PMP Eligibility Criteria
The PMP Certification is the highest certification that a Project Manager can get in his or her field, in managing projects of any size. This professional, project management certification is awarded by Project Management Institute or PMI in USA.
Once you pass the stringent PMP exam, you will get the PMP credential, which will bolster your CV, your ego, and your professional capability as a Project Manager in your profession.
To attain your PMP Certification, you first need to pass the PMP exam conducted by PMI. One of the first steps is to check if you are eligible for the exam.
There are 3 conditions that you must meet before you can fill up your exam application form.
1. You must have a Degree or a Diploma. From any university – whether distance leanring or regular class degree. Any degree – Science, Arts, Medicine, Architecture,, Mathematics, Business, Engineering, Technical, Computer Science etc. is all fine.
However, just having a O Level certification ( 10 years of formal education – upto Class 10 (O Level) or Secendary 4 education is not enough to sit for the PMP examination.
If you have a diploma in your profession, then it is fine. It can be from any institution or college, as long as it says that this is a diploma in your profession.
2. Professional Experience in Project Management. You must have experience in managing projects. Atleast 4,500 hours of project management experience (almost equal to 3 years of managing projects), if you are a Degree holder. However if you have a Diploma, you need to show proof of having atleast 7,500 hours of project management experience, (worth about 5 years of project management experience).
Now your title or designation on these projects may not necessarily have to be of a “Project Manager”. You may be called a Project Engineer, Senior Engineer, Team Leader, Tear Manager, or a functional title like Finance Manager, IT Manager or the likes. This is fine, as long as you were managing projects – were responsible for the budget, managing the resources, working with the customers, team members, management, stakeholders, vendors and contractors. You had key responsibilities, and you worked in all the areas of project management.
3. The third key requirement is to have a formal education on Project Management. Atleast a full 35 hours ( called 35 PDUs – Professional Development Units) of formal PM education. 1 PDU is equivalent to 1 hour of project management training.
Almost every city and country has multiple training companies providing Project Management Training. Some create 35 hour long courses which run from 4 to 5 days, and help you to prepare for the PMP Exam. This way, you get the education in project management also, and meet the minimum requirement too. Best of both worlds.
For a list of training institutes in your country, you could refer to the PMP Training Directory.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, do post your question in the comments below, and I will provide you with answers.
All the best for attaining your PMP Credential…
Cheers,
Vinai Prakash, PMP
Founder of PMChamp – Providing tips & tricks for PMP Credential aspirants.
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