PMP Certification Requirements & Eligibility You Should Know

A tier-based validation mechanism built into the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification standards makes sure you have the required training and work experience. In order to obtain the PMP certification, you must meet the prerequisites in addition to preparing for and passing the PMP exam. The first step in getting ready for your PMP Certification Training is fulfilling these requirements.

We will go over the PMP certification criteria in great detail in this article. You should be able to determine whether you are eligible to take the PMP exam after reading this guide. To apply to take the PMP Exam, participants must finish the application’s verification part. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® Handbook contains a complete list of the PMP certification requirements On the website of the Project Management Institute, you may get this free guide.

PMP Certification Requirements

Who can take the PMP exam? 

The following conditions must be met in order to qualify for PMP certification:

• Years of project management experience: Only one of the projects you performed in a single month that overlapped can contribute toward your experience requirement. As long as you obtained experience in a professional setting, it doesn’t matter if a portion of your project management job was unpaid. Personal or academic initiatives, such as organizing your own wedding, do not count.
• Hours of formal project management education: You must invest time in understanding the ins and outs of project management before submitting an application for the PMP certification. This requirement applies to any course, workshop, or training session that teaches fundamental principles of project management and issues an evaluation or certificate of completion. Be ready to offer details about the institutions and dates you attended, the names of the courses you finished, and the number of hours you need to qualify. The contact hours you have accrued never expire.

Depending on your school level, different PMP certification criteria apply. For instance, if you have a bachelor’s degree from college, you can sit for the PMP test with less project management experience gained through on-the-job training.

Associate’s Degree, High School Diploma, or Global Equivalent

• 60 months or more of unique, non-overlapping experience in project management
• 35 hours of formal education in project management (met by the PMA’s PMP training course)

Four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent internationally

• 36 months or more of unique, non-overlapping experience in project management
• 35 hours of formal education in project management (met by the PMA’s PMP training course)

Bachelor’s or post-graduate degree from a GAC-accredited program (or its equivalent in another country or region).

• A minimum of 24 months of unique, non-overlapping experience in project management
• 35 hours of formal education in project management (met by the PMA’s PMP training course)

Application procedure for the PMP certification exam

The Project Management Institute (PMI) administers the PMP certification test. You must first register for a PMI account and log in to the PMI website in order to register for the exam. The next step is to complete an application form and submit it along with the necessary supporting documents. You can arrange your test after your application has been accepted. Review the PMP Exam Content Outline and become familiar with the exam’s format to get ready for the test. On this Passemall website, we provide a variety of PMP practice exams to assist you in getting ready for the exam.

The following is the application procedure for the PMP certification exam:

• Step 1: The first step is to sign up to join the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. Being a member costs $139, but you save money on exam fees. The cost for PMP certification is $555 for non-members in general. The exam costs $405 for PMI members.
• Step 2: Enroll in a PMP Certification Training program to fulfill the necessary 35 hours of coursework. After finishing the course, you will be given a certificate of completion that may be used to register for the exam.
• Step 3: Online submit your PMP application. Within 5 business days, PMI® will consider your application and respond to you. When your application is accepted, you’ll get an invitation to schedule and pay for the test.
• Step 4: Make a test reservation with Pearson VUE. Following the approval of your application, you have a year to take the exam. During the eligibility period, you may sit for the PMP certification exam a maximum of three (3) times. Visit Pearson VUE for more information on the testing locations and online testing choices.
• Step 5: Take the PMP Certification Exam and Pass It. The PMP Exam has 180 questions and a time limit of 230 minutes. Three categories—Process (50%), People (42%), and Business Environment (8%)—are used to categorize the questions.

PMP Requirement FAQs

What should one do if they don’t meet the requirements for PMP certification?

The credential that would be more appropriate for you at this time is Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®). Let’s say a professional is unable to fulfill the prerequisites for PMP certification. In that instance, they can start out with the CAPM certification and later choose the PMP certification after gaining the necessary expertise.

What is an audit and how do I find out if I’ve been chosen?

Random audits of a specific proportion of PMP exam applications are frequently carried out by PMI. Although PMI does not disclose the percentage of applications that are audited, it is generally accepted that between 10% and 15% of candidates are randomly chosen for an audit. As soon as you submit your application, PMI will let you know if it is chosen for an audit. Additionally, PMI will send you an email with links to finish the audit. According to PMI, the application is approved in 5-7 days. However, if the required paperwork is submitted quickly, it can be authorized in just a few days.

Can I use my projects from any industry to qualify for the PMP?

Yes, you can have experience in any industry sector related to technology management, including manufacturing, construction, IT, transportation, healthcare, etc.

How long am I still eligible?

The period of eligibility begins on the day the application was granted and lasts for one year. In the event that candidates do not pass on their first try, they may retake the exam three times during their eligibility period. If you need to extend your eligibility in particular circumstances, PMI may agree to a 2-3 month extension.

Do I have to be PMI to maintain my certification?

To obtain or maintain your PMP certification, you do not have to be a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Due to the large discount, they get on the exam fees, many project managers join PMI as they study for the PMP exam. Joining makes a lot of sense because the discount outweighs the cost of a yearly PMI membership.

How can I demonstrate my PMP experience?

Before the exam, the PMI executes a random audit to confirm the experience you have listed on your form by checking with a supervisor or stakeholder.

Do I need to be a member of PMI?

The short answer is no, membership in PMI is not required. There are a few advantages to joining:

A considerable discount is offered to PMI members on the cost of applying for the PMP exam. The amount of this discount exceeds the price of joining PMI.

The PMBOK Guide is available as a free PDF to PMI members.

Using the free information and tools that you have access to as a PMI member will make it simpler for you to retain your PMP certification.

Additionally, a lot of regional PMI chapters give members discounts on workshops, chapter meetings, and other events.