How to Prepare for Your PMP Exam

The new PMP® exam changed at the beginning of 2021, and it’s a big shakeup! The new PMP® reflects the progress and evolution of project management and adapts to recent trends that have positively impacted the way businesses execute projects.

What does this mean for you? By earning PMP® certification, you’ll be up-to-date and prepared to thrive in today’s ever-shifting business environment.

Improving your project management skills can sharpen your career and make you a more valuable leader. One of the best ways to supercharge your trajectory is to embark on a formal certification plan.

What is the PMP®?

The Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is the world’s foremost project management certification. Its latest interaction includes predictive, agile and hybrid approaches, providing today’s most valuable methodologies.

Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Preparation course proves that a professional can work in many different capacities, and it helps organisations find the talent they need to work smarter and achieve more.

Why Pursue the PMP®?

Skilled project managers are in high demand, and PMP® certification shows employers, clients, and stakeholders that you’re serious about quality management. Professionals with PMP® certification can be counted on to excel in these areas:

People

PMP® emphasises the soft skills necessary for leading dynamic teams in today’s changing environment.

Process

Your certification shows that you have the technical know-how to manage complicated projects successfully. 

Business Environment

One of the most challenging tasks of a project manager is to highlight the connection between projects and organisational strategy. PMP® helps you to fortify that linkage.

In addition, the PMP® Certification emphasises three approaches that meet today’s management needs:

• Predictive (waterfall)
• Agile
• Hybrid

In sum, PMP® certification is an outward manifestation that you have what it takes to work smarter and make your goals a reality. 

PMP® Exam Preparation

PMP® certification is prestigious, and that means it’s not granted lightly. The PMP® is rigorous enough that it requires conscientious preparation and practice. As we’ve seen from the information above, though, the PMP® is worth the effort. 

If you’ve been working in project management for years, you’ll bring your skills up to the present. And if you’re coming from more traditional industries like oil and gas or construction, you’ll grow through your newfound knowledge of the adaptive and agile approaches.

And if you’re just a few years into your career, think about the edge you’ll have as a PMP®-certified professional. With a robust understanding of modern project management methodologies and processes, you’ll have the ability to lead in today’s ever-changing business landscape.

The following tips can help you with your PMP® exam preparation:

#1 Make sure you’re eligible

Before you start cracking the books, make sure you’re eligible for the PMP®. There are two critical prerequisites:

1. You must have project management experience

PMI expects four-year diploma holders to have the equivalent of 4,500 hours of project management experience. In most cases, three years of full-time work will meet this requirement. If you don’t have a four-year diploma, PMI expects to see at least five years (or 7,500 hours) of experience. Keep in mind that these hours may be fulfilled in different roles (project engineer, analyst, team leader, team member, and so on).

2. You must meet the education requirement

In addition to satisfying the experience requirement, you must also meet the PMP® education expectations. To sit for the exam, PMI requires candidates to have completed a 25-hour project management course within the last five years. If you haven’t yet met this requirement, we can help!

#2 Complement your training by learning about agile approaches

If you’re not already an agile practitioner, become familiar with the approach. The recent changes to the PMP® focus heavily on this trend, and you’ll get more out of your studies (and be better prepared for the exam) if you have a solid understanding of agile practices.

#3 Complete MetaPM’s 5-Day Accredited PMP Course

This new Project Management Professionals (PMP®) course prepares PMP® aspirants for achieving the PMP® 2021 Certification (via examination).

The course is designed for Project Managers and other Project Leaders (Project Coordinators, Team Leaders, Project Engineers, etc.) with at least three years of experience. It prepares candidates for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® examination while concurrently providing them with 35 hours of specific project management training. When you’re finished, you have your required training hours under your belt, and you’re ready to sit the exam.

#4 Take Part in One-on-One Coaching

One of the benefits of taking a MetaPM PMP course is that you have access to one-on-one coaching and support as needed. If you don’t understand a concept, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. During coaching sessions, you can ask questions, test your knowledge and gain the confidence you need to do well on the exam.

#5 Use Quality Study Materials

In addition to one-on-one coaching and support, you’ll also have access to extensive PMI Accredited class materials during your course. Quality matters in education, and we rely on the best resources available. 

#6 Make Sure Your Application is Filled Out Correctly

While you’re busy studying methodologies and memorising new terms, it’s easy to overlook details like an exam application. We want you to focus on the essentials, so we provide our course attendees with assistance with their PMI Exam application. Sit your exam confidently, knowing the details are covered.

#7 Learn from a Qualified Teacher

It never hurts to receive advice from a colleague who sat the exam last year, but if you want to give yourself the best odds, study with a PMI Accredited Instructor.

Our teachers know the material inside and out, and they can prepare you thoroughly for your PMP exam. How do we know their teaching is so good?  Our delegates

successfully complete and pass their exams on the first attempt. And you can, too!

#8 Practice, practice, practice

Some people are naturally gifted when it comes to taking exams. Others need a bit more practice. Either way, you’ll feel more confident going into the PMP® when you’ve taken several mock exams ahead of time.

Achieving PMP® certification is a next-level step in a productive, satisfying career. If you want to learn more about the exam, the certification or our preparation course, contact us at MetaPM. We’d love to help you reach your aspirations.