PMP Certification Training: Top 3 Most Effective Training Options

No matter what field of industry you choose to work in, a project management professional certification is going to come in handy and help you move forward in your career.  A recognized certification will add value and prestige to your title and make you more appealing to hiring managers looking for a professional to deliver an outstanding performance.

Obtaining a PMP certification is a commitment, and if you are gearing up for a career as a project management professional, we are going to go over three proper project management professional certification training essentials that are going to help you excel on your exam come exam day.

Benefits of a Project Management Certification

Becoming a project management professional will put you ahead of the competition and provide you with essential knowledge and experience.  PMP certification will benefit you if:

• Your long-term career goal involves becoming a project manager.
• You are looking to gain more experience and obtain a higher salary, as certified PMPs generally have higher salaries that non-certified PMPs.
• You want to have the availability of more networking and job opportunities.

Six Different PMP Certifications

Before you begin training for your PMP Certification, make sure that you are choosing the right Project Management Professional Certification for you.  Let’s take a look at the six different types of PMP certifications offered by the Project Management Institute.

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®:  This is an entry-level certification for those new to project management who might still be trying to figure out their career paths.

• The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is the most important globally-recognized and independently validated credential for project managers, perfect if you have demonstrated experience and competence in leading project teams.

• The Program Management Professional (PgMP)® is designed for those who manage multiple, complex projects to achieve strategic and organizational results.

• The Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)SM credential recognizes the advanced experience and skill of portfolio managers and demonstrates proven ability in the coordinated management of one or more portfolios to achieve organizational objectives.

• The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® is designed for practitioners who utilize Agile approaches to project management in their projects.

• The PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® is a specialty credential that demonstrates competence in assessing project risks, mitigating threats and capitalizing on opportunities.

• The PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)® is a specialty credential for practitioners who want to focus on developing and maintaining project schedules.

• The OPM3® Professional Certification recognizes your experience with, and practical knowledge of, organization project management and project management maturity.

Project Management Certification Training

When preparing to take PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, you will be faced with various training options.  There are over 1,400 registered training providers that make up a vast market for PMP exam training.  While this may seem overwhelming, we are going to go over three essential exam training tips and steps that we feel are essential towards your PMP success.  Before you start training, we advise you to:

1. Set a date or a target date to take your exam.
2. Pay your examination free
3. Create a detailed and step by step plan for reaching your goal.

Option 1: Attend a Project Management Professional Boot Camp

Depending on what learning method suits you best, consider signing up to attend a 3 to 4 day PMP preparation course.  Boot camps are mostly taught as in-person classes.  The exercises that they go over with you will reinforce the learning objectives for the exam, and you will be able to ask the instructor to clarify any questions that you may have face-to-face.

• As it is apparent in their name, these PMP boot camps usually focus on accelerated learning techniques, which can also come at a high cost.
• Here are three PMP boot camps that are worth checking out: RMC Project Management, Inc., International Institute for Learning, Inc., and Cheetah Learning.
• You can also search the Project Management Institute’s database of the Registered Education Training Providers.
• Keep in mind that just because it is a boot camp does not mean you are going to be ready to take the exam the next day.  Give yourself time to process the information that you learn and clarify it yourself.

Option 2: Consider on-line training

A boot camp might not fit into everyone’s schedule (or budget). If a boot camp does not seem right for you, there are plenty of online PMP training courses that you can take that will help you prepare for exam day.

• These online training courses incorporate online quizzes and study materials into your plan.
• PMI offers a variety of online learning options, including sample quizzes, on-demand training, and instructor-led training.
• The PM PrepCast provides 140 PMP exam prep videos that play on PC, Apple, and tablet platforms. The podcast is a useful study aid to play during your drive to work. The PM PrepCast is $179.99, which makes it an affordable option if you have to use your personal funds to pay for your training.
• Here at Udemy, we also provide an excellent resource of online training options on an innovative platform.  You can find some great PMP courses for under $100 just by searching through our site.

Option 3: Join a study group

Some people work best with others.  If this sounds like something that fits your learning style, consider joining a PMP study group in your area.  If you are a Project Management Institute member, you can check out your local PMI chapter for more study group information.  Study groups can provide you with training material, tips, and tricks on how to pass the PMP exam.

If you are a working professional by day, then another great option is to start a study group with other project managers at your workplace.  This is a great way to feed off the knowledge of others and connect with other aspiring project management professionals.

Pass With Flying Colors!

Once you have completed your PMP training, it is time to breeze through your PMP exam with confidence.  Do not worry if you are unable to attend a boot camp or in-person training class.  There are plenty of online resources, such as this training guide that will help increase your chances of passing the PMP exam.  Best of luck!