Demystifying PMP Exam Certification Requirements In 2024

In the realm of project management, the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification stands as a beacon of expertise and proficiency. It’s the hallmark of a seasoned project manager. It signals, to the employers and peers alike, that you possess skills and knowledge to lead projects to success.

But, what does it take to earn this coveted certification? What are the requirements to qualify for the PMP exam?

The certification process involves a very difficult PMP exam, which requires strenuous preparation. However, before taking the exam, you have to register with PMI (Project Management Institute) and apply for the exam.

And, everyone can’t apply to the exam. PMI has established a stringent eligibility criteria for applying to the PMP certification examination. Here is the minimum eligibility criteria for the PMP credential exam as explained in the PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO):

1. Project Management Experience – You should have 36 months of experience in leading projects if you have a 4 years Bachelors degree or global equivalent. Alternatively, you should have 60 months of experience in leading projects if you have a high school diploma or an associate’s degree (or global equivalent).
2. Project Management Education – You should have taken 35 hours of project management education/training. Alternatively, if you can become CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certified before applying to the PMP exam.

Although there are only two prerequisites to qualify for the PMP certification test, these requirements are somewhat confusing. Let us discuss these in detail and understand the real need of PMI in this article.

After reading this article, you will be able to determine if you are qualified for the PMP exam or not. You will also find answers to some frequently asked questions.

Note: If you do not qualify for the PMP, you can pursue the CAPM certification. CAPM is an entry level project management certification for budding project managers. It can help you in pursuing project management career and can provide a platform for becoming PMP certified.

PMP Certification Requirements

PMP is one of the most prestigious and globally reputed project management certificate. The certification is governed and administered by PMI.

PMI holds the PMP credential exam that you need to pass for becoming a certified project manager. The exam is mainly oriented towards the conceptual understanding of project management principles and best practices as defined in the PMBOK Guide (A Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge), Process Groups Practice Guide, and Agile Practice Guide.

Passing the PMP examination requires discipline, patience, and perseverance. The PMP exam prep entails hard work and extensive study. You can read my article on step-by-step guide to becoming PMP for understanding the complete process for attaining the PMP credential.

Following table lists the two prerequisites to qualify for the PMP exam.

Let us look at the above two requirements in detail.

I. Project Management Experience

The experience requirements for the PMP exam are quite stringent. They depend on your educational qualifications. They are depicted in the table below:

e.g. if you have a four year bachelor’s degree then you need 36 months of project management experience to become eligible for the PMP exam.

What is considered as Project Management Experience?

Professionals from any industry can apply for the exam. Depending on their educational background, they just need the requisite project management experience.

PMI does not consider the whole work experience but only project management experience. As per the PMBOK Guide, a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.

So, you need to take into account only that project experience which has come from leading and directing projects. All experience related to the operations must be ignored.

The duration, budget, and team size of your projects do not matter. Your project could run for a few months to few years. They could have a very small to very large budget. Similarly the could have only a few member team to a very large team.

You don’t Need to be Project Manager

You need to have project management experience but your title need not be project manager. PMI is not looking for your title or designation in the project. All they want is that you have experience of managing projects.

You can consider yourself has having project management experience if you have done some of the following tasks in your projects:

1. Participated in project initiation meetings.
2. Written scope and requirement documents.
3. Developed project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
4. Identified and prioritized project activities.
5. Estimated activity duration, cost, and resources.
6. Development and tracking of project schedule.
7. Lead a team, which includes activities assignment, team development, conflict resolution, and performance management.
8. Prepared performance reports for client and/or senior management.
9. Manged risks, which includes identification, prioritization, resolution, and controlling risks.
10. Participated in project change control meetings.
11. Took care of client communication and coordination.
12. Oversaw and managed creation of project deliverables.
13. Ensured quality of project deliverables.
14. Handed over the project deliverables to the client.
15. Participated in lessons learned and project closure meetings.

This is not an exhaustive list of project management tasks. For a complete and detailed list of tasks, you can refer to PMP Exam content Outline (ECO). ECO contains the syllabus for the PMP exam.

II. 35 Hours of Project Management Education/Training

You need 35 hours of project management education or training to apply for the PMP exam. You can get this training from any institute in the world as long as it addresses project management topics like:

1. Role of project manager
2. Initiating projects
3. Planning projects
4. Executing projects
5. Monitoring & Controlling projects
6. Closing projects
7. Agile project management concepts
8. Stakeholder engagement and communication
9. Project team management

If you want, you can add hours from multiple training programs to complete 35 hours. You can also use educational hours from your project management classes in your college.

The 35 hours project management training is valid for the life. If you have already done it, you do not need to do it again.

Since PMP is a tough exam, I would suggest you to join a formal PMP training program. It will help you in your PMP exam preparation.

You can join a PMP certification training in classroom mode, instructor-led live online mode, or a self-learning online mode. You can look at my article on top self-learning training programs to enroll in a good training course.

