How to Prepare for The PMP® Exam—Keep In Mind of the Time

Study Materials | What about Time

The PMP® exam consists of 200-multiple choice questions with a duration of four hours. The PMP® exam covers PMI’s aspects as well as the PMBoK® Guide. No one says that passing the PMP® exam is easy, and studying it isn’t a walk in the park as well. You cannot expect to get all the learning overnight. You have to work for it.

Apart from its difficulty level, there’s also the concern with time. You need to spend a lot of hours studying and even taking the PMP® exam which can make the process more daunting and overwhelming.

Luckily for you, there are available study materials you can use how to prepare for the PMP® exam that you can acquire straight out from PMI’s resources or online.

How to Prepare for the PMP® Exam Using PMI’s Accessible Resources and Study Materials  

The following resources below are available from PMI and they will definitely fit your preference. Choose from these resources and select which ones you find the most convenient and useful. How to prepare for the PMP® exam is entirely up to you with the aid of the study materials.

The PMBoK® Guide:

The most important resource material of it all. Passing the PMP® exam will be less of a hassle if you own this particular guide. You can download the PMBoK® Guide from PMI’s website if you can buy one from online stores or in a local bookstore near you. This is an investment since you don’t get to use the guide once, but many times and will serve your reference for the future.

PMP® Exam Prep Book:

Besides the PMBoK® Guide, the PMP® Exam Prep Book will help you understand the PMBoK® Guide in a simpler manner, with simple English terminologies and concepts.

PMP® Exam Prep Workshops or Seminars:

If you want to get that back to school feeling or prefer some human interaction, you can opt for some PMP® exam workshops. You can share ideas and experiences and even acquire tips and tricks from fellow aspiring PMP® certified individuals or project managers. These sessions can also add your contact hours required for the PMP® exam.

Flash Cards:

Flash cards are considered to be one of the easiest to use and most convenient material to put your study content on. Whether it’s electronic or in the paper, flash cards will help you organize your content and you can study them whenever you go. It’s your ultimate portable reviewer.

Online Simulators:

These online simulators will mimic the same environment of a PMP® exam room setting, as well sample questions from the exam in order to create convenience o your part. This will also aid you to properly implement and apply the PMBOK guide and makes you less nervous when the actual PMP® exam comes along.

PMP® Exam Prep Videos:

If you want to take a break from all the books, you can try your hand in studying via videos. No need to carry around your PMBoK® Guide a video version of it can download from any type of devices such as phone or laptop.

Free Online Materials and Other Resources:

Some free resources are too good to be true—no need to pay for a fee but they actually end up as bogus. Finding credible materials online is hard these days, but if you get from a credible source, you won’t have any issues acquiring legitimate materials useful for your PMP® exam preparation.

You can always check out the PMI website for available free resources or participate in PMP® forums to inquire about downloadable resources and materials for your PMP® exam studies.

The fifth article in the PMP® exam preparation series will tell you about some of the tips and tricks for studying and reviewing for the exam.

PMI, PMP and PMBoK are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

The post How to Prepare for the PMP® Exam: Your Study Materials (Part 4) appeared first on Management Square.

Project management skills are probably one of the most coveted and well-known areas by IT professionals and career-seekers. And it doesn’t limit to one job domain—every type of company you go to, you will definitely find yourself surrounded by preferences from the higher-ups when it comes to skills—and project management is on the top of their list.

That being said, more and more job applicants want to stand out from the rest by obtaining credentials that will help them boost their chances of being hired. And the PMP® exam is one of the solutions to that. A PMP® certification will give more opportunities for candidates in terms of experience and knowledge. Undergoing a PMP® exam means preparation. This article is the first of how to prepare for the PMP® exam series and securing your eligibility to be a candidate.

Everyone is eligible to take the PMP® exam. The only thing to keep in mind here is to ensure you have all the requirements and are qualified for one. All of these will be covered by the first series of this article.

