TABLE TABLE OF CONTENTS OF CONTENTS
Welcome
PMP – What The Science of Project Management The PMP Credential PMP – Why PMP – How PMP Certification Process Overview Educational and Experiential Requirements Accelerating Your Application Process Filing Your Application Application Processing Time Eligibility Duration Current Eligibility Changes PMI Professional Development Program The PMP Exam Computer-based Examination Administration Passing Score Re-Examination Exam Questions Preparation and Study Self Study or Commercial Prep Types of Courses PMP – The Cheetah Way Joining PMI About Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP Classes Offerings Cost Comparison Cheetah Students Covered Costs When to Take the PMP Exam Cheetah’s Guarantee Cheetah’s Success Rate How to Register 3 3 4 5 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 9 10 10 10 11 12 12 14 16 17 19 20 20 20 21 22 22 22 22 24 24
CHEETAH LEARNING - 2008 PMI Professional Development Provider of the Year for PMP® Exam Prep.
WELCOME
Congratulations. Downloading your free Cheetah SmartStart™ Guide for the PMP® exam puts you on the fast track toward Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. More than 500,000 people have downloaded this guide since its release in July 2001, learning from the valuable tips and tactics we include for passing the PMP exam and then keeping the guide as a handy reference. We designed the guide so you can easily read through it in 30 minutes, dividing it into four sections for easy access to information: PMP – What, PMP – Why, PMP – How and PMP – The Cheetah Way. So get comfortable for the next half hour, and find out what you According to PMI’s Project Management need to know to be prepared for the PMP exam.
Salary Survey Sixth Edition, despite the recent recession affecting many professions, project managers have reported salary increases. The survey also indicated that PMP certification clearly carries added value. Overall, PMPs are getting paid more than non-PMPs ($10,000 more on average in 6 major countries).
PM OBSERVATION 1
WHAT
PMP – WHAT
At Cheetah, we do things differently. Much of the information in the following pages you would have to pay for by attending a formal PMP exam-prep class. But Cheetah Exam Prep® for the PMP® is designed to get you to pass the PMP exam, not just prepare for it. So we provide these tools to prep for the exam for free in this guide. Enough said. Let’s take a look at what Project Management and the PMP certification are.
According to payscal.com, median salaries those who hold the PMP credential can be up to 30% higher than their non-credentialed colleagues. Why? Because the more successful people and organizations are with projects, the more successful they are overall. There is no “secret” to Project Management success; it’s the science of getting things done. But when did it start and how has it evolved?
The Science of Project Management Every person and every organization does projects. Projects have been around for as long as the Earth has existed, and Project Management has continued to evolve. In today’s fastpaced, business-oriented world, we now have modern Project Management standards, tools and techniques to quickly and efficiently reach our milestones and complete our projects. Modern Project Management has been evolving since the days of World War II and the Manhattan Project, which is its birthplace. To successfully create the world’s first nuclear weapons, the brains behind the effort developed new methods of planning, execution and control. The Manhattan Project had enormous unknowns and overwhelming logistics. Three secret cities were built to support the project, each with close to 20,000 residents. It was an enormous undertaking to plan,
PM OBSERVATION 2
Studies indicate that only 25% of all projects worldwide succeed in achieving budget, schedule, and quality objectives. However, these same studies indicate a 75% success rate for projects that employ modern Project Management concepts, tools, and techniques. These facts, coupled with our new ANSI Standard, are the driving forces behind today’s enormous interest in modern Project Management.
execute, and control the process of building, populating, and sustaining the cities. Many of the concepts and tools we use today in Project Management were developed during the Manhattan Project. More than 20 years later, in 1969, the Project Management Institute (PMI®) was established to create industry standards, advance the science of Project Management and promote professional responsibility. In 1984, a small handful of project managers became the first PMPs, and three years later, PMI published the industry’s first comprehensive set of accepted Project Management standards, “The Project Management Body of Knowledge” (The PMBOK® Guide). The PMBOK® Guide was updated in 1996, 2000, 2004 and again in December 2008 with the release of The PMBOK® Guide -Fourth Edition.
