Phoenix MPUG Chapter Presents:

1
Phoenix MPUG ChapterPresents

• PMI Scheduling Professional
• PMI-SP Credential
• Information, FAQs and Answers!
• Mary Hershner, PMP
• hershner1_at_cox.net
• 602-300-7018

2
Ground Rules

• Please mute your PC Microphone
• Please mute your telephone handset unless your
  asking a question
• Thanks for your cooperation in making this
  presentation a success.

3
Agenda

• PMI-SP Exam Credentials
• Pilot Period May 30 July 31
• Eligibility to take the exam
• Application Process
• PMI-SP Exam Format
• Preparing for the Exam
• Pass/Fail The Exam, Certification Package
• Maintaining your Credentials
• Exam Testimonial
• Questions?

4
Why pursue the PMI-SP credential?

• Project scheduling professionals should be
  recognized for their knowledge, skills and
  experience in this specialized area of project
  scheduling.
• Scheduling is a tool every project manager uses
  in one form or another.
• Most Enterprise Project Management Tools demand a
  PMs proficiency in scheduling and employers are
  looking for the expertise!

5
PMI-SP Credential

• The PMI-Scheduling Professional Certification is
  a new credential for those who practice project
  management in the specialty area of scheduling.
• The certification provides the basis for the
  credentialing examination for individuals who
  manage project scheduling.
• The exam is NOT tool specific and is based on the
  participants knowledge of scheduling, its
  terminology and relationship to the PMBOK (third
  edition).

6
PMI-SP Credential

• The PMI-SP Credential is offered through the
  Project Management Institute
• You do not need to be a PMI Member to apply for
  the credential
• There is no pre-requisite needed to take the
  exam, the PMI-SP is a stand-alone credential
  offered as part of PMIs family of credentials
• Candidates must be approved through PMI prior to
  taking the exam

7
Pilot Period

• The PMI-SP pilot period will run from May 30th to
  July 31st 2008. The first 100 people to apply and
  sit for the exam will receive 50 off the price
  of the examination.
• Candidates will also be entered into one of four
  regional drawings for a chance to win 1,000.00
  (US).
• Candidates must sit for the examination between
  30 May 30th to July 31st to take advantage of
  this promotion.
• The cost for PMI Members to earn the credential
  is 520.00. The cost to non-members is 670.00 .
• Pilot Exam results will not be received until 60
  90 days after taking the exam.

8
Eligibility Requirements

• Three to five years of project scheduling
  experience
• With a bachelors degree or global equivalent
  have
• 30 contact hours of formal education (must be
  in project scheduling)
• Within the past five years, a minimum of 3,500
  hours of experience in project scheduling
• OR
• With a high school diploma or global equivalent
  have
• 40 contact hours of formal education (must be
  in project scheduling)
• Within the past five years, 5,000 hours of
  experience in project scheduling

9
Application Process

• For detailed information Download PMI Scheduling
  Professional (PMISP)SM Credential Handbook (35
  pages)
• http//www.pmi.org/PDF/PMI-SP_Handbook.pdf
• Major Points Covered
• How to Apply Online
• PMI-SP Eligibility Requirements Verification
• PMI-SP Examination Information Blueprint
• PMI-SP Credential Fees Refund Policy
• PMI-SP Credential Maintenance

10
Application Process
11
Application Process

• You can also use the online certification system
  to
• Apply and submit payment to take or retake any
  PMI examination and/or evaluation
• View your submitted credential application
• View your examination eligibility status
• Download PMI audit forms and/or examination score
  reports
• Access your certification record and update your
  contact information
• View your listing on the Credential Registry
• Submit payment for credential renewal

12
Application process
Link to Submittal Process https//www.pmi.org/auth
entication/default.aspx?rwww.pmi.org/certapp/Defa
ult.aspxstrue
13
Application process
https//securereg3.prometric.com/Welcome.aspx?Cult
ureen-US
14
PMI-SP Exam Format

• The Exam is comprised of 170 multiple-choice
  questions.
• 20 are considered pretest questions.
• Pretest questions do not affect the score and are
  used in examinations as an effective and
  legitimate way to test the validity of future
  examination questions.
• All questions are randomly placed throughout the
  examination.
• No. of Scored Questions 150
• No. of Pretest (Unscored) Questions 20
• Total Examination Questions 170
• Note No pass or fail has been determined
  during the pilot phase!
• Computer-based testing (CBT) is the standard
  method of administration for PMI examinations.

