The project management Institute (PMI), is one of the largest project management organisations in the world. They sponsor the PMP exam which is fast becoming the worldwide standard for project management skills.

One of the most valued credentials in project management, the PMP credential assures employers that you are committed to project management. Earning and maintaining this credential demonstrates a solid foundation of experience in effectively managing projects. PMI was founded in 1969, was first examined in 1984 and now has over 150,000 members worldwide.

There are many reasons why you should become PMP certified:

• it demonstrates proof of your professional achievement
• it gives you many more career opportunities in your particular field or industry
• it increases your marketability
• it increases customer confidence in you and your organisation

There are many training organisations both offline and online who offer accredited courses leading to your PMP certification.

If your thinking of sitting the exam then bear in mind that you must have had several years of experience as a project manager, including 35 hours of formal project management education, before you can sit the 4 hour exam (The exam consists of 200 randomly generated questions, but only 175 of the questions are scored. To pass, you need 141 correct answers)

Candidates for the PMP credential:

• Perform their duties under general supervision and are responsible for all aspects of the project for the life of the project.
• Lead and direct cross-functional teams to deliver projects within the constraints of schedule, budget and resources.
• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience to appropriately apply a methodology to projects that have reasonably well-defined project requirements and deliverables.

PMI offers a comprehensive certification program for professionals with varying levels of experience that supports a career framework. There are six main process groups and areas:

• Initiating
• Planning
• Executing
• Monitoring and controlling
• Closing
• Professional responsibility

To achieve PMP certification, each candidate must satisfy all educational and experiential requirements established by PMI, agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct, and must demonstrate an acceptable and valid level of understanding and knowledge of project management. The PMP certification examination tests this knowledge. PMP-certified professionals must also demonstrate ongoing professional commitment to the project management field by satisfying PMI continuing certification requirements program.

Tips on taking the PMP exam

The PMP certification examination is a computer-based exam based on information from the entire project management body of knowledge. The “Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge” (PMBOK), which is published by PMI, provides an outline of the topics covered.

The four-hour exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions with four possible answers (a through d). The participant needs to correctly answer 137 of the questions (68.5%) to receive a passing grade. Because the exam is computer based, participants can find out how they scored by reading the detailed report on performance that is available when the exam is completed.