PmP Designation/Course

[FraserB]

Looking into the PMP designation since I have the required hours for experience (providing the allow for past experience to count). For those of you who have done it, I've hear that the course is required and also that the test can be challenged.

Any insight, as well as recommended test prep books/reading material, would be appreciated.

[Dumbass17]

I just know a friend of mine applied and said the process is absolutely brutal. Trying to prove hours etc etc,, that's all I know :rolleyes:

[LLLimit]

Just passed the test right before xmas. Studied for a month, 2-3 hours/day. I didn't want the shame of failing when the boss paid for everything.
The company I work for brought in a 3rd party instructor to run us through the material, so I won't know what it's like to challenge or go through MRU. He was a good dude, runs the gamut of PMI designations PgMP, PMP, PMI-ACP and a PhD in adult education.

https://www.velociteach.com/classes/pmp-exam-prep-5th/
To gain 35+ contact hours of PM education (required to apply for the exam), we sat through 3 days x 8 hours of bootcamp & the remaining is online e-learning program.
-The online practice exams where useful because they were harder than the actual exam.
-Never did get a PMI PMBOK guide, just used the one provided by Velociteach.
-My challenge was disregarding what & how I PM things, and regurgitating knowledge/processes in the way PMI wants.

you can also buy it here, but I dont know how to meet the 35 contact hours.
https://www.amazon.ca/Velociteach-All-One-Exam-Prep/dp/0982760868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484684173&sr=8-1&keywords=pmp+velociteach

The included, tri-fold double sided, Quick Reference Guide was and still is useful to me. looks like this:
https://www.bookdepository.com/PMP-Exam-Quick-Reference-Guide-Andy-Crowe/9780982760895




Application process wasn't brutal, per se; submit hours, submit length of time, write up description of PM activity. I copy-pasta the same written description and changed project names around. Didn't hit the 1:20 chance for an application audit.

200 question test, 25q are future test q's. Never knew which one was which, but some where so obscure, I was guessing it wasn't for marks.
Of the remaining 175, you need ~106 to pass - as described by the book. Sounds like PMI is keeping it a secret.

In Calgary, the testing center's immediate parking lot has max 2 hours time limit. I parked underground at save-ons instead.
7:30am exam, didnt start until 8am because they screen everyone individually prior to set up.

Test was 4hours long,... is it? was it? can't remember.
Finshed initial 100questions in 60min, 10min break, remaining 100q in 60mins, 10 minute break, 20min going over questions I marked and decided I had enough with 30min left, I think. I just wanted to GTFO.
Press the finish button for the agony of instant results and you get taken to survey questions about how the Testing Center is performing. Answer those and sit for a long 20 seconds. Get your answer on the screen, proctor prints, stamps proof & results.

[FraserB]

Wow, thanks for the huge write up.

Is the course you linked to the one that you did?

[Waldi]

Originally posted by FraserB
Looking into the PMP designation since I have the required hours for experience (providing the allow for past experience to count). For those of you who have done it, I've hear that the course is required and also that the test can be challenged.

Any insight, as well as recommended test prep books/reading material, would be appreciated.

Course is required (some type of education related to PM), exam is normal but the process at the exam is like being treated by "gestappo" police, nothing on you, must wear ear protection, cant turn, when entering u r being filmed showing empty pockets etc. It is long exam but once you prep for it, it is doable. There is book by Rita (prep book) that I used and it is very good. You have to take mockup exam and focus on areas that you have issue. Lots of if it is project common sense, rest, is related to theory from PMBOK. Took course at mount Royal University as I was short on my educational requirements, course is not bad and good place to learn abot exam approach and maybe study groups. Good luck

[TripleThreat]

I plan to write it sometime this year. Is PMBOK and Rite prep book enough for studying materials? Also, how often do they offer the test? Thanks.

[dandia89]

Can it be self-taught? I'm interested in getting my designation, but I don't have an employer to cover the expenses (exam/course).

[LLLimit]

Originally posted by FraserB
Wow, thanks for the huge write up.

Is the course you linked to the one that you did?

That's the one. He ran us over the material and also did easy mock tests as well. From here, he made recommendations & prescribed a study plan depending on your in class mock exams such as take test next week, take test in 30days and study XYZ, or take test in 3 months to study because you're going to waste the $500USD exam fee.

I just watched the video and realized the package you can buy doesn't include the mind-maps workbook we were give in the bootcamp. Its purpose was to help you remember the inputs/tools/outputs in the various knowledge groups and corresponding processes by drawings things out.

Tough to say if you can self learn since I was spoon fed the information.
My learning tactic was each day cover 1 knowledge areas: light reading over the text book, and committing to memory the information on quick reference guide, then doing velociteach's practice exam online until I hit low 80% marks.
Knowing myself & w/o the practice exams to guide me, I would have been overconfident and bombed it.

