The aim of this presentation is to give an overview for PMP certification, study process and my lessons learned. I've completed my challenge in gaining PMP credential in April 2014 and I will be happy to share my knowledge with others. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

1. PMP® Certification:
Overview, Study process,
Lessons Learned
Irina Zaporozhets, PMP, CSM

2. Contents
• About the Project Management Institute (PMI.org)
• Existing PMP Certifications, Stats
• Requirements for applying to PMP
• Filling the application form at PMI.org
• Exam content
• Study process, Pitfalls, Lessons Learned
• My study process
• Exam Day Hints

3. Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading not-profit
professional membership association for the project, program and
portfolio management profession
• Main direction - development of standards, research, education,
publication, networking-opportunities in local chapters, hosting
conferences and training seminars, and maintaining multiple
credentials in project management
• PMI's standards for project, program and portfolio management are
the most widely recognized standards in the profession
• The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is the most important
globally-recognized and independently validated credential for
project managers, perfect if you have demonstrated experience and
competence in leading project teams.

4. Existing PMI Certifications
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
• Project Management Professional (PMP)®
• Program Management Professional (PgMP)®
• Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)SM
• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®
• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)SM

5. Requirements for applying to PMP
• A secondary degree (high school diploma, etc.) with
at least 5 years of project management experience,
with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and
35 hours of project management education.
• A four-year degree (bachelor’s degree) and at least
3 years of project management experience, with
4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35
hours of project management education.
Note: PMI has a comprehensive PMP handbook with exam details and
requirements -
http://www.pmi.org/certification/~/media/pdf/certifications/pdc_pmph
andbook.ashx

6. Filling the application form
• Register at pmi.org and fill in the contact
information
• Spend some time to list all projects you
want to register (during the last 3 years)
• Specify your role in the project (which
can be different from your job title, e.g.
Project Leader, Project Coordinator,
Project Expeditor, etc.)
• For each project specify name and
contact info of your supervisor
• Provide a short description of the project,
its goals, deliverables and your personal
role
• Fill in hours spent in each process group
for the project
• Note: overlapping projects are not
summarized

7. Exam content
• Exam consists of 200 situational questions. Distribution between Process
groups:
 Initiating the project (13%)
 Planning the project (24%)
 Executing the project (30%)
 Monitoring and controlling the project (25%)
 Closing the project (8%)
• Average time to study PMBOK process groups, knowledge areas and
processes - 3-4 months
• 4 hours is given to answer 200 questions
• Passing score - 61 % (106 questions correct out of 175 scored questions)

8. Study process, Pitfalls, Lessons Learned
• You need to clearly state WHY do you need to pass the exam to keep
yourself motivated – make a list of 5 why-items
• Treat it as a project!  with all the relevant phases – from initiation
through closing
• Find and purchase a study book
• I used this one - PMP® Exam Prep 8th Edition by Rita Mulcahy
(http://www.rmcproject.com/ )
• Register at pmi.org and download PMBOK 5th edition
• Review PMBOK and Rita book for its content and sections overview
• Review online course providers for the full exam simulation
• Prepare a study plan, create a schedule of your study time and exam
“dry runs”
• Set milestones (yes, treat it as a project!)
• Track your progress, evaluate your knowledge by answering test
questions
• Rita book has a section with questions after each chapter
• Repeat sections (chapters) where you have weak results

9. Study process, Pitfalls, Lessons Learned
cont.
• Do no jump from topic to topic, spend some time to read the material
fully (at least in Rita book).
• Read PMBOK thoroughly, in each process try to logically remember
what inputs, tools &techniques and outputs are used
• Read PMI Code of Ethics, many questions refer to statements from it
• Appendix F in PMBOK contains Definitions list
• Use online materials (podcasts, online courses, mobile apps)
• Use exam simulators (desktop software or websites)
• Memorize and understand all formulas
• If you have lack of experience working in large scale project, spend a
significant amount of time visualizing using the tools and processes. It would
help you prepare for the situation based questions on the exam
• Many materials in internet are already outdated and refer to older versions of
PMBOK, make sure you use the latest ones referring to PMBOK 5th edition
• Use only Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.) listed on pmi.org register