PM OBSERVATION 3
In Harold Kerzner’s must-read book, “In Search of Excellence in Project Management,” he studies 200 of the world’s top corporations. His findings indicate that only 29 of the 200 companies
In September 1999, The PMBOK® Guide became a formal American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard, ANSI/PMI 99-001-1999. Now, with The PMBOK® Guide serving as an ANSI Standard, industries throughout the world have uniform tools and techniques to manage projects, along with a worldwide Project Management common language.
Although the ANSI Standard is quickly being embraced worldwide by industries, governments, institulent or on the right track.” We have a tions and academia, there is still a lot of catching up to do. PMI estimates there are 20 million professionlong way to go before a high Projectals currently working in Project Management worldManagement maturity level is achieved wide, of this only about 400,000 hold PMI accreditathroughout the industry as a whole. tion. While some professions within the information technology sector have made major strides in adopting modern Project Management practices, we can’t forget that every part of an organization is involved in project work and can benefit tremendously by adopting modern Project Management techniques.
achieve his highest rating as “excel-
ing the PMP credential increases people’s career options, gives them more ability to influence the successful outcome of their projects and provides more opportunities for increasing their salary. It offers similar benefits for organizations that employ people who are PMP certified. What does this all mean for you? It means there is a rapidly growing demand for Project Management Professionals to lead the world’s industries using effective Project Management techniques. Check out a few of the large, web-based employment sites. Search for “PMP” or “PMI” and see how many employers are looking for PMP/PMI-certified project managers. Check back next week, and the number most likely will have grown.
WHY
PMP – WHY
At Cheetah Learning, we have helped people from a wide variety of professions become PMP certified and have some amazing success stories about how people have dramatically improved their careers because of this certification. From the HR manager who, on a whim, decided to become PMP certified and in two years was the Executive Director of Human Relations with a $40,000 pay raise, to an Environmental Consultant who became PMP certified to improve his business and saw a jump from $250,000 to $750,000 in just six months, and a middle-school teacher who went through the program and is now leading curriculum development projects for her school district. Getting the PMP credential was the critical element to launching themselves into amazing career success. Everyone does projects – it’s part of life. By becoming a professional in how you pursue projects, you move your career in the right direction. It’s easy to tell someone you can get things done, that you are a project manager. But when you have a PMP certification to prove it, your story rings true. If you want a sure way to advance your career, become PMP certified.
The following table shows which parts of an organization gain the most by having certified Project Management Professionals. Look at your own organization and determine which areas spend a significant amount of time and/or money on projects. Those are the groups that benefit tremendously from having PMP-certified staff to lead projects. This is where you, as a PMP, can deliver significant value, and it’s where you can have tremendous influence in motivating others to obtain their PMP credential, while benefiting your career and your organization.
PMP Value for Various Departments in Organizations
Department
New Product Development Marketing Sales Customer Service Engineering Manufacturing/Production IT HR Finance Accounting Administration Legal
Time Spent on Projects Overall
High Moderate Low Low High Low High Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate
Money Spent on Projects
High High Low Low High Moderate High Moderate High Low Low High
Value of PMPs in the Department
High High Low Low High Moderate High Moderate High Low Low High
HOW
PMP – HOW
PMP Certification Process Overview The stated purpose and goal of PMI’s Project Management Certification Program is the development, maintenance, evaluation, promotion, and administration of a rigorous, examination-based, professional certification program of the highest caliber. In 2006, the PMP credential process received ISO 17024 accreditation. The certification program supports the international community of Project Management Professionals and is designed to objectively assess and measure professional knowledge. PMP program requirements and eligibility standards are applied fairly and impartially, and are consistent with applicable laws. To achieve PMP certification, you must satisfy all the 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 PMP certification examination. Educational and Experiential Requirements In order to be considered eligible to take the PMP exam, you must meet PMI’s experience and education requirements. You can choose to qualify in one of two categories. Category 1 – At the time of application, you must hold a baccalaureate or equivalent university degree and have a minimum of 4,500 hours of Project Management experience within the five Project Management Process groups. Groups are explained on the next page. Your Experience Verification Form(s) must show a total of at least 4,500 hours, and the project dates must indicate that you have at least three years of Project Management experience within the eight-year period prior to the application. You must include at least 36 unique (non-overlapping) months of Project Management experience on the Experience Verification Form(s) to satisfy the three-year requirement. Cheetah students learn the terminology required by PMI to make sure their efforts on projects count towards eligibility for the PMP exam.
