Comments (18)

By elroyking, July 31, 2010 8:09 am

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the place to start when it comes to the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. The PMI is a non-profit organization dedicated to the establishment of best practices in Project Management. To promote good project management, they created the PMP credential. The PMP credential is the world’s most recognized Project Management certification. As of 2010 it was held by only a little over 400,000 people. Global Knowledge showed that certified PMPs make 15-30% more than their uncertified colleges, but the underlying benefit is that application of the PMI methodologies creates value on projects. Trained project managers are better able to recognize risks early on, have better project team communication, and bring projects to completion closer to schedule and closer to budget, saving their employers lots of money in the long run. Personally, for the project manager, the PMP certification is of great value, it sets the project manager apart and makes him part of an exclusive group. It shows the individual’s dedication to project management and the capacity of the individual to get the training needed to efficiently manage the resources of his boss and company. The best information about the PMP credential and how to obtain it comes from the PMI’s own PMP handbook (pdf). Download your own free copy here.

For more useful information about the PMP credential and how to obtain it see:

What is a PMP (Project Management Professional)?

What Are Contact Hours? What Are PDUs? How Do I Get Them?

Where Can I find PMP Study Materials? What Do I Need To Study?

How Do I Apply For The PMP Certification?

Free PMP Exam Questions

I hope these resources can get you up and running on your way to achieving that PMP credential.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Know what Enterprise Environmental Factors are? Get a quick refresher course at Enterprises Environmental Factors.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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If you are new to the PMP credential, you can find out more about it and how to achieve getting PMP certified.

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PMP basics, PMP credential, Project Management Professional

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Comments (26)

By elroyking, July 29, 2010 9:07 am

Contact hours are the Project Management Training hours that you need before you can take that PMP exam. For those who have their PMP or PgMP, to maintain their credential, they need to show continued commitment to the best practices of Project Management, you can do this by picking up Professional Development Units (PDUs).

For the 35 contact hours you can find the training in many places. Those hours can be hours in University level courses. The courses have to be about Project Management and be able to map into the nine knowledge areas pointed out int eh PMBOK guide.

Employer sponsored training will also work for these 35 hours. The same criteria applies to these hours of training.

The PMI offers on-site classes and training. There are also PMI approved PMP prep classes available, look for classes in your area.

There are PMI Aproved, Online Training that will get you those 35 needed contact hours.

My favorite is a podcast, The PM-Prepcast. The PM-Prepcast is PMI approved, follows the PMBOK guide very well, and Cornelius Fichtner is very entertaining. The benefit of the PM-Prepcast, is that it is a one time cost, and you get free updates. You won’t be disappointed with the 35 contact hours and the incredibly quality training you can get from the Prepcast!

What about PDUs? Well you can get PDUs from a number of places. The PMI specifies a number of ways in their Ways to Earn PDUs essay. If you are not comfortable with publishing papers or taking on a Project Management volunteer assignment to get those PDUs, then by all means, get your PDUs from a PDU Podcast. The up-to-date training is well worth the cost, and the PDUs are type 3, and you can get a lot of them from this podcast. Keep up that valuable certification and look into PDUs from a podcast.

Whether it is contact hours or PDUs, load up your plate, get what you need and get certified, or keep that certification current.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Know what Enterprise Environmental Factors are? Get a quick refresher course at Enterprises Environmental Factors.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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Comments (23)

By elroyking, July 26, 2010 4:06 pm

You are going to need to pick up a copy of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (Pmbok Guide) (Paperback). You will want to read through it a couple of times. Please download my complimentary Process Study Guide, that can help you memorize the processes in the PMBOK guide.

The PMP exam is a knowledge based test, but tries to assess the candidates ability to apply the best practice principles of Project Management. You will need a good study guide. I would suggest PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita’s Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam or The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try. Both texts are excellent and provide detailed instruction for passing the PMP exam.

After selecting a study guide, you will want to find some good PMP practice exams. Rita Mulcahy puts out the PM Fastrack Exam Simulation Software for the PMP Exam: Version 6, it is excellent, but very expensive. I would recommend the PMP Exam Simulator. It has more sample questions (about 6000) and is a lot less expensive.

If you haven’t picked up your 35 contact hours (PDUs), that you will need to even sit for the exam, you should look into the The PM-Prepcast.

Preparing for the exam should take about three weeks if you do it full time, or about three months if you put aside one to two hours to study everyday.

Among my favorite study aides is the ThePM-Prepcast, because I can listen to it anywhere and it helps take advantage of travel time, and PM FLASHCARDS. These tools let me study when I want and where I want.

Get some PMP study materials and get ready to take that test!