10. Study process, Pitfalls, Lessons Learned
cont 2.
• Take full length exam simulations (ensure you score at least 75-80%)
• Analyze the results of your practice exams to identify where you need
to focus your study efforts.
• Get PMI membership. The cost of the exam is less for members. Also
PMI provides a great virtual library with PMP exam prep books
available
• Exam questions are asked from the perspective of a large international
projects
• There may be extra information in the question in order to confuse the
applicant
• Be prepared for the calculations, many questions require to apply
formulas

11. My study process (3,5 months)
1. Read RITA chapter by chapter with the reference to PMBOK5
2. Evaluate progress of information learned by answering the test questions in the end of each
chapter
3. Review sections/sub-sections where my answers were wrong
4. Review unclear sections in RITA with the reference to PMBOK5
5. Register in pmi.org
6. Buy a membership in pmi.org (review of exam rules, requirements, experience, etc. - there is
PMP handbook with all this info)
7. Purchase a software for gaining 30 contact hours (learning hours) + exam simulations
8. Mostly I studied from RITA , and reviewed a purchased course
9. Test run for full exam simulation (4 hours)
10. Identify weak areas and review them once again in RITA and PMBOK5
11. During RITA study I made a list of unknown definitions
12. Review the list of available exam questions (not a full length 4 hours long)
13. Another test run for full length exam simulation
14. Weak areas identification - review in RITA and PMBOK5
15. Review questions (1000+) on the PMI.org library (free access to library for PMI members)
16. Another full length exam (once I see that the final score is 75-85% I think it is good enough)
for passing 61% needed
17. Fill in the application at pmi.org
18. 5+ business days for approval from pmi.org
19. Pay for the exam
20. Schedule a date. Do NOT read a lot the day prior the exam
21. Celebrate the successful passing! 

12. Exam Day Hints
• Take a break before the exam day. Do NOT study!
• Sustain a positive feeling and a good health (have a good sleep, eat
heathy food)
• Prepare your ID beforehand, prometric testing provider will identify you
only by passport
• You are not allowed to take anything to the exam room. Do not spend
time preparing notes
• You are allowed to request a language aid (should be requested
during the application at pmi.org)
• You can take a short break during 4 hours of the exam but timer is not
stopped
• Revise formulas before going to the exam room. Write them down from
your memory after you review the tutorial of the exam (first 15 minutes)
• During the exam use paper notebook provided, use “mark for review”
function in a software
• Take short breaks for your eyes. After 30 minutes of constant reading
you may feel tired

13. R.E.P.s (Registered Education Providers) –
My list
• http://www.pmstudy.com/
• Offers Free 200 Question Simulated PMP®/CAPM® Exam Practice
Test
• Paid course provides 35 Contact hours + exam simulator
• http://www.pmcampus.com/
• Paid course provides 35 Contact hours
• Paid full-length exam simulator
• https://www.project-management-prepcast.com
• Paid course provides 35 Contact hours
• Many free resources and podcasts
• Free exam questions

14. PMP vs. CSM?
If you are choosing between PMP and CSM – take both but PMP first . The trick is
that PMI certifications are not based on one specific methodology, they’re flexible
and adaptable and provide a base and a structure for your knowledge
PMP CSM
Exam content Checks the extensive
knowledge of PMI PMBOK
standard as well as PM
experience
Checks the knowledge of
scrum principles and
attributes
Requirements to apply for the
exam
3 years of full cycle project
management experience
2 days training and trainer’s
(CST) approval
Time to prepare for the exam 2-4 months 2 weeks
Cost 555$ 1050 $
# of questions 200 situational multiple-choice
questions
(4 hours)
35 multiple-choice
questions (30-60 min)
Credibility Worldwide recognizable
certification, can be
applied in many industries
Well known all over the
world, very popular, used
widely in software
development

15. GOOD LUCK!
It takes one woman nine months to have
a baby. It cannot be done in one month
by nine women