The Application Process | PMP Exam Cram 2. Project Management Professional

The application process for the exam is time consuming. Be prepared to provide information about the time you have spent on various projects, educational diplomas, and contact hours.

Here is a checklist of the items you will need to complete or provide with the application if you meet the requirements seen for Category One:

Current resume
Proof of your degree
Experience Verification forms for a total of 4,500 hours of project management experience that does not date back further than 6 years, but dates at least 3 years from the date of application.
A completed PMP Certification Examination Application with your name written exactly as it appears on the identification that you will present when you take the exam
Payment information
Confirmation that the number of months on the Experience Verification forms total at least 36 months, not counting gaps or overlapping months

Here is a checklist of the items you will need to complete or provide with the application if you meet the requirements for Category Two:

Current resume
Proof of your degree
Experience Verification forms for a total of 7,500 hours of project management experience that does not date back further than 8 years, but dates at least 5 years from the date of application
A completed PMP Certification Examination Application with your name written exactly as it appears on the identification that you will present when you take the exam
Payment information
Confirmation that the number of months on the Experience Verification forms total at least 60 months, not counting gaps or overlapping months

We highly recommend that you apply online at www.pmi.org in order to save processing time! Applications sent via regular mail generally take 3 4 weeks to process. Online applications generally take 1 2 weeks. You will still be required to provide some additional materials via mail, but the process is much faster. If you mail the items, we recommend that you utilize a tracking number so that you can verify they were received. A tracking number also helps in case the package is lost. Make sure to keep copies of all your documents. There is nothing worse than losing documents and starting over again.

The following subsections provide a description of each of the forms and some suggestions of how to save time.

Current Resume

Update your resume, but you do not need to reformat your resume as some information suggests. This will save you a tremendous amount of time. You will provide a breakdown of project hours on the Experience Verification forms; therefore, you do not need to do this on your resume. Make sure the information is current and that you have provided enough information in case your paperwork is audited.

Examination Application

Complete the application using uppercase letters. You must complete all the areas of the application to be eligible to take the test. Examination fees are generally $150 more for non-PMI members versus members. The typical membership is approximately $140, so it is a good idea to join as a member of PMI to get the reduced rate. Plus, you receive the benefits of PMI membership with this approach. Many of the forms request your PMI ID number.

Experience Verification Forms

This is the most time-consuming part of the application process. Anticipate that you will need to review your work records, resumes, employment history, day planners, and other time-management tools to assemble these forms. You will need to indicate on the form the number of hours spent in each of the five process groups (Initiation, Planning, Execution, Control, and Closeout) for each project you have worked on. Consequently, you may need to complete 5 10 forms to account for the time requirement. You will need to read the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to make sure you understand the differentiation between these areas so that you provide accurate information.

Proof of Degree

You will need to provide photocopies of your diploma(s) to authenticate your educational background.

Educational Contact Hours

The Education form requires you to list the classes, workshops, or training programs that constitute 35 hours of educational contact hours. These programs can include content concerning risk, procurement, integration management, human resources, scope, project quality, cost, time, or communications. The programs can be provided by any of the following:

Employer/company-sponsored programs.
Programs presented by a PMI Registered Education Provider.
Distance learning companies, such as computer-based training.
PMI Component organizations. (Chapter meetings do not qualify.)
Universities, colleges, or continuing education programs.
Training companies or consultants.

As you can tell, the educational contact hours are very broad and include any training, in your entire life, that fulfills the content requirements. If you attended any PMP test-preparation classes, these hours would also qualify toward the 35-hour requirement. You can list two programs per form, so make additional copies, if necessary, to summarize the 35 contact hours.

If you have any further questions concerning the application process, go to www.pmi.org or call PMI customer service at 610-356-4600.

Application Checklist

The following subsections provide some handy checklists you can use as you begin the application process. The first checklist is for Category One candidates, and the second is for Category Two candidates.

Category One (with College Diploma or Equivalent)

Write your name as it appears on the identification that you will present when you take the test.
Include payment information.
Include your current resume or curriculum vitae.
Include proof of your degree (copy of diploma or transcripts).
Ensure that Experience Verification forms date back at least 3 years from the date of application.
Ensure that Experience Verification forms do not date back more than 6 years from the date of application.
Experience Verification forms must reflect a total of at least 4,500 hours of project management experience.
When you count the months listed on the Experience Verification forms, they must total at least 36 months. This should not include gaps between projects or overlapping projects.

Category Two (Without College Diploma)

Write your name as it appears on the identification that you will present when you take the test.
Include payment information.
Include your current resume or curriculum vitae.
Include proof of your high school diploma (copy of diploma or transcripts).
Ensure that Experience Verification forms date back at least 5 years from the date of application.
Ensure that Experience Verification forms do not date back more than 8 years from the date of application.
Experience Verification forms must reflect a total of at least 7,500 hours of project management experience.
When you count the months listed on the Experience Verification forms, they must total at least 60 months. This should not include gaps between projects or overlapping projects.

When you have fulfilled all the listed requirements, send your materials to the following address:

PMI Certification Program Department
Four Campus Boulevard
Newtown Square, PA 19073-3299

Be aware that faxes are not accepted. We recommend that you apply online at www.pmi.org for quicker approval. A PMP Examination eligibility letter will be sent to qualified candidates within 10 14 working days from receipt of the application at PMI.