Accelerating Your Application Process The eligibility application includes your Experience Verification Forms that detail your Project Management work experience and educational background, and your examination application with appropriate fee. Your application and documentation must be in English and must be thorough and accurate. With the Cheetah process we show you in the section that follows how you can reduce the time needed to file your application from eight hours to two hours. Our accelerated online or classroom program, Cheetah Exam Prep® for the PMP® course, helps you every step of the way to move you quickly and easily through the exam-prep process, from confirming your eligibility and thoroughly preparing you for the exam to sitting for the exam on the fifth day. Be sure to share Cheetah’s exam-prep process and success rate with your employer when requesting your choice for PMP training. Filing Your Application Summarize your Project Management experience, including the project names and companies for which you did the projects. The verification form has to summarize your project experience by Project Management phase. If you are a Cheetah student, and you have questions about filling this out, contact our career counselors for help. Click on our Work Verification Spreadsheet link to see a sample. File Your Information Online By Going To: https://www.pmi.org/authentication/default.aspx?r=www.pmi. org/certapp/Default.aspx. This online form is available through PMI to file your application. It’s best to first become a member (http://www.pmi.org/GetInvolved/Pages/The-Benefits-andTypes-of-Membership.aspx) before filing this form as the exam fee drops from $550 to $405 for members.
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There is a science to preparing people for the PMP exam. The key is not in the “what,” it’s in the “how.” At Cheetah, we are masters of the “how” of using accelerated learning in our curriculum design. Others may copy us, but they don’t compare to us. We guarantee you will pass the PMP exam – not just learn about Project Management. Our methodologies are unusual, probably not like anything you’ve experienced before. So put what you know aside, don’t argue with success, and we’ll show you how to pass the PMP exam – guaranteed.
PM OBSERVATION 4
PMI audits 5-6 percent of accepted certification applications, so don’t even stretch the truth. During the audit process, PMI requires formal verification by your employer(s) and schools of all information. This process is designed to maintain quality in the certification program. If incorrect information is found during the audit process, you will have your certification of eligibility revoked.
Contact Hours of Project Management Education You are required to have a minimum of 35 hours of formal Project Management training prior to applying for eligibility. Most people have some form of Project Management training, since training from a wide variety of sources is considered valid. (See PMI requirements outlined in the contact hours of the PM Education section that follows.) However, if you don’t have the 35 hours, we offer a free online course that satisfies this requirement. People must register and pay for our online or classroom Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP course to qualify for the online course offering and must successfully complete the course as verified by a course completion certificate before reporting and submitting an application to PMI.
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When people submit their PMP eligibility application online with PMI, it takes approximately 5-10 days for PMI to respond by requesting payment for the exam. (You pay PMI for the exam as they are the ones who actually grant the certificate). Once you pay PMI for your exam, you will either be informed that you were chosen for a random audit (about 5% of candidate are) or you will be issued an eligibility letter which includes information you will need to schedule your exam at www.prometric.com.
