START

FROM
SCRATCH
PMP
GUIDE
 Table of Contents

How to Use This Guide 4

Section 1 5
Getting Started 5
PMP and PMBOK 7
History of PMP Certification 8
Evolving PMBOK Guide 9
Responsibilities of the PMI (www.pmi.
org) 10
The Prometric (www.prometric.com/
PMI) 11
Training Providers 11
Section 2 12
Why PMP is Important to Your Career 12
Section 3 16
The PMP Credential 16
PMP Experience And Education
Requirements 16
Project Management Education 18
Fee Structure For PMP Credentials 20
Section 4 22
Preparation and PMBOK 22
Choose Your Training Options 23
Tips to Gain The Right Knowledge 24
Choosing Your Training Provider 29
Section 5 33
PMP Application Process 33
Step 1 – Review 33
Step 2 – Filling Your Application Form 34
Step 3 - Application Processing and
Approval 35
Step 4 – Make your fee payments 35
Step 5 – Prepare for application audits 36
Step 6 - Eligibility Duration 36
Section 6 37
PMP Exam Experience 37
The Testing Venue 37
The Tutorial 38
The Exam 39
Costly Mistakes To Avoid 41
Section 7 44
Maintaining Your PMP Credentials 44
Tracking and reporting PDUs 46
 How to Use This Guide
I know you are interested in the PMP Certification or would like
to learn more about its importance. Congratulations, you are
reading the PMP guide that will set you up for PMP success.
This guide will quickly help you gain clarity about everything
you need to become PMP certified. You will also learn about its
importance to your career and the modern business world. This
guide is comprehensive, quick to read, practical, and filled with
up-to-date knowledge to get you started on the right foot.
With this guide, you can quickly go through the tenets of the
PMP certification. This is essential to successfully becoming
certified in this enjoyable and financially rewarding field. You will
find this guide super-beneficial to your journey to becoming a
Project Management Professional.
I’ve created it with absolute care and attention to detail. I hope
you will find it a useful companion as you prepare for the highly-
focused and immersive PMP course and exam.
All you need do is schedule an hour of your time, settle down to a
warm cup of coffee or tea, and of course, your note to take down
a few points. Feel free to start with any section of this guide as
you begin the journey of transforming your career.
To your continued success,
Lorna Davis.

4
SECTION 1

Getting Started
Project Management Professional
(PMP) is an internationally recognized
certification for project management.
As a project manager, acquiring the
Project Management Certification can
transform your career. It is the de-facto
standard and the most coveted for
project managers across the globe.
It is also fast becoming a mandatory
requirement for project managers
in diverse organizations for apparent
reasons.

If you consider that the services

or products organizations offer to
their customers can be “projects,”
you realize that achieving those
projects relies on functional units
(departments). For instance, a given
organization might have marketing,
finance, human resources, and
IT departments. Every day, these
departments will engage in different
activities to meet the organization’s
goal.

5
What’s more, these projects aren’t usually routine activities. They can
change when companies need to expand, comply with new regulations and
policies, meet their ever-dynamic customer base, innovate, modify existing
systems, and lots more. Hence, a project is a temporary endeavor to achieve
a particular result. The success of projects impacts every organization’s
ability to stay relevant in an ever-competitive business world. Regardless
of the industry or sector, project management is crucial to its success and
survival.

Therefore, you can understand the need for professional competence and
in-direct regulations such as certifications to such fields. Suppose project
managers have no idea about the proper guidelines. How can they help
their employers or clients achieve their goals? If there are no guidelines,
higher costs, unnecessary extensions, lost clients, and bad reputations
become the norm.

Expert collaborations, rapid turnarounds, lower costs, and higher profit

margins begin from how well-organized projects are done.

Therefore, you will find that you become in-demand in almost any industry
once you have your PMP certification.

Most importantly, becoming a PMP can also change how you approach
your personal and professional goals. It helps you achieve one of the most
vital skills - self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy is a valuable skill that can help you become a leader in your
chosen field in the future. Now you realize just how essential the PMP
certification can be.

6
PMP and PMBOK
The Project Management Institute (PMI) provides PMP certification to
ensure project managers have the proper guidelines for their fields. The
PMI co-ordinates the PMP based on the Project Management Body of
Knowledge (PMBOK). PMBOK is a framework that provides best practices
through the concepts of due process, openness, and consensus for
accomplishing specific project management outcomes. Naturally, the best
practices change occasionally because the world is ever more dynamic. This
is why the most recent PMBOK Guide has guidelines on concepts such as
Agile in business environments that are VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex,
and Ambiguous).

The PMI offers immense

value through its standards,
guides, and credentials
to over 2.9 million
professionals worldwide.
The PMI validates the
project management
knowledge of
professionals at
different levels
with the PMP and
CAPM (Certified
Associate in Project
Management)
exam. People
with project
management
experience can
apply for the PMP,
while beginners can
opt for the CAPM.

7
History of PMP Certification
The PMI (Project Management Institute) came into existence in 1969 to
help advance the science of Project Management, uphold professional
accountability, and develop standards for the industry. Today, it is one of
the leading not-for-profit professional membership associations for project
management professionals.

Perhaps the PMP Certification began with the ESA (Project Management:
Ethics Standards, Accreditation) Report published in 1983 in Project
Management Quarterly (now called Project Management Journal). In
this report, the ESA emphasized the need for a Code of Ethics for project
management. This framework will provide recognition and standards
of entry into the project management profession. The ESA report also
presented the work of the ESA Project, which was critical to helping
the field of project management transition into a project management
profession. Therefore, the report gave rise to an important concept,
recognized by the body of knowledge of project management (PMBOK),
and has continuously evolved over the years. These reports identified six
areas of expertise:

1. Quality management
2. Scope management
3. Communication management
4. Time management
5. Cost management
6. Human resources
management

8
By December 1983, a survey in the first report of the Certification
Committee (appearing in the December 1983 edition of PMQ) revealed 86
percent of PMI members favored some type of certification program. By
March 1984, the PMJ featured a detailed report (The Project Management
Professional (PMP) Program: Certifying Project Managers) outlining the
process of certification with key points towards service, experience, and
education. And so, fifteen years after the PMI was created, a handful of
Project Managers became the first to become PMP certified. By 2007,
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) stamped the seal
of ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation on the PMP Certification, officially
providing its global acceptance.

