Project Management Institutes Certification Program

1
Project Management Institutes Certification
Program

• Herman Walter, PMP
• VP Administration Finance
• Project Management Institute Assembly of
  Chapter Presidents

2
Presentation Goals

• Discuss the three current certification programs
  available through the Project Management
  Institute (PMI) .
• Discuss the eligibility requirements for each
  exam.
• Discuss recertification requirements for the
  Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Review study tips for the PMP exam.
• Answer any questions.

3
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Exam

• Targeted for PM practitioners who are in
  supporting roles.
• Assists in evaluation of project control plans.
• Suggests performance indicators and limits.
• Assists in refining project requirements,
  assumptions, and constraints.
• Supports administrative and financial closure.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Category 1 Bachelors Degree or Equivalent
• Minimum of 1,500 hours of project management
  experience within three-year period prior to the
  application.
• Must indicate at least 24 unique
  (non-overlapping) months of experience.
• Must identify hours per process area.
• Minimum of 23 contact hours of project
  management education.
• Contact hours will be defined later.

5
Eligibility Requirements (Contd)

• Category 2 High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Minimum of 2,500 hours of project management
  experience within three-year period prior to the
  application.
• Must indicate at least 24 unique
  (non-overlapping) months of experience.
• Must identify hours per process area.
• Minimum of 23 contact hours of project
  management education.
• Contact hours will be defined later.

6
Contact Hours

• Instruction hours in a learning environment that
  must have been accrued prior to the submission of
  the application, but there is no time limit.
• Instruction hours must include content on one to
  all nine knowledge areas per the PMBOK Guide.
• Quality, Scope, Time, Cost, Risk, Procurement,
  Human Resources, Communications, and Integration.

7
Sources of Contact Hours

• University/college academic and continuing
  education programs.
• Courses or programs offered by training companies
  or consultants.
• Courses or programs offered by PMI components.

• Courses or programs offered by PMI Registered
  Education Providers (REP).
• Courses or programs offered by employer/
  company-sponsored programs.
• Courses or programs offered by distance-learning
  companies

8
CAPM Exam Structure

• Multiple-choice format.
• 150 questions.
• Three hours allotted time.
• Recall level assessment define terms.
• Covers the five domains plus Professional
  Responsibility.
• Computer-based exam.
• Given at secure Prometric Testing Center (PTC)
  sites.
• Paper exams will be administered outside of North
  America when there is no PTC site available.

9
CAPM Exam Fees

• First Time Sitting for Exam
• Eligibility letter is valid for 6 months.
• 225 US fee for PMI members.
• 300 US fee for nonmembers.
• Retaking the Exam
• Must submit re-examination form within one year
  of original test date.
• Reduced fee needs to be paid to retake the exam.
• Individual has six months to re-take the exam
  upon issuance of the eligibility letter.

10
Maintaining CAPM Credential

• Initial designation is valid for a maximum of
  five years.
• Final year is the fifth full calendar year after
  the year in which the exam was passed.
• No requirements for continued education.
• Within five years, individual must apply again
  for CAPM exam and pass it to maintain his/her
  credential.
• An individual can take the PMP certification
  exam anytime during the five-year period upon
  meeting eligibility criteria.

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PMP Certification Exam

• Targeted for project management practitioners.
• Is constructed to measure the individuals
  application of knowledge, skills, tools, and
  techniques that are utilized in the practice of
  project management.

12
Eligibility Requirements

• Category 1 Bachelors Degree or Equivalent
• Minimum of 4,500 hours of project management
  experience within six-year period prior to the
  application.
• Must indicate at least 36 unique
  (non-overlapping) months of experience.
• Must identify hours per process area.
• Minimum of 35 contact hours of project
  management education.

13
Eligibility Requirements (Contd)

• Category 2 High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Minimum of 7,500 hours of project management
  experience within eight-year period prior to the
  application.
• Must indicate at least 60 unique
  (non-overlapping) months of experience.
• Must identify hours per process area.
• Minimum of 35 contact hours of project
  management education.

14
PMP Exam Structure

• Multiple-choice format.
• 200 questions.
• Four hours allotted time.
• Many questions are scenario-based.
• Covers the five domains plus Professional
  Responsibility.
• Computer-based exam.
• Given at secure Prometric Testing Center (PTC)
  sites.
• Paper exams will be administered outside of North
  America when there is no PTC site available.

15
PMP Exam Fees

• First Time Sitting for Exam
• Eligibility letter is valid for 6 months.
• 405 US fee for PMI members.
• 555 US fee for nonmembers.
• Retaking the Exam
• Must submit re-examination form within one year
  of original test date.
• Reduced fee needs to be paid to retake the exam.
• Individual has six months to re-take the exam
  upon issuance of the eligibility letter.

16
Maintaining PMP Credential

• Certification is valid for three years.
• Final year is the third full calendar year after
  the year in which the exam was passed.
• PMP must obtain 60 Professional Development
  Units (PDUs) during the three years to maintain
  his/her credential.
• Details on the Continuing Certification
  Requirements (CCR) Program will be provided later
  in this presentation.

