How do you go about getting PM certified?

[helpdesk2005]

Hey everyone,

I know this is a very open-ended question but I am very interested in getting my PMP or some kind of PM degree. I know of the PMBOK but not much else in terms of what is required for you to be certified in PM. If someone can provide me with some information or perhaps useful links that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[planetant]

http://www.pmi.org/info/default.asp

http://www.4pm.com/index.htm

http://certification.about.com/od/projectmanagement/a/pmpcert.htm

Honestly, I wonder if anyone looks for it. I've been a PM for 5 years in new media and no one has ever asked about it.

Still, I bet there are some good things about the training. Why do you want to do it?

 

[thedaver]

I think you should spend some time reviewing what Rita Mulcahy offers, I used her book extensively in preparing for the PMP exam.

http://www.rmcproject.com/

should be the URL

Dave.

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[helpdesk2005]

thedaver,

what do you think about rita's online course? do you guys know of any good online courses since it looks like the best way to go about this is on job exp., read the pmbok and take a course...the only thing i guess i'm missing is the course...any advice?
thanks.

 

[helpdesk2005]

planetant - i want to do it because a lot of PM jobs ask for it or they prefer candidates with the certification over others - it's weird that you say they don't ask for it...what area are you job hunting? north america or overseas?

obviously there's also the upside of the salary scale with the cert

 

[thedaver]

Here's how I passed the the PMP:

1) several years of real project management experience. The PMI/PMP legitimately warns that you cannot take the PMP test by book learning alone.
2) I picked up RMC's book, another book who's author escapes me (but was similar in approach to RMC), and the PMBOK.
3) I skimmed (SKIMMED) the PMBOK to understand the topic areas. The PMBOK is not an end-to-end reader. It's a reference book, like an encyclopedia, and should be read for section topics.
4) I read the RMC book chapter by chapter and took the sample tests. I graded myself on each sample section and read the explanations for answers I missed. I referenced back to the PMBOK to cover the section from their perspective as well.
5) I continued doing #4 until I was ready to take the sample full exam from one of the books. Again I graded myself. I kept evaluating myself aginst the passing-grade percentage for the test - I had to achieve passing grade in every sample chapter test and the full exam.
6) I started the "other" book of test tips and sample exams, again referencing back to PMBOK and grading myself.
7) I began retesting myself against those chapters' tests that I hadn't achieved the passing-grade percentage initially.

In short, read one teaching book, work it through, grade yourself as you go and reference the PMBOK for charts, tables and discussion. Then do the other teaching book similarly. Then retest yourself to raise your overall score to passing.

I passed the actual test with 15% to spare!
Good luck, and hurry! The NEW PMP exam will be out around September and most of the existing teaching materials will require updates.




D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[helpdesk2005]

thedaver,

thanks for that detailed explanation. The "other" book that you speak of was a "teaching" book you said? no way of you recalling what it was huh? How many years of pm did you have and was it full time? I only have under a year of part time PM so i don't think i'll be ready to take the current exam. I hear that the new one will come out in q3 of 2005 so i'll probably be waiting for that one.

I guess cost is the other thing. How much is the pmp exam? is pmp the highest pm certification there is? i'm not too sure about that aspect as well.

But it looks like you've done well for yourself that's for sure.

Thanks for the help as always.

 

[helpdesk2005]

I was just over at pmi.org and it looks like I'm probably more going towards capm at the moment due to my level in the field. They suggest the below books what do you guys think do you have any other recommendations?

Other Suggested Readings:
This is a list of suggested materials, which depending on your needs may compliment an overall study plan.


Project Management: A Managerial Approach, 4th Edition by Jack Meredith and Samuel Mantel John (Wiley & Sons)
The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh (John Wiley & Sons)
The New Project Management by J. Davidson Frame (Jossey-Bass)

 

[thedaver]

Rita's book (at Amazon.com)

<a href="

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/r.../qid=1111070460/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1">Rita

Mulcahy PMP Exam Prep 4th Ed.</a>

Velociteach's book (at Amazon.com)

<a href="

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/r...=1-1/ref=sr_1_1?v=glance&s=books">Velociteach

How to Pass the PMP the
First Time</a>

These use the CURRENT PMBOK version as their basis.
CAPM is a good start, but I think if you buy the books and study, you'll find that a substantial amount of the PMP is CAPM material!







D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[helpdesk2005]

Thanks daver

 

[johnherman]

Also check

http://www.iil.com

(that's eye eye ell)

-------------------------
The trouble with doing something right the first time is that noboby appreciates how difficult it was.
- Steven Wright