As a candidate for the PMP Credential, you need to have specific

education and experience requirements and pass an in-depth exam.
However, maintaining your credentials demands earning Professional
Development Units (PDU), which I will discuss in a later section.

Evolving PMBOK
Guide
Besides the PMP, the PMBOK Guide
was first published by the PMI
in 1996. The PMBOK Guide is the
official document that guides the
advancement of project management.

The project began in 1981, following

the need for PMP certification. It was
meant to help develop concepts and
procedures to promote the project
management profession. Since
then, every 4 to 5 years, the PMBOK
Guide is updated. By September
1999, the PMBOK Guide became an
ANSI Standard (ANSI/PMI 99-001-
1999), thereby becoming a standard
language for industries, academia, and
government worldwide. Nevertheless,
even as PMI estimates over 20 million
professionals working as project
managers, there are only 5% with the
certification.

9
Responsibilities of the
PMI (www.pmi.org)

The PMI is responsible for:

• Approving your PMP application

• Generating the audit request

• Validating your continuing

education requirements

• Giving you the eligibility ID

• Offering annual membership

In addition to the PMP certification,

the PMI also offers seven other
certificates, including:

1. PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-

SP)

2. PMI Risk Management Professional

(PMI-RMP)

3. Program Management Professional

(PgMP)

4. Portfolio Management Professional

(PfMP)

5. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner

(PMP-ACP)

6. PMI Professional in Business

Analysis (PMI-PBA

7. Certified Associate in Project

Management (CAPM)

Through academic research and thought leadership, they produce diverse

global practice standards. Currently, there are PMI chapters in about 80
countries.

10
The Prometric (www.
prometric.com/PMI)
Prometrics is responsible for scheduling and administering exams. They
provide project management certification exams all year round. However,
you need to have your PMI eligibility ID and approved PMI application
before scheduling your Prometric exams. Bear in mind that you must also
ensure you can find a seat at the nearest test center. Prometric sites usually
fill up quickly for Friday and Saturday appointments, which is evident as
most professionals tend to work half-days on such days. Therefore, you
might likely get your seats for other weekdays, but if you prefer Friday and
Saturday, ensure you schedule two to three weeks in advance. People may
also cancel at the last minute, so you can equally check for available seats
occasionally.

Training Providers
PMI and Prometrics are crucial to getting
your PMP certification. However, there
is a third role to fill - your actual training.
Usually, you can train at a local college,
university, or PMI chapter. You can equally
enroll with generalized and specialized
training companies. There are many
training firms out there that are PMI
Registered Education Providers (R.E.P).
To qualify, they usually undergo periodic
quality reviews by the PMI.

But, having a REP does not always

guarantee the quality of the training
program. It helps you eliminate
organizations that are unwilling to invest
in having their materials reviewed by PMI.
You shouldn’t rely on the PMI designation
alone to help you select the right training
provider. There are too many out there,
so it is up to you to carefully make your
selections. In the latter section, I will discuss
the most crucial things to look out for when
selecting the right training provider. While
your investment in time and effort to train
is always the ultimate, the right training
provider can help you set your foot in the
right direction.

11
SECTION 2

Why PMP is
Important to
Your Career
Becoming a PMP requires
considerable time, money, and
effort, but these commitment
levels pay tremendously. As
earlier described, the PMP
certification is the gold standard
of the project management
certification. Let’s look at it in
detail so you can get a feel of its
awesome perks:

Lots of Opportunities
Estimates suggest that Project Management job opportunities will reach
approximately 15.7 million by 2020. PMI talents equally indicate that
these numbers will reach $87.7 million soon alongside a 37% increase in
project-intensive industries, including IT, construction, ONG, finance, and
manufacturing. Let these numbers sink in for a moment.

Compare this to the current number of Project Managers with PMP

certifications as of October 2020, which is 1 million globally. This means that
you have more power to choose the most attractive positions.

Credibility
Perhaps, your reputation and experience precede you - your PMP
certification can do a lot more. It endorses your Project Management
knowledge without sentiment, bias, or prejudice. Over 200 countries also
adopt the PMP framework, so your certification is valuable almost anywhere
in the world. Regardless of the industry, your prospective employers will
have no reason to doubt your abilities and skills. Therefore, it makes your
resume depict you as an authority on the subject, and consequently, a
trustworthy expert.

12
Attractive Pay
According to Earning Power, Project
Management Salary Survey (9th Ed.),
your PMP certification may help
you earn 20 percent more than your
uncertified peers. Now you realize that
more companies are giving hiring
preferences to PMPs. Still, there are a
limited number of PMP professionals.
Therefore, nothing should stop you
from getting certified.

Global Knowledge
Organizations are increasingly
embarking on a myriad of projects
to remain relevant in their given
industries. What’s more, they are no
longer thinking of local customers
but global expansion. Therefore,
as a project manager, you must be
proficient in the worldwide standard
language of Project management to
become profoundly relevant to your
organization.

PMP training gives you this knowledge

across diverse concepts, including
risk management, controlling
assumptions, prioritizing, and
understanding the constraints
stakeholders must operate with.
The PMP will make it easier for you
to communicate with vendors,
clients, and departments within your
organizations. When you know the
common language and can wield it,
you will spend more time collaborating
than explaining your activities.

13
Networking opportunities
Becoming a PMP begins with registering to be a member of the PMI.
Here, you will find a world of certified Project Managers. The institute
also develops meetings frequently across major cities alongside virtual
meetups. There are many opportunities to network with others and secure
connections that might be beneficial in the future.

Leverage
Before you can write the PMP exam, you must fulfill a set of requirements
that employers hold in high esteem. For instance, one remarkable criterion
demands you have hundreds of hours of gaining experience. There is also a
rigorous audit process during the certification process. Therefore, when you
have the PMP on your resume, potential employers will instantly consider
the amount of work you have done to secure the certification.

Competitive Advantage
You will be required to maintain your PMP certification. Therefore, you stand
a chance of being frequently updated on the latest situations. You will learn
about the newest best practices, which will substantially improve outcomes
for you.

14
Valuable Assets
As said earlier, project management is highly beneficial to
the growth of any business entity. The knowledge of project
management techniques can help businesses quickly and
efficiently accomplish milestones and projects.

