7 Steps in Getting a Project Management Certification

  1. Become acquainted with the PMBOK® Guide.

The PMBOK® Guide is extensively referenced in the PMP exam. Make the most of it by utilizing the guide as a guide for your research. Learn one knowledge area from the PMBOK® Guide each week. Begin with the guide and progress through the remaining study resources. Other study guides frequently repeat the subject and present the same issue from a different angle, so this will help you improve your understanding of each topic.

Break down the PMBOK® Guide knowledge areas into tiny parts and study one process per day. This will help you develop a thorough plan for daily and weekly study milestones. It is not enough to just memorize everything. Try to fully understand issues and study them with vigilance and focus. This is important since the PMP® test will evaluate your ability to apply these concepts, principles, and ideas. Many questions are thorough descriptions of a problem in a specific situation. They provide you enough knowledge to come up with the best answer, but they also include extraneous information to purposely lead you astray.

After finishing a section of the PMBOK® Guide, take a break before returning to it. You will have a better comprehension with each reading. By the third time, the knowledge will be easier to grasp because the concepts will have already been registered in your mind. Use the most recent version of the PMBOK® Guide provided by PMI® to understand all of the knowledge areas, procedures, principles, and equations required to become a PMP (current version is 5)

You'll also need to keep up with project management principles and changes from the previous version (the PMBOK® Guide version 4). Appendix X1 of the PMBOK® Guide version 5 contains a detailed list of changes from the PMBOK® Guide version 4. The number of knowledge areas has grown from nine to ten (due to the addition of a new knowledge area called Project Stakeholder Management), and the number of processes has grown from 42 to 47.

  1. Utilize a Good PMP® Preparation Book

It is necessary to read a good PMP® textbook. The PMP® certification exam is chock-full of difficult questions and answers (here's a collection of PMP sample questions and answers) that will put your knowledge and ability to apply what you've studied in demanding real-world scenarios to the test. Exam preparation may take up a significant amount of your time and require a high level of dedication. A solid study guide can assist you in understanding what to expect and will make PMP exam preparation easier.

One of the challenges will be dealing with the inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs (ITTOs) of each process. Before going into the ITTOs, several study guides encourage PMP® candidates to start with the fundamentals (such as why a process is employed, what it is all about, and when it is used). If you start with the basics, you will be able to recognize and grasp the linkages between the processes. If you do not memorize the ITTOs, you will spend less time preparing for questions on these topics.

  1. Participate in PMP Exam Preparation Workshops.

PMP test prep seminars are an excellent choice if you prefer a classroom setting or desire more one-on-one interaction. In addition to networking through a PMI® membership, these are an excellent opportunity to meet other aspiring project management professionals in your area. Another benefit of these seminars is that they usually fulfill the 35-contact-hour requirement for applying to take the PMP exam.

  1. Participate in one of the online PMP Exam Preparation Workshops.

There is also other online PMP test preparation classes available. These online training courses are typically less expensive than in-person workshops. Choose the one that best matches your learning style. Do a lot of comparison shopping and reading testimonials before committing to one.

  1. Use online PMP exam simulators.

PMP® simulators are online practice examinations for the PMP exam. They put the applicant to the test with questions formatted similarly to the PMP® exam. They also attempt to imitate the exam environment so that you may become acquainted with the time and pressure. They're a terrific method to see how prepared you are.

  1. Remember your flash cards

Paper or electronic flashcards are a low-cost, portable, and tried-and-true technique of studying for the PMP exam. On a computer or smart phone, you can browse through or print downloadable flashcards. Making your own flashcards may also be quite helpful throughout your preparation.

  1. Participate in study groups and online discussion forums.

Study groups and discussion boards can be quite helpful in preparing for the PMP® exam. As an active participant in study groups and discussion forums, you may help others pass the exam, have your own concerns and questions answered, learn more about a variety of useful resources, and reduce the time it takes to prepare for the exam.