PMI Professional Development Program Once you have successfully completed the certification process and passed the exam, you are officially PMP Cheetah Learning is a Registered Educacertified. Congratulations! Keep in mind that you must tion Provider (R.E.P) of PMI, which means still satisfy PMI’s Professional Development Program to maintain your certification. You must earn a minimum of that after you have obtained your PMP® 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three credential you use as a resource to fulfill years and agree to adhere to PMI’s Project Management the contact hours you need to maintain Professional Code of Professional Conduct. Detailed your PMI credential. Cheetah is also information on the program is included in the mailing you receive once you pass the exam. Cheetah Learning authorized to grant Continuing Education offers online, cutting-edge Project Management courses Units by the International Association for that allow you to earn your PDUs whenever it’s conveContinuing Education and Training. nient, including a 2PDU-of-the-Month Club that delivers an online course to you each month to help you easily earn your 60 PDUs. We also offer a number of free career-success development tools to our PMP students. Our goal is to ensure that our students are the most successful people on the planet. Be sure to share our goals along with your own when you meet with your employer to discuss your PMP training options. The PMP Exam Once you get your eligibility letter, it’s time to focus on the PMP exam. For many PMP candidates, the exam is the most challenging part of the certification process. So let’s take a look at what you’ll encounter. Computer-based Examination Administration The PMP exam is offered via computer at approximately 1,700 testing centers worldwide, with 300 in North America. The testing centers in North America are operated by the Prometric organization. When you receive your PMP eligibility letter, you must schedule a date/time directly with the testing center. Detailed information is provided with your letter. As soon as you find out that PMI has processed your online application, you can call Prometric to schedule your exam or go to www.prometric.com. When you arrive for the exam, you must sign in. The exam proctor calls your name to start the exam in the Being relaxed is the best way to pass this exam. order in which you have signed in. Before starting your Eat an adequate meal before the exam, and learn exam, you must show two forms of identification along stress-reduction techniques for when things get with your eligibility letter. One must be a government form tense. Drive to the exam location several days of identification such as a driver’s license or a passport that has your picture and signature. The other can be a before your exam to be sure you know how to credit card or your PMI membership card, as long as it get there. Make sure to bring healthy snacks and has your signature. The test center will give you a locker water for your breaks. outside of the testing room for your belongings. Some centers watch to make sure you empty everything out of your pockets, including your wallet. You will not even be allowed to bring in your own pen. Many test centers do not let you access your locker during the exam. If you bring snacks and water, which you will find necessary, you can keep it on top of the lockers.
Once you have taken care of your personal belongings, your proctor will give you ear plugs, scratch paper and two pencils. PMI added a calculator function to the exam so you cannot bring a programmable calculator to the test. The proctor then takes you to your specific testing station, which is separated from the other stations by partitions that look like office cubicle walls. Depending on the test center, the room may be dimly or brightly lit. It might be hot or cold, so dress in layers just in case. You may also have a desk lamp. The computer screen is normally 19” to give you a large viewing area, and the test questions are presented one at a time in plain black and white to avoid screen clutter. Some people find the computer screen is too close to their face, and they have a hard time viewing the questions. If you have trouble viewing close up, bring your glasses.
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You do not have to start the exam when you first sit down. We recommend you do the tutorial first, then start the exam. Cheetah test takers are able to quickly record the key PM concepts and equations on scratch paper provided by the test center when they first arrive. This keeps them calm when they encounter difficult questions that require working through complex calculations or thought processes. It also makes them feel less rushed to get their answers down before they forget them.
If you have special considerations, such as ADD, a visual impairment, cerebral palsy, etc., you can contact PMI and request special consideration. Usually you have to provide a doctor’s note specifying the condition and request additional time or help, such as a reader if you have a visual impairment. In our experience, PMI is generous in giving extended time for the test or providing a resource if needed. Do not be shy about requesting this consideration as you want to pass the test the first time. The consideration must be approved and in place before you receive your eligibility. The test center cannot provide special consideration unless it is part of your eligibility. When you sit down at your testing station, the proctor helps start the exam process. You are given the option of doing the computer tutorial before starting. Definitely do this, since it will help you get acclimated to the testing environment. Once you start the exam, a clock also starts showing how much time you have remaining to complete the exam. The tutorial IS NOT PART OF THE FOURHOUR TEST. The exam is 200, multiple-choice questions, randomly selected by category from a bank of thousands of possible questions. No two exams are identical. You have four hours to complete all 200 questions.
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Most people find the examination process very stressful, but those who go through the exam after the Cheetah Exam Prep course are encouraged and supported by following our diet, exercise, lifestyle and attitude plan to significantly decrease their stress levels. Our program also improves their focus and
throughout the exam and not counted against your grade. However, you do not know which questions are unscored.
