8 Important steps to clear your PMP examination

The first step is to read the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification Guidebook.

The Project Management Institute (PMI)® has a Credentials Handbook. This Credentials Handbook will teach you all you need to know about passing the PMP Exam and earning your PMI® project management certification. This Handbook takes about 20 minutes to read, and it should be the first 20 minutes of your journey to becoming a certified PMP. It will provide answers to the bulk of your questions about the application and examination processes.

Step 2: Verify your PMI project management certification eligibility.

It's actually quite simple to see if you're qualified to take the PMP® Exam.

Do you have a high school diploma, an associate's degree, or a foreign-language equivalent? Then you'll need at least five years (60 months) of separate, non-overlapping project management experience, including at least 7,500 hours spent leading and supervising project tasks. (Non-overlapping means you only get credit for 12 months, not 24 months, if you worked on two projects in the preceding year.)

In your country, do you have a bachelor's degree or something similar? Then you'll need at least 3,500 hours of non-overlapping professional project management experience, including at least 4,500 hours spent leading and supervising project tasks.

In all cases, you must also show that you have completed 35 hours of project management training. The good news is that you can use whatever project management training you've had throughout your life. So, if you're 30 and took a two-day PM class when you were 21, you've already logged 16 contact hours.

Step 3: Sign up for the PMP Exam.

Saying, "I want to become a PMP," is a great strategy. "I want to become a PMP, and my exam is in three months," on the other hand, is a considerably superior strategy, because we all perform better under duress.

To begin, go to https://certification.pmi.org and create an account. Then you submit your online PMP Credential Application to PMI for approval, and you'll get a confirmation number. You can now schedule the exam on the Parametric website, https://www.prometric.com/PMI.

PMI must schedule the test separately because it is not administered by them. Thomson Parametric, a testing company with locations all over the world, is what they use instead. Depending on the region, you may have to travel a significant distance to take the exam. As a result, you'll want to plan ahead of time for this.

Step 4: Read the PMBOK® Guide and make sure you understand it. Twice.

The PMBOK® Guide is a must-have resource for the PMP Exam. According to most trainers, the PMBOK® Guide contains the correct answer to around 75% of the questions on the PMP Exam. As a result, you must understand it completely, and the only way to do so is to study it twice.

Step 5: Attend an in-person PMP Workshop.

PMI Chapters, universities, institutes, and training companies all over the world offer a range of in-person PMP workshops. They usually last between two and six days. Some of them ask you to study on your own outside of class, while others do not. Some businesses even guarantee that you will pass the exam.

If you're lucky, your boss might be willing to cover the cost of a lecture. If you have to pay for it yourself, look into the programs offered by your local PMI Chapter; they are usually very affordable. The training sessions, as well as the self-study courses and books, will aid in your understanding of the PMBOK® Guide. The benefit is that you will have an instructor and other students to help you comprehend particularly difficult aspects of the PMBOK® Guide, such as earned value and risk. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Step 6: Answer as many of the PMP Exam Practice Questions as you can.

When it comes to free sample questions, you get what you paid for. Most individuals take advantage of the fact that free is a great method to get an idea. "Genuine" questions from a reputable online PMP Exam Simulator, on the other hand, will set you back money. Sample questions can also be found in books, so visit your local bookshop and look through the issues before picking which one to buy. Only a simulator, on the other hand, allows you to test yourself in exam-like scenarios – you may even take a 4-hour exam on the computer. It's identical to the real thing.

When you go through all of the free samples available online, two things will happen:

First, you'll acquire accustomed to responding test questions, which is beneficial; second, you'll develop accustomed to answering exam questions, which is also beneficial.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, you will find yourself disagreeing with some of the suggested solutions.

If you disagree and then open up your study materials to review, you will learn even more. As a result, even the worst exam sample question available can help you pass the exam in its own special way. It all boils down to your attitude and the realization that even the most inane query might lead to more opportunities.

Last but not least, when answering sample questions, keep track of your score. As time goes on, you'll notice that you're growing more capable of answering questions correctly. If you maintain track of your score, you can see where you are. Here's a basic rule of thumb: you're ready to take the exam if you consistently answer 85 percent of the questions correctly the first time.

Step 7: Make a plan and work hard in class.

The PMP Exam is a difficult task that needs personal dedication. Manage your road to become a PMP like a project and create a plan to assist you achieve - a PMP Study Plan. In this schedule, specify how many hours per day you'll study, how many chapters you'll read, and how many sample questions you'll answer. Making a good plan is the first step. Following that, you'll need to notify your family and friends. They'll know you'll be "gone" for the next 2-3 months to prepare this manner. But don't overdo it. It's also a good idea to set aside time for breaks and recreation. You need variety in your life, so go see a movie or have a drink with your buddies once in a while.

Expect ups and downs throughout your academic career. You'll be overjoyed because some sections of the PMBOK® Guide will be straightforward for you. Then there are the areas where you will have greater difficulty due to your lack of past experience. Don't let yourself down. Don't think you'll never understand what's going on. Thousands of people have passed the exam, and you can, too! Maintain a positive outlook at all times. You will achieve your goal of becoming a PMP.

The Final step is to take the exam.

After all of that effort, taking the exam appears to be a walk in the park. However, there are a few things to bear in mind that will make your experience more enjoyable and productive.

Try to get a good night's sleep the night before the exam. It is vital to be well-rested and to have had sufficient sleep. It is not necessary to study till 3 a.m. the night before the exam. You've put in a lot of effort and studied for a long time, and now it's time to rest. Many people choose to skip work the day before the exam. You can sleep in, eat a hearty lunch, go for a walk, and relax. That way, you won't be too nervous when you arrive at the testing location. It's a good idea to go for a test drive at the testing centre a week ahead of time to get a feel for the place. It's also a good idea to arrive an hour early in case you miss the bus or experience car issues.