Introduction

Becoming a certified Project Management Professional is an important milestone in your career as it potentially boosts your earning capacity. Attaining the PMP certification can however be challenging, especially with little or no guidance. If you want to become certified for the PMP, it is important to know if you can get the PMP Certification; i.e., learn your eligibility criteria. This article will show you who can get the PMP certification and what you should do to become one!

 

What is PMP?

The PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is a well-known industry certification for project managers. The PMP certification confirms that you have the necessary experience, education, skill, and ability to lead and direct projects. The PMP certification is provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the United States.

 

Why are there PMP requirements?

You may be curious to know why there are requirements for the PMP certification. There are two main factors for this. The first and most significant thing is that project management is a serious profession that involves communication with several stakeholders throughout the project. While delivering a scope of work, project managers must be mindful of communication, attitude, and know how to handle other people’s expectations, otherwise, project completion may be compromised. The second significant thing for PMP certification is that project management requires a thorough theoretical understanding of project management techniques. 

Although the PMP certification is open to all, not just anyone can become a PMP. PMP aspirants must understand the importance of the certification and have the resilience and mental capacity to manage its techniques, methods, and procedures. The requirements are put in place to ensure that those getting the certification are truly able to defend it. 

To pass the PMP certification test, a project manager should be skilled in 10 areas of study. These knowledge areas are put to the test in five distinct project management process groups. A PMP applicant must score above a particular level in each of these project management process sections in order to pass the PMP certification test.

 

Benefits of PMP certification

The PMP Certification opens up a world of opportunities for the holder, increasing their professional marketability and their ability to earn more. The PMP certification does not imply any level of expertise or experience. Nevertheless, PMP certification needs at least a basic understanding of project management. 

PMI’s PMP application process and audits tightly enforce applicable experience and education criteria for becoming a PMP. As a result, as compared to other qualifications in the business, organizations place a high value on PMP certification. The PMI’s stringent methodology for checking PMP certification criteria is the foundation of this high credit granted by companies. Because an employer will be aware that a PMP certification holder has fulfilled the stringent PMP certification standards, demonstrating a specific degree of project management knowledge and practice.

 

Who can get the PMP certification?

Before you sit for the PMP Certification examination, the Project Management Institute needs you to satisfy the following preliminary criteria.

Here is thorough information on the PMP Certification Requirements to make obtaining the most widely recognized project management certification less stressful and more accessible.

• • • Experience in years: 

If you worked on multiple projects that overlapped in a single month, only one of those projects can count toward your experience requirement. It doesn’t matter if the portion of your project management job was unpaid as long as you obtained experience in a professional setting

Note: School or personal projects, such as arranging your own wedding, do not count.

• • • Experience in hours:

Before registering for PMP certification, you must spend some time understanding the ins and outs of project management. This requirement is satisfied by any course, workshop, or training session that covers key project management precepts and gives an evaluation or certificate of completion. Prepare to provide the titles of the courses completed, the institutions and dates attended, and the qualifying hours earned (PDUs). Contact hours you’ve earned do not have an expiration date.

Below table is a breakdown of PMI’s PMP requirements:

Eligibility Requirements	Project Management Experience	Project Management Education
Secondary degree	5 years (60 months)	35 hours of contact
4-year degree	3 years (36 months)	35 hours of contact
4-year or post-graduate degree from a GAC- accredited school	2 years (24 months)	35 hours of contact