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The Complete Guide to PMI’s Project Management Professional – 2021

Project manager is much more than just a job title. Like many other careers, the path to becoming a project manager requires specific skills, experience, and credentials.

Before an organization trusts you to lead a team and manage a budget that’s potentially millions of dollars, they must know that you’re qualified to do the job successfully.

To fast-track your career as a project manager, you should get a PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), roughly 2.2 million project-oriented positions need to be filled every year through 2027—project managers are in high demand.

Becoming a project management professional will give you an edge over others competing for the same jobs. We created this guide to explain everything you need to know about getting your PMP certification.

What is Project Management Professional?

The Project Management Professional Certification, also known as the PMP Certification, is issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to project managers who meet certain criteria.

There are several different requirements that must be obtained before someone can apply for the PMP certification.

Once a candidate’s application has been approved by the PMI, they must pass a comprehensive exam to officially get certified as a project management professional.

While a PMP is not necessarily a requirement for project management positions, it certainly helps people stand out when applying for jobs in this field.

Think of the PMP certification like any other or degree. For example, you might not need a master’s degree to do certain jobs, but if employers are comparing two resumes, candidates with a master’s definitely stand out from those with a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.

4 Tools to Prepare For The Project Management Professional Certification

To make sure that you pass your PMP exam on the first try, you should take advantage of any tools and training resources at your disposal. These are the top ones that we recommend:

#1 — The PMP Handbook

The PMP Handbook is a 40-page PDF document offered by the Project Management Institute. Any time the organization that’s issuing a certification offers you a resource like this, you should make an effort to go through it. It contains everything and anything you could possibly need to know about the certification.

You’ll learn more about the timeline of getting certified, the application and payment process, the PMI audit process, exam policies and procedures, and more. This free resource even contains information about your CCR (continued certification requirements), ethics and professional conduct, scheduling, reexamination, and legal restrictions on taking the exam. In short, if you have a question or need clarification on becoming a Project Management Professional, this handbook has the answer.

#2 — PMI Authorized On-Demand PMP Exam Prep

This self-guided tool is the official online preparation course offered by the PMI. It’s specifically designed to help project managers prepare for the PMP exam. The tool has been developed by the PMI and validated by PMP certificate holders. It contains five modules that cover every aspect of project management. From building a team to executing a project and supporting business changes, the course has it all. It’s perfect for PMP candidates and mid-level project managers alike.

The best part about this course is that it satisfies the 35 training hours required to fill out the PMP application. So in addition to preparing for the test, you’ll simultaneously be crossing prerequisites off of your list. The $699 fee is well worth the preparation and guidance you’ll get from completing this course.

#3 — PMBOK Guide

I strongly recommend that you read the PMBOK Guide—A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. This is the flagship publication offered by the Project Management Institute. It covers fundamental project management resources that can be applied to any industry.

In addition to helping you prepare for the PMP exam, it’s also an excellent resource to have at your disposal as a project manager. It’s something that you can always refer back to throughout your career for quick tips and refresher points. When you order the book, you’ll also get a free copy of the Agile Practice Guide. The paperback versions of these books retail for $99 and $49, respectively. Alternatively, you can get free downloadable access to the PMBOK Guide with your PMI membership. Memberships start at $129 per year.

#4 — PMTraining

In addition to resources directly from the PMI, you can also prepare for the PMP exam with third-party tools. There are dozens of options out there, but PMTraining is my favorite. I like this resource because they provide so many different learning tools. They have live in-person classes, live online classes, on-demand courses, and more.

You can even take PMP practice Exams on this website. These exams mimic the real testing environment that you’ll experience when you officially apply for your PMP. The practice exam from PMTraining starts at $68. The on-demand PMP course costs $198 for 90 days of access. You can get this for free when you register for any online class.

