparation techniques, more than 200 model test questions and counts as 40 hours towards the mandatory contact hours required by the PMI. Some of the programs from this institute do not carry contact hours. There is a lot of flexibility in the learning modules for the PMP examinees.

Edwel Programs
With money back guarantee in case of failing the PMP exam, this PMP certification course is a 4 day long course. It is certified by the PMI and includes reviews, lessons, case studies group discussions, and PMP certified trainers. This PMP certification course offers nearly 700 questions and a 500 page preparation handbook.

The PMI’s own e-Learning on Demand and PMI Publication Quizzes are very popular online courses for exam preparation. In addition the Keller Graduate School of Management, Ashworth College, University of Maryland and many more colleges in the US offer many learning modules and courses that count as educational qualifications towards the eligibility of the PMP exam and as preparation for the test.

What is the Cost of PMP Certification Courses?

Getting a PMP certification is not easy and definitely not cheap. It costs a lot of money to apply for the exam and the training and courses for preparation are quite expensive too. For members of the PMI there is a discount on the exam fees which is $405 for members of the PMI and $555 for non-members. In case the examinee fails the exam he has to pay $150 for a re-exam and wait for the duration of one calendar before being eligible to apply for the exam again. All this is enough motivation to pass the test in the first attempt and to ensure complete success in the PMP exam it is recommended to enrol in a PMP certification course. Based on where you get the PMP certification course, the programs cost from about $30 to $1000. When some courses are clubbed then they can cost more. There are audio video learning modules which come in MP3 format and can be heard while working, relaxing and commuting to work and back. These can cost from $30 to $400 based on the kind of program and preparation module included.

There are some hundred or more training programs available online and on campus, which provide different types of learning courses. Most uses self test questions and the PMBOK as the basis of their training. While some courses include over 1000 test questions and cost about $1000 some other institutes and websites offer AV learning kits, along with model questions and preparation manual for only $100.

How to Ace the PMP Certification Courses?

Not everyone who applies for the exam, unfortunately passes the PMP exam, knowing how difficult it is. Approximately 60 percentage of those who apply to the PMI for the exam pass in the first attempt. Opting for a well known and successful course online is the best way to prepare and train for the PMP test.

There are a few ways to prepare well for the exam and they are enumerated below:

From the website of the PMI, www.pmi.org, one can purchase the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) that has everything and more that a PMP aspirant requires for preparation. This can be also downloaded from the internet. All members of the PMI get a special discount on the price of the PMBOK. Since many questions in the PMP exam are known to come from the PMBOK, over the years this handbook has come to be regarded as the Bible of project management professionals. Even though the handbook is quite technical and voluminous, still it is one of the mainstays for all PMP certification aspirants. This handbook also supplements a PMP certification course well. It includes theories, charts, articles, research inputs from experts in the fields and much more. The more an individual practices for the exam the better prepared he will be on the given day. It all comes down to confidence in the end. Rita Mulcahy, the late guru in project management used to say that with a good PMP certification course the examinee will be able to improve the speed, confidence and preparation levels. Therefore it is advisable to practice as many model test questions in PMP as possible, to improve knowledge, speed and readiness. Adequate practice will enable the candidate to take the test in a stress-free manner. If the candidate can answer atleast three-fourths of the PMP certification course questions accurately then it can be assumed he is ready to take the final PMP test. Since it is the trend worldwide to take the PMP test online, it is best to get as much experience and training through the online mode. This will help even those project management professionals who are not computer savvy become well versed with the online test format of the PMP exam.

Some employers sponsor their employees who take a PMP certification course and it is best to ask your employer how much he is willing to help out financially. Some will also pay for the PMP certification course. Remember to pick a PMP certification course that has been approved by the PMI and has convenient learning modules, is reputed, has a successful past track record, is financially viable and can be done in a flexible manner. The more comprehensive the online PMP certification course is, the better the results in the final PMP certification exam.

What is the Advantage of Doing PMP Certification Courses?

All project management professionals around the world are in a race to get the ultimate proof of their skills and calibre – the PMP certification. The PMP exam can however remain a pipe dream for many. It depends on the individual as to how he/she goes about the preparation for the PMP exam. Most employers too want a PMP certified project manger because they know that their projects are in safe hands. Having the PMP certification assures the individual of better pay packet, more respect in the job, added perquisites, increased responsibilities and worldwide recognition of skills, knowledge and calibre.

It is difficult if not entirely impossible to pass the PMP test without enough training. With a good PMP certification course there are all chances of passing the test in the very first attempt. Let us look at some of the primary reasons why one should enrol for a PMP certification course to prepare for the exam. With a PMP certification course the candidate will know exactly where he stands in terms of preparedness for the exam. If there are still any areas to study and brush up on that too will be revealed. The PMP certification course enables the individual to become faster and more experienced in answering the questions. This way on the test day it won’t be such a daunting task. No matter the intensity, duration and type of online PMP certification course, it is better to have undergone some training rather than nothing at all. Studies have proved that those who took some sort of PMP certification course were more likely to pass the PMP exam in the single attempt.

The PMP certification course whether online or on campus are flexible and in case of the former can be done from the comfort of home too. Some of the learning modules can be done with AV modules while commuting to work and this way most working professionals are benefitted. The on campus courses too are an intensive and comprehensive way to prepare for the tough PMP test. Those who do not have time or interest to go for on campus PMP certification course can opt for online training programs which offer personalized learning modules and attention. With on-call mentors available online there is no dearth of advice, guidance and assistance one can get. These are PMP certified trainers who have first hand knowledge and experience in the PMP exam. The best part of the PMP certification course is that with the help of a handheld, internet enabled, mobile device like a mobile phone, iPod, laptop, PDA, MP3 device etc one can get training. These devices can be used from anywhere and the learning can be carried out regardless of geographical boundaries.

In conclusion it must be understood, that the preparation, quality of PMP training, number of contact hours required, the PDUs availed, the cost of the training, the success rate of the PMP certification course, the method and mode of learning and so forth will influence which is the best PMP certification course to enrol in. Be it an online PMP certification course or an on campus PMP certification course the coursework will be the same. They both generally cover all key areas of project management and approach the exam questions in a structured manner. The decision to go for an online or on campus PMP certification course however is left to the PMP certificate aspirant.

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