EXAM TIP 2
You have a little more than one minute per ques-
Even with our coaching and our intense immersion aption during the exam. The best strategy is to anproach, every once in a while we have people who don’t swer the easy questions first since you don’t score clear the “gate,” even though they report they have never more points by answering the hard ones. failed an exam in their life. You not only have to thoroughly know your stuff, you also have to have a variety of real-world experience to work through the questions. The people from our Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP course who score very high on the exam have a wide range and depth of PM experiences, are able to completely immerse themselves in the four-day classroom or four-week online program and are able to use the techniques taught in the program to relax and focus during the exam. Re-examination If you don’t clear the “gate” with a raw score (number of correctly answered items on the examination) to pass on your first attempt, you can take the exam again – just submit a Re-examination Form to PMI. There is no waiting period to submit the form or to re-take the exam. You can usually reschedule your exam within two weeks, but you must submit your re-examination form within one year from the original test date. Once PMI processes the re-examination fee, they send you a new eligibility letter containing testing information and identification code. You are allowed to test three times in a year. If you don’t pass, you must wait a year to reapply to sit for the exam again. The re-examination fee is $275.00 USD for PMI members and $375.00 USD for non-members. We get a number of students through our program that didn’t pass the exam the first time through when they were using their own self-study approach or one of the other exam-prep programs on the market. We love having them in our class – the pass rate for that group is very high with our approach. Exam Questions Be careful if you’re practicing with an exam database that gives you short questions with five answers – that is the previous format when the exam was 320 fact-oriented, multiplechoice questions. Thank goodness PMI took a different approach! With the old exam, candidates were given eight hours to complete it. So if you knew your facts and figures, you could whip through the exam questions pretty easily. With the new format, all of this has changed. Today’s exam is designed to fully test your understanding of modern Project Management concepts, standards, tools, and techniques – not to see if you can regurgitate a boatload of facts and figures. The questions are designed to test both your understanding and your practical application abilities, so you see a wide variety of question types.
The exam includes some simple, factual questions such as these two examples: Which of the following is used to ensure the description of the product of the project is correct and complete? Verify Scope Procurement Audit Configuration Management Project Management Information System
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Some exam questions offer you all correct answers to choose from while others ask you to choose the “best” answer where none of the choices are what you would choose to do in “real life.” You have to read some of these questions three or four times to understand them. Take your time, check your work, and answer each question from the PMI perspective.
These questions can be very challenging, especially if you’re anxious and tired. First, the question is long and drawn out. Then it requires you to make a judgment call rather than selecting a clear answer. With this type of question, you must stay focused, clearly understand what is being asked, and then use a combination of your training and practical experience to select the best answer. In this example, all four options are logical, but one will be better than the others. Here, the best answer is the second one, according to PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Many candidates get this type of question wrong because they either fail to fully understand what the question asked, or they don’t understand the concepts behind PMI’s Standards. If you have studied the right materials,know The PMBOK® Guide, can draw on a solid experiential background in Project Management and stay focused throughout the exam, you will do fine with all question types.
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During the test, mark the questions on the computer if you don’t immediately know the answer, so you can easily find them when you go back to check them later. By the time Cheetah students get to the exam, they’re already in the habit of recording whether they knew the answer immediately, could narrow their choices or had no idea. This allows them to focus on the questions they know and move through the exam quickly. Then they have time to go back to the ones they marked. Not only does this save time during the exam, but it builds your confidence as you answer the easier questions so your mind is clear for the more difficult ones.
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Preparation and Study There is an unlimited amount of advice within the Project Management community concerning what to study and how to prepare to successfully pass the PMP exam. There are scores of good reference books and commercial exam-prep courses available. Regardless of the approach and sources of information you decide to use, there are two basic musts. First, you must have an effective combination of both practical experience and formal training in modern Project Management to pass the PMP exam. You cannot succeed without both.
We participate in a variety of Internet discussion boards where we hear a number of different “takes” on the PMP exam. Some people say the first 50 questions are the hardest; others say the first 10 questions were especially challenging or that there were many long and complex questions throughout. Each PMP exam is randomly generated so there is no “typical” test. To ensure Cheetah students are prepared for whatever is on their particular exam, we prepare them in two ways. First, they learn how to stay relaxed and focused even under difficult situations. Second, Cheetah instructors and training developers are constantly reviewing the most current edition of The PMBOK® Guide and integrating fresh, updated material into our courses. That’s one reason why we’re your best chance to pass the PMP exam.