The Basics of Project Management Professional (PMP)

Let’s take a closer look at the core components of getting certified as a PMP (Project Management Professional). Here’s what you need to know:

PMP Certification

As previously mentioned, PMP is the official certification issued to project managers who qualify, apply, and pass the PMP exam. Anyone who earns this certification issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI) is recognized as an individual who meets project management standards worldwide.

With a Project Management Professional Certification, project managers can bring formalized training into the workplace. This helps employers rest easy knowing that their projects are being led by someone who has passed the PMI’s strict standards.

Compared to other project management certifications, the PMP is considered to be the gold standard in this industry. If you’re a PMP, it tells people that you’re qualified to be a successful project manager.

PMP Certification Cost and PMI Membership

The cost to become a project management professional is actually fairly low compared to other certifications.

It costs $405 for PMI members to take the PMP exam. Non-members will have to pay $555.

In addition to saving you $150 on the PMP certification exam, there are plenty of other benefits of becoming a Project Management Institute member. For starters, you’ll join a network of 600,000 project managers across the world. You’ll also have the ability to join one of the 300+ local PMI chapters in your area. Both of these are excellent ways to network and gain knowledge from your peers in this industry.

The PMI also provides members with 1,000+ free tools, project management templates, and checklists to set you up for success. You’ll even have access to an exclusive project management job board to learn about new opportunities that you qualify for.

Memberships from the PMI cost $129 per year, plus a $10 application fee. This membership pays for itself the second you apply to take your PMP exam. Full-time students can become PMI members for just $32 per year.

Project Management Professional (PMP) Eligibility Requirements

Not anyone can apply to become a project management professional. The PMI imposes strict eligibility requirements before accepting an application.

There are two different sets of requirements, depending on your education level. You must meet all of the prerequisites in one of the two groups below:

  • Four-year degree
  • Minimum 36 months of experience as a project manager
  • Minimum 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM Certification

OR

  • High school diploma or an associate’s degree (or a global equivalent)
  • Minimum 60 months of experience as a project manager
  • Minimum 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM Certification

As you can see, the biggest difference between these requirement sets is the education level. Those of you with a four-year degree only need 36 months of project management experience to qualify, while high school graduates and people with an associate’s degree need 60 months of experience.

If you haven’t gone through any formal project management education or training, getting the CAPM (Certificated Associate in Project Management) is the fastest way to qualify for the third bullet point in both lists. You only need to have 23 hours of project management education to apply for this 150-question exam, as opposed to the 35 hours needed to qualify for the PMP.

There are a few noteworthy components that you must be aware of to ensure you’re eligible for the PMP. For example, your experience must represent professional projects only (no personal projects like planning your own wedding, personal home improvement projects, etc.). Projects must be listed individually and include a description of the project purpose—not your role in the project. The complete PMP Application Checklist can be found here.

If you’re audited by the PMI, you must be able to obtain proper verification for all project experience listed on your application. Once you’ve verified that you meet the PMP eligibility requirements, you can apply to take the exam.

Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam

After your application has been approved, you have one year from the approval date to take the PMP exam. During this eligibility period, you can take the test up to three times.

The exam isn’t easy. According to the PMI, candidates typically spend 35+ hours preparing for the test. So just having some basic project management experience won’t be enough, and you’ll actually need to spend time preparing.

In total, the exam is 180 questions. The new version of the test went live on January 2, 2021. Previously, the test was 200 questions.

You’ll have 230 minutes to complete the exam. If you’re taking the exam on a computer, you can take two 10-minute breaks. For paper-based exams, there are no scheduled breaks. Questions are a combination of multiple-choice, matching, multiple responses, hotspot, and fill-in-the-blank.

The PMI offers 24/7 online testing options to accommodate your busy schedule. These exams are facilitated by a live proctor and require a computer with a working webcam.

The updated version of the PMP exam focuses on three new principles—people, process, and business environment. It covers the skills needed to effectively manage a team, the technical aspects of leading a project, and the connection between projects and an organizational strategy.

Maintaining PMP Credentials

Once you’ve passed the PMP exam, you’re not certified for life. You’ll need to go through the PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Program.

