The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is a prestigious credential for project managers, demonstrating your expertise in the field. To become a PMP® certified professional, you must meet specific eligibility requirements set by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. Here’s a breakdown of the PMP® exam eligibility requirements:

1. Education Requirements:

You must have a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent) AND have accumulated a minimum of five years of project management experience, with at least 7,500 hours leading and directing projects.

OR

2. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher:

If you hold a four-year bachelor’s degree (or global equivalent), you can meet the PMP® eligibility requirements with a minimum of three years of project management experience, along with 4,500 hours of leading and directing projects.

3. Project Management Education:

In addition to the project management experience, you must complete 35 hours of project management education/training. This can be achieved through formal courses, workshops, online training from Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s), academic institutions, or by joining a PMI authorized PMP Exam Preparation course.

Key Points to Remember:

The required project management experience should include the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing of projects.

The project management education should focus on project management topics and must be completed before applying for the PMP® exam.

Your project management experience and education should be documented and verified during the application process.

Application and Examination Process:

Application Submission: Complete the online application on the PMI® website, providing details about your project management experience, education, and contact information. PMI® will review your application, and if it meets the eligibility criteria, you will receive approval to take the exam.

Scheduling the Exam: Once your application is approved, you will receive an eligibility ID. You can use this ID to schedule your PMP® exam at a Prometric test center or for online proctoring.

PMP® Exam: The PMP® exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions, and you have 230 minutes (3 hours and 50 minutes) to complete it. The exam covers a wide range of project management topics based on the PMBOK® Guide.

Passing Score: To pass the PMP® exam, you need to achieve a passing score, which is determined through a psychometric analysis process. PMI® does not disclose the specific passing score.

Certification: Upon passing the exam, you will receive the PMP® certification, which is valid for three years. To maintain your certification, you must earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) through continuing education and participate in the PMI® Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program.

Meeting the PMP® exam eligibility requirements is the first step on your journey to becoming a certified project management professional. Once you’ve met these requirements and successfully passed the exam, you’ll join a prestigious community of project managers and gain access to a world of career opportunities and professional development.