The PMP® certification is the most widely recognized project management credential you can obtain. That's why we want to make sure you understand what it takes. Candidates need certain prerequisites, like education and experience, before they take the exam and obtain certification. If you already meet these requirements, use them as a guide in your preparation for taking the PMP® exam. If not, they can help you plan an effective path to eventually earning the PMP® certification.
3 years/36 months or 5 years/60 months consecutive project management experience
The purpose of this prerequisites is to confirm that anyone who takes the test has a significant, years-long backlog of project management experience. If you have a Bachelor's Degree, the requirement is reduced to three years of project management experience. If you do not have a Bachelor's Degree and are unable to record 60 months of project management experience in the last eight years, you will need to meet the 3-year requirement.
4500/7500 hours of project management experience
This hour requirement will add context to the consecutive time requirement noted above. Remember, if you have a Bachelor’s degree, the lower hour requirement applies. Otherwise, you're required to log 7500 hours of experience before you can take this exam. This ensures that someone who works on occasional projects for an hour or two per week doesn't demonstrate the same level of mastery as someone working consistently for that same amount of time; in this case, hours spent leading or managing multiple projects simultaneously do count toward the total.
35 Professional Development Units (PDUs) or Contact Hours
The monthly requirement, which will total 12 consecutive months at the end of the 24-month fellowship, is in addition to the ongoing education on project management skills. This showcases an applicant's dedication and effort to continually educate himself or herself. More importantly, a minimum of 35 PDUs during this time reflects a commitment to continual education on the skills needed for successful project management.
There are many sources of education available, both in-person and online. There are also some that are instructor-led and some that you can do on your own. As long as the source of education is accredited by the Project Management Institute, then you'll be able to get confirmation for all of your PDUs.
Good luck in working toward obtaining your PMP!
