PMP Preparation | FAQ | PMP Certification

Yes, the exam is updated every 3-4 years. This is due to changes in PMBOK® Guide. The next update was supposed to take place on July 1st, 2020.
But due to COVID-19 outbreak worldwide, PMI made an announcement on March 18th., 2020: "For all PMP candidates, we are extending access to the current PMP exam until 31 December 2020 and postponing the launch of the new PMP exam until 2 January 2021".
More information can be found at PMI website.

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4. What is PMP Certification?

Project Management Professional (PMP) is an internationally recognized professional certification offered by theProject Management Institute(PMI), USA. The PMP certification is an industry standard and is the most prestigious in project management. A PMP title is a very respected credential and it will be a great boost to your career and will make you a more appealing candidate for many positions.

5. Where is PMP Certification recognized?

PMP Certification is valid across all industries and recognized throughout the world.

6. Who is eligible to apply for PMP exam?

PMI has strict eligibility requirements for PMP exam.
Education Requirement: You should be either a bachelor's degree holder (or global equivalent) or a secondary degree holder (high school diploma, associate's degree or global equivalent). This can be in any discipline.
Experience Requirement: If you are a degree holder, you should have at least 4,500 hours (about three years) of experience in leading and directing projects, and 7,500 hours (about five years) for a diploma holder. Please note, that project management experience should be non-overlapping, unique, and earned in the last eight consecutive years. Moreover, you should have this experience in all domains of a project such as initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. If you are lacking experience in any process group, you will not be able to apply for the PMP certification exam.
Training Experience: You must attend 35 contact hours of formal project management training. This training can be obtained from either a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP) or non-REPs. If you are an active CAPM certification holder, your project management training requirement is waived.

7. What if you are not eligible for PMP exam?

Do not waste your time and money if you know you are not qualified for PMP exam. Make sure that you fulfill the eligibility requirements before applying for it. If you want to get PMP certification but don't qualify for it, you can make yourself eligible with a little effort.
If you are a diploma or a degree holder but you lack project experience, you can apply for the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam. CAPM is a certification for entry-level professionals. This certification does not require any project management experience. And when you get enough experience, you can then apply for the PMP exam.

8. How to apply for PMP exam?

After you made sure you are eligible for application, it's time to actually apply for PMP exam. You start with filling out the application form. It's not difficult, but time-consuming. You can fill it out online or you can print it out and mail it. Most of the candidates fill out applications online as it's more convenient and can be sent out momentarily. However, you are free to choose which method is better for you.

9. How to apply for PMP exam online?

The application consists of general questions, questions about project management experience and required information about your 35 contact hours training program. As this form might take quite some time to fill out, you don't have to do it at once. You can save what you've completed and continue another day. However, keep in mind, that you must submit it within 90 days. Apply on PMI website.

10. How long does the PMI review your application?

Once you submit the application for PMP exam, it will take the PMI 5-7 working days to complete the review.

11. What is the fee for PMP exam?

Once you receive the confirmation email from PMI after your application, you will have to pay a fee of $555. However, if you are a PMI member you will have to pay $405. These prices apply for both center-based exam and online exam.

12. What is the structure of PMP exam?

As of 2 January, 2021 the PMP Certification Exam has multiple changes:
The exam now lasts 230 minutes (compared to 240 minutes before) and there are 180 multiple-choice questions (compared to 200 questions before). A few thing to keep in mind:

If you don't know the answer, don't leave the question unanswered - take a guess.
You roughly have 1.2 minute per question, so don't linger on difficult question and plan your time wisely.
Out of 180 questions there are 25 pretest questions that will not affect the final score. These pretest questions are used to test the validity of future examinations. These questions will be placed randomly and you won't know which questions they are. Therefore, you should treat all questions seriously as though all of them will affect your score.
Before the center-based exam starts you will be shown awareness session (15 minutes) which explains how to work with questions. No notes are allowed. After the awareness session the exam begins. After the exam, there will be a survey. And after that, you will be able to see the result. The awareness session and the survey are not added to your 230 exam time.
As for the online exam, the "Begin exam" link will be available 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time. It's recommended to be there 30 minutes before in order to make sure you have everything ready.

13. What is the passing score for the PMP exam?

Out of 180 questions there are 25 pretest questions that will not affect the final score. Which makes 155 questions scorable. But you should still aim to answer all 180 correctly, because it's hard to differentiate pretest questions from actual questions that will affect your score. The thing is that no one knows the current passing score as it's not being revealed by the PMI. The PMI changes the format of the exam results periodically.
Here are a few things to know about passing score:

The passing score for the PMP exam is different for every professional who takes the test, and it is determined by a psychometric analysis. The passing score actually depends on the set of questions received.
Not every question carries the same weight. Harder questions are worth more than easier questions.
As the percentage of correctly answered questions is unknown, just don't worry about the numbers. The best thing you can do is focus and answer all of the questions to the best of your knowledge.

