If you are a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®, then you know that the acronym PDU stands for Professional Development Unit. Every PMP needs to earn 60 PDUs every 3 years in order to keep his or her certification. Why? The idea behind PDUs is simple: the Project Management Institute (PMI) wants every PMP to continuously learn. Just like doctors or pilots who have to take classes regularly and practice new skills in order to keep their license, PMI wants credential holders to learn new project management skills so that we can be the best project managers possible.

This article is based on an interview with Rory McCorkle, Product Manager Credentials, from PMI, and you can listen to the full interview for free at The Project Management Podcast website: http://bit.ly/pmpodcast204.

The rules around PDUs changed in March 2011, but many people are still confused about the new structure. Let’s look at the main changes.

One hour equals one PDU

When Rory and his team were benchmarking PMI against other organizations, they realized that it would be useful to standardize the amount of PDUs individuals get for the time they spend on activities. “We’re truly global and dealing with a global audience has challenges,” he said. “That was something we found an important learning: regardless of whether you are sitting in a classroom, giving a presentation or volunteering, we have rewarded you appropriately for the investment of your time and what you were getting out of that.”

As a result, nearly all activities are now credited on the basis of one hour of activity equaling one PDU.

PDU divisions and categories

The old system had 18 different PDU categories – not including the sub-categories. The new system divides PMI PDUs into two broad areas: education and giving back to the profession. This makes it much easier to understand, but there was another reason for the change too. “The other important thing division enabled us to do was to ensure that through their recertification cycle every practitioner had at least some hours in the education area,” Rory said. “That gave us the assurance that everyone would continue to invest in their lifelong learning.”

In the new structure both divisions have 3 categories.

The Education division

Category A: Courses offered by a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP), Chapters or Communities. “Most of these activities are stored in the Continuing Certification Requirements System already,” said Rory, “so all you need to claim them is simply to enter that activity number and demonstrate that you were there if you’re audited.”

Category B: Continuing Education. This covers any training that you undertake at a college, university, or with any other training provider that is not a REP. Training in your workplace counts as Category B too. Rory advises that you keep proof of attendance in case you are audited. “That could be a certificate of completion,” he said.

Category C: Self-directed Learning. “This is really a great place for folks to be able to get learning that you don’t have to go to a classroom for,” Rory said. “It captures a lot of the things that I hope certainly that professionals are doing, if not on a daily basis, certainly monthly”. This includes being mentored, webinars, podcasts, reading and so on. You can only claim a maximum of 30 PDUs in this category.

The Giving Back to the Profession division

This division has a maximum of 45 PDUs. Any PDUs earned in the following 3 categories counts towards this cap.

Category D: Creating New Project Management Knowledge. “This is a whole number of different things that all are looking to create, develop, expand and communicate new project management knowledge or perhaps augment existing knowledge that might be out there in the field,” Rory said. It ranges from authoring a textbook to giving a presentation at your Chapter dinner about a topical issue in project management, and can include writing articles. “At PMI we have a lot of publications that you can get knowledge pieces produced in,” Rory said.

Category E: Volunteer Service. You don’t have to be a PMI Chapter officer to claim these PDUs. “This can be volunteer service for any project management organization,” explained Rory. “We know there are other project management organizations out there. They do have to be non-profit in order to count here, so volunteering for your company isn’t going to count because that could be your job.” Another opportunity to earn PMP PDUs in this category is by providing project management services to non-profit organizations.

Category F: Working as a Professional in Project Management. This is the only one of the 6 categories where the “1 hour of service equals 1 PDU” rule doesn’t apply. “This is essentially an amount we give for working as a professional project manager,” Rory said. “As on your original application for your certification, we recognize experience as part of the eligibility requirements.” As long as you work a minimum of 6 months within the 12 month period you can claim the PDUs relevant to your credential.

Learning more

“I’d encourage folks to look at the handbook for their certification,” said Rory. There is no longer a separate handbook just for continuing certification requirements, as the rules are embedded in the handbook for your credential. While the new guidelines are much clearer than the old system, Rory recommends asking for help if you are unsure.

“I would encourage folks if they have a question about specific activity to reach out to Customer Care,” he said. “We’ll make sure we get an answer for you because the categories can encompass a lot and sometimes can be a little confusing as to what counts and what might not.”

Earn PDUs regularly

Why not get started on your PDUs now via a subscription and get your PDUs regularly? The PDU Podcast (www.pducast.com) is a convenient way for you to earn unlimited PDUs in Category A, and you don’t have to go to a classroom. Get project management webinars delivered to your portable player like an iPod, Android phone or Blackberry and earn at least 1 PDU every month, which is a really convenient way for PMPs to earn PDUs for your renewal.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 16,000 students prepare for the PMP exam with The Project Management PrepCast and he is the host of The PDU Podcast.