Maintaining your credentials is not as rigorous as taking the initial exam. But it does require some work and effort on your end.

To maintain the PMP Certification, you need to earn 60 PDUs (professional development units) every three years. Each unit is measured by a one-hour block of eligible time that you spend learning, teaching, or volunteering. To renew your certification, you need to report your PDUs online.

2 Tricks For The Project Management Professional Exam

These two quick tricks will make your life much easier as you prepare for your PMP certification.

Trick #1: Get a PMI Membership

It’s definitely in your best interest to get a PMI membership. At just $129 per year, this gives you access to useful resources that you’ll need to prepare for your exam. You’ll get a free digital copy of the PMBOK Guide and save $150 on your PMP exam.

Aside from the cost savings, the network that you’ll build by joining this community is intangible. You could potentially connect with other members to help you study for the PMP exam. The PMI membership also comes with 1,000+ free tools and templates. This information will make your life much easier when you start using project management software to lead actual projects. You could take a free template from the PMI and duplicate it in your PM software to get started.

Trick #2: Take the CAPM Exam

The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is another certification that you should have under your belt. Preparing for this test will provide you with the foundation required to go through the PMP certification process.

If you’ve never taken a PMI exam before, jumping straight to the PMP could be overwhelming. But the CAPM is a great place to start. Furthermore, a CAPM certification helps you meet the requirements needed to apply for your PMP. Without it, you’d need to have 35 hours of project management education or training. But a CAPM certification bypasses that requirement.

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The Complete Guide to Project Management Institute

The project management field has evolved over the years. New technology, project management methodologies, frameworks, and project management software have changed the way PMs oversee projects throughout different industries.

One thing that has remained constant is the Project Management Institute (PMI). For over 50 years, this organization has become the go-to resource for project management professionals across the globe.

For those of you who want to learn new skills and advance your career in project management, you need to get familiar with the PMI—and this guide will explain everything you need to know.

What is the Project Management Institute?

The Project Management Institute is a nonprofit organization and certification provider that was founded back in 1969. It’s globally recognized as an industry leader in training, research, networking, and credentialing for the project management industry.

The PMI has assisted 3+ million project, program, and portfolio management professionals across the globe.

This organization has developed industry standards in the project management field. They offer everything from project management tools to project management job boards, awards, and events related to project management.

3 PMI Tools to Improve Your Project Management Skills

There are dozens of resources available from the Project Management Institute. But these are my three favorite tools that can immediately improve your career as a project manager.

#1 — PMP Certification

The Project Management Institute offers lots of different certifications. But the PMP Certification is arguably the most prestigious and most reputable. This is the world’s leading PM certificate and includes predictive, agile, and hybrid frameworks. It’s one of the best ways for project managers to instantly make themselves more appealing in prospective job opportunities.

According to the PMI, PM professionals with a PMP certification in North America are paid 25% more than those who aren’t certified.

To qualify, you must have a four-year degree, 36 months of experience as a project leader, and 35 hours of project management training (a CAPM certificate nullifies the last requirement). If you don’t have a four-year degree but have a high school diploma or an associate’s degree, you’ll need 60 months of experience leading projects to qualify.

The PMP Certification exam fee costs $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members.

#2 — PMBOK Guide

The PMBOK Guide is the Project Management Institute’s flagship publication. It’s an essential resource for managing projects in any industry. This guide contains the foundation and knowledge required to be an effective project manager. If you’re only going to read one book on project management, this is my recommendation.

PMI members can download the PMBOK Guide for free. Non-members can purchase a physical paperback copy of the book for $99 or download the digital ebook for the same price. It’s something that you can always refer back to throughout your project management career.

When you order this book, the PMI will send you a free copy of the Agile Practice Guide as well. With agile project management skills in high demand, the extra book is a nice bonus for any project manager to have on their bookshelf.