Using the Quick Ref Guide as an example & focusing on the relatively easy Procurement Management knowledge area:
http://imgur.com/a/yVyDY
I snipped in some 'practice exams questions' to show what you're up against.
Must know intricacies like:
-Can't Control Procurement until you've Conducted Procurement,
-Make or Buy Analysis is a tool in Plan Procurement,
-Make or Buy Decision is an output of Plan Procurement, AND input to Conducting Procurement.


The actual exam q's was easier, but only slightly. You can usually eliminate 2 right off the start and then rely on your studying to get through it. I'm coming in from a Engineering/Technical/Project Delivery & Management capacity, so the iron triangle of Scope, Costs & Schedule are familiar, but PMI want you to know its material in an exact and very specific way.
Other knowledge areas such as risk, stakeholders, communication, etc. was easier to absorb because of exposure in the work place.

[dandia89]

really interesting, thanks for the info!

[TripleThreat]

Does anyone have mock exam/sample questions that they could share please? Thx.

[FraserB]

Where did everyone get their study books?

Chapters/Indigo has no selection and wants you to special order any of the titles they have.

[R154]

U of c book store may still have them.

[BokCh0y]

I've been reading:

A Guide To The Project Management Body of Knowledge ( PMBOK GUIDE) Fifth Edition

Looking to do the exam this year sometime, if not early in 2018.

[FraserB]

Originally posted by BokCh0y
I've been reading:

A Guide To The Project Management Body of Knowledge ( PMBOK GUIDE) Fifth Edition

Looking to do the exam this year sometime, if not early in 2018.

How do you like it? That's one of the ones I was looking at

[BokCh0y]

Originally posted by FraserB


How do you like it? That's one of the ones I was looking at

The reviews were great on that book, generally well rounded.

I've only read a few chapters of it so far, doing an MBA so I haven't had time to really get into it. But from what I've read so far, the book is filled with a lot of the PMI methodologies and framework. I think if you're seriously looking to do your PMP, this is a good book to have for sure.

[XylathaneGTR]

Recently wrote and received PMP designation.

To study, I used this book from the UofC bookstore (http://www.calgarybookstore.ca/buy_book_detail.asp?pf_id=12564040) extensively, along with referring back to the PMBOK itself.

This book covered what you needed to know and was much less exhaustive to read than the PMBOK. Included a lot of sample exercises where you applied your knowledge and the material, which I found was a big focus of the PMP exam. Each chapter/section also had a good number of appropriate / applicable / similar review questions. I should mention that I've also been working as a PM with an Owner company for a few years now and felt very comfortable with the material to begin with, which left me quite comfortable using this book as my only study guide.

The publisher also has available for purchase (and not included in the purchase price of the book, of course) an exam bank with 400+ questions. If they're anything like what was included in the book itself, I expect they would be very applicable to the test and be a great drill/practice run. I opted not to purchase this due to my level of comfort to begin with.

[schurchill39]

What industry are you guys in that are getting the PMP designation? Speaking with different people within oil & gas (outside of the IT world) I am getting mixed reviews on the value added benefit to having it. I've talked to some guys who said its an absolute must, others seem to think its another three letter designation that they don't care about when hiring or choosing a PM. Now those guys I've talked to in the IT world seem to have a general consensus that its a valuable designation to have.

I'm just curious as I have thought about getting it as well.
:hijack:

[phreezee]

Originally posted by schurchill39
What industry are you guys in that are getting the PMP designation? Speaking with different people within oil & gas (outside of the IT world) I am getting mixed reviews on the value added benefit to having it. I've talked to some guys who said its an absolute must, others seem to think its another three letter designation that they don't care about when hiring or choosing a PM. Now those guys I've talked to in the IT world seem to have a general consensus that its a valuable designation to have.

I'm just curious as I have thought about getting it as well.
:hijack:

I've worked with good project managers without a PMP and worked with terrible project managers with a PMP. It's pretty worthless if you have a bunch of projects on your resume, but would be worth it to get your starting project. Some people just pay their dues as a project co-ordinator and move into project management. To be a project co-ordinator, you just need a pair of tits ... but I digress.
:rofl:

[Sentry]

Take the course, keep your PmP hand strong.:poosie:

[holden]

Originally posted by Sentry
Take the course, keep your PmP hand strong.:poosie:

PmP ain't easy, but somebody's gotta do it.

[schurchill39]

Bump!