Why is PMP Eligibility Criteria so Stringent?

PMP is one of the most admired and recognized certification around the world. There is a high demand for certified PMPs across different industries and geographies.

PMI has made the exam as a tough exam to maintain its credibility. In fact, it is one of the toughest exams in the professional world. You must have in-depth knowledge about project management techniques in order to pass the exam. It requires a lot of study and perseverance.

PMI has made the eligibility criteria stringent so that only experienced, knowledgeable, and genuine  candidates  appear in the exam.

How to Apply for the PMP Exam?

You can read my article on PMP exam application process to understand the process in complete detail. Here is a summary of steps involved in applying for the PMP exam:

1. Ensure that you have requisite project management experience.
2. Enroll in a 35 hours training program.
3. Go to pmi.org and register for free.
4. Fill online PMP application form. You can save the form if you need more than one sitting to fill it completely.
5. Submit Application. Review your information thoroughly before hitting the submit button.
6. Wait for PMI’s Approval. Once you submit the application, PMI will review it. Typically, the process takes about 5 business days. PMI generally approves the application if you have provided the complete and correct information.
7. Become PMI member. The membership fee is $129. Plus, you will need to pay $10 as the joining fee but, by becoming a PMI member, you will save $150 on PMP exam fee.
8. Pay PMP exam fee. After becoming the member, you will need to pay an exam fee of $405. If you skip the previous step, you will need to pay $555 as the exam fee. You should look at my article on PMP certification cost and expenses to understand complete details.
9. Complete PMI application audit. This is an optional step. PMI selects applications randomly for the audit process. You will be notified through an email if your application is selected for an audit. They will ask for some documents. Send those documents to PMI.
10. Schedule your exam with Pearson VUE.
11. Take and pass the PMP exam. The PMP exam contains 180 objective multiple choice questions with a time limit of 230 minutes. The questions come from 3 domains viz. Process (50%), People (42%), and Business Environment (8%).

PMP Qualification Prerequisites: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What documentation is required for filling the PMP application form?

No documentation is required while filling up the form and applying for the PMP exam. You may have to present a soft copy of physical documents / supporting documents if your application is selected for audit. Documents like: degree certificate, appointment letter of company, work experience certificate, 35 contact hour certificate

2. Can I take the exam if I do online training?

Yes, you can take the PMP certification exam after taking online training. You can choose the mode of training according to your comfort and budget.

3. Do I need to join 35 hours training from a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP)?

No, You can undergo a training from an ATP or a non-ATP. Classroom and live training programs are offered by both ATPs and non-ATPs but ATPs are not allowed to sell self-learning online training courses.

4. What is a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP)?

PMI used REP program before it introduced ATP program in 2021. The REP program was similar to ATP program but it has been retired now.

5. Can I take the exam if I did 35 hours training a few years ago?

Yes. The 35 hours training certificate has a lifelong validity.

6. Do contact hours and PDU (Professional Development Unit) have same meaning?

No. You need 35 contact hours training to apply for the PMP exam and need 60 PDUs for continuing education after becoming PMP certified.

7. Am I eligible if my designation is not Project Manager?

You need to be having a role of leading and directing the project regardless of the designation you hold.

8. Am I eligible if I am not an engineer?

You can be eligible if you are part of the project. Not necessarily a project manager.

9. Am I eligible if I am not working in a technical field?

Yes, it is not necessary for you to be working in the technical field.

10. How does PMI verify documentation?

Only if your application is selected for audit, PMI will ask you for relevant documents. If your application is not selected for audit then there is no need for verification.

11. Can I appear for the exam if I have not managed all parts of a project?

Yes. As long as you have requisite project management experience, you can apply for the exam.

12. Is it mandatory to become a PMI member?

No, but by becoming a PMI member you will save a few dollars and you can download free copy of the PMBOK Guide.

13. How long does PMI take to process an application?

The outer time limit is 5 business days but generally the application approval takes less than that.

14. Can I apply for the PMP exam if worked on multiple small projects?

Yes. As long as you have requisite project management experience, you can apply for the exam.

Conclusion

Today, project management is ingrained in all kinds of businesses. It has become an essential part of every industry.

According to Job Growth and Talent Gap report, demand over the next 10 years for project managers is growing faster than demand for workers in other occupations and it is estimated that 22 million new project-oriented roles would be created globally by 2027.

So, whether you’re a seasoned project manager seeking to elevate your career or a newcomer to the field aiming for professional growth, remember: the journey towards PMP certification begins with understanding the requirements and taking the first step towards mastery.

PMP is for those who are working in project management and want to enhance their skills and efficiency. If you are in project management and have experience also then you should apply for PMP to give a good career growth.

If you are not into project management and don’t have any experience but want to apply for this certification first gain some experience in project management and then you can apply.

This certification definitely worth it in terms of experience and education.

What is your take on PMP requirements? Do you think they are too stringent?

Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.