Are You a Qualified Candidate? How to Prepare for the PMP® Exam Once You Have All the Said Requirements

How to prepare for the PMP® exam doesn’t have to be a daunting task. As long as you have all the requirements listed below, you are on the road towards eligibility. On the other hand, you need to have a formal training or education, as well as experience in the field of project management. The PMP® Credential Handbook has all the list of requirements and qualifications that you can actually download from the web. Below are the following basic requirements for eligibility:

• Candidate must four-year degree or equivalent and have an experience of management for at least 3 years. The candidates must spend a maximum of 4,500 hours within that 3-year duration leading projects. They should also be required to have a 35-hour education in the same area.

• In case the candidate doesn’t have a degree, he or she can submit a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 5 years experience in project management. There should be a 7,500-hour experience within that 5 years and 35 hours of education in the same field.

How to Prepare for the PMP® Exam : It Involves Time

If you are pressed for time (or not time at all), then you have to think twice about taking the PMP® exam. You need all the time to devote yourself from both what they call as experience and contact hours. So what do these terms mean exactly? Experience hours mean the word itself, the duration you spent on leading and managing projects. The candidate doesn’t have to be a project manager in that field—as long as he or she did relevant tasks in project management she is legible for the PMP® exam, provided he or she fulfills the required hours.

The following candidates should also have experiences in project initiation, monitoring, tracking, and planning or processing. The online application is limited to 500 characters in which candidates must state and describe their significant tasks and experiences in project management.

Contact hours, on the other hand, refer to the hours the candidate or applicant has spent in project management training or education. It doesn’t matter if you took it online or in a school or classroom.

The PMI Membership Matter

No, you don’t need to be a PMI member in order to avail of the PMP® exam. However, it has its own benefits. PMI members have discounts in their PMP® exam cost and they will also receive a copy of the PMBoK® Guide.

The next article will tackle the advantages of basic knowledge on how to prepare for the PMP® exam.

PMI, PMP and PMBoK are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

The post How to Prepare for the PMP® Exam: Securing Your Eligibility (Part 1) appeared first on Management Square.

PRINCE2® and PMP® certifications are the most important certifications in project management. Getting to know them and their differences will help…

Certifications are now becoming valuable tools if you want to grow in your career. With so many certifications emerging in the IT industry, most project managers are having a tough time in deciding which certifications are actually worth pursuing. Depending on your career plans and the kind of project you are associated with, you need to be careful in choosing the right certifications to take, so as not to waste your time and resources. Aim for those that come from reputable sources and those that will truly help enhance your skills to meet the ever-changing demands of projects and employers across the world.

In project management, PRINCE2® and PMP® certifications are considered the most important certifications. Getting to know them and their differences will help you identify which one will suit your career needs.

PMP® and PRINCE2® certifications : Definition

• PMP® or Project Management Professional is a certification offered by the prestigious PMI or Project Management Institute. It is globally recognized and tests your knowledge in effective project implementation. Being PMP® certified is an indication that you have sufficient project management experience and education which is very sought after in the industry.

In addition, aside from the well-known PMP® other certifications offered by PMI are the following; PMI Agile Certified Practitioner ( PMI-ACP )®, Program Management Professional, PMI Scheduling Professional, Portfolio Management Professional, OPM3 Professional Certification, Certified Associate in Project Management ( CAPM )® which is the junior level of PMP® and PMI Risk Management Professional.

• PRINCE2® or Project IN Controlled Environment Certification is a standard developed and used by the UK government and is now widely recognized in different IT sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Currently, it is owned by AXELOS. It provides a systematic approach to project management. It provides a well-defined methodology that outlines in details the steps needed to complete the project. It uses tools like templates and charts to show the processes that should be followed in order to achieve successful project delivery. PRINCE2® also defines clearly the roles and responsibilities of each team members.

PRINCE2® is categorized into different levels namely; PRINCE2® Professional, PRINCE2® Agile, PRINCE2® Practitioner and PRINCE2® Foundation.

PMP® and PRINCE2® Certifications : Comparison

1. INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTION

One factor to consider before getting a certification is your area or location. You need to make a thorough research as to which certification in your area will increase your employability. Although PMP® and PRINCE2® are both globally recognized, there are some countries where PMP® is preferred than the latter.

PMP® is widely popular in the USA, Canada, Middle East and Australia while PRINCE2® is highly recognized in the UK, Australia and European countries.

