Here are 7 steps to getting certified with the Project Management Institute (PMI) .
Step 1 Apply for PMI membership
Sign up for a PMI membership on the PMI website: www.pmi.org You are able to become a member without being certified. There is an annual fee associated with signing up for a membership, but you will save money overall.
PMImembership benefits:
- Free soft-copy of latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide)
- Free access to Project Management books online
- Access to leadership and volunteer opportunities
- Access to a library of webinars addressing project management trends, best practices, how-to-guides, etc
- Save on your examination fee
Even with the cost* of the PMI membership, your exam fee is almost the same:
Discounted PMI member exam fee: $225.00
PMI membership fee: $129.00
PMBOK® Guide softcopy: $0.00
Total: $354.00
Non member exam fee: $300.00
PMBOK® Guide hardcopy: $45.00
* (as of July 2013)
The PMBOK® Guide becomes the most used resource in your study plan leading up to the exam.
Step 2 Start your application with PMI online
If you are applying under Category 1, list out all projects you will be using for the application. Split the project management hours between the 5 different process groups to ensure some experience in all processes. This is the easiest way to ensure you have met the hours and months requirements.
For each project write out, in less than 500 characters, a description of what your responsibilities were. Include specific process names and ensure you have a good spread across the knowledge areas.
Gather the contact information of all supervisors for the projects listed on your application form – contact the supervisors to let them know you are applying with PMI so they are preparing in the case that your application is chosen to be audited.
Start your online application www.pmi.org – fill in the application form.
Getting audited
A small percentage of applications will be chosen to be audited at random. If your application is selected, you will receive an email notification and there will be an audit package indicating the additional procedures that need to be completed. This includes obtaining handwritten signatures for each project to vouch the hours and description reported, copies of training certificates, etc to be mailed to the PMI.
Step 3 Meet the requirements
You can start the online application even though you haven’t met all the requirements as you can always return to the application to finish it once all requirements are met.
There are different requirements that need to be met for the PMP® and CAPM® certifications. You must ensure that you meet all the requirements before submitting your final application.
CAPM® application requirements include one of the following:
Category 1 -
- Secondary school diploma (high school diploma / equivalent) Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
- You need 1,500 hrs of project management work experience in project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing processes.
Category 2 -
- Secondary school diploma (high school diploma / equivalent) Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
- You need 23 hours of project management courses
Step 4 Create a study plan
Recall your study habits from university and remember what worked or didn’t work for you. Create a study plan that will fit into your work and life schedule. Taking a CAPM® Certification Prep course is recommended for accelerating your study and also providing the required 23 hours of project management education to meet the PMI application requirements. If you aren’t able to locate a suitable CAPM® certification Prep course, then take a PMP® Certification Prep course , as it also provides the preparation for CAPM® certification. There are also many sites online sites that provide study guides for your reference. Be reasonable with the amount of studying you can do each day as there is a lot of material to cover for the exam. Remember to schedule in time to review and practice exams.
Step 5 Book your exam via Pearson Vue Testing Center
Once you have received the email that your application has been approved, book your exam online through the Pearson Vue website: www.pearsonvue.com.
Exam sites are available in most major cities. Make sure to book an exam date that fits into your study plan so that you will not be pressed for time to write early just because of the availability of exam dates. An option is to take some time off work near the exam date to review and do practice exams so you are not tired on the day of the exam.
Step 6 Study
Take your study plan and stick to it!
Being well prepared is ½ the battle to ensure you pass the exam. The more prepared you are, the less you will likely feel flustered or nervous at the exam which will help you recall the information more easily.
Things to keep in mind:
- Don’t rush – there’s an abundant amount of time
- Answer every single question – you can mark questions you’re unsure of and come back to it later
- Make flash cards to memorize all formulas- these become guaranteed points
- Each question is worth the same amount of points – if you get stuck on a questions, make your best guess, market it, move on and come back to it later
- No food or drink is allowed in the exam room so eat beforehand, but not too much
- Do 150 questions for each practice exam to get used to sitting for a long duration and having your brain stay focused
- Get used to having distractions in the room – there will be others in the exam room taking tests so there will be typing and clicking in the same exam room
- Exam room may be extreme warm or cold, so be prepared
Step 7 Take the Exam
The exam is in the form of multiple choice on the 10 Knowledge Areas.
The exam is a computer-based test offered through the Pearson Vue testing centers. Now, you are also able to take the CAPM® Exam at your location, see CAPM®EXAM Online
| Exam | Number of Questions | Time |
| CAPM® | 150 | 3 hours |
For more details on the CAMP® exam, go to www.pmi.org
Results
Candidates who take the computer-based test receive their results (passed or not passed) immediately upon completion. PMI also evaluates proficiency levels in each project management process group from high proficiency to low proficiency in a score report which the candidates receive after the examination.