According to research, projects managed without using

contemporary project management methodologies have
a 75 percent failure rate. Although project management
techniques are necessary for professionals with that title,
it also extends across boards. IT experts with in-depth
knowledge of the field can access high paying positions.
The same goes for professionals working in engineering,
facilities management, customer service, human resources,
legal, marketing, and lots more. Overall, obtaining a PMP
credential can be the vital element that will guide you
towards successful career paths.

15
SECTION 3

The PMP Credential

Because the PMP does extraordinary work in providing a global language
for project management, it is ideal that their measures are rigorous.
Therefore, you must meet a certain level of knowledge in project
management to be eligible for the certification. Thus, the PMP is very
strict about the application and audit process by providing guidelines for
education and experience requirements.

PMP Experience
And Education
Requirements
Concerning experience and
education, there are two pathways
to become eligible for the PMP
certification exam. The first is the
degree approach and the other a
secondary degree.

Category 1
In this case, you must have
concluded a four-year Bachelor’s
degree, alongside over 4500 hours
(36 months or 3+ years) on project
management in terms of experience.
You also need 35 hours of project
management education.

16
Category 2
Suppose you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. In that case, you require a
high school diploma or associate degree or their equivalent to be eligible.
You must also have a minimum of 7500 hours (60 months or 5+ years)
experience in project management. Additionally, you need 35 hours of
project management education.

Project Management Experience

While the time duration is exact, you must also be aware of the different
kinds of project activities that can be considered. First of all, you don’t have
to have the project manager title already. However, you must show hours
spent on a project managed related tasks in all three project management
domains:

1. People

2. Process

3. Business Environment

You don’t need all three domains in each project, but your hours submitted
should cut across all of them. These projects should also have occurred
in the last eight years, and there should be no duplicates. PMI will also
not accept more than 40 hours every week, even if you spend more than
that working. You should also consider paid time off, administrative time,
vacation, and lots more when assessing your hours.

I recommend keeping your application completely simple. There is no need

to include additional projects once you have reached the experience criteria.
Equally, the PMP application has no space for other projects, nor are there
extra credits.

17
Project
Management
Education
Now you may be wondering,
how do I fulfill the 35 hours
of Project Management
Education required for the
PMP exam? In the previous
section, we talked about
colleges, universities, and
training companies. Your
PMP certification training
with any of these parties will
fulfill these requirements. The
right training will help you
prepare effectively for your
PMP exam and understand
project management concepts
and established practices. You
will also gain robust support
from the experts who can be
instrumental in scoring high
on the PMP at the PMP exam’s
first shot. The course hours
include cost, resources, risk,
procurement, communications,
scope, schedule, and
integration management. You
must complete the course
entirely, including its training
sessions, workshops, and other
tasks assigned to you.

In general, let’s talk about

what constitutes your project
management education:

18
1. Formal and clear about the entire scope of the PMP certification. Even if
you also attend other courses that interest you, it will not count towards
your PMP certification training hours. Formal also means it must be a class
handled by a reputable institution.

2. Your time requirement does not mean a single course. You can use several
courses to make up for your needs.

3. Your 35 hours are not hours spent on your own but hours spent receiving
training or instruction. For instance, if you spent 9 am to 2 pm attending
a project management course but had a 1-hour break in-between, your
contact hours are 3 hours and not 4 hours.

4. In the end, you will need complete and authoritative documentation to

show and validate your studies. These documents include transcripts,
course descriptions, course syllabus, certificates, and test results.

5. You will also need to self-study, but this does not count towards your 35
contact hours. Instructional hours only matter when a reputable vendor is
involved.

6. Not all instructions received are valid. For instance, if you attended a PMI
Chapter dinner meeting or other PMI-led sessions, it will not count to your
instructional hours, as long as they are not conducted as a PMP learning
activity.

7. MBA or Master’s degree programs may not count as well. You must
provide valid documents to show the number of hours spent on the
established PMP syllabus scope.

8. Ensure that your PMP course is structured. Structured learning will

eliminate confusion about the tasks, skills, and knowledge you need. It
will also make it easier for you to gather all the ideas learned together and
apply them in the real world.

Caution!
Online courses are super convenient and flexible. But, you must be
careful. Ensure your online course has an “end of course assessment”
before the certificate is given to you. Otherwise, training hours using
that course aren’t valid.

Remember:
Your training providers can only do so much; the hard work and dedication to your
dreams remain yours. You should be willing to spend beyond 35 hours practicing,
testing, and building your knowledge carefully. Typically, the time spent on your
own may be at least 12 - 16 weeks preparing for the exam. Ensure you create a PMP
study plan and stick to it. Aim for at least 30 minutes during weekdays and up to 6
hours over the weekend studying for your exams.

19
Fee Structure For
PMP Credentials
Apart from the eligibility requirements, some fees are directly and indirectly
involved with your PMP Certification. I have separated these fees into costs
for the PMP certification training and the PMP exam fee. You may or may
not require paying for PMI membership. Let’s look at these costs in detail.

35 hours Of PMP Certification Training

The PMP Certification training does not have a fixed cost, as the practice
varies according to the approach you choose. You may attend a visible class
or enroll for an online PMP Certification training. Your country will also
determine the cost, and it usually ranges from $500 to $2000.

PMP Exam fee

Your application for the PMP exam in a Prometric test center also attracts
a fee. Your PMP exam fee is $405 for members of PMI and $555 for non-
members. If your first attempt isn’t a success, you may have to apply for
reexamination. Non-PMI members pay $375 while members pay $275 for
reexamination.

PMI Membership
From the PMP Exam fee, you realize that you don’t have to be a PMI
member to apply for the PMP Exam. However, there is a glaring difference
in the amounts you must pay for the certification.

As a PMI member, you will also receive the latest edition of the PMBOK free
of charge. Overall, you can spend almost an extra $750 if you are not a PMI
member. This is notwithstanding the enormous networking opportunities
and recognition that the PMI can give you. Bear in mind that your
membership fees may be lower depending on the circumstances. The PMI
offers three kinds of membership:

• Student member - As long as you are a full-time student at a University

or college, you can pay $32 to join and $32 for renewal.

• Individual members - Individual members pay a $10 application fee plus

$129 for membership.

• Retiree member - If you are retired but still actively involved, the PMI
offers a special package for you. You simply need to renew it for just $65.

• Being a member will also entitle you to other discounts, products, digital
and member-only information on PMI.org.