Many people in IT believe that ITIL is something that is practiced at a junior level, and management of it is same as anything else. I agree to an extent, but will follow it with some questions.

How do you know what your team is doing is the right thing and the best thing for them to do?

How do you set goals and evaluate them if you don’t know your team’s functionality?

Where will your team look up to when they need guidance?

There are a lot more questions to ask, but I know you got the idea.

I have written an article on the importance on ITIL for project managers on Train Signal Training. I have considered project managers in a project setting as well. Let me know what you think of it?

Oh there is a problem alright. And it starts with the fact that you have a boss, peer or project team member who is completely in denial about the chaos that is all around them. If they do see any kind of issues, well those issues start with you. This is not meant to be spiteful. This is the behavior of someone who is completely oblivious to the fact that they cause problems. If they do have any inkling that there is an issue, then they have a perfect excuse. Do any of these sound familiar?

• “I did not call you back because you never left me a message.”
• “I did not forget our meeting; my admin did not put it on my calendar.”
• “My office may look messy, but leave it alone. I have a system and I know where everything is located.”

What kinds of chaos surround this person? Their chaos can be lack of organization, time related or memory related. The chaos created by this person looks like chaos created by creative types or even by someone who deceives others into thinking they are organized. The key here is that they absolutely do not own their issue. They really do not see that there is a problem. If they miss a meeting, they can blame their assistant who did not remind them of it. They really think you didn’t leave them a message because their assistant gave it to them and it was buried under the piles of paper on their desk.

So what’s a project manager to do? Well let’s look at what not to do first – do not blame them. Do not put them on the defensive. Do not constantly harp on them about the problem. Do not argue with them about their excuses, just move on. Find a way to work around the problem because you’re not going to be able to change them.

Now step back and look at the big picture. What do you want from this working relationship? Where do they have problems and how can you help? Even if you don’t feel like you want to help them, remember you are helping yourself too! With that in mind:

• Be proactive. If you know their issue will cause a problem for others on the project team, step-in. This may mean you politely remind them of customer appointments or work package due dates. It may mean you hand deliver important memos to them and watch them read those memos. What you are doing (without them knowing it) is nipping a potential problem in the bud.
• Create a simple process for organizing shared information. Stay away from their personal space, but be willing to be responsible for other areas. Enlist the help of others on the project, too. Your problem child may respond to the organization and join in because they want to be part of the group.
• If they work for you as a full-time project resource, be the boss and give them direction. Advise them that missing meetings, deadlines and not returning phone calls is not acceptable. Mentor them away from the damaging behavior and toward a positive outcome.
• Acknowledge that they have other skills. There are other areas where they are strong contributors, which is why they got selected to work on the project in the first place.

You may think that’s a lot of trouble to go to, but it will actually save you time and make your job less aggravating. Hand delivering memos might seem a bit extreme but you’ll know that they’ve been read. Another method that works is to deliver the memo and have them initial that they have read it. This also serves to create a paper trail that no one can argue with.

If you do have to call them on the carpet about their behavior, ask them how you can help them get control of their disorganization. Knowing that you’re willing to help them will make them much more willing to work on the behavior that is causing so much chaos for the project.

As for their other skills, take advantage of them. You may want to find what they are best at and exploit that. If your problem person excels at something that another project team member isn’t so good at, perhaps he or she could take the burden off their co-worker in exchange for that person handling their calendar.

And remember, their behavior is about them, it is not about you. Don’t take it personally.

About the Author: Margaret Meloni, MBA, PMP, is an executive coaching consultant for IT professionals. She helps project managers and teams work together better by improving their soft skills. Learn how to successfully combine your technical and soft skills in her webinars from The PDU Podcast (www.pducast.com) and from her website at www.margaretmeloni.com.

The Project Management Institute’s (PMI)® Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential is a globally recognized certification of project management knowledge, skills and experience. So it’s not surprising that PMI takes great care to insure the quality of its certification process, from application through post certification.

When you apply to sit for PMI’s PMP Certification, you will submit a qualification of your education, quantification of your project management experience and classroom hours. If accepted, you can then take the PMP Exam. And if you pass, you’ll be added to the PMI list of certified Project Management Professionals with all its privileges.

You and every PMI certified professional deserves to know that their hard fought credential will retain its value and integrity year in and year out. PMI takes this responsibility very seriously. One of the ways they insure the integrity of your PMP certification is by auditing applicants as well as certified PMPs throughout their programs.

Your PMP application and, later, your PMP Status, can be audited at any time. There are a lot of rumors about PMI’s audit selection criteria, but the truth is that the audit selection process is completely random. There is no control chart of outliers or red flags.

