PMP certification, which is offered by PMI®, is one of the most respected and recognized certificates and is a great addition to have in the resume if you want to get ahead as a project management professional.
To get a PMP certificate, go through the following few steps:
- Check your eligibility
If you didn’t advance past secondary school, you must have 5 years’ work experience, have amassed 7500 hours as a project supervisor and prove you have at least 35-hours’ worth of education related to project management.
If you have attended college or university, you must have a 4-year degree, have worked in project management for 3 years, supervised projects for 4500 hours and educated on project management for 35 hours. - Fill in the application form in the MyPMI® section of the PMI® website
You must first create an account on the website. Applications can be done offline or online and should include personal and education details, project management experience, contact/education hours, etcetera. If you are applying online, do so within 90 days,
When you are satisfied you have provided all details, submit your application. - Pay for exams
It costs non-members $555 to take a PMP exam, while members pay only $405. It’s advisable to pay for membership and enjoy countless benefits. - Take part in the PMI® audit
If you are informed that your applications need to be audited, send proof of your education, contact hours and experience to PMI® through registered mail, before 3 months are up.
If you fail the audit, you will be refunded your exam fee after deduction of $100 processing fee. - Schedule for PMP exams if you pass audit
You have to choose the exam date and specify in the PMI® Certification system if you want your test to be paper based (PBT) or computer based (CBT). Paper based exams need a crowd of at least 10. - Sit for PMP exams
The exam duration lasts 4 hours, during which time you will answer 175 multiple-choice questions and 25 pretest questions (200 total). - Receive your PMP certification
You will only be certified if you score at least 137 questions correctly. You will get up to 3 chances in a year to re-do the exam if you fail. - Maintain PMP certification status
Your certified status will expire after 3 years. To stay certified, you should earn at least 60 PDUs by taking part in activities such as enrolling for university courses, taking PMI quizzes, giving talks and others.
Apply for certificate renewal once these activities get to 60. After you pay ($60 for members and $150 for non-members) you’ll get your certificate in 6 to 8 weeks.
Source: http://www.simplilearn.com/pmp-certification-process-roadmap-article