20
Eligibility Duration
I recommend starting your PMP
training earnestly before or after
applying. Once you have received
approval to embark on the PMP exam,
you have just a year to take the test. If
the test window expires, you must pay
and apply again. Of course, you can ask
for a refund, but PMI will deduct $200
for processing costs.

Key Pointers
1. PMI will audit you before approving
your application. This process is
to validate the documents you
submitted for the program. The
audits can happen at any time.
To have a seamless audit process,
ensure you are always prepared.
This means you should stick to
education or experience, so you can
quickly produce the appropriate
documents to verify them.

2. PMI will not send the results of your

audit until you have paid your PMP
credential fees.

3. Your documents for Project

management experience must
have at least one for every domain
(people, process, and business
environment)

4. Your education has a limit. It should

be no later than the last eight years.

5. When applying online, you need

a PMI login. This login can also
save your application for 30 days,
especially if you don’t complete it
immediately. Please note that there
is no actual button to save; you only
have to exit your browser.

21
SECTION 4

Preparation and PMBOK

The PMBOK guide contains the techniques, tools, and processes that
project managers require and further breaks them into various stages. You
will need this document not just for the PMP exam but in the real world.
Even though it appears to be a comprehensive source of information for
PMP certification, it truly isn’t. The PMBOK guide provides only half the
information you need to read from other relevant sources, but the PMI does
not offer this “list.”

The PMBOK Guide provides just the basics, but in a tedious and incredibly
tricky approach. The information is entirely technical, so the average reader
or someone trying it out for the first time may find it very difficult to
understand the different concepts.

The principles in this guide are also meant to be practiced in reality, but
you may find it hard to see how that could happen in the first few tries. This
is because there are ten knowledge areas in the guide, which cover the
techniques and tools. However, reality calls for process groups (initiating,
planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing processes).

Looking at these crucial facts, you must realize that you cannot rely on the
PMBOK Guide at all. I recommend using a vast range of study aids, exam
preparation texts, and lots more. But, you can return to the PMBOK Guide
to carefully read and digest all of its information at some point. Completing
projects can equally help you prepare for the exam. You shouldn’t limit
yourself to theoretical methods, but equally experiment.

22
Choose Your
Training Options
Before studying, you need to have a clear view of “how, what, and where”
your studies will take you. This is especially vital for your PMP certification
training. One such aspect of making that choice would be concerning
fulfilling your 35 hours of Project Management Education. Besides
screening training providers, you need to know what learning style works for
you. We all function differently, and finding your ideal approach will ensure
you meet your goals. For instance, self-paced online certification courses
cost less than instructor-led physical classrooms. But everyone doesn’t have
the willpower to accomplish their needs if they aren’t led in that direction.
So, if that person follows the online approach, it might not be beneficial and
might lead to catastrophic consequences. You need to figure out how you
like to learn, the amount of time you can invest, and your ideal budget.

1 Classroom courses
If you love learning in groups
or require classroom energy for
motivation, this is your ideal choice.
Here, there are no other distractions,
and you can even cover materials in
a shorter period. But, this method
is often expensive. You may have
to sacrifice personal obligations
(especially if you are equally working
in a full-time position) to meet
these demands. You will still require
learning on your own to prepare
appropriately.

2 Instructor-led online
courses
You can log in here for the course at
a specific time. It works just like the
classroom, but you can be anywhere.
You can equally ask and receive
answers from your instructor in real-
time. Although such courses provide
flexibility to be anywhere, there
are time restrictions. You must be
available at specific times with other
students.

23
3 Self-paced online courses
You can take online courses anywhere. You don’t need to be in the same
room with an instructor and may not have access to them in real-time. It is
highly flexible and cost-effective. You can always go back to videos, audio,
and text in the courses repeatedly. This provides a great way to understand
concepts as reading the same materials more than once can help you fully
grasp their concepts. Our PMP Training Course provide a layout of all that
you need to know to be a Maverick in this game.However, you need the
discipline to use this method effectively. Still, I have a solution. I
recommend reaching out to other students involved in the learning
process. Most training providers have online social communities. You can
build your own study group. That way, you enjoy the benefits of a cost-
effective approach while gaining the discipline and motivation of working
with others.

4 Self-study
Self-study happens during your own time. It is required, regardless of any
other learning approaches you choose. However, some people still prefer
learning in groups, even during personal times. I recommend reaching out
to other students learning at the same time with you under your training
provider. You can meet up virtually or physically to motivate each other on
the right path. Nevertheless, always remember that self-study can never fill
the requirement for 35 contact hours of learning.

Tips to Gain
The Right
Knowledge
The PMP Exam is famous for
being incredibly challenging.
Nonetheless, there are a few
easy steps you can take to
make everything go smoothly.

24
Tip 1: Have a clear plan
The best way to prepare for your PMP exam is to develop a clear and realistic
plan. To create such a plan, you must first understand your strengths and
weaknesses. Through my years of experience, I have discovered that we
all approach the same thing differently. While some people can rely on an
exam prep Bootcamp without doing much on their own and still succeed,
others require rigorous and repetitive training to get there. Still, others may
have challenges succeeding because they underestimate or struggle with
exam anxiety. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will help you create
a concrete strategy that works best for you. I recommend approaching your
plan as you would a project:

• Define the materials you want to study

• Set tiny targets or milestones to help you measure your progress

• Have a precise date for your exam, and prepare strictly according to that
date

• Or download our project plan schedule (located here) with detail steps
to help you stay on track.

Now, to determine what works for you, consider this:

• What other obligations do you have, and how much time can you devote
to studying?

• What about tests? Do I struggle with anxiety?

• How much experience and knowledge do I have about the PMBOK

Guide and applying its concepts?

• Should I aim for an extended or compressed timeline?

• What other credentials do I have before now? How can the knowledge I
gain help me prepare for the PMP credential?

25
Tip 2: Go beyond your PMBOK Guide
PMP’s format is not entirely black and white. Even so, although the PMBOK
Guide forms the basis of the exam, PMI states that you should reference
“other relevant sources.” However, PMI does not list or identify what
these relevant sources are. Therefore, you should prepare profoundly and
thoroughly.

I recommend beginning by scanning the PMBOK Guide. My emphasis on

“scanning” because the PMBOK Guide is an awful and overly technical read
with no quick way to visualize how you can put your knowledge to practice.
However, the reason for the scan is to help you have an overview of the
knowledge area. That way, you can approach your PMP exam preparation by
using the book chapters as “phases.”

