PMP Certification Eligibility Requirements in 2023

PMP certification is an advanced Project Management certification credential globally recognized for its authenticity and skills that comes with it. To be able to successfully complete the PMP certification Exam, the candidate must not only possess the willingness to compete with the best of the best, but they also need to fulfill certain eligibility requirements that must be met. Let’s take a look at all of the PMP certification eligibility in 2023.

How To Check If I Am Eligible To Take PMP Certification Exam Or Not?

The PMI has set up a few guidelines that must be checked before applying for the certification exam. To check the PMP eligibility or prerequisites, the candidate must make sure that they fulfill the following criterion.

1. Educational Requirements - The educational requirements will cover everything about the academic achievements the candidate may have had.
2. Professional Requirements - Since, PMP is an advanced certification, the candidates are expected to have certain Project Management experience at hand.
3. Project Management Education - Project Management education mostly resonates with certification training like Invensis Learning’s PMP certification training.

Let’s deep dive into the PMP eligibility requirements and understand how you can also check if you are eligible for the PMP certification exam.

Key PMP Certification Eligibility Requirements in 2023

As we discussed, there are majorly three key eligibility requirements for the PMP certification exam.

1. Educational Requirements - The PMP eligibility criteria for educational requirements have two scenarios. In the first scenario, a candidate must have a 4-year degree and in the other scenario, the candidate must have a high-school diploma/an associate degree(or any global equivalent).
2. Professional Experience - Continuing with the educational requirements, if the candidate has a 4-year degree then the candidate must have at least 36 months of experience leading projects. Or, if the candidate has a high school diploma, then he/she must have at least 60 months of experience leading projects.
3. Project Management Education - As a part of the Project Management education, it is mandatory for the candidate to have 35 hours of Project Management education/training or a CAPM certification.

What Qualifies As Project Management Experience?

For many, one of the most confusing aspects of PMP eligibility requirements is the Project Management experience. So, what exactly qualifies as the Project Management experience? And how can you figure out if you have it or not? The answer is pretty simple - any experience that you have gained while working on any of the phases of a project lifecycle, not necessarily as a project manager, counts as Project Management experience. But, there is a catch. The candidates must be very accurate on what they document as Project Management experience and exactly how many hours of work they have put in each and every project detail. Because, during the application phase, the candidates will be audited and will be required to present proof of work. While many of the candidates do not realize there are a few other ways you can document your experience like a freelancing project, volunteering experience, etc.

What To Do If You Are Not Eligible To Appear For The PMP Certification Exam?

The Project Management domain isn’t just limited to the PMP certification. In fact, PMP is an advanced level certification before which you can go for the CAPM Training and Certification if you are not eligible for the PMP certification. Also, other Project Management certifications like PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner can be your plan of action if you are short on any of the key PMP prerequisites. And more importantly, if you fall short on any of the key PMP prerequisites, you can always make amends and fulfill the shortcomings. Almost all the PMP aspirants fall short on Project Management experience, So gather the necessary Project Management experience and come back stronger.

PMP Certification Eligibility Requirements FAQs

Can Anyone Take The PMP Exam?

Since PMP is an advanced level certification exam and requires the candidate a few PMP eligibility requirements to fulfill. It is advised to always check if you are eligible for the PMP certification exam before applying.

Is PMP Still In Demand?

PMP is very well in demand in 2023 after the changes that have been made to the exam format. Now, the candidates are tested in key approaches desired by the employers i.e predictive, agile or hybrid. With a prospect of advanced skills, PMP is one of the most desirable Project Management certifications globally.

Which is Better? MBA or PMP?

If you are looking for a Project Management certification and want to make a career in Project Management with advanced skills and proven best practices, then you should go with PMP certification.