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When people can absorb new information in at least three different formats and contexts, they can more quickly and easily recall that information. When studying for the PMP exam, find a variety of formats that present the information on the test and review your study material at least three times.
Second, assuming you satisfy the experiential criteria for certification, you must acquire formal training in modern Project Management concepts, standards, tools, and techniques. Most candidates who take the exam have solid experience and training in several Project Management areas. For example, a PMP candidate may be expert in Scheduling, Network Diagramming and Cost Estimating but weak in Risk Management and Procurement Management. Very few candidates have solid training and experience in all areas of
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modern Project Management, yet the PMP exam requires a thorough understanding of all areas to pass. That being the case, you need some formal training to at least reinforce your weaker areas and ensure you are using the proper PMI terminology.
Here is a general outline of what you must have down cold before taking the exam:
A thorough understanding and working knowledge of the current PMBOK® Guide: Project Management Context and Framework Project Management Processes and the Five Process Groups All Nine Project Management Knowledge Areas 1.Project Integration Management 2.Project Scope Management 3.Project Time Management 4.Project Cost Management 5.Project Quality Management 6.Project Human Resource Management 7.Project Communications Management 8.Project Risk Management 9.Project Procurement Management Multiple sets of Inputs/Tools and Techniques/Outputs 42 Defined Project Management Processes 54 Common Project Management Acronyms 381 Project Management Term Definitions A thorough understanding of and working skills with: Network Diagramming Earned Value Analysis Project Scheduling General Management Practices Change Control Systems Work Authorization Systems Work Breakdown Structures Strategic Business Planning Project Task Interdependencies Estimating General Accounting Standards Quality Control Quality Assurance Conflict Management Motivation Theory Communications Management Risk Management Contracts Administration Procurement Management PMP Professional Responsibility
There are many sources of information and training available to help you prepare for the exam. The important thing to recognize is that your sources need to include all of the listed items. The PMBOK® Guide is an essential part of your study materials. You must know it inside and out, understanding that The PMBOK® Guide is an industry standard. It is not a teaching guide or textbook, so it may be difficult to read and intuitively understand. Remember that you cannot learn modern Project Management from The PMBOK® Guide alone. Successful preparation requires supplementing your The PMBOK® Guide studies with other material that addresses the basics of modern Project Management. There are many excellent texts and desk references available, written by experts in Project Management. Some offer in-depth and comprehensive information, while others are good for quick answers to common Project Management tools and techniques. “Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling” (8th edition, 2001) by Harold Kerzner, Ph.D., provides most of the supplementary information you need. It is a 1,200-page, small-print text that takes some time to master. It is a good idea to focus your supplemental study only on those areas that track with The PMBOK® Guide. Use The PMBOK® Guide to identify the areas you need to study and then go to the other PM references for that supplemental information. There are 29 questions on the PMP exam to address Professional Responsibility. The best single source of study material in this area is PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, available at PMI’s web site. The concept and practice of respecting cultural differences is an integral part of Professional Responsibility. Therefore, any material that addresses this topic may be a good source for supplemental study.
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Make sure the PMP® exam prep method that you use reflects the changes in PMI’s Role Delineation Study (RDS), which will change approximately 30% of the content of the PMP® exam after 31 August 2011
Updates to the PMP® Certification Exam The PMP® exam will change on 31 August 2011 when questions from PMI’s Role Delineation Study (RDS) are introduced. While this does not impact professionals who currently have their PMP®, people who are planning on taking the PMP® exam after 31 August 2011 should be prepared for these changes. The major changes from the old and new exam are the following: About 30% of the content will change to reflect the role of a PMP® as defined by the RDS. The Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6)will now be tested in every domain, and not just as its own domain on the PMP® exam. PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct will be integrated and emphasized as in each phase of the project’s lifecycle.