Next, consider using additional PMP exam prep books and other study aids.
I believe you should go in-depth on every concept, whether mentioned in
detail or briefly in the PMBOK Guide. Be sure to return to the PMBOK Guide
from time to time. Aim to study it thoroughly and carefully at least two to
three times to understand the concepts and apply them practically.

Tip 3: Have a concrete view of how to study and pass your

PMP exam
I love learning through books. For some, it’s about using videos, graphics, or
podcasts. Understanding what works for you will help you develop a plan
that helps you succeed. Beyond that, you must:

• Be disciplined and consistent.

• Gain a solid understanding of principles, terminologies, and approach

surrounding the PMBOK Guide

• Have successfully handled similar difficult tests.

Even if you have a hectic schedule, it is always vital to complete your

schedule. For instance, you can consider reading or listening to audio
instructions during your lunch breaks or commute. According to experts,
studying at least an hour or two every day is much more useful than
working longer hours on weekends. Therefore, I recommend the daily
practice, especially if you struggle to remember concepts after being
away for two days. By studying daily, you make your understanding of
concepts become “habits.” That way, you can easily apply concepts when
facing mind-boggling questions that require strategic thinking to find the
answers.

26
Tip 4: Aim to know the
terminologies too
Understanding the fundamental
lexicon is equally crucial to
passing your PMP exam because
it will make it easier to understand
the questions set before you.
In truth, it goes beyond that.
As a project manager, the PMP
certification helps you understand
the common vocabulary used
across borders, technical
disciplines, and industries.
Therefore, you must study the
vocabulary carefully. This requires
dedication, discipline, and time.
For this purpose, I recommend
that you study vocabulary daily
and repetitively. Secondly, study
in tiny bits, but follow a systematic
approach. Take time to go over
and review older words retained
from time to time to ensure you
have them stored.

Tip 5: Have an accountability partner

For some, studying alone is pure joy; for others, highly challenging. If you
fall into the latter category, consider studying with a partner. However, be
careful about working in study groups. Not everyone can work within study
groups, especially if they cannot synthesize a large amount of information
and applying knowledge through scenario-based questions. You can try
out study groups or work with a study partner and determine if it works for
you. Also, ensure that your study group’s facilitator has recently been tested
on the most recent exam version or understands the latest version of the
exam.

27
Tip 6: Use Study Notes
Study notes are outstanding and have proven to be quite a great way to
replicate formulas, facts, concepts, and lots more. I recommend that you
create your study notes in these steps:

• Create study notes after the second read of each “phase,” so you are not
merely copying down what is already contained in the material before
you but making them a part of your memory.

• Review your notes and update them as you go through the phases yet
again.

• Continue updating and reviewing your notes until your exam.

• Download my PMP toolkit used by the best project management

professional in the industry.

Tip 7: Practice, Practice, Practice

Always remember that understanding the “theory” doesn’t mean you
know it. Take advantage of practicing PMP exams to help yourself become
familiar and confident in answering questions. However, you shouldn’t aim
to look at practice exams as simply answering “typical” questions. It should
help you understand the different types of exam questions, content, format,
and the best approach to structure your answer. They should equally help
you better apply your theories to real-world scenarios. Ideally, you should
approach each practice session with a time limit, and your notes or books
should be nowhere around you. Ultimately, when you become comfortable
answering up to 200 questions in four hours and gain vast experience
answering a random mix of question types, it becomes easy to face your
exam without anxiety.

28
Tip 8: Create a structured exam plan
Beyond setting a date for your exam and working towards it, you should
create a strategy for answering your exam questions. Many successful
candidates have used this system:

• On the first scan, usually within the first two hours, answer the questions
you immediately know the answer to, i.e., questions that require short
answers.

• On the second scan, attempt longer questions you must have marked as
having good knowledge of them during your first scan.

• For the third and final scan, review unanswered questions and answer
them. Your ultimate goal is to leave no questions unanswered.

Bonus Tip: I recommend creating a data dump within the first

few minutes of your exam. A data dump is made of facts, formulas,
terminologies, and lots more. A data dump will help you quickly set the
pace for your learning, so you only have to “lookup” the information and
use it without worrying about remembering them when the questions
arise.

Choosing Your
Training Provider
At an earlier stage, we talked about
the need to choose a reputable
training provider. The right training
provider for your 35 contact hours
and exam preparation needs is
essential. No one wants to be stuck
reading outdated information.
Beyond that, you need to clarify
whether the learning materials and
approach work according to your
preference. Therefore, before you
sign up for an instructor-led class,
here are some questions to ask your
training provider.

29
1. What is your BBB rating?
Your provider’s Better Business
Burea ratings and reviews are
among the most authentic ways to
know if they are reputable. Beyond
their accreditation, BBB issues
ratings according to verified listings
and feedbacks from past students.
You should know that there have
been top-ranking prep providers
with the “F” scores. Therefore, BBB
rating can help you weed out those
providers that can only waste your
time, despite their flashy outlook.

2. Will an instructor be
assigned to my class?
Some training providers only hire
an instructor after they meet their
enrollment minimum for a class.
From a business perspective, that
seems okay. However, you need an
instructor that has made a great
deal of preparation. That way, they
can be versed in the most current
information. If your instructor is
already available, ask to be able
to contact your instructor before
the class. The answer should
always be a “Yes.” Getting access
to your instructor means they are
already working to meet the class’s
expectations. Once you have their
details, please verify their credentials
through the PMI Credential Registry.

30
3. Will you assist me with my PMI credential application?
A good exam prep program will recognize that exam prep is not just about
learning the PMI concepts. The PMP application is rigorous and the first
critical step to success. Therefore, your provider must have the experience
and be ready to help you with your application, primarily reflecting your
experience in your application.

4. Are you a Project Management Institute “Registered

Education Provider” (R. E. P)?
Ensure that your education provider has the approval to provide project
management training and exam preparation courses. That way, your 35
hours of education will count.

5. Do you offer pre-course learning before the 35 hours class

itself?
Although this is not mandatory, many providers may offer pre-course
learning. This is such an excellent option that helps you get a taste of what
they can do for you in action. For most, these introductory classes may
happen online.

