The demand for Project Management Professionals in seven different sectors is expected to grow by 33% according to a talent gap analysis report by Anderson Economic Group (AEG). This implies that the demand for project managers is growing at a faster pace than that of the professionals in other streams over the next decade. Moreover, 40% of IT executives have stated that they need to hire Project Management Professionals, according to a survey conducted by Computer World. With the digital markets and industries growing so fast, the need for new projects and eventually project management professionals is growing exponentially.
Almost every sector needs project managers so as to successfully execute the project till the end. Those are energy, engineering, healthcare, construction, architecture, computing, telecommunications, just to list some. So if you wish to boost up your career, PMP Certification or a certification course in Project Management Professional is something you can choose to attain.
Continue reading this article explains what is PMP certification, PMP exam details, and how PMP exam simulators help you achieve it.
What is PMP or Project Management Professional Certification?
Every industry carries out different tasks via projects. A strategic approach is required for successfully landing the project by proper initiation, plan, design, execute, monitor, control and closure of the project.
PMP Certification is something that validates your employers that you are well acquainted with what you are doing in your project management. A PMP Certification recognizes your ability to manage projects. PMP Certification was ranked as a top management certification by CIO magazine. The reason behind its top ranking is that it proves that you have the required skills and knowledge that employers seek. Also, it is a globally recognized certification that validates a candidate’s education, skills, and competency required for managing projects.
Now let us look at the benefits of getting certified.
- Gives you industry recognition
- Provides you the opportunity of upskilling
- Makes your resume valuable and promising
- Helps you learn important skills
- Gets you good salary hikes
- Brings networking opportunities for you
- Validates your dedication to the job
- Enhances your problem-solving skills
- Refines your risk management skills
- Upgrades your team-work and leadership qualities
Moreover, the average salary of a project manager without PMP Certification is about $99.1k and that with PMP Certification is $119.3k, according to a US survey made in 2017. With so many benefits, you would like to get more information about PMP Certification.
PMP Certification Exam
To apply for the PMP certification exam, there are some prerequisites that you need to meet. Those are:
A four-year undergraduate degree, three years of experience in leading the projects and 35 hours of education or training in project management or a certification in CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management).
OR
A high school matriculate certificate and globally recognized associate’s degree, an experience of five years in leading different projects, and 35 hours of training or education in project management or a certificate in CAPM.
Moreover, it doesn’t matter what your designation is while taking up the exam. For a random audit, 20% of applications are picked up. Three attempts of PMP exam are allowed in a year, and the experience in project management should also be around eight years. Freshers are not allowed to apply for this certification exam. In case you are a fresher, to apply for this certification you need to attain some predefined number of Professional Development Units or PDUs.
PMP Certification Exam Details
You are allowed four hours to solve an exam that consists of 200 multiple choice questions and the best part is that there is no negative marking. There are 25 questions that are not graded as they are put randomly from sample questions. That means there are 175 questions that decide your result. You are required to answer a minimum of 106 questions to pass. A 15-minute walkthrough of the exam format is arranged before taking the exam.
All of the questions are based on ‘PMP examination specification’ that is prescribed by PMI and describes tasks under five domains of performance.
Those are:
Monitoring- 25%
Closing- 7%
Executing- 31%
Planning- 24%
Initiating-13%
Now let us have a look at the fee structure. It varies with the category of the exam you take. Also, it is different for PMI members and non-members.
For a computer-based test, it is $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members.
For a computer-based re-exam, it is $275 for PMI members and $375 for non-members.
For a paper-based test, it costs $250 for PMI members and $400 for non-members.
For a paper-based retake, it is $150 for PMI members and $300 for non-members.
To become a member of PMI, you need to pay $139. To gain the membership of local PMI chapters, you may need to pay $5-$15 depending on the chapter. When you become a certified PMP, you are required to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs).
Preparing for the Exam Via PMP Exam Simulator
You can prepare for the certification exam according to your time, budget, responsibilities and other factors. It is always recommended that before appearing for the actual exam, you take a practice exam so as to check what you are up to. There are many successful training providers and test-takers that have designed a PMP exam simulator. A PMP exam simulator is a test engine program that provides practice test sessions that are the same in content, level of difficulty and style as the actual exam.
- Some of the benefits of PMP exam simulator are:
- You get familiar with the environment of the actual exam.
- You can check whether you are properly prepared for the exam or not.
- They give you instant feedback regarding your preparation so that you come to know what are the areas you are strong in, and the areas that need more concentration.
- They also provide study material and video content.
- The best thing is that users can pause the test and resume it later.
- They cover every aspect of the test.
- It can be taken multiple numbers of times.
With so many benefits of PMP Certification and also of PMP exam simulator, you would like to attempt in simulator exams. There are training providers that let you prepare for the exam completely so that you don’t lag behind in any of the areas. So, start your preparation for the PMP certification today!
