Fantastic training classes 2

[elizabeth]

Just wanted to [red]rave[/red] about a training class I just went to. |-0 The material was on target, the instructor was excellent, and it all works toward certification from PMI, the acknowledged International Standards organization for Project Management! s-) Here's a link:

http://www.rmcproject.com/

Please comment on training classes you've been to and your assessment. THanks.

 

[pivan]

Thanks Elizabeth:

I am reading PMBOK and planning on certification by this summer.

It seems straightfoward enough....Is there something about the certification process/exam that I am overlooking. Again judging by the book, its all pretty basic project management stuff. Don't get me wrong..its all well detailed and organized. But I am starting to get concerned as to all of the resources for preparation that people are using to prepare.

How hard is the certification exam?

Thanks,
Pivan

In not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not us, who?

Just do it!!

 

[elizabeth]

Pivan, that's what I thought too, before I looked at the web site above. But I'm told the Certification exam is not a "PMBOK exam"; only about 1/3 of the questions are memorization (regurgitation). And they say one's professional experience is not necessarily helpful unless it has been in following PMI's standards. On top of this, the sample questions I've seen are written in a deliberately obtuse way, which shakes some people up during the test and impares performance. The instructor was involved in writing the exam, and her class is based on her own prep book that's sold on the web site. If you go to there, you'll see stats about why this prep class stands out from the crowd. I haven't yet taken the exam because about 40 hours of study are recommended beyond the class.

On the other hand, if some people have taken the test after studying only the PMBOK, I'd love to hear about your total number of hours studying and your score. I haven't seen any stats on pass/fail.

 

[pivan]

Thanks...truly...thanks Elizabeth...

Sometimes..as Icarus was want to find, we try to fly to close to the sun with wings of wax.

Thanks to your insight I will start to give more thought to preparing for the PMI exam. Sorta replacing wax with carbon fiber and titanium.

Best Regards,
pivan

ps: when are you go In not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not us, who?

Just do it!!

 

[pivan]

Hi Elizabeth:

I need some help...I am putting together my PMI application.
Do you have, or know of a place where I can obtain a spreadsheet of the "Project Management Experience Verification Form". I have the application in PDF format but I would like to avoid having to handwrite my project management experience on copies.

Thanks,
pivan In not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not us, who?

Just do it!!

 

[jbaugh]

Pivan and Elizabeth,

I wish I had thought about the spreadsheet thing. I just printed out the verification page from the PDF file, filled in the top part with the common information about myself, made about 20 copies and filled in most of them with individual project information manually. I just sent the mammoth application package off to PMI last week. No word about my qualification for the exam, as yet. I am planning on sitting for the exam in mid to late September. [I am signed up for the Essential Skills in IT Project Management class in October in Scottsdale and would like to use those 28 PDUs towards recert. PMI classes are excellent, but they are not inexpensive.]

Elizabeth, I went to the PMI intro seminar on the PMBOK, Structures and Competencies in Scottsdale this past April. I found it to be one of the best ILT classes that I have attended. My instructor was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of PM and gave us some good hints as to what to expect on the PMP exam. I ordered the PMP Exam Prep material from RMCProject, to better my chances for the exact reasons you list in a previous post. I wanted to take the prep class that you referred, but it doesn't fit into my timeframe. I am hoping that the Phoenix chapter will have another RMC prep class before the one scheduled in November, if not, I am going for the gusto in September anyway. [Assuming of course, that my application meets with PMI approval, going back through all of my old records, calendars, notes, etc. to compile the applicable 4500 project hours was a minor project in and of itself]

Good Luck to both of you,

Joe

 

[elizabeth]

I'm starting a new thread as this has gone off topic. Please look for it - tips on applying for test.

 

[elizabeth]

Joe, who was the instructor for your most excellent class? In case I did not note it above, Rita Mulcahy's book covers almost all the info that is in class, although the class is a lot more fun and she used adult learning techniques to improve retention that you can't really get from the book. Also the clas truly is fully oriented to prepping for the exam, and a person would be lost if they were new and simply trying to learn project management from it. I'm attempting to keep this thread on the topic of training classes, rather than all PMI-related subjects. Could I ask you to start another thread to tell me your opinion about the PMI eminars? They look very good.

 

[jbaugh]

Elizabeth, Brad Malone was the instructor's name. I will look for the other thread to delve into the PM training regimen that I am using. I am assuming it is under the Project Management area?