6. Does your course satisfy the requirements for 35 contacts

project management education?
In most cases, training providers may simply tell you that their materials
are “detailed,” “extensive,” “robust,” or “comprehensive.” But, you don’t
need words but the actual proof. Therefore, you should scrutinize their
coursebook, exercises, practice questions, authors behind their coursebook,
the last update, and many more. If your potential provider responds
with statements that their questions are based on actual tests, then you
must know that they are fraudulent. The PMI does not release actual test
questions under any circumstances.

31
7. What is your course “guarantee”?
Although no company can guarantee your exam’s success, some companies
guarantee to pay your reexamination fees or refund you on the course
costs. Be sure to read the fine print so you know what to expect from your
potential provider.

8. Are meals a part of the course cost?

Although this seems like a small thing, it rarely is. Ensure you understand
whether your provider will provide breakfast and lunch or only add the
meals as an extra fee to your course fee.

9. Can I get a list of past students who have taken the course
and those that failed?
When given the list, verify the students that passed and the students that
failed. Look up how they handled the “guarantees” when asked to pay-up.
You can find the answers to your question by looking up their students’
profiles on LinkedIn. Next, double-check through the PMI credential
training.

10. Will you provide personal recommendations on my

readiness for the exam?
The right training provider will work with you beyond your 35 contact hours.
Their work goes beyond the instructor-led classes and will assess you and
provide honest feedback on your exam readiness.

11. What do other online reviews say about their program?

Look out for the reviews made by students on their social media pages,
especially LinkedIn. There are also verified review platforms you can check,
such as Trustpilot, Angie’s List, and so on.

32
SECTION 5

PMP Application Process

Ready to begin your application? The PMP exam application process is
now easier than ever. Before now, the application used to be over 30 pages
long, but as of 22nd of July 2020, PMI released a new and unified online
application with only four pages. However, you must be careful about
each step you take. Do remember that PMI may contact your employer
(including former employers) and verifiers to authenticate the information
received. Therefore, you should inform them in advance that you are
applying for the PMP certification.

Step 1 – Review
First, you need to make sure you are eligible to apply. Already, I have shared
with you all you need to apply in the earlier sections. This step ensures you
cross all dots leaving no room for errors. To review, visit PMI.org and verify
eligibility.

33
Step 2 – Filling Your
Application Form
Once you are sure of your quality, begin your application right there on their
website. Simply go back to the PMI Homepage, choose “Certifications,” and
then “Project Management Professional.” Select “Apply Now” from the right-
hand navigation bar and begin!

Please note that you will have about 90 days to complete your application
once you begin. Generally, your application is divided into three main
sections:

1. The first section requires your general information (contact address,

attained education, contact information, etc.)

2. The second asks about your project management experience

3. The third needs your 35 contact hours training details.

Download my PMP Application Calculator to help track your progress

before submitting your application.

As you fill out each project or training, you can also view your progress in the
“Eligibility Worksheet.”

Note: You also require an “organization contact.” This individual will verify
your experience with a hardcopy signature.

Make ample use of your 90 days to review your information to ensure every
detail is entirely correct. Ensure your experience descriptions carefully. You
have only 350 – 550 characters to describe your projects, so make every
character count. We recommend that you fill this area with this structure:

1. A short description of your project objective

2. Summarize Project deliverables by process group (Initiating, planning,

executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing)

3. Write a description of the project outcome in one sentence.

4. Avoid using words such as ongoing, support, maintenance, etc.

5. Avoid using too many acronyms or technical jargon. You can reference
your PMBOK® terminology for some jargon you can use, but do not use too
many of them.

6. Do not provide coincidental experiences

Finally, before submission, ensure you have read and agreed to the PMI
Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct and the Certification Agreement/
Renewal Agreement. You can exit the application at any time. Don’t forget
that there is no save button. However, proceed to the next screen, not
because you wish to fill in the information there, but to drive the system to
“save” your entries. Your information will be intact on that page for 30 days.

34
Step 3 - Application
Processing and Approval
Generally, PMI takes 5 to 7 working days to completely process and review
your application. During this time, PMI can contact you via email if you
missed anything during your application. During peak periods, application
review may take several weeks (up to six weeks.) Generally, there are three
potential emails applicants receive at this time:

Approved: Your application has been approved, with instructions to pay

the exam fees.

Rejected: Application rejected due to insufficient requirements met.

Rejected for missing information: Application rejected pending
some missing information, which will be requested in the email.

Step 4 – Make your

fee payments
Once your application is accepted and
approved, you will be asked to pay your
exam fee. As I said earlier, the fee is $555
for non-PMI members and $405 for PMI
members. Once you have made the
payment, you will receive PMI’s response
with an Eligibility Letter containing the
information you can use to schedule your
exam at www.prometric.com.

35
Step 5 – Prepare for
application audits
PMI randomly picks about 25% of audit applications. Therefore, in some
cases, you may receive an audit notification instead of your eligibility ID.
Since audits are random, ensure that you can provide evidence of your
application’s information upon request. If you are selected for audit, PMI will
provide instructions on the steps to take, which includes:

1. You will be asked to print out the PDF experience verification sheets

2. You will need to provide a verification sheet for your “organization

control,” which was entered into your application

3. Verifiers will need to sign the sheet, place the sheet into a sealed
envelope, and sign again at the back of the envelope.

4. Next, put together your college transcript, your experience verification

sheets, your training transcripts or certificate, or both, and send in one
envelope to PMI. We recommend using priority mail so that you can
track your mail efficiently.

5. In three to five business days, PMI will send your eligibility ID once you
are cleared.

Step 6 - Eligibility Duration

After receiving your Eligibility ID, you have one year period to take the test.
When this window expires, you may have to apply and pay the credential
fee again. Therefore, if you do not wish to take the test after the approval,
you can apply for a partial refund. PMI will retain $200 for processing
expenses.

36
SECTION 6

PMP Exam Experience

The Testing Venue

As mentioned earlier, your PMP exam
will be at the nearest Prometric test
center in your location. Therefore, you
must verify your center’s location and
expect bad driving conditions (e.g.,
rush-hour traffic or driving through
a blizzard)—plan to arrive at least 30
minutes earlier than the scheduled
time.

Before you are allowed into the testing

room, you will be asked to roll up your
sleeves, reverse your pockets, and be
checked with a metal detector wand.
This is meant to help safeguard the
credibility of the exam.

