Things I Wish I Knew

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1 Things I Wish I Knew Hw t Prepare fr Taking the PMP Certificatin Preparatin Crash Curse Thank yu fr registering fr: Prject Management Prfessinal (PMP ) Certificatin Preparatin Crash Curse: Prepare fr Certificatin in Five Days!

2 Table f Cntents 1. OBJECTIVE BOOKS AND MATERIALS RECOMMENDED/REQUIRED FOR CLASS HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CLASS DAY Class Day 1 Pre-wrk Wrk n Class Day Class Day Pst-wrk PMP TEST STUDY TIPS General Test Preparatin Tips Specific Knwledge Area / Prcess Grup Tips PMP TEST TIMING TIPS Ideal Time fr Taking Test HOW TO TAKE PMP TEST Test Simulatin General Test Taking Tips Test Hurs / Results APPENDIX A: CATALOG OF RESOURCES OTHERS HAVE FOUND USEFUL Bks Web Sites Resurces within Yur Cmpany PMI Members Eligibility Criteria Educatinal Backgrund Prject Management Experience Prject Management Educatin Applicatin Prcess Reference Infrmatin... 8 Things I Wish I Knew 2

3 Hw t Calculate the Hurs Spent in Each Prcess Grups fr Every Prject Dcuments Needed fr Audit Examinatin Fees Things I Wish I Knew 3

4 1. Objective The purpse f this dcument is t prvide techniques and tips in rder t prepare fr the Prject Management Prfessinal (PMP ) Certificatin Exam. The intent is t facilitate the prcess f achieving this Certificatin. The underlying premise f the PMP preparatin curse and this handbk is that the curse will prvide a sund basis fr passing the PMP Certificatin Exam which shuld nt be cnfused with teaching fundamental prject management skills. It is assumed that the practitiner/student already has significant prject management experience. 2. Bks and Materials Recmmended/Required fr Class A Guide t the Prject Management Bdy f Knwledge Furth Editin (PMBOK Guide) (ISBN ). Crsswinds: PMP Exam Success Series Bt Camp Manual. This bk will be prvided as part f the registratin fr the curse, as well as a practice exam CD with ver 3500 test questins. 3. Hw t Prepare fr a Class Day 3.1. Class Day 1 Pre-wrk Please read the entire PMBOK Guide - Furth Editin befre class starts. Yu will nt have time t read this during the class! Our experience and guidance frm ther candidates indicates that this will cntribute greatly t yur success n the exam. Reading thrugh it a secnd time will be a plus! If yu are prepared, yu will get much mre ut f the class and yu will be much mre willing t participate. Active participatin in class makes the material mre interesting and greatly imprves material retentin Wrk n Class Day Be n time. Take ntes as needed, ask questins, and participate. Participatin helps t imprve yur understanding f the materials and facilitates infrmatin retentin. Keep yur cmments relevant t the subject matter presented. Be cnsiderate f time as yu interact with the class. Things I Wish I Knew 4

5 3.3. Class Day Pst-wrk It is highly recmmended that yu review all the sectins sample test questins and answers after that day s class. This pst class review helps yu memrize the PMBOK-specified answer and als prvides yu ne mre pprtunity t develp relevant questins yu might need t t that day s class instructr. If yu d have questins, d nt hesitate t yur instructr. In additin, develp a persnal study sheet fr use later when studying fr the actual PMP test. Yur study sheet shuld be yur reference dcument f key pints frm the day s class, interpretatins yu want t ensure that yu remember, and ther fllw items. 4. PMP Test Study Tips 4.1. General Test Preparatin Tips Yu will need t knw everything the instructr identifies as required knwledge. If the instructr specifically identifies cncepts, frmulas, facts r ther infrmatin that they believe will be included n the PMP Exam, be sure yu are familiar with them. Take practice tests. Take them several times. This cannt be stressed enugh. Taking practice tests is ne f the best ways t understand what the actual test is like, and t determine where yu need t imprve yur knwledge base Specific Knwledge Area / Prcess Grup Tips Memrize the Knwledge Area charts and all cst frmulas. 5. PMP Test Timing Tips 5.1. Ideal Time fr Taking Test Ultimately, when yu take the test is up t yu. Yu must sit fr the exam within 21 days f the Prep curse; hwever, sner is better as the mre time that passes, yu will begin t lse the material that is still fresh in yur mind. It is als recmmended that yu take the test in the mrning, using the day prir t the test day as a study/review day. If yu need t take the test at a lcatin sme distance frm yur hme, yu might want t g the night befre and stay at a htel/mtel s that yu can get a gd night s sleep. Check ut the lcatin f the test site that night s that yu can arrive at the site in the mrning n time withut fear f getting lst. Things I Wish I Knew 5

