Project Management Professional
Project Management Professional (PMP) is a certification in project management. It is managed by the Project Management Institute and is based on the PMP Examination Specification published by PMI in 2005. Most exam questions reference to PMI's ANSI standard A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, abbreviated to PMBOK Guide.
Overview
PMI (Project Management Institute) offers five certifications: the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management), the PMP (Project Management Professional), the PgMP (Program Management Professional), the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)SM and the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)SM.
Verification
Certification claims can be verified through the PMI's Web site at www.pmi.org/CertApp/Registry.aspx
Eligibility Criteria
A high school diploma is required to be certified. A Project Management Professional has also met specific education and experience requirements, has agreed to adhere to a code of professional conduct, and has passed an examination designed to objectively assess and measure project management knowledge. In addition, a PMP must satisfy continuing certification requirements (through professional development) or lose the certification.
Requirements include a candidate to have completed a high school diploma or equivalent, performed 7,500 hours in a lead role directing tasks, performed tasks associated with being a Project Manager over a period of 60 months within the past 8 years, and completed 35 hours of education specific to Project Management and aligned with PMI methodologies. Persons possessing a bachelor's degree only require 4,500 hours leading and 36 months of experience.
The candidate is also required to pass an examination to demonstrate his or her knowledge of Project Management. The test consists of 200 multiple-choice questions.
Candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements for the PMP certification can apply for the Certified Associate in Project Management or CAPM examination.
Examination process
After a candidate's application is approved by PMI, she or he may schedule an examination at any of a large number of Prometric testing centers. A variety of times are available, including weekends and after "normal working hours." The examination is a multiple choice test, which can be taken either on a computer or in written form. The test is four hours long and has 200 questions, 25 of which serve as trial questions that do not count toward the final score (candidates have no way to differentiate between trial and real questions). Candidates must have a success rate of at least 60.5% (106 out of 175 questions). There is a $400 fee each time the test is taken.
Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR)
Valid until late Aug 2008, The PMP status is granted for a period of three years (CCR Cycle, beginning January 1 after the exam). During this time, PMPs have to collect 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) to maintain their professional accreditation.
However, a new system was announced by PMI recently [[1]] , the transition to the new system will begin taking place in late August 2008. PMP credential holders will be assigned new PMP expiration dates that correspond with the anniversary date of the bestowal of their credential.
Current PMP credential holders will have months added to their renewal cycle based on the anniversary of earning their credential, PMI assured on its website that no one will have time taken away.