For the exam, you will be provided

with a booklet of papers and many
pencils. Some centers may also provide
a calculator, others may refuse. If you
are not given a calculator, ask. Some
testing venues also allow headphones,
which many find useful, to get rid of all
sounds. That way, they can concentrate
solely on the questions before them.

Do note that gum, drink, or food are

not allowed into the testing game.
You can also use the restroom or take
breaks to go out for water or snack
breaks. But, your time will continue to
run during this period. Also, note that
some testing rooms may have a delay
in logging you back in.

37
The Tutorial
Before the exam, you will
have fifteen minutes to
attempt a tutorial before the
PMP. This tutorial will help
you become comfortable
with the actual test before it
begins.

The Exam
The PMP exam includes 180 questions
(The previous exam was 200), which
you must answer within 230 minutes
(The previous exam was 240 minutes).
There are no scheduled breaks. If you
decide to take the exam remotely
you will be allotted two 10 minute
breaks. The exam is available in over
13 different languages worldwide and
generally follows this percentage for all
domains:

1. People– 42%

2. Process– 50%

3. Business Environment– 8%

You must also fully understand

the code of ethics and professional
conduct for PMP professionals.

Tip: keep in mind that content will

cover predictive (aka waterfall),
agile (aka adaptive), and hybrid
approach.

38
Once your test begins, you will be presented with each question, one at a
time. For each question, you can either:

• Answer the question

• Mark for review

• Leave blank

You can also move forward or backward through questions as quickly as you
proceed. After the last question, you will find a summary screen showing
all questions left blank, answered, or marked. Then you have the option to
review everything or to review all marked and blank.

Do bear in mind that the exam isn’t fact-oriented or multiple-choice as

was used in the past. The exam currently wants you to have a theoretical
understanding and practice of modern project management tools,
techniques, standards, and concepts. So, it isn’t about regurgitating facts
and figures but answring questions from a practical angle.

Exam Tips

1. Answer your exam questions using the insights you learned from the
PMBOK guide before considering your experience. Whenever there are
conflicts, stay with the PMBOK guide.

2. Some questions will contain extra information that you don’t need to
answer. So you must be careful about them.

3. Ensure you read all the answer options before you choose one

4. You must answer your questions from the PMI perspective and not your
perspective.

5. Once you have answered a question, do not return to it unless you are
sure the answer is incorrect.

6. Always attempt all questions

7. Anxiety and time concerns create too much room for errors. Make sure
you have practiced over and over again using a much lesser time. I
recommend using 3 hours to attempt 180 practice tests repeatedly,
changing the questions each time.

8. For easy math questions, use a calculator and always double-check the
steps you took in arriving at your answer.

9. Remember questions will be a combination of multiple choice, multiple

responses, matching, hotspot and limited fill in the blanks

39
Passing Score
The PMP exam contains 180 questions, but only 175 are scored while the
remaining 5 will be unscored. It is impossible to know which of your exam
questions will fall into both categories. This is why it is vital to attempt all
questions, leaving nothing unanswered. At the end of the exam, you will
be provided four levels of information on your attempt status. The first is
the overall exam results, merely stating whether you passed or failed. The
second is a detailed visual explanation of your proficiency in the different
domains. Thirdly, you will have a visual outlook of how you performed
compared to the exam’s passing point. Finally, you will receive customized
tips on the next steps to take in studying or your future as a professional.
However, there is no minimum or maximum requirement for each section,
so your final result is based entirely on the overall score.

Reexamination
For some reason, some people do not pass the exam on the first
attempt. They have two more attempts. All you need to do is pick up the
reexamination form ($275 for PMI members and $375 for non-members).
Do note that there is no waiting period to submit or retake the exam. You
can reschedule within as little as two weeks up to one year from the original
test date. Once you have submitted the form and paid the fee, PMI will
process and send you a new eligibility letter. If the three attempts fail, then
candidates must wait a year before reapplying again.

40
Costly Mistakes To Avoid
To ensure your first attempt is a success, here are some common mistakes
made before the PMP exam.

1. Not creating an
adequate plan for
their PMP success
To succeed, you need to have
the end goal in sight. This
means you cannot approach
the PMP exam day without
studying effectively. You need
to identify your strengths
and weaknesses and create
a plan that works best for
you. This plan should pay
attention to the gaps in your
knowledge, help you learn in
“phases,” and practice until
the exam time before you are
comfortable. Or download
our project plan schedule
(located here) with detail
steps to help you stay on
track.

2. Read only the

“PMBOK” Guide
Although the PMBOK Guide
provides the basics, you must
not rely on it alone. It is vital
to understand how every
concept works separately and
together. That only happens
if you are willing to read
beyond the scope of the guide.
Your preparation should not
just include processes and
definitions but help you apply
the knowledge in practice.

41
3. Assuming that your project management
experience or ability to “test well” is enough to
pass the application?
Many questions in the PMP exam may not test or parallel your experience.
The PMP exam tests your ability to apply the PMBOK Guide concepts and
processes to practice. Therefore, you must understand every concept,
process, or otherwise in your PMBOK Guide.

4. They struggle with exam anxiety

For some, the actual exam puts them in fight-or-flight mode, which can
significantly limit their capacity to understand questions and provide the
“best answers.” Therefore, these individuals may over-read questions, over-
analyze, and spend lots of time writing and erasing their answers. Figure out
if anxiety is an issue for you and counter it by building your confidence level
through actual study and practice.

5. They do not take part in full-length

practice examsexams
You should be able to comfortably handle 200 questions in 4 hours before
the actual exam. Therefore, you need to test yourself using mock situations
repeatedly. Practice will help you become familiar with the process, learn
how to manage your time, and combat stressors before the exam.

42
6. No full understanding of the ITTOs
Mere memorization of tools, techniques, inputs, and outputs (ITTOs) will
not help you pass the exam. Memorization does not help you learn how to
approach questions. Many of your PMP exam questions will be “scenario-
based.” Therefore, you need to fully understand the ITTOs, how they interact
with processes and their ITTOs. Download my flowchart diagram to help you
under the ITTO’s and PMP process.