So don’t focus on whether you might fit a truly non-existent profile of someone who gets audited. Focus on making sure your information and actions are aligned with passing an audit from the start! There is a positive and proactive way to approach your PMP application. Take these simple ideas to heart:

Your chances of being audited:

During the application process your chances of being audited are about 50/50 and drop dramatically after certification. Since the PMP Exam audit selection process is completely random, you shouldn’t waste your time listening to and worrying about the rumors of profiling or trigger conditions. Use your energy to properly study for the exam instead and take the time to make your application audit proof.

Being truthful means you don’t have to remember anything:

PMI takes its code of ethics very seriously and so should you. The more time you take to make sure your application is aligned with your experience, the better it will withstand an audit.

Document, Communicate, Align:

Take the time to document clearly your experience. Make sure you know where you stored your degree, training certificates, dates, documentation, contact names, addresses and phone numbers from your projects. Better yet, create a new project folder of all the background information that supports your application.

When you submit your Project Management experience application you will be asked to provide contact persons for each and every project. Be sure to confirm their current email address and phone numbers. These contact persons could be your managers, co-workers, vendors, clients and any other applicable stakeholders from your past projects. Let them know you’re applying to take the PMP Exam. Jog their memory of your projects by sharing with them what you’re submitting and ask them if they agree with what you’ve written. Make corrections if they disagree.

The Three Ways to Fail a PMP Exam Audit:

According to PMI’s Customer Care there are three ways that you can fail an audit: No Fault, Non-Compliance and Fraud. Let’s look at them in detail. First we’ll see what PMI writes for each, then we’ll give you an interpretation and our recommendations.

1.) No Fault

“Cannot verify education or experience through no fault of their own – No suspension period and cannot reapply until candidate can provide the experience hours and document them.”

You should be able to avoid this by making sure you have all your documentation before you submit your PMP Exam application. However, if for some reason, your education or experience cannot be confirmed, through no fault of your own, then PMI will still let you fail the audit. You may reapply as soon as you have your experience hours documented or confirmation of your degree.

2.) Non-Compliance

“Candidate chooses not to attempt audit – One year suspension period”

If you are audited and you simply have too much going on in your life to participate in the audit, then you can choose not to give any audit responses. Similar to pleading “no contest,” the candidate is subject to a one year suspension period before he/she can apply for the PMP Exam again.

3.) Fraud

“Providing False Information – Permanently suspended from sitting for PMI exams.

This should be obvious to you… Don’t lie! It’s not worth it! If you provide false information on your PMP application and you fail an audit because of it, you will be permanently suspended from sitting for any PMI exams. And they truly do mean forever.

If you’re concerned about not having enough contact hours, consider putting off your application until you do. If you’re looking for projects to fill in those hours, there are a lot of volunteer project management opportunities through community service and other non-profit organizations.

If you need a certification by a particular deadline and you’re short of hours, consider sitting for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® while you’re accumulating the hours you’ll need for the PMP. A CAPM certification requires only a high school (or equivalent) diploma and either 23 hours of project management education or 1,500 experience hours.

Although PMI can choose to change the PMP Audit process at any time, should you be audited, you’ll be asked to provide copies of your diplomas or equivalents, signatures from people that can verify your experience such as managers and supervisors, and copies of certificates and/or letters from training institutions for each educational course you’re claiming.

The PMP Exam audit process is a hiccup, but not a road block on your way to becoming certified. Take a little care up front, and you’ll come through it with flying colors.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 15,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast and The PMP Exam Simulator.

Graduating from school or just trying to break into a career in project management?

There are many questions you should be asking yourself right now.  Chief among them is what your career path should look like.  In this article my goal is to arm you with the perspective to figure it out.

In general, once a minimum requirement of formal education has been satisfied, work experience is the most important for advancing your project management career.  Certifications and advanced degrees can wait and many must, due to the experience eligibility requirements.

Entry-level roles come in many forms.  They vary widely across organizations and industries and include but are not limited to the following.

●     Project Coordinator

●     Assistant Project Manager

●     Junior Project Manager

●     Project Analyst

●     Work Manager

●     Project Lead

●     Project Manager

Depending on your background, you may be interested in these disciplines as well.  They can be careers themselves, or a good stepping stone into project management.

●     Project Scheduler

●     Project Controller

●     Business Analyst

Now, let’s get into some examples you can probably identify with.

Sarah, The Newly Graduated

It’s graduation time, and Sarah has worked hard to earn her 4-year degree.  What she lacks in work experience, she makes up for in self-motivation and smarts.  Now she’s faced with a difficult decision.

Does she stay in school and go for a Master’s degree, or does she go get a job now?