14. What is PMI audit?

The purpose of the PMI audit is to make sure that right candidates are getting the certification. It helps to keep the high standards of the certification process. The PMI does not reveal the percentage of candidates selected for an audit. And the selection process is random, so, all applicants have a chance of being audited.
Auditing verifies the information provided by an applicant. Once you submit the application, you will know immediately if you have been selected for an audit.
If you are not selected for an audit, you can pay the exam fee and proceed to schedule the PMP exam. If you are selected for an audit, the PMI will send you an email and instruct you on how to complete the process. The PMI will stop your eligibility clock if you are selected for the audit, and your eligibility period will start from the day you clear it. You will have to pass the PMP exam within one year after this date, and you have up to three attempts. In case of being selected for audit, you will need to send out proof of education, proof of training and proof of experience.

15. What if you fail the audit?

If you fail the audit, you may or may not get a suspension period. There is a chance of a lifetime ban from the PMP exam if you provide false information intentionally.
You can fail the audit for various reasons:

Non-Compliance - if you decided not to proceed with the audit, you will be banned from applying for the PMP exam for one year.
No fault - If for some reason, your education or experience cannot be confirmed, through no fault of your own (ex. your supervisor is not able to verify your experience at the moment), then PMI will still let you fail the audit. You may reapply as soon as you have your experience hours documented or confirmation of your degree.
Fraud - if you failed the audit because you provided the wrong information, the PMI will ban you for life, and you will not be able to apply for the exam ever again. Being truthful and honest with the PMI is the only way to pass the audit.

16. Do you need to get a PMI membership?

It's not mandatory to become a PMI member. You can apply for PMP exam without having a PMI membership. However, you might want to consider it because it saves some money. The cost of a PMI membership is $139. The cost of the PMP exam for non-PMI members is $555. The cost of the PMP exam for PMI members is $405. So even with the membership fee, you save $11 in the end. Plus, a PMI membership gives free access to a digital copy of the PMBOK® Guide. If you are preparing for the PMP exam, you will have to study the PMBOK® Guide, and it costs $60 for a printed version.
There is a list of other benefits for PMI members:

Ability to download templates, tools, and checklists from the PMI website and use them for your projects.
The PMI has a vast collection of free webinars, and you can earn unlimited numbers of Category-A PDUs by watching these webinars.
Networking is another benefit of a PMI membership. There are opportunities to connect with professionals through Communities of Practice or in PMI chapter meetings. You can learn a great deal by connecting with professionals.
You're also entitled to get a copy of the Project Management Journal, which advances the understanding of project, program and portfolio management, and is published five times a year.
You are entitled to receive free monthly copies of the PM Network and PMI Today Magazines published by the PMI.
Access to various research papers.

17. Will I have to pay to retake PMP exam?

There is a discount for second and third attempt to pass the exam. For the center-based testing and online testing PMI members will pay $275 and non-members will pay $375.

18. Can 35 contact hours expire?

No. 35 contact hours that you've earned will never going to expire. Don't worry if you earned them years back - you can apply for the PMP exam.

19. When will you see the PMP exam result?

You will receive your exam results immediately after completing the test and you will be given a printout of your result report.

20. When can I start using the title PMP?

You can start using the title "PMP" immediately after passing the exam. You will receive an email from the PMI within 1-2 weeks, and afterwards, you will be able to see your certification information on the PMI registry and in your account. You will receive your physical certificate within 4-6 weeks.

21. Is PMBOK® Guide enough to prepare for the PMP exam?

The PMP exam is based on the PMBOK® Guide and it's a must-read book. However, it's not enough as it does not address all the questions on the test. Therefore, don't limit yourself to the PMBOK® Guide only, but read several books. In addition to books, you must practice multiple exam sample questions. Also, it's highly recommended that you use PMP Exam Simulator which is made to simulate the actual exam. It runs at the same pace as the actual exam and can give a clear understanding of whether you stand a chance to pass PMP exam.

22. Is there a break during the PMP exam?

According to the changes in effect as of 2 January, 2021 there are no scheduled breaks for paper-based exams. However, there will be one additional break for a total of two 10-minute breaks for computer-based tests.

23. Is it possible to reschedule or cancel the PMP exam?

Yes. If you give more than 30 days' notice, you can reschedule/cancel your exam for free. It will cost you $70 to change your exam date or cancel the exam 30 days before your scheduled time, but doing so within two days of the exam will forfeit your full exam fee, there is no refund in this case.