7. No full understanding of the formulas

You need to approach the PMP exam with clear understandings and
remember the different formulas easily. Without being able to replicate
those formulas, people have difficulties answering questions correctly. This
is why we recommend that you have a memorized “dump sheet.” A few
minutes into the exam, ensure that you create your dump sheet to avoid
spending time trying to put formulas together in your head. Your dump
sheet which should contain TCPI formulas, forecasting, and earned value
formulas as the minimum.

8. No full preparations for exam day

Some people do not:

• Know when they want to have their exams

• Have an idea where their testing venue is located

• Practice breaks within their exams

• Give themselves more or enough time to travel to the test site

A clear exam plan is necessary. It will help you become comfortable with the
PMP exam atmosphere, reduce mistakes, and improve project successes.

9. They rush through exams

Some people get bored with their exams and checkout just after a few
hours. This might be because they are too stressed or leaving some
questions unanswered and unattempted. To succeed, you must find the
right balance between using too little and too much during the actual
exam.

43
SECTION 7

Maintaining
Your PMP
Credentials
Have you gotten your PMP
Certification? Congratulations! It
was no easy feat but worth it. Your
PMP Certification can be a stepping
stone, a source of prestige, or a
competitive advantage. Now you
may wonder? What’s next?

Well, the PMP certification doesn’t

last forever. Every three years
after the certification, your PMP
certification will expire. Therefore
there are a few vital steps you must
take to maintain it. The renewal
process’s idea is to ensure you
remain aware of industry trends,
newer and better practices.
Therefore, it’s a win-win for you. It
will help you keep your edge sharp
and relevant to deal with current
business demands and remain an
indispensable asset to your field or
organization.

To renew and maintain your PMP

credential, you need to submit a
minimum of 60 PDUs every three
years.

PDUs or professional development

units are one-hour (60 minutes)
blocks of time spent developing and
honing your project management
skills and competencies.

These 60 PDUs must be fulfilled by:

44
1. Education
Minimum of 35 hours of education from the PMI Talent Triangle®. PMI
Talent Triangle® was recently launched by PMI and groups PDU educational
training on new concepts, practices, and trends within Technical Project
Management, Business Strategy, Management, and Leadership. Your
education can come from:

• online or In-person courses

• Organization meetings

• Informal learning pathways such as self-paced learning and reading

• Taking part in a PMI-published quiz (A PMP holder who passes one of

PMI’s quizzes can earn between 0.5 to 2.5 PDUs, based on the content’s
length).

• Attending PMI Global Congresses

• PMI also has a host of community offerings through its chapters,

meetings, specific interest groups (SIGs), and college holding events.

Note that you need at least 8 PDUs per core concept and can have the
remaining 11 from other project management related topics.

Strategic and Business

Leadership Technical
Management

Time, scope, and risk

Coaching & Mentoring Benefits Realization
management

Strategic planning &

Problem Solving Life Cycle Management
analysis

Customer relationship &

Team Building Governance
satisfactions

Conflict Management Operational functions Estimation

Emotional Intelligence Market awareness Agile Practices

Performance
Listening Competitive analysis
Management

Data gathering and

Brainstorming Business acumen
modeling

Legal & Regulatory Earned value

Influencing
Compliance management

Business models and

Interpersonal skills
structures

45
2. Giving Back
You can provide a maximum of 25 hours on giving back through managing
projects, creating content for other practitioners, making presentations on
insights and topics relevant to the profession, volunteering, and teaching
others. You can volunteer by providing project-managed related services
to a charitable group or a community or becoming a volunteer committee
member or elected officer for a project management organization.

Tracking and reporting PDUs

How does the PMI keep track? Easy, you must track your progress through
the Continuing Certification Requirement (CCR) program, via the login:
https://ccrs.pmi.org/login.

On this platform, you will record your PDUs according to categories

and submit them for approval. PMI reserves the right to audit or ask for
verification of submitted hours. When they do, you must provide proof of
completion or other evidence supporting your claims. The CCR platform’s
dashboard also makes things easier for you by providing insights about;

• The number of pdus you still need

• How your pdus meet ccr requirements

• Number of days until your pmp expires

• And a summary of your claims.

Warning: PMP Certification Renewal Cycle –

YOU WORK THIS HARD, NOW DON’T LOSE YOUR STATUS!
Your timing matters to keep your PMP credentials sharp and up to date. You
must always remember that your PMP certification begins immediately you
pass the exam and acquire your certification. If the three year period lapses
entirely and you haven’t renewed the certification, your status will change
to SUSPENDED. You have a one-year grace period from the period you are
suspended to renew. However, during this one-year, you cannot use the
designated acronym or describe yourself as having the PMP certification.

If you do not use this one-year suspension period to renew and finally it
elapses, your status switches to EXPIRED. This is a horrific event no one
wants to have. When this happens, earning the PDUs no longer counts. You
will have to reapply for certification as a fresh candidate and go through
the PMP certification exam. Do bear in mind that there are exceptions,
especially when the certificate holder was sent abroad with the military or
incapacitated.

46
PMP Certification Renewal Fees
Along with fulfilling your PDU requirements, you will receive notification
electronically to apply for your PMP certification renewal. This notification
will direct you to submit your renewal fee on the online certification system
once you receive it. However, you have until 90 days after your cycle end
date to pay this fee.

The fee is $60 for PMI members and $150 for non-members.

Now for the tips to ensure you maintain your certification without hitches:

1.Pay attention to the timeline:

Because you have three years before
your PMI certification goes into the
one-year suspension period, you have
to spend your three-year building that
60PDUs. It’s easier and better that way,
so you won’t become hassled with
bundling all that within the one-year
suspension period.

2. Strategy:
Build a strategy for attaining your
PDUs once you have received your
PMI certification. This helps you
make use of the ample opportunity
your three year period provides to
achieve those PDUs

3. Report:
Once you complete activities for
your PDUs, report them immediately
online via the Continuing Certification
Requirement System (CCRCs)

47
4. Document:
Keep a personal folder for all documents and evidence supporting your PDU
claims. Ensure these documents remain stored for at least 18 months after
beginning the renewal process.

5. More advantages:
You can also transfer up to 20 PDUs from one cycle to the next. Therefore,
if you have any more activities that exceed the 60PDUs prescribed, go for
them.

6. Be cautious:
When you embark on courses either self-paced, through an instructor, or
otherwise, ensure you are working with a registered education provider.
You should also have the registered program number for the REP classes.
This makes it easy to log through the Continuing Certification Requirement
System.

48