6 6. Hw t Take PMP Test 6.1. Test Simulatin When yu sit fr the exam, there will be a shrt simulatin at the beginning that walks yu thrugh hw the exam wrks and hw t navigate thrugh the exam. Be sure t take this simulatin t familiarize yurself with the level f cntent, hw t read the questins and eliminate the bviusly wrng answers, and the apprximate time t answer this blck f questins. Yur test duratin time des nt start until yu actually start the exam General Test Taking Tips As sn as yu actually sit dwn t take the test, write ut all yur study ntes n the blank sheet f paper supplied by the test prctr, such as frmulas, Prject Management Knwledge Areas and Prject Management Prcesses. Anything yu memrized when yu studied fr the test can be transferred t this blank sheet f paper. It will help yu later when yu start t tire during the test. Fr example, be sure t write dwn the frmulas fr Present Value, Net Present Value, Benefit/Cst Analysis, PERT Weighted Average, etc. Write dwn yur terminlgy, such as PV = Planned Value; EV = Earned Value; AC = Actual Cst, etc. If there was anything that std ut t yu when studying, write that dwn n yur sheet when yu sit fr the test. Yu will find it very helpful t be able t refer back t this sheet while taking the test Test Hurs / Results Yu have fur hurs t take the 200-questin exam. While yu are taking the test, yu can mark a questin fr later review. If yu really aren t certain f an answer, it ften is a gd idea t mark it and cme back t it. In sme instances, a questin later in the test prvides yu the answer t an earlier questin. If yu really aren t sure f an answer, eliminate the bviusly wrng answers, and g with yur first instinct n the remaining chices. Once yu are certain that yu are dne and have reviewed any and all questins yu marked fr review, select the finish buttn t submit yur exam. In abut ne t tw minutes yu will receive yur results n the screen. If yu have passed, ne f the test persnnel will hand yu a ntarized letter shwing that yu are nw a certified PMP. Yu will als receive a printut f yur test scres. Things I Wish I Knew 6

7 7. Appendix A: Catalg f Resurces Others Have Fund Useful 7.1. Bks The PMP Credential Handbk ( Prject Management Prfessinal (PMP ) Examinatin Specificatin ( PMI Sample Questins Dcument ( PMP Exam Prep (4th Editin), Rita Mulcahy Rita's Pcket PMP Exam, Rita Mulcahy Ht Tpics Flashcards fr Passing the PMP and CAPM Exam: Ht Tpics Flashcards 5th Edtin, Rita Mulcahy Prject Management: Systems Apprach t Planning, Scheduling & Cntrlling, 8th Editin By: Harld Kerzner (ISBN ) PMBOK Q&A by PMI (ISBN ) Prject Management Memry Jgger By: Karen Tate, Paula Martin (ISBN ) Self-study reference, nt used in class Web Sites Prject Management Institute: PMI Credential Reexaminatin Frm: PMI PMP sample questins: PMP Credential Handbk: Prject Management Institute Cde f Ethics and Prfessinal Cnduct: PMI Online PMP Certificatin Applicatin: Resurces within Yur Cmpany Check ut available resurces within yur cmpany. Fr instance, sme cmpanies reimburse fr PMI membership fees and examinatin fees. Other emplyees interested in r perfrming as prject managers may be able t ffer suggestins regarding resurces t help yu in yur certificatin prcess, r may be able f prvide assistance in preparing fr yur examinatin PMI Members Talk t thers wh have recently taken the PMP Certificatin Exam. They will be able t ffer insights and suggestins that may prve helpful t yu as yu prepare fr and take the certificatin examinatin. Things I Wish I Knew 7

