How to Get a PMP Certification in 2024? A Step-By-Step Guide

Project Management is trending around the world as a profession with huge opportunities for growth and a high pay grade. If you’re a project manager or hoping to become one, PMP Certification can help you take your career places. PMP is one of the most widely recognised certifications in the world, with over a million certification holders. Interested in getting a PMP certification? Here are the steps you need to know on how to get PMP certification and what to study with recent updates.

Table of Contents

1) What is a PMP Certification?

2) How to Get PMP Certification?

  a) Know the PMP Certification Requirements

  b) Prepare  for the PMP Exam

  c) Know the PMP Certification Exam Cost?

  d) Apply for the PMP exam

  e) Taking the PMP exam

  f) Keeping the PMP certification valid

3) Why Work so Hard for the PMP Certification?

4) Decoding the PMP Exam

5) Conclusion
 

What is a PMP Certification? 

The Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It is a globally recognised certification that validates a Project Manager’s skills of managing processes, priorities, and people involved in a project. The certification can be obtained by Project Managers from any industry, including IT, Business, Health, and Construction.


 

How to Get PMP Certification?

Many successful Project managers around the world are recognised by this PMP certification. It is solid proof that they have the necessary skills to manage projects. PMP represents an elite group of Project Managers who possess leadership experience and expertise in any way of working.

A Project Manager can have his PMP Certification only when he meets certain requirements and also passes a 180-question exam. Each question you encounter is related to real-life Project Management experiences. This is because the PMP exam was designed by Project leaders for Project leaders.

The PMP Certification tests your skills thoroughly:

People- It has questions that tests  your skills and abilities to lead and motivate a team in the duration of a project.

Process- It puts you in a situation where you have to choose from among- Predictive, Agile, and Hybrid approaches. This is done to determine the best way of working for each project.

Business Environment- You should know to highlight the success factors of a project that impacts the overall strategic organisational goals.

Would you ever believe that by following 10 steps, you can become a Project manager? But it's possible. Let's see!

Step 1: The very first step involves downloading the Project Management Professional (PMP) Credentials Handbook.

Step 2: Create your own PMP study plan that suits you.

Step 3: Join PMI.

Step 4: Apply for the PMP Exam (The most important step)

Step 5: Download the PMBOK Guide 6th edition PDF.

Step 6: Get your PMP exam preparation training

Step 7: It’s better you purchase a Simulator for PMP exam questions

Step 8: (Very subjective) Study hard!

Step 9: Practice enough PMP exam questions before your exams

Step 10: Take the Exam

Step 11: (Bonus step) How to recertify as a PMP.

a) Know the PMP Certification Requirements

Before you can take the PMP exam, you need to make sure you meet all the requirements. The PMP certification requirements are as follows: 

You need to either hold a  

1) Four-year degree with 

   a) 36 months as project leader, and 

   b) 35 hours of project management training or a CAPM certification 

or 

2) High school diploma or associate’s degree with 

   a) 60 months as project leader, and 

   b) 35 hours of project management training or a CAPM certification 

Make sure you’re eligible for the PMP certification

We’ve talked about the two ways you can become eligible for a PMP certification. You’ll need a four-year degree or a high school diploma/associate degree. In both the cases, you need a minimum of 35 contact hours. These contact hours can be gained by enrolling in a professional PMP certification training course or the PMI Exam Prep.

You’ll need a thorough report of your projects and training. You’ll need proper information of your roles and responsibilities, the duration of the projects, etc. 

b) Prepare for the PMP Exam

If you want to get a PMP certification, you’ll need to properly plan for it. You only need a few months to prepare and various books, guides, and resources are available for the same. According to PMI, on an average, candidates spend 35 hours preparing for the exam. 

Here are some of the things you could do:

1) Go through the PMBOK Guide

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a book published by PMI that serves as an important resource for project management. Read the PMBOK Guide to get a firmer grasp over the PMP basics. 

2) Enroll in a PMP training course

There are various PMP training courses that can help you prepare for the PMP exam. There are several training providers that can train and help you learn for the PMP Exam. With these training sessions, you can score good marks and clear the exam with ease. You have to ensure that you select the training provider who is certified by the PMI and has vast experience in this field.

3) Get the PMP Exam Prep by PMI

PMI has developed an online, self-paced course to help candidates prepare for the PMP exam. The Exam Prep by PMI makes sure the candidate gets the required 35 contact hours during the course. The course uses a lot of real-world scenarios to give candidates some hands-on experience in applying project management principles.

4) Download the PMP Handbook

Published by PMI, the PMP Handbook contains everything you need to know about the PMP exam. It will just take 20 minutes to go through the contents of the book and it will answer any questions you have about the PMP certification or the PMP exam.

5) Create a custom study plan according to your personal pace 

The PMP exam is a serious undertaking and studying for it can be a bit intimidating. You’ll need to properly plan it out according to your own pace so you don’t overload yourself. Divide your study material over weeks and set a goal for each week. Decide how many hours you’re going to study every day and the chapters you’re going to cover. This is especially important for working professionals. 

6) Self-study books 

If you’ve decided to study by yourself, you can refer to some self-study books to prepare for the PMP exams. There are several self-study books that you can read to know about the exam and learn its various concepts. These PMP Exam books are updated regularly and contain every information that can help you clear the exam with ease.

7) Formal study courses offered by PMI Chapters

PMI has Chapters all around the world. PMI Chapters are project management-dedicated communities that are run by volunteers that help you connect with other Project Management aspirants and professionals in your area. These Chapters offer formal study courses for PMP aspirants to help them prepare for the PMP certification exam. 

