Project Management Professional (PMP) is a valuable credential offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) for IT professionals. To be a PMP certified specialist, you have to take and pass the PMP exam. Many individuals would like to enroll for the PMI PMP certification program, but they are hesitant because they fear that they might not be able to pass the PMP test. Besides the high cost of the exam, which currently stands at $500, the candidates need to prepare thoroughly to attain the passing score.
Despite the challenges and the daunting task of acquiring the PMP certification, it is worth your time, effort, and every penny. Becoming a PMP certified professional is an excellent achievement in your career, and it can also give you a huge salary boost. Hence, you need to overcome your fear and begin the process of getting the certificate. This is the main reason why I decided to share my experience with you and tell about how I passed the PMP exam and attained my PMI credential. I hope that the story of my journey will motivate you to enroll for the certification process and become a PMP certified specialist.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
My way to began in the year 2002 when I first joined the field of IT, but my decision to start pursuing the credential started with a light conversation that took place when we were having a seminar at Dallas, USA, in 2017. It was during a short break in the meeting, and I was having a chat with an experienced colleague. She encouraged me to consider starting the certification process. I was convinced.
In early 2018, we were at a different event, and another colleague also mentioned the PMP credential. The colleague was a PMP, certified professional. He encouraged me to look into the process of acquiring the certificate. I took the first step and did my research about the requirements. After realizing that they were straightforward, I decided to start the process.
When I was looking at the requirements, I found out that passing the PMI PMP exam was the principal undertaking of the entire process. Hence, I am going to share with you how I prepared for the certification test and passed it with flying colors.
HOW I PREPARED FOR THE EXAM
I started by learning about what the PMI PMP exam entails. This is basically what I found. The Project Management Institute (PMI) set the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. The test is based on some specifications, which typically describe the questions out of the following five performance domains:
- Project execution (31%)
- Project control and monitoring (25%)
- Project planning (24%)
- Project initiation (13%)
- Closing the project (7%)
After learning about the PMP certification test, I found out more about the exam objectives and embarked on preparation.
- I prepared a plan
I was already in the industry, and I was an employee. Hence, I had a busy schedule. So, I assessed how I could effectively learn. I came up with a preparation plan with learning objectives.
- I picked the best study materials
I did thorough research and found some of the best resources for the PMI PMP certification exam. I only picked the materials that could be appropriate for my learning and lifestyle. One of the materials I mostly used was the PMBOK® Guide, which was the roadmap of my studies. I also found few great PMP prep books and I picked the ones written by Rita Mulcahy and Andy Crowe.
- I used a lot of sample questions
I knew I had to know how the questions are set in the real exam. Hence, after conquering the PMBOK® Guide and other study materials that I had selected, I began to use other resources from the Internet. Prepaway was one of the websites that helped me a lot. At Prepaway, I found helpful sample questions with well-explained answers.
How the PMI PMP exam looked like
After studying with the materials that I found helpful, I went ahead and tested myself with a lot of sample questions and sample PMP exams. I knew I was ready to take the real test when I was able to answer at least 97% of the questions correctly.
After becoming confident that I had all it takes to take the real test, I registered for the PMI PMP certification exam. Prometric is a global network that provides PMI PMP either as a computer-based test or as a paper-based exam, especially for the areas that do not have the Prometric exam centers nearby. I opted for a paper-based test.
I showed up several minutes early at the exam center. Despite the hard task ahead, I found myself relaxed, and I was surprised that I liked the place. After about 30 minutes, it was time to put down on paper what I had learnt during the preparing process.
There were 200 multiple-choice questions, which were written clearly against the PMP Code of Ethics and the PMBOK specification. This is a closed-book test, and there are no reference materials allowed. Out of 200 questions, 25 of them were “sample” ones that PMI uses to fine-tune the precision and level of difficulty of the exam. Therefore, these questions are not counted. I found them placed randomly throughout the PMP certification test. Only 175 questions are included in the final score.
I had prepared well for the exam. That is why I found most of the questions relatively easy and was not surprised to be noticed that I had passed the certification test with flying colors when the results were out. I got my PMI PMP certificate. Now, I am so proud to be a PMP certified professional.
CONCLUSION
Passing the PMI PMP certification exam is a serious undertaking. However, if you prepare yourself well, you will find it much easier to triumph.