Advice For The Newly Graduated

For most entry-level and mid-level project management roles, a 4-year degree (in just about anything) is going to be a requirement.  Post-graduate degrees are not usually looked for.  The best thing for Sarah now is to land an entry-level position at an organization who values project management and start gaining some work experience.  Later on, she can start looking into certifications and post-graduate education if they make sense for her chosen industry and long-term career goals.

Sarah lands a role at an organization as a Junior Project Manager.  She selected a handful of organizations to target in her job search because in her research, she found a progression of job titles that clearly indicated acknowledgement of project management as a discipline and a clear project management career path within those companies.

Ben, The Techie

Ben is a software developer who has a 4-year degree in Computer Science.  He’s been working on project teams for several years now, and although he enjoys software engineering, he has become very interested in the role of the project manager.

He wants to lead project teams towards a common goal.  He loves working with people and values strong communication skills, which he has begun to continuously improve in himself.

How does Ben make the transition from Software Engineer to Project Manager?

Advice For The Techie

Ben has an advantage in that he wants to stick with the type of work he is already experienced with.  The most important thing Ben can do is let it be known that he wants to pursue a project management career path.

Volunteering internally to help out project managers he works with, even on his own time, is a great way to give his future peers first-hand knowledge about his abilities and ambition.  At the same time Ben is studying project management as a formal discipline for the first time, perhaps with self-study online using blogs and other content or in a classroom setting (online or offline).

Over time, Ben gains a reputation as an up-and-coming project manager.  When a new spot opens up for a project manager to lead a new software development project, everyone already knows Ben and his potential.

Emily, The Manager

Having managed teams for years, Emily is well steeped in running a group of people for day-to-day operations.

She has started to reflect on her career and noticed something interesting.  Those little side projects she leads her team in are really cool.  She loves the feeling of planning a project, managing it’s execution, and in the end delivering something brand new.

Emily is what most of us think of as an “accidental project manager” who has now decided to get serious about it.

Advice For The Manager

Emily knows how to coach team members.  She knows how to manage stakeholders and upper management.  It’s really the details of how to manage projects in a disciplined way she wants to learn and get better at.

If her previous “accidental” projects make up enough experience to pursue something like the PMP Certification, that is an option she may choose to pursue.  The best benefit will be familiarity with a formal framework and standard for project management.

She already has a 4-year degree in Business Administration. While gaining experience may be best, another alternative is to pursue a Master’s in Project Management as another way to learn formal project management practices.

Emily likely has the opportunity to propose new projects for the organization or even authorize them herself for her team to carry out.  Applying the lessons from formal project methodologies will be a wonderful learning experience.  As she becomes known in the organization as someone who volunteers for projects and leads them successfully, she will be very visible when a specific project management role comes up.

Alternatively, Emily has likely gained enough experience to pursue a project management role at another organization, preferably one who values project management as a discipline.

John, The Industry-Jumper

John has been working as a carpenter for 20 years.  Over the past few years, he has worked with many construction project managers and gotten to know what their roles are like.  It’s something he wants to pursue as well.

Advice For The Industry-Jumper

Having apprenticed as a carpenter after high school and military service, John did not pursue a 4-year degree.  He never had cause to until now.

Landing a role in project management is going to be difficult without that 4-year degree.  The best thing for John now is going to be finding a 4-year degree program where he can pursue a related degree in construction management, project management, or business administration.  Very likely, the best option is going to include night school so John can continue to support himself and his family with his day job.

At the same time while going to school, there are several entry-level positions related to construction management John should pursue (after targeting the right companies first).  Specific titles for this industry include Assistant Project Representative, Assistant Construction Manager, and Assistant Project Manager.

Make It Happen

As you have seen, project management is a diverse and exciting discipline.  There are many ways to point your career towards project management depending on your target industry and professional background.

In the end, it’s up to you.  Formulate a solid plan for yourself and execute on that plan.  It’s what all good project managers do.

About the author:  Josh Nankivel, BSc PM, PMP is an experienced program manager who also coaches new and aspiring project managers at http://learn.pmStudent.com.

The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a must-have for many project managers. It demonstrates your ability as a project manager to your current and prospective employers, and can help you take the next step up the corporate ladder. That said, it is not an easy road, and preparing for the exam can be a time-consuming and stressful business.

As adults, we don’t take exams that often. Part of the nerves and stress relating to the PMP exam comes from not knowing what to expect. You can prepare for the exam by revising the material from the knowledge areas of the PMBOK® Guide, but that should be only part of your preparation. You can also practice what the exam will be like by working through sample questions in a realistic, online environment. A PMP exam simulator provides this. Sitting sample tests with an exam simulator will help you face the real exam confidently.