8) Get thorough with the PMP Examination Content Outline

Before appearing for the PMP certification exam, you should get familiar with its outline. This way, you’ll have enough information to thoroughly prepare for the exam and ace it. The PMP examination content outline is available in various languages and you can find it on PMI’s official website. 

9) Take the PMP Practice Exam

You can take a practice exam before you actually appear for your PMP exam. This will give you an idea of how ready you are to take the exam and what areas you need to work on. PMI offers a PMP Practice Exam for £82, that follows the same format as the real exam.
 

 
 

c) Know the PMP Certification Exam Cost

The PMP Certification Exam fees for PMI members and non-members are:
 

PMP certification exam fee with PMI membership	£338
PMP certification exam fee without PMI membership	£463
PMI membership fee	£116
PMI membership renewal fee	£108 per year
Reexamination fee for PMI members	£229
Reexamination fee for non-members	£313

Become a member of PMI so you can save £125 on the examination fees. You can access commercially available books on Project Management and practice exams, and download a free copy of PMBOK Guide- 6th edition by becoming a PMI member.

d) Apply for the PMP exam 

You can apply for the PMP exam by registering on PMI’s website. You will have to provide some basic information about educational qualifications and professional experience. Based on the details provided, PMI will decide whether to approve your profile. If you’re approved, you can pay the exam fee and schedule a test.  

Keep in mind that you’re eligible to appear for the PMP exam only for a year from the date your application is approved. You are allowed to take the exam thrice during this period. If you don’t take the exam within the year, you’ll have to reapply. 

Prepare for the PMP certification exam 

After you’ve registered, you need to start training for the PMP exam. You can choose any of the methods we mentioned earlier to train yourself for the PMP certification exam. This would take you months depending on your pace. Make sure you find a method that works the best for you. 

e) Taking the PMP exam 

PMI gives candidates the flexibility to take the exam from anywhere they want. You can choose to give the online proctored exam or the paper-based exam at a test centre near you.  

You should ideally reach half an hour early at the test centre. Make sure you bring your government-issued ID with you. The ID should include your photograph. You’ll get your results at the end of the computer-based tests.  

f) Keeping the PMP certification valid 

Earning the PMP certification is a big deal but, it doesn’t end there. The certification is valid for three years and you’ll have to renew it every three years. You can do that by earning  Professional Development Units (PDUs). It indicates every hour that you’ve spent volunteering, teaching, or learning about Project Management.

To renew your PMP Certification, you’ll need to earn 60 PDUs over a period of three years. You can login to PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements System and report your PDUs. 

Why work so hard for the PMP Certification? 

Earning a PMP certification takes a good deal of work and it’s fair for you to wonder if all that hard work is truly worth it. In the long run, just how beneficial a PMP certification will be to you depends on where you are in life and where you want to go. Let us break it down for you

1) If you want to prove or validate your knowledge of Project Management to your clients or employers, the PMP certification will do the job for you. The PMP certification is the globally recognised industry standard.

2) While preparing for the exam, you’ll study everything about Project Management. You’ll spend hours perfecting your fundamentals and training. All of this will contribute  in making you a better Project manager

3) A survey by PMI showed that people with a PMP certification earn 16% higher median salaries than those without it. The longer an individual holds a PMP certification, the higher their salary. A report by PC Magazine ranked PMP seventh on their list of highest paying IT certifications. According to Payscale, the average annual salary for PMP certification holders is £55,000. The pay increases considerably as you gain experience and move up the ladder

4) According to another report published by PMI, 87.7 million job openings will be created for Project Management professionals by 2027. If the talent gap isn’t dealt with, it could result in a loss of over £170 billion in GDP. That means companies around the world are on the lookout for skilled Project Management professionals and are willing to pay them good salaries

Decoding the PMP Exam 

Let’s decode what’s on the PMP exam according to the latest guidelines. 

a) Things to remember to Decode PMP Exam

1) The exam will contain 180 questions 

2) Candidates will have 230 minutes to finish the exam 

3) Two scheduled 10-minute breaks are provided for candidates sitting for computer-based tests. There will be no breaks for paper-based tests

4) Questions will be in the following formats- 

   a) Multiple choice 

   b) Hot are 

   c) Fill in the blank 

   d) Multiple responses 

The PMP Exam tests candidates with respect to different project environments and how they use different project approaches. More than half of the questions test predictive ProjectManagement approaches and the rest of the questions test candidates on agile/hybrid approaches.  

b) Domains that will help Decode the PMP Exam
 

Domain	Percentage in test	Skills tested
People	42%	Managing conflict, leading a team, supporting team performance, empowering team members and stakeholders, ensuring team members and stakeholders are properly trained, building a team, addressing and dealing with impediments, blockers, and obstacles, negotiating project agreements, collaborating with stakeholders, building understanding, engaging and supporting virtual teams, defining team rules, mentoring stakeholders, and promoting team performance through emotional intelligence
Process	50%	Executing projects according to business value, managing communication, assessing and managing risks, engaging stakeholders, planning and managing budget, resources, schedule, quality, and scope, integrating project planning activities, managing project changes, planning and managing procurement, managing project artifacts, determining appropriate project methodology, establishing project governance structure, managing project issues, ensuring knowledge transfer, and planning and managing project closure/transitions
Business Environment	8%	Planning and managing project compliance, evaluating and delivering project benefits and value, evaluating and addressing external environment changes impacting scope, and supporting organisational change

Conclusion

If you want to make it big in the field of Project Management, getting a PMP certification would definitely help. The field is tempting with an incredible opportunity for growth along with great money. 

We’ve told you how to get PMP certification. Now you have to couple it with hard work and dedication. The journey may seem daunting but it’s definitely worth it. After all, it can help you validate your credibility in one of the most lucrative and rewarding careers in the world right now! Good luck!