PMP® - Prerequisites and Certification Process

To be eligible for the PMP® Exam, you need to fulfill the following certification criteria:

• At least 4500 hours of project management experience gained over the last 8 years (7500 hours if you are not owning a bachelor or master degree (or equivalent)). 
• Proven experience in all project management performance domains (initiating, planning, executing, controlling, closing). 
• Agreeing to the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. 
• 35 contact hours through project management training.

We recommend that you start preparing for your PMP® Exam at least 3 months ahead. The following literature might be important for your preparation:

• PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition 
• Harold Kerzner "A systems approach to planning scheduling and controlling"

Start having a look into your literature even before you think about attending a training in order to prepare for the PMP® Exam and to gain the necessary 35 contact hours. Almost all PMP® Certification Prep Trainings require you to at least having read the most up-to-date edition of the PMBOK® Guide.

Now it is time to look for a training in order to further prepare for your PMP® Exam. A PMP® Prep course will allow you to get a better insight on the PMP® Exam itself and you will gain additional knowledge on important Methods used in the project management knowledge areas according to the PMI Standard.

We recommend to take the training as close as possible to the date you would like to take the exam. Modular PMP® Prep Trainings or Distance Learning Programs can also allow you to benefit from our expert knowledge over a longer period.

As soon as you know when you will get the 35 contact hours from your PMP® training you can start applying for the PMP® Exam. In order to do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to the PMI website (www.pmi.org) and create an account. 
2. Log into your account and apply for the PMP Exam. 
3. Fill out the forms provided, esp. the one asking for your project management experience (you can do this over a period of 90 days, so you do not need to fill out everything on one day). 
4. Enter the training id of your PMP® Prep Training to document your 35 contact hours. 
5. Submit your application to the PMI.

Now it is time to wait for the PMI to answer. This normally takes around 5 business days. 10% of all applications will be audited by the PMI in order to check if the submitted data on project management experience is true. 

An audit is not a big deal as long as you filled out the application forms correctly.

As soon as your application is accepted by the PMI, you will be asked to pay the certification fee. 

This fee is 340,00 € for PMI Members and 465,00 € for Nonmembers. 

As soon as the PMI receives your payment, PMI will notify you by e-mail and send you examination scheduling instructions for scheduling your exam date and location with at a Prometric Test Center (www.prometric.com) in order to attend a computer based test within the next 365 days. Just visit the Prometric website and schedule your personal exam date. 

Paper based tests are only available for larger groups or companies. Get in touch with us if you want to organize a paper based test.

Finally go to the Prometric Test Center where you scheduled your computer test and take your exam. Congratulations, you are now a PMI certified Project Management Professional. 

In the unlikely case that you do not pass the exam, you can retake it two times within the one year period mentioned in your "Letter of Eligibility".