Here are the 7 criteria to consider when selecting a PMP exam simulator to best suit your needs:

1. Select PMI Registered Education Providers only

One of the most important criteria is making sure you choose a PMP exam simulator from a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P). A R.E.P. is an organization approved by PMI, and the certification and logo shows you that the product meets established quality standards.

2. Compare the price to your budget

Studying for the PMP exam can be expensive when you include training materials, books and the exam fees. You will probably have a budget for your PMP journey, so compare the prices of PMP exam simulators and select one that provides the highest level of quality for a price you can afford.

3. Ensure that the simulator is based on the most recent PMBOK® Guide

Don’t waste time using an exam simulator that isn’t based on the most recent PMBOK® Guide! It sounds simple, but be sure to check that the PMP exam simulator you are looking at is actually based on the latest version. If it isn’t, you could waste a lot of time on questions (and answers) that will not accurately reflect what the exam will be like.

4. Establish the simulator content

Select a PMP exam simulator that has lots of questions. Lots. After all, you’ll be studying for 8-12 weeks, so you could be using the simulator often. It makes the exam prep too easy if the simulator presents you with same questions over again, so opt for a tool that offers you a great variety to test your abilities fully.

While you are looking into the questions find out who wrote them. Choose a simulator where the questions have been written by a group of PMPs. This ensures that you will be seeing questions from a variety of people, which have most likely been peer-reviewed to ensure quality.

5. Check it has full exam mode

The PMP exam simulator you choose should have a full exam mode. This means that you can take a practice exam in advance of the real thing. It should be very realistic, with the option to mark questions for review, as that is what you will be able to do during the actual exam. Ideally, you will want to choose a simulator that enables you to take the tests as many times as you like.

You’ll also want to check that the questions are presented in the same proportion as in the real exam. For example, about a third of the questions in the real exam are from Executing a Project. Your choice of PMP exam simulator should do the same to make the practice exams as realistic as possible.

6. Check it offers learning mode

Learning mode in an exam simulator is a good option to support your day-to-day studies during your PMP exam preparation. You can use learning mode to review various areas of the syllabus. For instance you might want to focus on questions coming from just Project Cost Management Knowledge Area or just from the Initiating Process Group. You should also be able to take a quick timed exam with a small number of random questions over your lunch break.

In learning mode, a good simulator offers hints for questions if you are struggling, and will even show you the answer so you know what you need to review. The simulator must also explain the logic behind the questions, and point you in the right direction if you make a mistake.

7. Establish the level of technical support

PMP exam simulators can be web-based or available to download and install on your computer. Either way, find out what sort of technical support the company offers. Ideally, look for a company that provides help when things go wrong through a forum, FAQ on their website, or a ‘contact us’ page. In the worst case, you might want to return the product completely, so find out if they offer a full refund if you are not satisfied.

Work through these 7 criteria for every PMP exam simulator that you are considering, and you will find a product that meets your needs. Having chosen a PMP exam simulator, you can use it to fully prepare for the exam, and you will enter the exam room knowing what to expect. Good luck!

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 13,500 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and The PM Exam Simulator at http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com

You’ve read the PMBOK® Guide, you’ve studied hard and you feel that you are ready to take the PMP® exam. But understanding the topics isn’t the only thing you’ll need to make a success of the exam. Wouldn’t it be great to have the chance to take some sample questions, so you really know what the exam is going to be like?

You can use a PMP exam simulator to give you an insight into what sort of questions you’ll face during the exam. Here are 10 things to look for when choosing which PMP exam simulator to use:

1. Does it have full exam mode?

Choose a simulator that offers full exam mode. This will show you what the PMP exam is really like. With full exam mode, you can take a complete practice exam in your own home or office. It’s very realistic, and taking practice exams like this will help you understand what to expect on the day.

2. Does it have lots of questions?

You don’t want to be sitting at the computer after a day of studying and find that the same questions appear on the screen time and time again. Choose a PMP exam simulator that has lots of questions, preferably over 1,500. This will give you plenty of variety. Varied questions are more challenging, more interesting for you, and make your experience of the simulator more realistic.

3. Are the questions presented in the same proportion as in the exam?

Having lots of questions is only half the story: you also need to make sure that the questions presented on screen are shown in the same proportion as in the PMP exam itself. For example, in the real exam, 13% of the questions will come from Initiating a Project. If your PMP exam simulator shows too few or too many questions from this section, you won’t get a realistic view of what you’ll be presented with on your exam day.

4. Is the vendor a PMI Registered Education Provider?

A Registered Education Provider (R.E.P) is an organization approved by PMI to issue PDUs for its training materials. You might not have your PMP certification yet, but get into good habits now and make sure that you use a PMP exam simulator from a reputable, PMI approved company.