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Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) Exam

• Targeted for project management practitioners in
  specific industries.
• Applicant must be PMP certified.
• Needs to demonstrate industry-specific knowledge.
• Credential identifies individual as being
  knowledgeable in both project management and the
  specific industries.

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Available CAQ Exams

• Automotive
• Scheduled yearly since 1999.
• Information Technology Systems
• First exam will be offered in July 2002.
• Project Management Office
• First exam will be offered in July 2002
• Future Exams
• Capital Projects, Pharmaceutical, Information
  Technology - Networks

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Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a certified PMP.
• Must have 1,500 hour of industry-specific
  experience .
• Must be over a minimum of a two-year period
  within the previous four years prior to filling
  out the application.

20
CAQ Exam Structure

• Multiple-choice format.
• 75 questions.
• 2 hours allotted time.
• Paper and pencil based exam.
• No computer based testing available.
• PMI HQ establishes test sites.

21
CAQ Exam Fees

• First Time Sitting for Exam
• Eligibility letter contains scheduling
  information.
• 100 US fee.
• Retaking the Exam
• Must submit re-examination form within one year
  of original test date.
• Individual must take the next exam administered.

22
Maintaining CAQ Credential

• CAQ certification is valid for three years.
• Final year is the third full calendar year after
  the year in which the exam was passed.
• 10 of the 60 PDUs required for PMP
  recertification must be related to the specific
  industry that the credential was granted for.
• Future editions of the CAQ handbooks will have
  additional information regarding this process,
  especially for individuals that have more than
  one CAQ credential.

23
Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR)
Program

• The purpose of the CCR program is to
• Sustain the PMP as a global certification
  credential
• Enhance the ongoing professional development of
  PMPs
• Encourage and recognize individualized learning
  opportunities
• Offer a standardized and objective method for
  attaining and recording professional development
  activities

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Professional Development Unit

• One PDU one hour spent in a planned, structured
  learning experience or activity.
• Activities must be related to project management
  topics.
• Activities must be consistent with the knowledge
  areas and processes as outlined in the 2000
  edition of the PMBOK Guide.
• PDUs can be claimed in 0.25 increments.

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PDU Categories

• Category 1 Formal Academic Education
• No limit on amount that can be claimed.
• Category 2 Professional Activities
• Covers writing articles, making presentations, or
  developing a program.
• PMP can claim 5 PDUs per year for providing
  professional project management services to
  employers or other groups.
• Can claim a maximum of 15 PDUs over three-year
  period for self-directed learning activities.

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PDU Categories (Continued)

• Category 3 PMI REP Programs
• Category 4 Programs from Other Providers
• PMP must maintain registration form, certificate
  or letter of attendance, and a brochure or course
  materials.
• Category 5 Service to Professional or Community
  Organizations
• Can claim a maximum of 20 PDUs during three-year
  period.

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PDU Reporting

• Fax or mail completed Activities Reporting Form
  to the PMI/CCR Records Department at
• PMI/CCR
• College of Continuing Education
• 1700 Asp Avenue
• Norman, OK 73072-6400 USA
• Email completed forms to pmirecords_at_pmi.org.
• Fill out form and submit online. Form can be
  found at http//www.pmi.org/certification/ccr/form
  s.htm.

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PMP Exam Preparation Tips

• Know the 2000 edition of the PMBOK Guide and its
  definitions.
• Retype the PMBOK Guide and paraphrase it in your
  own words.
• PMI administers the exam, not other sources
  including your employer. Therefore, go with the
  answer that reflects the PMI point of view.

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PMP Exam Tips (Continued)

• Use multiple references to prepare for the exam.
• Take as many practice exams as you can.
• Be careful youll start to remember answers
  without knowing why they are correct.
• Participate in a study group and/or a formal PMP
  preparation class.
• Review incorrect answers and understand why your
  answer was wrong and why correct answer is
  correct.

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Recommended References

• PMP Exam Prep and PM FASTrack CD-ROM by Rita
  Mulcahy, PMP.
• Available through the PMI Bookstore
  (http//www/pmibookstore.org) or
  http//www.rmcproject.com.
• PM FASTrack simulates actual computer-based test.
• Project Managers Desk Reference by A.J. Thomas,
  PMP and Dick Billows, GCA.
• Available through the Hampton Groups website
  http//www.4pm.com.

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PMP References (Continued)

• Available through the PMI Bookstore
  (http//www.pmibookstore.org) and ESIs website
  (http//www.esi-intl.com)
• Project Management Terms A Working Glossary by
  J. LeRoy Ward, PMP.
• PMP Exam Practice Test and Study Guide by J.
  LeRoy Ward, PMP.
• PMP Challenge! By J. LeRoy Ward, PMP and Ginger
  Levin, D.P.A.

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PMP References (Continued)

• Available through the PMI Bookstore and
  International Institute for Learnings website
  (http//www.iil.com)
• Project Management A Systems Approach to
  Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling by Harold
  Kernzer, Ph.D.
• Mixed reaction from people on this book. Some
  swear by it, others swear at it!
• Project Management IQ CD-ROM.
• Simulates actual computer-based test.

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Questions?

• Thank You.