The PMP exam is tough, but rewarding. According to the PMI 2015 salary survey, US-based respondents with PMP certificates earn $20,000 more than those without the certification (pg. 12). If you want to reap the benefits, make sure you follow these tips so you can join the prestigious PMP community.
1. Take practice tests
Answering practice questions will prepare you for the exam’s format, as well as its subject. We offer an exam simulator with our e-learning course. This shows you more than which questions you got right and wrong. It also highlights areas of improvement. Without this kind of guidance, it’s hard for candidates to know which part of the exam will be the most challenging.
2. Make a Study Plan
Study the way you would manage a project. Create a schedule and try to stick with it as best you can. Make sure you study around your improvement areas. Many people have mistakenly gone into the exam thinking their strong knowledge areas would compensate for missed marks.
3. Join a Study Group
Studying alone can get boring, and a study group helps keep everyone accountable. Everyone is more likely to keep to their study plan when they’re part of a group. Being in a PMBOK community also allows you to share notes and advice. Check with your local PMI chapter for existing study groups, or form one yourself. The networks you build while studying, can also be helpful after passing the exam.
4. Use the Latest PMBOK Guide
Make sure you purchase the latest copy of the PMBOK Guide. The later the version, the more up-to-date the information. For example, the fifth edition places greater emphasis on the project office and stakeholder management. The money saved from using an older version of the PMBOK isn’t worth the headache of an exam that tests knowledge you don’t have.
Not only is the information more up-to-date with the exam, it’s also a lot more readable. The processes are more refined than in previous editions and the illustrations are much clearer. Simply put, the latest PMBOK makes it easier to understand PMP and pass the exam.
5. Get a Formal Training Course from a Good Education Provider
One of the reasons PMP qualifications are in high demand is the barrier to entry. The PMP qualification requires dedication and hard work, not just to maintain once you have it, but to obtain it in the first place. That’s why you can’t go in without formal preparation.
Your education provider should also be accredited and registered with PMI. ILX Group, for example, is registered with the provider ID 3490. While unaccredited training providers are often cheaper upfront, subpar training will ultimately cost more. Retaking the PMP exam costs money and you’ll never retrieve the time wasted from bad training.
Many people prefer classroom courses for the direct expert tutorial and workshop collaboration. This is why we have venues all over the world and will even arrange in-house training. However, our online PMP training courses come with full qualified tutor support. Training to pass the PMP exam is easier when you have direct access to accredited experts. Get started today.