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Copyright Course Technology 2001 1

Appendix B:Advice for the PMP Exam and

Related Certifications


What is PMP Certification?

• The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers certification as a Project management Profession (PMP)

• Detailed information is available from PMI in a brochure called “Certification & Standards” and on the web at www.pmi.org


PMI Web Site Information on PMP Certification*

PMI conducts a certification program in project management. PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is the project management profession's most globally recognized and respected certification credential. To obtain PMP certification an individual must satisfy education and experience requirements, agree to and adhere to a Code of Professional Conduct, and pass the PMP Certification Examination.

Worldwide there are over 27,000 PMPs who provide project management services in 26 countries. Many corporations require, for individual advancement within the corporation or for employment, the individual have the PMP credential.

*www.pmi.org/certification, March 2001


What Are the Requirements for Earning and Maintaining PMP Certification?

• Four main requirements for earning PMP certification:– Having experience working in the field of project

management. You need 4,500 hours with a baccalaureate degree and 7,500 without a degree

– Signing a PMP Certificant and Candidate Agreement and Release form

– completing the PMP Certification Exam Application and paying a fee of $555 for non-PMI members and $405 for members

– Passing the PMP exam


Maintaining PMP Status

• Starting in January 1999, PMI started a new professional development program for maintaining the PMP certification

• You must earn at least 60 Professional Develop Units within a three-year cycle and adhere to PMI’s PMP code of Professional Conduct

• Consult PMI’s web site for more details


PMI CAQ Exams

• PMI’s Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQ) Exams: PMI launched a CAQ exam for the automotive industry in August 2000, and they plan to launch one in Information Systems Development in early 2002

• You must have the PMP before taking the CAQ exam

• The CAQ tests your knowledge of a particular industry, not of project management


CompTIA’s IT Project+ Exam

• In April 2001, CompTIA started offering the IT Project+ certification exam

• Materials were purchased from the Gartner Institute

• The multiple-choice exam is 90 minutes long and costs about $190

• Detailed information is available from www.comptia.org


Certified IT Project Manager

• In 1998 the Singapore Computer Society and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore established this program

• PMI is working with this group to support and advance the global credentialing of project management and IT expertise


What Is the Structure and Content of the PMP Certification Exam?

• The PMP exam is based on information from the entire project management body of knowledge

• The PMBOK Guide provides an outline of information covered

• Texts like Information Technology Project Management will help you learn and understand key topics


Table B-1. Breakdown of Questions on the PMP Process Groups

Note: PMI changes the PMI exam periodically. Consult their website for detailed information. For example, questions on professionalresponsibility will be added in September 2001.


Suggestions on Studying for the Exam

• Study Table 2-4, the Project Process Group/Activity Matrix by PMBOK Knowledge Area and understand what each activity involves

• The basic PMP exam is not industry specific. PMI is developing additional exams, including one related to IT

• The exam includes conceptual, application, and evaluative questions


How Should You Prepare for the PMP Exam?

• Know your own learning and testing style and use whatever resources and study techniques work best for you

• Many people form study groups to provide support and peer pressure

• Focus on scope, time, and cost management• You only need 68.5%, and all 200 questions are

multiple-choice with 4 choices. It is easy to over study, but if you fail, you need to pay to retake the exam


Ten Tips for Taking the PMP Exam• Take the tutorial on how to use the automated testing

software. Use the marking feature to get an idea of how you are doing and to know which questions to review

• You have 4.5 hours for the exam, so you should have plenty of time

• Some people believe it is better to change answers you were unsure of the first time

• Do not try to read more into the questions than what is stated

• Eliminate obviously wrong alternatives, then choose among the remaining choices


Ten Tips for Taking the PMP Exam

• Memorize calculations like earned value• Before starting the test, write down important

things you memorized, like formulas, on the paper provided

• Read all questions carefully, especially the ones that present scenarios followed by several questions

• Be wary of alternatives that include the words always, never, only, must, and completely

• Take a short break after about 2 hours and eat a snack


Sample Questions

1. A document that formally recognizes the existence of a project is aA. Gantt chartB. WBSC. Project charterD. Scope statement

2. Decomposition is used in developingA. the management planB. the communications planC. the earned valueD. the WBS

3. The critical path on a project representsA. the shortest path through a network diagramB. the longest path through a network diagramC. the most important tasks on a projectD. the highest risk tasks on a project


Sample Questions4. If the EV for a project is $30,000, the AC is $33,000, and the PV is $25,000,

what is the cost variance? A. $3,000 B. -$3,000 C. $5,000 D. -$5,000 5. If the EV for a project is $30,000, the AC is $33,000, and the PV is $25,000,

how is the project performing? A. The project is over budget and ahead of schedule B. The project is over budget and behind schedule C. The project is under budget and ahead of schedule D. The project is under budget and behind schedule 6. Some organizations are now using 6 sigma for quality control compared to the usual A. 2 sigma B. 3 sigma C. 4 sigma D. 5 sigma


Sample Questions7. Project human resources management includes whichof the following processes?A. organizational planningB. staff acquisitionC. team developmentD. all of the above

8. Determining the information and communicationsneeds of project stakeholders is part of

A. communications planningB. scope planningC. human resources planningD. quality planning

9. Reducing the impact of a risk event by reducing theprobability of its occurrence is

A. risk avoidanceB. risk acceptanceC. risk mitigationD. contingency planning


Sample Questions10. Which type of contract provides the least amount of risk for the buyer? A. firm fixed price B. fixed price incentive C. cost plus incentive fee D. cost plus fixed fee 11. Suppose you have a project with four tasks as follows: Task 1 can start immediately and has an estimated duration of 1. Task 2 can start after Task 1 is completed and has an estimated duration of 4. Task 3 can start after Task 2 is completed and has an estimated duration of 5. Task 4 can start after Task 1 is completed and must be completed when Task

3 is completed. Its estimated duration is 8. What is the critical path for this project? A. 9 B. 10 C. 11 D. 12


Sample Questions• 12. In which of the following project management process groups are the most

time and money typically spent?• A. initiating• B. planning• C. executing• D. Controlling

• 13. Measuring the probability and consequences of risks is part of• A. risk management planning• B. risk identification• C. qualitative risk analysis• D. quantitative risk analysis

• 14. A technique that modifies the project schedule to account for limited resources is• A. critical path analysis• B. PERT• C. critical chain• D. earned value


PMI Sample Questions and Updated Information

• The Project Management Institute started providing sample PMP exam questions on their web site in 1999. You can download PMP sample examination questions from www.pmi.org/certification

• This web site also provides answers to frequently asked questions about the PMP certification application and PMI's professional development program

• PMI also provides information to help you prepare the PMP examination application


Final Advice on PMP Certification and Project Management in General

• Project management is a valuable skills, especially in the IT field

• PMP certification can help advance your career• Project management also helps you manage and

enjoy your personal life

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