5. Who wrote the questions?

You want to know who is behind all these questions, don’t you? Try to find a PMP exam simulator that has questions written by a group of PMPs. That way, you know that behind the scenes the question writers have adapted a variety of styles, debated over the answers and the phrasing, and peer reviewed each others’ work.

6. Is there a ‘mark for review’ feature?

In the real exam, you’ll see the ‘mark for review’ feature. This enables you to put a question to one side for the moment and return to it at the end. Don’t let a difficult question take up all of your time. In the real exam, you’ll want to skip it and complete as many of the questions as possible, then go back to the ones you have marked for review. A good PMP exam simulator will let you do the same.

7. Does it have a learning mode?

There’s more to PMP exam preparation than just taking practice exams. You can also use a PMP simulator to help you learn. In learning mode, you can get hints for the questions, or you can see the answer to the question. This is useful if you want to consolidate what you have learned so far.

8. Does it explain why you got questions wrong?

You also need to know why you got questions wrong! It’s very frustrating to just see ‘Wrong’ on the screen without an explanation or a reference back to other materials so that you can revise your understanding of that concept. A good PMP exam simulator will explain the rationale and help you understand why you made a mistake.

9. Is it based on the most recent PMBOK® Guide?

This is an obvious one: you need to choose a simulator to help with your PMP exam prep that is based on the most recent PMBOK® Guide! If it isn’t, you can’t guarantee the relevance of the questions or the accuracy of the answers.

10. Will it let you take the tests multiple times?

A great simulator won’t limit the amount of times you can take the tests. Repeating the tests (especially if you got some of the answers wrong) is a good way to gain confidence and improve your exam results. Look for a PMP exam simulator that allows you to retake the tests as many times as you like.

Last but not least, your PMP exam simulator will not only help you prepare properly for the exam, but it will also help you approach the exam environment confidently. You’ll know what to expect, and prior knowledge is a great stress reliever! A great PMP simulator will give you an important edge in passing that all-important exam.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 13,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and The PM Exam Simulator at http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com

There’s no better catalyst for self realization than taking the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam. I’m kidding you, of course, but there is some truth in that the PMP exam day will illuminate that “you don’t know what you don’t know.”

The PMP Exam is a ‘closed’ book exam. That means the only reference material you are allowed to carry into the testing facility has to be contained in your brain. But during your exam, your brain is going to be very busy interpreting the exam questions and trying to apply all of the knowledge, skills and principles you’ve accumulated in your studies and work experience.

If you haven’t already, you should go for a visit to the local testing facility where you’ll take your exam and confirm what to expect. Most likely, on your exam day, the exam monitor will check you into the testing facility, hand you six or so sheets of scratch paper and two pencils, then show you to your seat and confirm that your PC is working. Then you’ll have about 15 minutes to go through a tutorial that really only takes about 5 minutes to do. Then you begin your exam.

During the test, recalling what you do know can be daunting. Quite frankly, some of your ability to access that knowledge is going to seem misplaced amongst your grey cells. So how do you create the best opportunities to pass the PMP Exam that day? You can use the 10 minutes you don’t need from the tutorial time to do a Brain Dump!

What is a Brain Dump?

A Brain Dump is a technique used by many students on closed book exams to create their personal mini reference table. Brain dumps are abbreviations of components and concepts, which you have committed to memory and are then spilled out on to sheets of paper prior to the exam for reference.

Brain dumps contain just enough key concepts, theories, formulas and content, which will jog your memory. By having the information on your Brain Dump, your mind can focus on the question at hand instead of trying to remember the formula needed to answer the question. It helps you to be in the the right frame of mind specific to each question.

What goes into a Brain Dump?

Brain Dumps are only as good as the quality and quantity of information that you can spill out on the piece(s) of paper just before you begin your PMP Exam. They contain the formulas, theory, concepts and PMP-isms that you might otherwise forget for a moment at the very moment when you need it most.

Here is what you can generally find as part of a PMP Exam Brain Dump:

- Table 3-1 of the PMBOK® Guide 4^th Edition

- Formulas, such as earned value, PERT, communication channels, procurement, probability, project selection and depreciation

- Values, such as 1, 2 and 3 sigma and estimate ranges

- Acronyms, such as BAC or TCPI

- Powers of a project manager

- Conflict resolution (best to worst)

- Sources of conflict (order of priority)

- Herzberg’s motivators

- Project closing check list

And of course: you must include all the items that you personally have trouble remembering during your studies and that you feel need to go onto your sheet. The list above or using a Brain Dump that someone else created can be a good start but you really need to customize it to your needs. Don’t study what others are having trouble remembering. Instead, include what gives you the hiccups.