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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Comments (1)

By elroyking, July 24, 2010 8:45 am

The PMI has an online application process that will allow you to check status during the entire process. There is a certification fee that needs to be sent in with your application, you can pay by credit card online.. The current fee is $405 for PMI members, $555 for non-members. This is your chance to get a one year PMI membership for free. Sign up for the PMI membership before you apply and the cost savings on the exam is more than the PMI membership!

The Application Process

The application can only be submitted in English, although the actual PMP® exam can be taken in several languages. You can download the printable application forms, to review what information you will need–but go on line to fill out the real application. You will also need to agree to live by the PMP Code of Professional Conduct. Your application may be processed within 48 to 72 hours.
Once you are approved, you will get an eligibility letter. That letter will contain an identification code and testing information. You will only have one year to take the PMP® examination, which begins from the date your application is approved.
The PMI audits 10% of applicants, to make sure the credential keeps it’s worth. Candidates that will be audited are notified electronically. You should just plan on being one of them. During the audit there is a formal verification of your employers and schools. So be accurate and honest with the information you supply in the application.

The PMI also requires candidates to document experience in leading/directing projects and performing tasks within all knowledge areas except Professional and Social Responsibility.

Be sure and include a current resume detailing work experience and educational background with your application and a copy of diploma or transcript for baccalaureate or equivalent university degree.

Filling out the Experience Verification Form

The Experience Verification Form is needed by the candidates for documenting and report ing project management experience. You will need one Experience Verification Form for each project within the eligible timeframe. On the form, you will be required to list the number of hours worked in each of the five process areas. ( Initiating, planning, executing, controlling, closing )

Then submit your form electronically.

You should be set to receive your approval to take the PMP exam, you will need to submit your fees at the time of submission.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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Comments (8)

By elroyking, July 22, 2010 11:53 am

The PMP® is a certification or credential sponsored by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). The PMI put out a document called A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (Pmbok Guide) (Paperback) This is an ambitious work that tries to document best practices for project management. The PMI also tried to improve the dissemination of this knowledge by creating the PMP credential. The program is designed to support the world wide community of Project Managers and to objectively ascertain the skill and knowledge of potential PMPs.

The PMP credential expects the applicant to have some education and some experience. Download your free PMP handbook, to get the PMIs details about these requirements.

Here are the requirements:

Educational Requirements
35 hours of Project Management education, also called contact hours. These hours can come from college courses, training courses from work, and PMI approved classes, or PMI Aproved, Online Training.
Candidates need to list the course names, institutions where the classes were taken, dates that classes were taken, and hours for each project management class submitted.

Experience Requirements
If the candidate has a bachelors degree, they will have to have a minimum of 4,500 hours of project management experience within all five process groups (Initiation, Planning, Controlling, Execution and Closing).
The project dates must indicate that the candidate has at least three years of project management experience within the six-yea period prior to the application.
The candidates must show at least thirty-six non-overlapping months of project management experience on their personal experience verification form.
Candidates will be asked to list the course names, institutions, dates, and hours for each project management class submitted.

PMP Certification Exam
Candidates will need to pass a difficult four hour, 200 question exam that spans all of the process groups, and all of the nine knowledge areas, plus professional ethics.

Continuing Dedication to Project Management
After getting the certification, candidates need to show continuing dedication to project management They can do that by accumulating Professional Development Units (PDUs).

Passing that difficult exam will take some work and preparation. You can be ready for that exam with PM ExamReady. We will coach you, give you tips and tricks, point you to the right resources and just plain help you out. Take advantage of the free resources, such as the free PMP handbook cited earlier. Let us help you get certified and get your projects back on track.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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Comments (38)

By elroyking, July 19, 2010 10:01 am

You are a project manager, but what is project management, really? As a project manager, you wear many hats. You might find yourself discovering risks, solving problems, directing work, planning action, mitigating issues, and reporting performance. Are any one of these activities the definition of project management? No. Project management is the application of Knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to accomplish the goals and meet the requirements of a project.

Usually a project will include requirement identification, stakeholder identification and understanding of the stakeholders to the extent that the you can meet the expectations and requirements of the stakeholders, and finally balancing constraints that are competing in nature.

The Project Constraints

There are six aspects of a project, and perhaps more, that interrelate to the point that if one of these aspects change during the project they will affect at least one more, and perhaps all of the others. These six aspects are the following: Scope, Quality, Schedule, Budget, Resources, and Risk. For example, if the scope of the project is increased, then the resources needed to complete it will expand, as will the budget needed to complete the larger scope. The time needed to finish the project will be greater. The larger project may need more testing, and may affect the overall quality of the project. Lastly, the possibilities of finishing the project on time, in budget, or even at all are all affected by the scope growing, and thus it affects risk as well.

Project management entails understanding all of the constraints and influencing the factors that cause change. It may include mitigating change, and co-ordinating the evolution of the project, as the project is progressively elaborated.

