The PMP Certification Process - A Detailed Guide

PMP Certification Steps

We have broken down the PMP certification process into four steps: Meeting the prerequisites, the application process, the examination, and renewal and maintenance. Each of them is as follows:

1. Prerequisites and Eligibility
   

   You need to meet certain eligibility criteria to attend the PMP certification exam. They are as follows:

   You should have a 4-year degree (a bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent) followed by a minimum of three years of project management experience which should cover a minimum of 4,500 project management hours. You don’t need to have the designation of a project manager per se, but experience in managing and leading projects. You must also have 35 hours of project management education, which you can acquire from PMP institutes.
   
   (OR)

   You should have a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or global equivalent) followed by 5 years of project management experience which should cover 7,500 hours of project management experience. You must also have 35 hours of project management education, which you can acquire from PMP institutes.

   You will need to submit documented proof for each of these requirements when applying for the PMP certification, and each criterion must be met before you apply for the exam.

2. Apply for the Examination
   

   The next step in the PMP exam process, once you meet the prerequisites, is to apply for the exam. Make sure that you have all the required documents ready prior to applying. Here is the PMP exam registration process:

   • Log in to certification.pmi.org and apply for the examination
   • You may have to wait for up to 5 days to receive a response
   • Pay the examination fee, which is $405 for members and $555 for non-members
   • You may be subjected to an audit (candidates are selected at random). You will have 90 days to submit all the required documents for the audit
   • You will receive an authorization email from PMI with an authorization code and the Pearson VUE center information
3. Attend the Examination
   

   You have a time validity of 1 year from receiving the authorization email to attend and clear the examination. You will have to take the exam at an authorized Pearson VUE center. The process is as follows:

   • You will be tested across each of the process groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, Closing
   • You will have 4 hours to answer 200 multiple-choice questions
   • If you fail, you can retake the examination by paying a retake fee of $275 for members and $375 for non-members. You can make a maximum of 3 attempts to pass the exam within the 1 year period
   • If you pass, you will receive the results and your PMP certification
4. Renewal and Maintenance of the Credentials
   

   In order to maintain your PMP certification status, you must ensure to earn 60 PDUs every three years. You must report these to PMI via the link ccrs.pmi.org. You will also need to pay a renewal fee of $60 for members and $150 for non-members.

Ready to Be PMP Certified?

The above steps are all you need to follow in order to be PMP certified. These are as described in the PMI handbook. Make sure you meet the prerequisites and have all documented proof before sending in the application, and you should be good to attend the exam. Studying the PMBOK will help with the examination