I am looking back into this as it seems like every job outside of O&G that I remotely qualify for asks for PMP or CAPM. I've been looking through the different courses that MRU, U of C, U of A, and even U of S offer and there seems to be a huge spread in course length, what material is covered, and even the names of the programs. I've been managing projects for around 4 years with no formal education in project management so I am not entirely sure what path to take. I'm finding some reviews that say its best just to just study on your own with a 40 hour prep course to get the educational requirements, others have said to take a program. I am currently a contractor so this will all be out of my own pocket. Any insight from beyonders with PMP?

[Disoblige]

Edit: Not as insightful as I thought it would be for question above after re-reading request.

[finboy]

Pmp prep cast was what finally got me across the finish line, $750 but it has great practice exams, good lesson structure, provides the 35 hours you need, etc.

Als get both the Rita and pmi book

[Doozer]

I did mine in 2017, had been PM'ing for about 12 yrs before that. You'll need something to show a documented course; they won't accept just the exam and experience, so most prep courses are a combination of exam prep, while providing the classroom credits you also need. I'm sure myself or others can provide a whole list of reference courses; I particularly liked the lady I did mine with, but as you've seen there's a wide variety so personal recommendations is the best way.

The course I took focused on what you need to pass the exam, not necessarily what you would do in real-life. The PMP exam is from the mindset of a perfect world with unlimited budget, unlimited time to review lessons learned from previous projects, etc, which isn't usually the case in real life. So what your instinct might think is the right answer based on experience isn't always what PMI is looking for. The exam questions can be a bit ambiguous, with multiple right answers, so it helps if the course can help you focus on what the exam is looking for.

Even after the course, I took about a month of 2-3hrs a night studying to make sure I passed. Let me know if you want me to dig up the name of the lady who gave our course. I find a lot of the courses are given by PMPs who're done their time behind the wheel and just looking to help the next wave.

[A2VR6]

I got mine 2.5 years ago, passed on the first try. I did a ton of practice exams (I can dig the eletronic ones I got if you like) and used Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep book (you can buy it off amazon) to study and it prepared me decently well.

[schurchill39]

Edit: Not as insightful as I thought it would be for question above after re-reading request.
I read your original reply and I thought it was good :dunno: Its a fair opinion that if people have been PM'ing for a while and have previous higher educational experience that doing it on your own minus a 35 hour course is a viable option.


Pmp prep cast was what finally got me across the finish line, $750 but it has great practice exams, good lesson structure, provides the 35 hours you need, etc.

Als get both the Rita and pmi book
PMP prep cast seems to be the gold standard when reading through /r/pmp so I will check that out.


SNIP...
It seems like there are a ton of exam prep courses that give you the 35 hours or so you that you need for PMI. I like those options as most of them are a pseudo "learn at your own pace" where I don't have to be in front of a computer monitor at a specific time of the day. If you wouldn't mind finding that lady's name so I can look into it I would appreciate that. Not sure how everyone besides major institutions have adapted to Covid but worth looking into.


I got mine 2.5 years ago, passed on the first try. I did a ton of practice exams (I can dig the eletronic ones I got if you like) and used Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep book (you can buy it off amazon) to study and it prepared me decently well.
Just bought the PMBOK, Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep course, and the PMBOK Q&A guide. Sounds like those are also the gold standard.

Did anyone do a full program? Or have most people only done some variation of a 35-40 hour course?

[Disoblige]

I read your original reply and I thought it was good :dunno: Its a fair opinion that if people have been PM'ing for a while and have previous higher educational experience that doing it on your own minus a 35 hour course is a viable option.

Thanks, fair enough!
I just didn't want to sound like someone who is using anecdotal experiences of others (even if it is people I know directly through work) as a piece of advice since I haven't experienced it in detail myself. Personal pet peeve of mine.

[finboy]

I read your original reply and I thought it was good :dunno: Its a fair opinion that if people have been PM'ing for a while and have previous higher educational experience that doing it on your own minus a 35 hour course is a viable option.


PMP prep cast seems to be the gold standard when reading through /r/pmp so I will check that out.


It seems like there are a ton of exam prep courses that give you the 35 hours or so you that you need for PMI. I like those options as most of them are a pseudo "learn at your own pace" where I don't have to be in front of a computer monitor at a specific time of the day. If you wouldn't mind finding that lady's name so I can look into it I would appreciate that. Not sure how everyone besides major institutions have adapted to Covid but worth looking into.


Just bought the PMBOK, Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep course, and the PMBOK Q&A guide. Sounds like those are also the gold standard.

Did anyone do a full program? Or have most people only done some variation of a 35-40 hour course?

I did the u of c prep course, work for in the way and I couldn’t write for another 8 months so I took the prepcast as well. In class we find to get the credits, but imo it all comes down to practice exams and understanding where the processes fit. My pm experience was a hinderance, as mentioned in here the exam looks at the ideal scenario so some cases just did not make sense to me given reality.