24. Is it allowed to use a calculator during your PMP exam?

The PMP exam has formula-based questions that involve mathematical calculations. You are allowed to use a calculator during your PMP certification exam. You can either use the built-in calculator application through the computer or ask a staff member to provide you with a calculator. You cannot take your own calculator into the examination room. You have to leave your personal items in a locker before entering. You will only be allowed to keep the key to your locker.

25. Is there a refund if you didn't schedule the exam yet?

If you have not yet scheduled the exam and you have over 30 days until your PMP eligibility expires, you can get your money back. However, the PMI will deduct $100 fee. You will get your money back with a deduction of $100 if you failed the audit.
You will not get your money back in the following cases:

Your one-year eligibility period has expired and you have not scheduled the exam.
You scheduled the exam but did not show, and you were unable to provide a proper reason to cancel or reschedule.
You failed the PMP exam.
If you have scheduled the exam, a different rule applies, check FAQ 23.

26. What is the PDUs?

The PMP certification is valid for three years. PDUs or Professional Development Units are required to renew your PMP certificate every 3 years. Simply speaking, it is a unit used to measure ongoing development within the field of project management. In order to maintain certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), you will need to maintain a specific number of PDUs, which can be earned by attending events or accomplishing courses.

27. What is the difference between PDUs and contact hours?

You need 35 contact hours to apply for the PMP exam. This is one of the three mandatory eligibility requirements to apply for the PMP exam.
PDUs are needed when you become a PMP, and your certificate is about to expire after three years. You can complete the CCR program and renew your PMP certificate for three more years with the help of these PDUs.

28. How to earn PDUs?

There are two ways to earn PDUs. It's ongoing education and giving back to the industry.
Ongoing education: take in-person or online courses, attend seminars, webinars, industry events or get into self-directed learning and take it at your own pace. Just make sure the course you're taking is officially sanctioned to give out PDUs.
Giving back to the industry: create content that can be added to the body of knowledge, volunteer to provide your project management services outside of your company, or simply do your job (practicing project management daily counts toward your credentials).

29. Do sample questions in ErudiCAT database get updated?

Yes, we monitor all trends and changes in the industry and update our database of PMP sample questions regularly.

30. How does PMP Exam Simulator work?

PMP Exam Simulator is designed to simulate the actual exam. As of 2 January, 2021 the exam lasts 230 minutes and has 180 questions. We give additional duration options with corresponding amount of questions only for training purposes.

31. Can I go back to the questions after I finish the PMP Mock Exam?

Yes, once you finish Mock Exam, you are provided with statistics and performance chart. Questions statistics has a list of all questions you had to answer during the exam. The list displays whether your answer was correct or not. You are able to look through every question and understand why you made mistakes.

32. What information is available in statistics after you pass Mock Exam?

Once you finish Mock Exam, you are provided with fields and questions statistics.
Fields statistics displays your level of understanding a particular field of project management. This level depends on the amount of questions you answered correctly. It's a great way to see whether you need to fill a gap in a certain area of project management.
Questions statistics has a list of all questions you had to answer during the exam. The list displays whether the answer was correct or not. You are able to look through every question and understand why you made mistakes.

33. How does performance chart work?

PMP Exam Simulator processes your Mock Exam results and generates performance chart. Your success is measured in correspondence with the following levels: 'Needs Improvement', 'Below Target', 'Target' and 'Above Target'. Your aim is to have 'Target' or 'Above Target' result. Do not rely on only one good result, anyone can get lucky. Make sure that you have several consecutive positive Mock Exam results before you decide to sit for the actual exam.

34. What is 'Accelerate Mock Exam' feature?

Since there is no break during the actual PMP exam, it's highly recommended that you train to answer the questions as fast as possible. This strategy will help you to have some extra time left during the exam that you can use for a short break or to review some answers that you have doubts about. This feature is created for training purposes only. In other words, it's an option to make your Mock Exam even harder in order to ensure you will have less stress during the actual exam.

35. Can I see the results of all Mock Exams I took?

Yes, the result of each Mock Exam you take will be saved in you account. Once you sign in to your account, you can see the history of all Mock Exams you took.

36. Will the result for part of the Mock Exam be available if I don't complete it?

No, in order for the result to be generated, you have to complete Mock Exam either by answering all the questions or running out of time. If you stop halfway for some reason, the result will not be generated.

37. What is 'Lock The Field' feature?

All of the sample questions in this database are random and the answer options are constantly shuffled. There is an option to lock the field in case you have a gap in a particular knowledge field of project management and want to practice answering questions from this field only.