15
PMI-SP Exam Format

• The allotted time to complete the computer-based
  examination is four hours.
• The examination is preceded by a tutorial and
  followed by a survey, both of which are optional
  and both of which can take up to 15 minutes to
  complete.
• The time used to complete the tutorial and survey
  is not included in the examination time of four
  hours.
• It may take some credential candidates less than
  the allotted time to complete the examination.

16
PMI-SP Exam Format cont.
The PMI-SP examination is developed based on the
examination blueprint contained in the
PMI Scheduling Professional Examination
Specification. The examination blueprint
details the percentage of questions contained in
each project scheduling domain. The following
represents the percentage of questions in each
domain that are included in the examination.
17
Preparing for the Exam

• To prepare for the examination, PMI suggests
  review of the
• PMI-SP Handbook
• PMI-SP Examination Specification
• Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
  (PMBOK(R) Guide) Third Edition
• All are available on the PMI Global Website..

18
Preparing for the Exam

• If you have not completed a course containing
  Project Scheduling concepts, PMI recommends you
  do so. Educational programs are offered through a
  variety of providers including
• PMI component organizations (chapters, SIGs,
  colleges)
• MPUG !!!!
• PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s)
• University and college academic and continuing
  education programs
• Training companies or consultants
• Distance learning providers
• Study groups (i.e. local chapter study groups)

19
What happens if I fail the Exam?

• Candidates have a maximum of three attempts to
  receive a passing score on the PMI-SP examination
  within the one-year eligibility period.
• After the third unsuccessful attempt, candidates
  will have to wait one year before re-applying for
  the credential and retaking the examination.
• Candidates must submit a re-examination form
  before each attempt along with the re-examination
  fee (please see your handbook for re-examination
  fees).

20
What happens after I pass the exam?

• Pre August 2008 Pilot Exam
• Candidates who sit for the examination during the
  pilot period (30 May 31 July 2008) will not
  receive their scores immediately.  PMI will be
  determining the pass/fail score (cut score)
  during this pilot period.  As soon as the cut
  score is determined (within a 60 90 day
  timeframe), pilot participants will be notified
  immediately. Until that time, communications will
  be sent to candidates to keep them apprised of
  where PMI is in the cut score determination
  process.
• Post Pilot August 2008
• After you pass the exam, you may immediately use
  the credential after your name (for example, John
  Doe, PMI-SP). Your name will also appear in the
  PMI Online Registry.   Credential holders will
  receive a package of information with a
  certificate, letter and credential holder card in
  the mail. Please note It usually takes about 6-8
  weeks to receive your credential package from
  PMI.

21
Certification Package

• Within six to eight weeks, you will receive a
  credential package that includes
• Congratulatory letter
• Information on how to maintain and/or renew your
  credential
• Credential certificate
• Both of these documents list your
• Credential number a unique identification
  number used by PMI to maintain your individual
  certification records
• Your credential cycle dates
• You will want to file this information in a safe
  and easily accessible location.
• You will need to refer to it in order to maintain
  your credential.

22
PMI-SP Credential Maintenance

• PMI-SP credential holders are required to attain
  no less than 30 professional development units
  (PDUs) during each three-year renewal cycle to
  maintain their credential.
• Please Note The Following
• The 30 PDUs in project scheduling can also be
  counted towards the maintenance of the PMP(R) or
  PgMPSM credential(s)
• If a project scheduling practitioner is taking
  general project management classes, only the
  sections that pertain to project scheduling can
  be applied towards the PMI-SP credential

23
PMI-SP Credential Maintenance

• Overview of Process to Maintain an Active
  Certification Status
• 1. Determine certification/CCR cycle
• 2. Attain no less than 30 PDUs during each
  certification/CCR cycle
• 3. Report PDUs on the online Activity Reporting
  form
• 4. Complete the online Application for Renewal
• 5. Reaffirm PMI Code of Ethics and Professional
  Conduct
• 6. Reaffirm PMI Certification Application/Renewal
  Agreement
• 7. Submit the credential renewal fee US60 for
  PMI members US150 for nonmembers
• 8. Receive new certificate with updated
  certification/CCR cycle dates

24
Exam Testimonial..

• Overall, I thought the PMI-SP exam was very well
  thought out and the questions were some of best
  formulated ones Ive seen in a test.  
• It did feel a bit like the PMP exam, but the
  questions were obviously more focus on the Time
  Management knowledge area. 
• I would recommend anyone taking this exam to
  carefully study the Practice Guide for Scheduling
  and Its important to feel comfortable with the
  terminology of scheduling, so time spent in the
  Terms and Definitions section will likely pay
  off. 
• Other topics that appeared frequently in the
  questions centered around scheduling methods
  (Critical Chain, etc.), Histograms and
  performance reporting (Earned Value, in
  particular).

25
Questions?