#3 — CAPM Certification

A Certificate Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is the perfect credential to start your career as a project manager. It’s ideal for existing project managers that want to start managing bigger projects or prospective project managers that want to stand out in a competitive job market. For a fast way to add credibility to your resume, I highly recommend the CAPM certification.

To qualify, you need to have a high school diploma or an associate’s degree. You’ll also need to complete 23 hours of project management education before you take the exam. Unlike other PMI certifications, you don’t need any experience as a project manager for the CAPM. The CAPM exam fee is $225 for PMI members and $300 for non-members.

The Basics of the Project Management Institute

To say the PMI’s offerings are vast would be a drastic understatement. But everything that this organization provides can be summarized in the following core elements:

Membership

The PMI has membership opportunities for project management professionals who want to advance their careers.

There are over 600,000 members in the PMI community. Joining the PMI community is one of the best ways to network with peers in your industry. Anyone can create a PMI account for free and use it to track their certification status (more on this shortly). But to get the most out of your account, I’d recommended upgrading to the paid PMI membership.

The cost to join is just $129 per year, plus a one-time application fee of $10. But the paid membership pays for itself almost immediately.

In addition to joining the PMI community, you’ll also get to download the PMBOK guide for free—normally $99. The PMI also gives you access to over 1,000 free tools and templates as part of your membership. You can take these templates and immediately apply them to real-world projects that you’re managing. Use your membership to find relevant career opportunities on the PMI job board as well, which is only available to members.

Another top benefit of the PMI membership is the discount that you’ll get on project management certifications. Members pay a lower exam fee than non-members. For example, you’ll save $150 on your PMP certification with a PMI membership.

Certifications

The Project Management Institute is a reputable certification body for project management professionals. With a globally recognized certification, project managers are able to advance their careers, seek new opportunities, and get paid more for their added value.

A certification from the PMI is a big deal. It shows organizations that you’re qualified to manage certain types of projects. Available certifications include:

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
  • Program Management Professional (PgMP)
  • Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
  • Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
  • PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
  • PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
  • PMI Project Management Ready
  • Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM)
  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
  • Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM)
  • Disciplined Agile Coach (DAC)
  • Disciplined Agile Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC)

Each certification comes with a certain level of prestige attached to it. For example, the PMP certification is known as the gold standard in the project management field. Whereas the Project Management Ready certification is designed to prepare students with basic information related to project management.

All certifications follow the same standard process. First, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. The criteria are typically based on education level, completed training, and experience as a project manager.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can complete an application with information. You’ll also need to submit audit materials with proof of your eligibility. Once the application has been approved and you’ve submitted payment, you can schedule an exam appointment. The PMI will officially issue certifications after you’ve passed the exam.

Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Program

Earning your certificate is just one step. But to maintain your certifications from the PMI, you’ll need to complete some additional requirements.

That’s where the CCR Program comes into play. It’s designed to help project professionals continue to grow and develop skills while maintaining their certification status.

Each certification requires recipients to earn a certain number of PDUs during a three-year cycle. PDU stands for “professional development units.” Each unit represents a one-hour time block for learning, teaching, or volunteering.

The number of PDUs required will depend on the certificate that you’re trying to maintain. For example, the PMP certification calls for 60 PDUs, while a CAPM only requires 15.

Track your progress on the PMI’s CCR system, a simple online tool for reporting PDUs. This will make it much easier for you to renew your certifications.

Education and Training

In addition to the project management certifications, the PMI is also known for its training resources. The PMI believes that professional development in the project management industry is more than just a one-time thing—it’s something that should be an ongoing component of your project management career.

The PMI has developed an ideal skill set for modern project management, known as the “Talent Triangle.” The triangle contains three crucial aspects of project management—technical project management, strategic and business management, and leadership.

There are training materials offered directly by the PMI, including online courses, disciplined agile toolkits, seminars, and webinars. If you have a PMI membership, you’ll have full access to 1,000+ webinars on projectmanagement.com. These contain tips, best practices, trends, how-to tutorials, and so much more. It’s also an easy way to earn PDUs for maintaining certifications.