How do I Study a Brain Dump?

Brain Dumps are pure memorization. As part of your exam preparation, exercises and studying, go ahead and practice committing the content of your Brain Dump to memory and then writing them out onto a blank sheet of paper on a daily basis.

Every morning, practice your brain dump until you’re satisfied with your progress. By the end of the first week you should be able to write out your brain dump in its entirety on the first go.

Then continue dumping it on a regular basis, going back to the daily routine in the two weeks leading up to your exam.

So What *IS* The Secret of Creating My PMP Exam Brain Dump Sheet?

Creating and studying your very own, personalized PMP Exam Brain Dump Sheet is a means to an end in itself. It all begins with creating the content that goes into it by getting to know your weak areas as you prepare for the exam. Then you memorize, you dump and you repeat. Pretty soon what seemed too complex to remember is at the forefront of your knowledge.

So the secret is that you will accelerate your studies and knowledge simply by going through the motions of creating, studying and knowing what’s on your personalized Brain Dump.

Last but not least, your PMP Exam Brain Dump is a great tool not only to help you bring your reference material into the testing facility, but also providing stress relief knowing it’s there as you encounter questions that require it. You’ll help yourself to learn the material as you study for your PMP Exam and give yourself an important edge in passing.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 12,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and The PMP Exam Simulator at http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com.

1. PMP Credential Handbook

Including everything from an overview of the PMI certification program to exam policies and procedures, the PMP Credential Handbook is available for free online at: http://www.pmi.org/Certification/~/media/PDF/Certifications/pdc_pmphandbook.ashx. The first 20 pages of the handbook cover many exam basics and are a must-read for every potential examinee. Becoming familiar with the application process, payment policy, and examination administration rules will go a long way to making the actual exam day less stressful.

2. Time

The material on the PMP Exam is vast and detailed. This is not an examination you can “cram” for in a couple of weekends. Plan to take the exam after spending 10-12 solid weeks of studying for an hour or two nearly every day. Naturally, this schedule will have to be flexible enough to fit in with the rest of your responsibilities and commitments.

3. A Study Plan And Schedule

As project managers, we are well aware of the importance of a plan and schedule. Create a study schedule over 10-12 weeks that fits with the rest of your responsibilities. Depending on your job and household commitments, you may need more or less time. Take a practice exam to evaluate your weaknesses and consider spending more time on those areas. Be realistic in how much material you can cover each day and set weekly goals to track your progress. Don’t forget to include time for refreshing breaks and activities that you enjoy.

4. PMBOK® Guide, 4th Edition

The PMP Exam is based on the most current version of the PMBOK® Guide. Specific principles include communication, cost management, human resources, integration, procurement, quality, risk, scope, and time management. It is essential to understand each of these topics individually and how they work together for overall project management success.

5. Self Study Course

It bears repeating: The PMP Exam covers a large amount of material in a relatively short period of time. Don’t be discouraged! While many project managers are able to successfully schedule their time to achieve optimal results, almost everyone can benefit from an online or self study course.

The latest generation of self study courses come to you as PMP Podcasts/Videocasts, that you download to your laptop or portable player. In this way your PMP Exam preparation becomes completely portable.

Self study PMP Podcasts help divide the material into manageable portions and assist you in developing a successful schedule. Focused instruction over a specific timeline will help you meet your study goals and may count toward the required 35 hours of project management instruction.

6. PMP Exam Prep Book

There are a wide variety of PMP Exam prep books available. Some people call them “study guides”. They complement and explain the dry concepts from the PMBOK Guide and having one at hand in your studies is an absolute must. Go to your local bookstore and select one that fits with your style of learning and covers a variety of high- and low-yield topics.

7. Questions. Questions. Questions.

A large number of free PMP Exam sample questions are available from hundreds of resources on the internet. These free mock exams are a good start, but because they are free they will only go so far for you. You will also want to subscribe to an online PMP Exam Simulator to have access to the highest possible quality of samples.

Your study plan must include answering as many practice questions as possible including at least seven to eight complete 200-question practice exams. This type of preparation will help gauge your study progress and prepare you for the format of the real thing. You will be nervous on exam day, but becoming intimately familiar with types and formats of questions will help reduce anxiety and prepare you for success.

To sum up, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure you are prepared for the PMP Exam. Including these 7 items in your studies will reduce anxiety and eliminate stress associated with the exam day. Study hard and good luck!

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 10,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and The PMP Exam Simulator at http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com.

Often touted as “ideal targeted training” for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, many people find PMP boot camps are an attractive option for exam preparation.

While boot camps are designed to deliver noticeable results with a high-output of effort in a short period of time, the drawbacks of choosing this path for exam preparation often outweigh the benefits.