Go to pmi.org and look for “Tips to Help You Prepare for the Exam” to find guidelines on what you need to know to pass the exam after 31 August 2011. Self Study or Commercial Prep Surveys indicate that only 10% of all candidates take the self-guided study approach. With this method, you get what you put into it. If you’re confident you can learn and assimilate all the material you need to know to clear the exam, and you can put in several hours per day for several months, try this route. It’s not the fastest, but if you have more time than money (and you can’t make money from your time), then it’s the way to go. The worst that will happen is you spend three-to-six months studying and don’t pass the exam. Self-guided study certainly works for some candidates, but for most, it represents the longest and riskiest path. Types of Courses If passing the exam after investing hours of study time is important to you, then you might want to consider a prep course. But make sure your time is well spent. Some prep courses provide the same information you get in this guide and not much more, and there are many seminars and development courses from which to choose. PMI usually has a current list of Registered Education Providers on its web site. To ensure this type of training fulfills the 35-hour, pre-exam training requirement, make sure you participate in a program offered by a Registered Education Provider. The list of companies offering exam PMP exam prep is extensive and dynamic. You may want to check out https://ccrs. pmi.org/ to get the most up-to-date listing.
There are a variety of options for commercial training, and there are pros and cons to consider with each approach.. For example, the majority of PMP prep courses are two or three days in length, cost about $1,700 (when you factor in travel costs), and promise the world in their promotional materials. However, all they really do is direct you on what to study and provide you with their recommended study materials, much of which we cover in this guide. You may still have to spend a few hundred hours studying on your own. Before signing up for one of these programs, talk directly with the provider to clearly understand what you’re getting. Many guarantee that you will pass using their method, but there are all types of hoops you have to jump through to validate the guarantee in terms of pre-course and post-course studying. They also over promote their pass rate and simply rely on their students to report their own scores. At Cheetah Learning, our PMP coaches’ pay is based, in part, on whether their students pass, which we verify with PMI. So our pass rates are the ONLY documented pass rates in the industry that undergo a full, internal audit. Ask the provider you’re considering if their instructors are compensated based on pass rate and how they are audited.
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There are a number of honest and reputable companies that offer PMP exam-prep programs. But don’t fall for deceptive advertising tactics. Ask the following questions:
• Do you guarantee I will pass the exam? If so, find out the terms of their guarantee. Ask if the company reimburses the fee to retake the exam if you don’t pass. • How do you document your pass rates? Many companies make undocumented claims about pass rates. If they don’t verify every student’s results, be careful. Also ask how their instructors are compensated. Cheetah PMP coaches are compensated based on their students passing, so the Cheetah pass rate is internally audited. • Do most people take the test immediately after the prep program? If the prep provider doesn’t encourage you to take the exam immediately following the course, be guaranteed that you will have to do more studying after their program. • Do I need to purchase extra prep material in addition to what I get in class? No, but you do need a copy of The PMBOK® Guide, which is not part of Cheetah’s course materials. Many other training companies, however, tell you what you need and what you should do and then leave you on your own to study. This can end up costing you more money and time than you thought, and may reduce your chances of passing the exam. At Cheetah, we teach you in class or online what you need to know to pass the PMP exam – guaranteed. So how much is your time worth?
Several of these providers offer hundreds of sample exam questions, typically available on CD-ROM, to help you prepare. Practicing with sample test questions is a valuable and very effective technique to help prepare for the exam and should be included in any PMP exam-prep program. However, this is certainly not an effective stand-alone study method. Be careful of any commercially available exam questions based on the old 320-question exam format. It can be very disorienting to prepare extensively using one style of test question and then find a completely different style on the actual exam. Remember that no commercial training groups know what questions are on any given exam. If they claim to or claim they have written the exam, be careful. If you use their material you may violate PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and lose the PMP certification you worked so hard to attain. PMI has very strict rules against sharing with others what was on the exam. It is much more important to fully understand the standards, concepts, tools, and techniques. This way, you are prepared to effectively tackle any question presented in any format. If you’re using one of these CDs to prepare, and you easily score in the high 90s, then the questions are not representative of what you’ll see on the exam. Some providers offer online options to get you through the certification process. These approaches give you access to their content and some are even instructor backed. You have to be disciplined, and some recommend you set aside at least 16 weeks to go through their programs. It is important that you clearly understand what you’re getting into with a PMP examprep program. More than one-third of our students come to Cheetah after having gone through someone else’s exam-prep course. If Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP is the right course for you, you should still be knowledgeable about what else is out there when you sit down with your employer to talk about PMP exam-prep training options.