The PMI also has authorized training partners that have exceeded rigorous standards for quality. You can discover these third-party training resources directly from the PMI website.

I enjoy the thought leadership resource from the PMI as well. This contains the latest ideas and principles from industry leaders in the project management field. It covers everything from portfolio management to cost management, sustainability, business analysis, scheduling, and everything else you could possibly need. Use this resource to gain a fresh perspective on certain areas of project management.

Events

Another excellent way to network and further your career as a project manager is by attending events hosted by the Project Management Institute.

Through uncertain times and struggles with in-person learning due to a public health crisis, the PMI has gone digital. You can still attend virtual events from the comfort of your own home.

In-person events will slowly get back to normal over the coming months and years. But in the meantime, virtual events are the next best thing. In some instances, this provides you with better access to an event that you might have otherwise been unable to attend.

There are also local PMI chapter events that you can join with your PMI membership. The events calendar is updated on a regular basis. So be sure to check it out to see what’s available and register online for any virtual event.

Core Values

The PMI stands out from other organizations in the project management space by maintaining a set of common values. These values remain unchanged, regardless of management trends or changes to business environments.

The Project Management Institute’s core values include:

  • Project Management Impact
  • Professionalism
  • Volunteerism
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Community
  • Engagement

As you continue to familiarize yourself with the PMI, you’ll see that these core values are a staple in everything that the organization offers.

For example, if you refer to the requirements to maintain different certifications, you’ll see that you can earn credits for giving back, which would fall into the volunteerism and community core values categories.

3 Tricks For The Project Management Institute

Apply these quick tricks and best practices to get the most out of your experience at the Project Management Institute. These simple steps will make your life much easier.

Trick #1: Get a PMI Membership

If you truly want to commit yourself to a career in project management, start with a PMI membership. You’ll get tons of benefits for joining, all of which we discussed in greater detail earlier.

But aside from those perks, the membership symbolizes your commitment as a project manager. You’ll be more likely to obtain certifications and maintain credentials throughout your career. The membership will give you access to exclusive materials and other useful pieces of information that you can apply to real projects.

As a leader, your team will always look to you for guidance. This is not always an easy position to be in. So it’s really helpful if you have a community of peers that you can fall back on for advice and insight.

Trick #2: Take Advantage of Free Online Courses

Not everything from the PMI will cost you money. There are plenty of great free classes as well. This is perfect for project management beginners or students who are considering a career in project management.

Before you dive in head-first, these free courses can provide you with a basic overview of project management to see if it’s something you’re interested in pursuing further.

Just head over to the PMI store and search for eLearning materials. Then sort the options by price from low to high, and you’ll see a handful of free courses. Examples include Project Management For Beginners, Free Introduction: Basics of Disciplined Agile, Foundations of Change Management, and Business Continuity.

Trick #3: Use Practice Guides

Earlier, we talked about the PMBOK Guide, which is arguably the most popular and well-known publication from the PMI. But there are other excellent practice guides that can be used to apply PMI standards in specific disciplines.

Some of my favorite practice guides include:

  • Agile Practice Guide
  • Governance of Portfolios, Programs, and Projects: A Practice Guide
  • Benefits Realization Management
  • Managing Change in Organizations: A Practice Guide
  • Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide
  • Business Analysis For Practitioners: A Practice Guide
  • Requirements Management: A Practice Guide

All of these can help take your project management career to the next level.

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An Ultimate Guide to the Scrum Project Management

If you've spent even a small amount of time in the field of digital project management then you must have heard about the Scrum methodology. Scrum, which was initially designed for software development teams now, finds its application across many other fields like marketing, project management, and many more.

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According to a report by a Project Management Institute, more than half of the project managers who use the Agile framework uses the Scrum methodology. Not only this, but a PMI survey also shows that around a combined total of 55% of organizations "Sometimes", often", or "always" uses Scrum.