Bootcamps may work for some because the instructors are usually highly qualified with master’s degrees, prior training, and years of industry experience. Most also offer a pass guarantee and will assume financial risk if you fail. They may offer to pay for your exam re-take or provide custom coaching and feedback.

Quoting high first- and second-time pass rates, boot camp programs claim to be the ideal package for exam preparation, often including the PMBOK® Guide, a prep guide, test-style prep questions, and meals during classroom sessions. If you would like a surefire way to pass the PMP exam in a short period of time, then a boot camp may be just what you’re looking for.

However, PMP boot camps definitely have their share of drawbacks and these drawbacks are the reason why I never recommend a bootcamp to any of my students.

Reason #1: Boot camps are expensive.

Designed to be the ideal all-in-one exam preparation experience, the sheer cost of boot camps make them less-than-ideal for those of us on a budget. The intensive 4-day course can run anywhere from $00 to $00, depending on your location, whether it’s a busy time of year, and the availability of included amenities. While the up-front cost may seem astronomical, check to see if it includes the actual PMP exam fee and comes backed with a pass guarantee. Most boot camp companies will offer to cover tailored tutoring and re-take exam fees if you fail the first or second time. If you fail a third time, they may even offer to let you take the entire 4-day course over again for free.

But all of this comes at a cost. Essentially a pay-to-pass program, boot camps pump a large amount of students through a short-term, high-yield course. Boot camps may only be a viable option if time is more valuable to you than money.

Reason #2: Boot camps are inconvenient.

Unless you live in a large urban area where a course is offered, the 4-day boot camp will usually require travel and hotel accommodations. For most project managers with jobs and families, dropping their responsibilities for four days is not only inconvenient, it’s impossible. Work and life does not stand still (or even slow down!) just because you have an important exam to pass. Most project managers require – and work best with – a study schedule that fits with their lifestyle instead of interrupting it.

Reason #3: Boot camps focus on memorization.

As you are already aware, the PMP exam is based on concepts from the PMBOK® Guide. Specific principles include communication, cost management, human resources, integration, procurement, quality, risk, scope, and time management. The material is broad and the data is often in-depth. So, how do boot camps ensure you thoroughly master and understand these concepts in a mere four days? They don’t.

There is absolutely not enough time in four days to extensively cover concepts and in-depth data. Instead, boot camps focus on rote memorization of high-yield material. While they may be able to guarantee a “first-time pass”, boot camps cannot and do not offer an education that will help you with project management beyond the exam.

Reason #4: Boot camps have limited schedules and openings.

As noted above, the inconvenience of boot camps is often rooted in their location and need for travel away from home. On top of that, many boot camps have limited space and are only able to offer sessions at certain times of the year. If you thought taking time off from work and your family would be difficult, try doing it around their schedule instead of your own. The only available times may be during a busy work crunch or stressful family situation. At best, this may be inconvenient. Often, it is impossible. Project managers with home and work commitments will usually have better success with a study schedule or workshop that still allows them to fulfill their home and work responsibilities.

Reason #5: Boot camp training focuses on passing the exam instead of teaching concepts.

The material on the PMP exam is broad and in-depth. If you are not already familiar with concepts covered in the PMBOK® Guide, boot camps will not be able to help you in a mere four days. As noted in their “guarantee”, boot camps only promise to help you pass the exam. They do not offer an education that will guide or assist you through your career.

One of the secret ingredients to doing well on the PMP exam is understanding of project management principles, both individually and how they work together. Instead of focusing on competency, boot camps rely on rote memorization of high-yield material. While this may result in a high first-time pass rate, it does not ensure that the project manager has learned any skills or gained experience that will help their career beyond exam day.

In conclusion, if your goal is to simply pass the PMP exam without learning new techniques to improve your project management skills, then a boot camp may be just what you’re looking for. If you are unemployed, single without familial commitments, have more money than you know what to do with, and are simply looking to add credentials to your CV, then a 4-day PMP boot camp will probably serve you well. However, if you are genuinely interested in becoming a better project manager on the road to excelling on the PMP exam, then a more in-depth study approach is what you want.

Successfully passing the PMP Exam and achieving lasting and positive effects on your project management skills involves daily study time for 10 to 12 weeks. Individuals that choose to study on their own should read the PMBOK® Guide twice, utilize an additional PMP self-study preparation book, listen to a PMP Exam Podcast, and tackle as many sample exam questions as possible. Individuals that prefer the structure of a classroom schedule should select a training class that meets for several weeks. Self-study at home will complement the in-class lectures and further solidify the information. Following this approach will ensure that you not only pass the exam, but become a superior project manager along the way.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 10,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and The PMP Exam Simulator at http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com