Because a project is so many faceted and because each project is unique, depending on company culture, industry, market influences, company structure, resource pools, and so many other factors, there really can’t be a one size fits all project solution.

Because of this complexity, the Project Management Institute (PMI) produced the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (Pmbok Guide) (Paperback). A process oriented guide to the management of projects. They also created the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, to encourage project managers to really learn the complexities of managing a project and to do it with a consistent methodology that leads to successful projects.

If you have an interest in becoming a PMP and gaining the knowledge, skills, and talents that will help you manage projects successfully, we can help you here at PMExamReady.com. We can help you get the training you need including the 35 contact hours, and prepare you to take the PMP exam.

Find out all of the requirements for getting your PMP credential with a free PMP handbook. Jump aboard and get everything you need to qualify for the PMP certification.

If you want to pass the PMP exam, you are going to have to learn to understand the Project Management terms the way the PMI knows them. Rita Mulcahy, a prominent PMP and Project Management author, explains that 50% of those that fail the PMP exam fail it because they have not had project management training that uses PMI terminology. The bottom line, you need to see the terms the way the PMI sees them to pass the PMP exam. About the only way to get that knowledge is through some PMI approved training.

Now you have a number of options:

You can attend a 4-7 day training course held by MosaicProjects or GlobalKnowledge. The rates vary, but will cost between $1500 and $2000. The actual number of contact hours awarded from the class depends on the number of classroom hours you attend, but they vary between 21 and 25.

There are some online classes Point Advantage, Online Training or Simplilearn online training. Either one will cost between $699 and $999.

However, the very best value will be the The PM-Prepcast.

The PM-Prepcast gives you:
38 hours of PMI approved PMP training in a podcast.
35 contact hours recognized by the PMI.
Exclusive tips and tricks for taking the PMP exam.
Sample test questions and more. For a one time fee of about $99.

Check out the PM-Prepcast and start preparing for the PMP exam in the PMI way today!.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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Comments (11)

By elroyking, July 16, 2010 8:52 am

Does the road to the PMP credential seem long and drawn out? Getting there requires dedication and effort, but it will be well worth it. Project managers that get the PMP certification usually make 15-30% more than those without certification. They set themselves apart, and show to their employers and others that they more than average.

The road to getting the PMP credential has a few speed bumps. Be sure and get the 35 contact hours of training. You can get that training through a class, through a PMI Aproved, Online Training from Point Advantage, or now you can even get them through a podcast.

It is important to spend some time with the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (Pmbok Guide) (Paperback). The PMBOK guide is the basis for the exam.

Tip # 1

Know that the exam is not just about memorizing, but is also about the application of the principles. The PMBOK guide has the principles, but none of the application information. A PMP exam prep book is probably the best way to get familiar with how the PMP exam will test application of the principles. I would suggest PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita’s Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam or The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try. Both are excellent texts.

Tip # 2

Make some flash cards to help with the memorization. The process of making the cards can help you learn what is important. I would start with the process summary on page 43 of the PMBOK guide. I have a PMP process study guide that you can download here. Modify it and make it your own. You might consider printing them off at 1/4 sheets as flash cards. I find that flash cards help me memorize better than most tools, because I can pack them around and use them anywhere. If you want some commercial cards that cover a lot of PMP material try one of these two: Hot Topics Flashcards For Passing the PMP and CAPM Exam s or PM FLASHCARDS.

Tip # 3

You need to take a number of practice exam questions. You can find some free ones at , but I would suggest a good PMP Exam Simulation Software. There are a couple of choices: PM Fastrack Exam Simulation Software for the PMP Exam: Version 6 or PMP Exam Simulator. The Exam Simulator is less expensive, and has 6000 questions, Where Rita’s Simulation Software comes with about 1600 sample questions.

Tip # 4

Understand the Project Management process. What processes come before others. Which sets of processes will be iterative. The PMBOK guide has some guidance there, and this article about PMP Tips.

I hope these tips help move you along that road to PMP certification!

Elroy King

If you have any questions about project management or the PMP exam, leave them for me in a comment, and I will try to answer you questions.

You can be ready for the PMP exam, with PMExamReady.com.

Make the most of managing your project with the best project management software.

Make memorizing for the PMP a flash!

Get your free PMP handbook.

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By elroyking, July 14, 2010 8:19 am

If you are preparing to take the PMP exam, among the most important pieces of information that you will need to memorize are the inputs, outputs, tools and techniques associated with the 42 processes outlined in the PMBOK guide v4.  The 42 process are summarized on page 43 of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (Pmbok Guide) (Paperback).  Getting that information in one place with the added information of inputs, outputs, tools and techniques is such a help.  This study guide has each process numerated as they are found in the PMBOK guide, so the association of the process with the chapter it is covered in is directly apparent.  That association allows you to go directly to the chapter to do any additional study on the process!

