PMP Exam Eligibility: Everything You Need to Know Aasim Naseem, April 19, 2024April 27, 2024 Planning to pursue your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Understanding the PMP exam eligibility criteria is the first step towards achieving your certification goals. In this guide, we’ll explore the requirements, prerequisites, and qualification criteria for the PMP exam, helping you determine if you meet the eligibility criteria to sit for the exam.Earlier we discussed how to pass the PMP exam in the first attempt. Here we shall discuss the core requirements for the PMP Exam Eligibility.1. Educational Requirements for PMP Exam EligibilityTo be eligible for the PMP exam, candidates must possess a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate degree, or global equivalent) or a four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or global equivalent). This educational requirement is a fundamental criterion set by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to ensure that candidates have a foundational level of academic achievement.2. Project Management Experience Requirements for PMP Exam EligibilityIn addition to meeting the educational requirements, candidates must also possess a minimum amount of project management experience to be eligible for the PMP exam. PMI requires candidates to have a minimum of 3-5 years of project management experience, depending on their educational background. This experience must include leading and directing project tasks, as well as demonstrating proficiency in project management processes and methodologies.As a summary, make sure you meet one of the following sets of PMP Certification requirements:Four-Year College / University Degree36 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years. These shouldn’t be overlapping.35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® certification— or —High School or Secondary School Diploma60 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® certification3. Professional Development Hours for PMP Exam EligibilityAlongside the educational and experience requirements, candidates must also complete a specified number of professional development hours in project management education. PMI mandates that candidates accumulate a minimum of 35 contact hours of project management education from a Registered Education Provider (REP) or PMI Chapter. These professional development hours ensure that candidates have received formal instruction in project management principles and practices. Tip: Search PMI chapters in your area over the social networks and you will get the list of registered education providers. This is what exactly I did.4. Qualification Criteria for PMP ExamIn addition to meeting the educational and experience requirements, candidates must also demonstrate their project management knowledge and skills by passing the PMP exam. The exam assesses candidates’ proficiency in areas such as project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Understanding the exam content outline and preparing accordingly is crucial for success.5. PMP Exam Application ProcessOnce you’ve determined that you meet the eligibility criteria for the PMP exam, the next step is to submit your application through the PMI online portal. The application requires you to provide details about your educational background, project management experience, and professional development hours. PMI typically processes applications within a few business days, after which you can schedule your exam appointment at a designated testing center.6. Tips for Meeting Exam Eligibility RequirementsIf you find that you don’t yet meet the eligibility requirements for the PMP exam, don’t despair. There are several strategies you can employ to bridge any gaps in your qualifications. Consider pursuing additional project management education or training courses to fulfill the professional development hour requirement. Volunteer for leadership roles on projects within your organization to gain valuable project management experience. By proactively working towards meeting the eligibility criteria, you can set yourself up for success in your PMP certification journey. Aasim NaseemI’m an engineer by profession, a blogger and a photojournalist by hobby. Seasonal writer at LAFZ Media UK. I write on different topics and things around us. Contact me at +971.56.126.8842 or Aasim.Naseem@outlook.com Digital Diary Pass Your PMP Exam PMP certification eligibility requirementsPMP certification prerequisitesPMP exam application processPMP exam eligibilityPMP exam eligibility criteriaPMP exam qualification criteriaPMP exam qualification guidelinesProject Management Professional certification eligibilityProject Management Professional exam requirements
Well, IITL is more towards managing services in IT and IT-related industries, whereas the PMP is general. It is not an industry-specific certification. You can apply the PMP to every industry and project of any scope and size.I would recommend going for PMP first, and then IITL. PMP will open your aperture to a broader perspective in terms of project management, for any kind of project, for any domain/industry.Reply
You can start reviewing the content, but you can’t appear in the exam until you have 36 months of non-overlapping project management experience. Only after that, you can book your exam.Reply
This is something confusing to many people. While filling out the PMP exam application, you need to mention your project details for the past 3 years (at least), along with their duration. That duration should not be “overlapping”. This means no two projects should run in parallel. For example, if one project ran from January to March, and another project from Feb to May, then your total experience is 5 months (Jan to May), not 7 months (3 for the first project and 4 for the second). Hope it will clear your doubt. You can contact me anytime to discuss this more in detail.Reply