Everything You Need to Know About the PMP (And Why Get Certified)

The PMP is the most globally recognized and respected certification for project managers, evidenced by the 16% higher median income of PMP holders across the world – 32% higher in the US.

But what does the PMP entail, and are there any benefits besides the possibility of a higher salary?

What is the PMP?

The Project Management Professional (PMP) is a certification that shows others – and yourself – that as a project manager, you’re at the top of your game. This includes your employers, future employers, clients and other organizations.

To get certified, you must have at least 36 months of experience managing projects if you have a university degree, and 60 months if not. Both groups of applicants must have had 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM^® certification.

After meeting these requirements, all that’s left to do is take an almost 4-hour long (230 minutes to be exact) 180-question exam. Easy.

Well, if it was easy, it wouldn’t mean so much in the world of project management, or open so many doors and opportunities.

Here’s what you can expect if you take the exam to become PMP certified.

 Types of Exam Question:

• Situational – wordy questions that ask you to identify the best course of action in scenarios that could materialize in a project.

• ITTO – questions about the Inputs, Tools, Techniques and Outputs in project management, outlined in the 49 processes described by the PMBOK. You must select the correct ITTO for a given process in these questions.

• Definitions – select the correct definition for a given project management term (all outlined in the PMBOK).

• Formulas – you may be tested on any of the mathematical formulas displayed in the PMBOK guide and asked to calculate numerical value answers.

• Diagrams and flow charts – often used in project management, you will be asked to interpret flow charts/diagrams and select the correct interpretation from the four answers.

• Data based – when given a selection of data, you will need to interpret the meaning of data and answer questions e.g. related to project profitability and opportunity.

• Ethical – project managers are expected to follow an ethical code of conduct. These questions test your ability to handle difficult situations in line with this code.

How hard is it to pass?

 Though there’s no official statistic from the Project Management Institute (PMI) on the percentage of people who pass the PMP each year, most PMP prep sites quote a figure around 60-70%.

So, while it seems there are plenty of people who don’t pass, if you work hard there’s no reason why that should be you. The PMI recommends preparing for 2-3 months, though there are plenty of anecdotes of project managers preparing and passing in 30 days.

It all depends on the hours you put in, how well you know the PMBOK guide, and the quality of the PMP exam prep resources you use.

What are the benefits of getting the PMP?

As you know by now, getting PMP certified is a lot of work – not to mention, it’s pretty costly.

Here is a list of the benefits that make it worthwhile.

You’ll be a better project manager.

Though you’ll be familiar with many of the processes tested by the PMP, getting PMP certified forces you to become knowledgeable about skills you might have avoided developing – or processes you’ve never tried.

This is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and give you the courage to try out new processes.

Better communication within teams.

The more team members complete the PMP, the more consistent the knowledge base and language used to plan projects. The depth of knowledge gained with PMP certification also helps project managers to plan and communicate clearly what should be done.

Both effects improve efficiency and success when completing projects.

Widespread international recognition.

The PMP is the most respected project management qualification across the globe.

Whether you want to open new doors in your career, boost your earning potential, improve your project managing profitability, or impress potential clients with both your certification and your expansive knowledge, the PMP offers a ton of advantages globally.

Increased earning potential.

The deep and extensive understanding of project management gained by becoming PMP certified makes you an asset to your team.

You’ll be able to judge situations with even more wisdom than before and make the best decisions for a project, contributing to the project’s success and profitability. If you’re helping to boost the success of your company, there’s no reason for them to not give you a raise.

If, in the future, you decide to go elsewhere, just having the PMP gives you access to a 32% higher salary, on average, than someone without it. The PMP helps you to stand out against other applicants and secure the most coveted positions – with the best salaries.