Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification
The Project Management Institute (PMI®) sponsors a project management certification program. The purpose and goal of this program is the development, maintenance, evaluation, promotion and administration of a rigorous, examination-based, professional certification program of the highest caliber.

In 1999, PMI's Certification Program Department became the first professional certification program department in the world to attain ISO 9001 recognition. PMP Certification is not a license or registration and does not provide legal authority to practice project management. PMP Certification does indicate a demonstration of competence in the project management profession.

Today, PMP certification is the profession's most globally recognized and respected certification credential. Successfully attaining a PMP demonstrates knowledge and understanding of project management principles and concepts to employers, team members, and peers.

To achieve PMP certification, each candidate must satisfy all educational and experiential requirements established by PMI and must demonstrate an acceptable and valid level of understanding and knowledge about project management that is tested by the Project Management Professional Certification Examination.

As a PMI member, you will benefit from discounted certification examination fees, and will have the opportunity to take advantage of preparation materials and courses in advance of certification testing.


PMP Certification Eligibility
To be eligible for the PMP certification, you must first meet specific education and experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step in becoming a PMP is passing a multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your project management knowledge. This computer-based examination is administered globally.

In addition, those who have been granted the PMP credentials must demonstrate ongoing professional commitment to the field of project management by satisfying Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR).

For more information concerning the Examination (Exam Application, FAQ's, Sample Exam Questions, etc.) consult the PMI headquarters certification page.

PMI's PMBOK® Guide
PMI's PMBOK Guide serves as the official basis for the PMP Certification Exam and provides a basic reference for anyone interested in the profession of project management.

The PMBOK Guide document provides a basic structure for understanding project management, the environment in which projects operate and a generalized view of how the various project management processes commonly interact. The document outlines nine project management Knowledge Areas described in terms of component processes shown below:

  • Project Integration Management
  • Project Scope Management
  • Project Time Management
  • Project Cost Management
  • Project Quality Management
  • Project Human Resource Management
  • Project Risk Management
  • Project Procurement Management
  • Project Communication Management

 

Maintaining PMP Certification Credentials
The Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) supports the ongoing professional development of Project Management Professionals (PMP's) and the maintenance of PMP certification.  The purpose of the CCR is to:

  • Sustain the PMP as a global certification credential
  • Enhance the ongoing professional development of PMPs
  • Encourage and recognize individualized learning opportunities
  • Offer a standardized and objective mechanism for attaining and recording professional development activities

PMP's must complete and submit a minimum of sixty Professional Development Units (PDU's) during each Continuing Certification cycle. A PMP's Continuing Certification cycle can be identified by the dates on their PMP Certificate. PMP's must also comply with the PMP Code of Professional Conduct to maintain certification status.

All PMP's should maintain a personal CCR folder with documentation that supports reported activities. A percentage of PMP's will be randomly selected for auditing purposes each year; therefore documentation should be maintained for at least 12 months after the CCR cycle has ended. For more information about maintaining PMP credentials, consult the
CCR Handbook.