PMP (Project Management Professional) from PMI is still the default senior PM credential. The exam is scenario-based and mixed predictive / agile / hybrid. Memorizing process groups from the old PMBOK edition is not a passing strategy.
Start practicing: PMP practice questions →. Also see free PMP resources.
Eligibility (confirm before you pay)
Typical PMI requirements (verify on pmi.org):
- Four-year degree and 36 months leading projects and 35 contact hours of PM education
or - High-school / associate degree and 60 months leading projects and 35 contact hours
CAPM is the better first cert if you do not meet the hours: CAPM.
Exam overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Questions | 180 |
| Duration | 230 minutes (two 10-minute breaks) |
| Domains | People 42% · Process 50% · Business Environment 8% |
| Item types | Multiple choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot, limited fill-in |
| Cost | Member ~$405 / non-member ~$555 USD (confirm current PMI pricing) |
| Maintenance | 60 PDUs every 3 years |
How to think on PMP items
PMI’s ECO (Exam Content Outline) rewards a servant-leader, value-delivery mindset:
- People problems: listen, coach, resolve conflict, empower the team — do not immediately escalate or “take over.”
- Process problems: pick the next artifact or ceremony that fits predictive vs agile vs hybrid.
- Business environment: compliance, benefits realization, organizational change — the PM still owns value, not just the Gantt chart.
If two answers are “correct,” pick the one that is most collaborative and least authoritarian unless safety or legal compliance is at risk.
8-week study plan
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | ECO + agile vs hybrid vs predictive; 35 contact hours if not done |
| 3–4 | People domain (conflict, team, stakeholders) |
| 5–6 | Process domain (planning through close; earned value recognition; agile ceremonies) |
| 7 | Business environment + compliance + benefits |
| 8 | Full mocks (180 questions) + weak-task review |
Total time: 80–120 hours after the 35 contact hours. Do at least two full-length timed exams.
PMP vs CAPM vs PMI-ACP
| Cert | When |
|---|---|
| CAPM | You lack PMP hours |
| PMP | You lead projects and meet eligibility |
| PMI-ACP | You want an agile-specific PMI badge (often after or instead of chasing PMP’s agile slice alone) |
Resources on CertStud
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