8 Appendix B: Prir t Applying fr the PMP Exam. This sectin lists items that ptential candidates need t knw prir t applying fr the PMP exam Eligibility Criteria Exam eligibility criteria are as fllws: Educatinal Backgrund High schl diplma r Assciate Degree/glbal equivalent secndary schl diplma OR Baccalaureate/Glbal equivalent university degree Prject Management Experience High Schl diplma r Assciate Degree hlders: 7500 hurs f PM experience; 60 unique (nn-verlapping) mnths f PM experience within the 8 year perid prir t the applicatin. OR Baccalaureate/Glbal equivalent university degree hlders: 4500 hurs f PM experience; 36 unique (nn-verlapping) mnths f PM experience within the 8 year perid prir t the applicatin Prject Management Educatin High Schl diplma Assciate Degree OR OR Baccalaureate/Glbal equivalent university degree AND 35 Cntact hurs f PM Educatin The PMP Preparatin curse ffered by the Nrth Carlina Piedmnt Triad PMI chapter will grant 35 cntact hurs Applicatin Prcess The PMP Credential Examinatin is a fur-hur examinatin cmpsed f 200 multiple-chice questins that measures yur ability t apply knwledge, skills and techniques used in prject management. The examinatin is develped by grups f individuals frm arund the glbe wh hld the PMP credential and is rutinely reviewed and revised t ensure the best and cnsistently bjective assessment. T begin the nline certificatin applicatin, g t: Reference Infrmatin Please refer t the PMP Credential Handbk ( fr instructins n cmpleting the applicatin prcess. Things I Wish I Knew 8

9 Hw t Calculate the Hurs Spent in Each Prcess Grups fr Every Prject Use the experience verificatin sectin f the nline applicatin t dcument and reprt yur relevant experience in leading and directing prject tasks. Dcument prjects individually. D nt grup prject management experience. Each mnth in which yu wrked n multiple, verlapping prjects cunts as ne mnth tward the ttal requirement. Cnsider all the prjects n which yu have wrked and identify hw many hurs yu led r directed prject tasks. Fr this sectin f the applicatin, if yu wrked n multiple prjects at ne time, all the hurs spent leading and directing prject tasks cunt tward the ttal. Verify at least 35 cntact hurs f specific instructin that addressed learning bjectives in prject management. Dcument all educatin hurs regardless f when they were accrued. The curse wrk must be cmpleted at the time f applicatin. Yu can satisfy the educatinal requirements by demnstrating the successful cmpletin f curses, wrkshps and training sessins ffered by ne r mre f the fllwing types f educatin prviders: PMI Registered Educatin Prviders (R.E.P.s)* PMI Cmpnent rganizatins* Emplyer/cmpany-spnsred prgrams Training cmpanies r cnsultants Distance-learning cmpanies, including an end-f-curse assessment University/cllege academic and cntinuing educatin prgrams. PMI chapter meetings and self-study (e.g., reading bks) generally d nt satisfy the educatin requirements. Please nte! Our curse satisfies the 35-hur requirement fr specific educatin in prject management Dcuments Needed fr Audit The submissin f an applicatin indicates yur agreement t cmply with the terms f the audit prcess. All applicatins are subject t an audit, althugh nly a percentage f applicatins are selected fr audit. The selectin f an applicatin fr audit is randm. If yur applicatin is selected fr an audit, yu will be ntified after payment f the credential fee is received. The electrnic audit ntificatin prvides detailed infrmatin n hw t cmply with the terms f the audit. During an audit, yu will be asked t submit supprting dcumentatin such as: Cpies f yur diplma/glbal equivalent Signatures frm yur supervisr(s) r manager(s) frm the prject(s) and/r prgram(s) dcumented in the experience verificatin sectin f the applicatin Cpies f certificates and/r letters frm the training institute(s) fr each curse dcumented n the applicatin t meet the required cntact hurs f prject management educatin. If yu are able t prvide the necessary dcumentatin t meet the terms and requirements f the audit prcess, the audit shuld take abut five business days t cmplete. Yu may nt cntinue with the credential prcess until yu have cmplied with the audit requirements. Things I Wish I Knew 9

10 Once yu successfully cmplete the audit, yu are permitted t take the examinatin and yur ne-year examinatin eligibility perid starts. If yu fail t meet the audit requirements, yu will receive a refund Examinatin Fees Fees applicable t the PMP Certificatin examinatin are: Prject Management Prfessinal (PMP ) Examinatin Fees Member Nnmember Cmputer-based Testing Re-examinatin Cmputer-based $ (US) $ (US) $ (US) $ (US) If yu d nt pass the examinatin n the first attempt and wuld like t take it again, yu must submit a re-examinatin frm within yur ne-year eligibility perid and remit payment f the re-examinatin fee. Candidates are permitted tw re-examinatins per ne-year eligibility perid. Candidates that d nt pass the examinatin n the third attempt must wait ne year frm the date f their last examinatin and then start a new credential applicatin. The frm can be returned via fax r mail t the PMI Glbal Operatins Center r the apprpriate Reginal Service Center. The PMI Credential Reexaminatin Frm may be btained frm this web site: Things I Wish I Knew 10

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