I also put together a Saturday study group, would do the Rita matching game and flash cards every morning for 4-6 weeks. For practice quizzes I would do 50-100 practice questions One night, check what I got wrong and re-read those sections the next night to improve, then back to another 50-100 questions the following night. Sunday was a full practice exam day, prepcast had the best scorecard to drill down on my weak areas to I could focus on those later, after I finished my exam I would review wrong answers and use that as guidance for what to study/quiz the next week. I probably went overboard but 4 of the 5 categories I got above average marks so it seemed to work. One of my study group members decided to take the test well before we all thought she should and she failed.

[XylathaneGTR]

I worked as a PM for several years, so I only completed the UofC 40hr prep-course (spread over two weeks at the DT campus), and reviewed the PMBOK material on my own for a few weeks before writing, including several practice quizzes and the Rita book; all of this prepped me well enough to pass on the first try. A colleague of mine did the MRU prep-course instead, and he felt it was sufficient.

IMO, if you have real life PM experience, you shouldn't have to do the a full program - just the prep course and studying should be good. You've learned a lot of the material already by doing, even if you don't have any formal PM training. As finboy mentioned, I had to put some effort into thinking the PMBOK way, instead of drawing on my real world experience as there were a few critical differences that were apparent when studying.

[Doozer]

It seems like there are a ton of exam prep courses that give you the 35 hours or so you that you need for PMI. I like those options as most of them are a pseudo "learn at your own pace" where I don't have to be in front of a computer monitor at a specific time of the day. If you wouldn't mind finding that lady's name so I can look into it I would appreciate that. Not sure how everyone besides major institutions have adapted to Covid but worth looking into.

Did anyone do a full program? Or have most people only done some variation of a 35-40 hour course?

Found it, it was through pmenterprises.net, the instructor was Shari Brand. She was excellent. Looks like a US company though, so may not be viable for a one-off here unless they've got an online option. We had her come into the office and teach a few of us for a week. Company had a big push to get everyone PMP certified so they paid for it.

I also did a full Project Management course through NAIT back in 2006, when I was just getting started, but with only a few years of real world experience I'm not sure how useful it was.

[legendboy]

I did the u of c prep course, work for in the way and I couldn’t write for another 8 months so I took the prepcast as well. In class we find to get the credits, but imo it all comes down to practice exams and understanding where the processes fit. My pm experience was a hinderance, as mentioned in here the exam looks at the ideal scenario so some cases just did not make sense to me given reality.

I feel my 12 year experience would be a hindrance to be me as well. I would consider myself an EPCM vendor firefighter PM haha. Changing careers so it doesn't matter at this point. I am feeling very happy to be on a different work path. Something I enjoy.

I am apprenticing to be an electrician. Going to specialize in automation, plc programming, motion control, electronics etc. I will apply for the odd PM job on Linkedin here and there. Have had a few interviews that have been interesting but I need to go a different path. Tired of babysitting people and smallish OEM manufacturers.

Now is a great time for me to make the change!

[94boosted]

I took the UofC downtown campus 40hr Exam Prep Course and it was a great help, more about how to study for the test and answer questions correctly than about the actual PMI fundamentals which I thought was great. I went into the exam with only ~1yr of PM experience so I was able to think more along the PMI lines than how we actually manage projects at my company.


I got mine 2.5 years ago, passed on the first try. I did a ton of practice exams (I can dig the eletronic ones I got if you like) and used Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep book (you can buy it off amazon) to study and it prepared me decently well.

Didn't you use my Rita book to study? :rofl:

[A2VR6]

Didn't you use my Rita book to study? :rofl:

Indeed I did!:rofl: Its not like they changed any of the material from when you wrote it haha.

[Disoblige]

I am apprenticing to be an electrician. Going to specialize in automation, plc programming, motion control, electronics etc.
Amazing choice! I would go the same route personally as this space has an amazing future. Being an expert in this field will be very sought after.

[trickyone]

Not sure why people think PMP is equivalent to some degree or something, it's one of the easiest certification anyone can do.

Let me know if anyone need 1400 exam questions, no need to waste any time reading useless books or anything. I barely studied for 2 weeks and passed my exam last week with all AT scores.

[legendboy]

Amazing choice! I would go the same route personally as this space has an amazing future. Being an expert in this field will be very sought after.

I am doing certs thru george brown. I have completed electro-mechanical tech, need 6 extra modules to get electronics tech cert and then plc, lonworks etc. Should be a high demand/paying career. It made sense to me since i have been fixing/retrofitting/selling cnc machines, contract cnc repair to shops and audio equipment repair for 10 years. Hoping for a bright finish to my working years. I know quite a few electricians going for their pmp as well haha