The study guide puts one process on a 1/4 sheet of paper.  Throw some card-stock in your printer, and instantly, you have ready made flash cards.  Print the names of the processes on the back side of the cards, and you have a great study companion.  So you get two tools in one, and the best part is that the tool is absolutely free.  Here at PM ExamReady, we are so dedicated to your preparation for the PMP exam, we are providing everything we can to help get you there.  

So get your free PMP exam Process Study Guide right here.

Other tools that might help you get ready for this exam is the exam simulator.  Most sample exams give you 200 PMP exam questions, you know a whole PMP sample exam.  Others might offer you twice that many, some 400 sample test questions.  How prepared would you be if you had a database of 6000 PMP exam questions?  What if the cost of that exam prep tool was under $50.  That is so much less than you would pay for tools that give you 1/10 of the sample test questions.  Give the exam simulator a try.  You won’t be disappointed.

Elroy King

If you have any project management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment and I will try to answer them.

You can be ready for the PMP exam, with PMExamReady.com.

Make the most of managing your project with the best project management software”.

Make memorizing for the PMP a flash!

Get your free PMP handbook.

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Comments (17)

By elroyking, July 12, 2010 10:09 am

If you had documentation that showed that the preferred testing center actually had more defects than the secondary testing center, wouldn’t you put your efforts into getting your project to the secondary testing center instead of the primary? Perhaps you found out that senior analysts were consistently pulled from projects after the planning phase, wouldn’t you make sure that they mentored the junior analysts before they were pulled? Maybe you could find ahead of time, that the new database you were looking at moving to was tried two years ago with poor results. That is the power of lessons learned from previous projects at your company. Those are the things you need to be putting in your lessons learned documents for those that manage projects after you! But, there is a perception that a lessons learned database is hard to implement and keep current, and most companies use the scarce resources needed for lessons learned and process improvement in other income generating activities. So what can you do if there is no lessons learned database to draw from? Well, here are a few suggestions:

1. Seek a mentor. You boss may be able to help you find a mentor in the company that has managed projects similar to yours. The experience drawn from them can be invaluable, and you are likely to make lasting relationships.

2. There are documents that should be kept on each project. Things like the risk register and issues log. These may not be easy to find, but search through the standard documentation for projects like yours and you may be surprised what gems you can come up with.

3. Make friends with, and meet regularly with other project managers. It is likely that you will be facing the same issues.

4. Interact with executives and ask them for the problems and issues that came up on other projects. They will likely be very aware of the ones that cost the company money.

5. Leverage the collective wisdom of your team. Many of them have survived previous projects and may know what to watch out for.

6. Check into data published from consultants and industry watchdogs. This data is usually published and current, and can help you understand the current market conditions and issues.

7. Just listen to the company chatter about project stories, both successes and disasters. These stories usually have some basis in truth and reality and can give you great insight into company culture.

What ever resources you use, dig into the project past of your company, and dig out the gems that will make your project successful and fulfilling.

If you need help getting started on lessons learned, risk registers, issues logs, or other important documentation for your project you can get a head start with the project management kit.

Elroy King

If you have any questions about project management or the PMP exam, leave them for me in a comment, and I will try to answer you questions.

You can be ready for the PMP exam, with PMExamReady.com.

Make the most of managing your project with the best project management software”.

Make memorizing for the PMP a flash!

Get your free PMP handbook.

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By elroyking, July 11, 2010 8:47 am

If you have the 35 hours of training, and the project management experience hours, your PMP certification is only a four-hour exam away! You can be sure you have all of the pre-requisites to sit for the exam, if you get the free PMP handbook. The last think you have to worry about is passing the exam.

For me, the hard part was all of the memorization. The concepts themselves were pretty straight forward, but which processes went with which knowledge areas? Which tools and techniques could be used for which processes? I thought that I could just learn some of this logically, but the truth became apparent, that I needed help.

I tried to find some help sheets and tips and tricks for the PMP exam and looked all over the Internet. I found some interesting information, in an eclectic type of way. I finally ran into a note that pointed to some flash cards. The flash cards were amazing. They had the type of information about knowledge areas, process groups, tools and techniques, in an easy to learn format! What I really liked about the flash cards is that I could take a stake with me anywhere. I could pull out the cards when I was standing in line, or waiting for a call. The flash cards that I found the most helpful are the PM FLASHCARDS by Cornelius Fitchner. About 1700 flash cards and a very good price. Flash cards made the difference for me, and it can for you too.

If you find you still need the 35 contact hours of Project Management training, Cornelius Fitcher also has a podcast called The PM-Prepcast. It is one of the best training available, 120 lessons for only $99. It includes a mini exam and a certificate when you complete the course and pass the exam. It is PMI approved training, and absolutely the best price for the value. Just take a look at The PM-Prepcast, and see if you won’t agree with me on it as the best value for the money.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

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