2. SALARY PERSPECTIVE

Being a PMP® or PRINCE2® certified professional will benefit you primarily in your income. If you have a PMP® or PRINCE2® certification, this entitles you to a bigger salary compared to those who are not.

In the USA the average yearly salary of a certified PMP® is $105,000. Meanwhile, the average annual salary for PRINCE2® certified professionals is $77,540.

3. PMBoK® – Guide and PRINCE2® CONFLICT

 The knowledge of the PMBoK®-Guide or Project Management Book of Knowledge is the main focus of the PMP® exam. As such, to pass the PMP® exam you need to have in depth knowledge and understanding of the PMBoK®-Guide. Basically, PMP® focuses on the ‘How’ in project management. It deals with the terminologies, standards and skills necessary for a successful project delivery.

On the other hand, PRINCE2® is process-focused. It mostly answers the W questions – What, When, Who. PRINCE2® is primarily focused on the steps, methods, framework, and processes needed for a successful project execution.

Therefore, effective project managers should have both certifications. Having both certifications make you well-rounded enough to meet the demands of the project and the employers.

4. THE EXAM FORMAT

The PMP® exam is a 200-item multiple choice test. You will need to complete the exam in four hours. The exam is split into areas that deal with the five major project management process groups: Project Initiation, Project Planning, Project Execution, Project Monitoring and Controlling, and Project Closing.

The PRINCE2® exam type depends on the level. PRINCE2® foundation exam is a 75 multiple choice questions. You will need to finish the test in 60 minutes. The passing percentage of the exam is 50.

PRINCE2® Practitioner is a scenario based exam. There are only nine questions that you need to answer within 2.5 hours. The passing percentage is 55 percent.

5. THE PREREQUISITES

In order to qualify for a PMP® certification you need to have at least a secondary degree or equivalent associate program. If you are secondary degree holder you need to have a minimum of 7,500 hours of experience in managing projects. If you have a bachelor’s degree you need to have 4,500 hours of experience in managing projects. In both cases you should have 35 hours of formal project management education.

PRINCE2® exams do not have a predefined prerequisite. However, for PRINCE2® Practitioner exam you need to pass the PRINCE2® Foundation test first.

6. THE COST OF THE EXAM

To register for a PMP® exam you need to log on to the PMI website. The exam costs $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-PMI members.

The cost of PRINCE2® exam depends on the region where you will take the exam. Although usually for PRINCE2® Foundation the cost is around $365 and for PRINCE2® Practitioner it is $485.

7. CREDENTIAL MAINTENANCE

For you to maintain your PMP® credential you need to attain 60 PDUs or Professional Development Units every three years.

PRINCE2® certification does not need a renewal. However, for PRINCE2® Practitioner the certification is valid only for five years.

8. THE BENEFITS

The Advantages of being PMP® certified:

1. Bigger Paycheck. PMP® certified professionals have a higher salary compared to non-certified managers.
2. Enhanced Skills. Passing the PMP® exam requires that you have thorough understanding of the PMBoK®-Guide. PMP® helps equip you with knowledge and skills in efficient project management.
3. Networking Opportunities. Being PMP® certified will link you to other PMI members globally. This will increase your market scope, help you find better job opportunities and get bigger projects.
4. Recognition. PMP® certified professionals are recognized and trusted by employers. Their skills are sought after and their project ideas are much valued not only by the employers but also by other seniors and project team members and colleagues.

The advantages of being PRINCE2® certified:

1. Bigger Salary. PRINCE2® certified professionals have bigger pay especially in the UK.
2. Bigger Job Opportunities. PRINCE2® skills are much needed for easier and successful project execution which is valuable to employers.
3. Solid Project Execution Body of knowledge. Skills acquired from PRINCE2® enable you to be equipped with strong skills needed in project management. You will be knowledgeable in using different tools and techniques to better handle a project.

So as you can see, PMP® and PRINCE2® certifications are actually non-competing credentials. If you want to be a well rounded project manager you will benefit from the knowledge and skills you will reap from both certifications. Both certifications will accelerate your career and enhance your effectiveness as a project manager.

PMP and PMBoK are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

PRINCE2® is a registered trademark of AXELOS Limited.

The post PRINCE2® vs PMP® Certifications: 8 Important Differences appeared first on Management Square.