THE WAY
PMP – The Cheetah Way
With our complete immersion approach, Cheetah Learning is your best chance to pass the PMP. Our Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP online and classroom courses are designed to prevent the retention leak that happens when you continually start and stop the study process. In our four-day classroom course, you study the right material in the most efficient way to stimulate instant recall and accelerate learning. One of Cheetah’s alumni, Pat McNabb, commented about the Cheetah Exam Prep course that “….the attitude of importance, encouragement, and 24-hour-a-day focus is like a wave that sweeps you up and helps carry you through the exam. Someone asked me what I thought about taking a series of Saturday classes in prep for the exam. My thought is that this kind of learning would be too diluted to have the same impact of the solid four-day infusion that Cheetah delivers.”
Traditional Approach Probability of Occurring
60% (standard pass rate)
Impact $
Expected Monetary Value(P x I)
+$6,000
+$9,800
+$10,000 (typical pay raise) -$275 (cost to retake the exam) -$9,000 (180 hours x $50 per hour) -$3,100 (average cost people spend on prep material and competitor’s programs)
number and schedule your exam retake within 30 days of the previous exam date or (b) provide you with a promotion code to receive a $750 USD discount off our four-day exam prep classroom course at any of the scheduled locations in the United States. Our four-week, exam-prep course guarantee is valid ONLY if you complete the precourse work in two weeks, the Exam Prep Online course in four weeks, and you take your second exam within 30 calendar days of failing the first time. Cheetah’s Success Rate Since we started offering this program, nearly 40,000 participants, most of who are now PMPs, have gone through our Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP courses. We know what you need to know to pass the exam. We have it down to a science. This is not an “add on” course for us like it is for many PMP exam-prep providers and for companies that have tried to copy our program to offer it in-house on their own. Interestingly enough, we still get a great number of students from companies that have created their own “Cheetah-like” PMP exam-prep program. They just can’t afford the hit to their career if they don’t pass the exam. Preparing people to be successful, FAST, with the PMP exam is what we do. We have the most courses offered throughout the world, so we are also the fastest at rolling in new changes to the course to ensure our pass rate remains high. We are the best because we put all our energy into making sure our students are the most successful people on the planet. Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP is “the course” to take if you need to earn your PMP and want the assurance that you will pass the PMP exam the day immediately following your course. It is your best chance to pass the PMP exam. Many companies suggest their pass rate is well above the 90% range, but ask them to support their statistics. Some training companies make selected calls to students and seem to support their statistics that way – through selective sampling. Others make a guess. Cheetah supports a 97% pass rate by tracking each and every student who comes to class. We verify they have passed by having them fax their score sheet to their Cheetah Coach AND check to make sure their name is listed on the PMI registry. And since our PMP coaches are paid, in part, based on their students’ success, all our pass rates are audited as part of their compensation. We support our students, if they happen to fail, to make sure they stay focused and attain their certification.
CHEETAH TIP 10
Become PMP certified and watch your career options soar. Register to take the Cheetah Exam Prep course today. It’s your best chance to pass the PMP exam. Take your career in the right direction – FAST. How to Register You can register at our web site, www.cheetahlearning.com, or by contacting our registration hotline toll free in the United States at 888-659-2013 or from outside the United States at 604-536-2531. Once you register and pay, you have access to our ONLINE orientation kit to speed you through the PMP certification application and prepare you to pass the exam after four days in our classroom course or four weeks in our online class. Looking forward to becoming part of YOUR ongoing success story!
Before 75% Projects Fail. No common way of doing projects causes chaos-less predictable outcomes. 98% people call themselves “PM’s” without any credentials
PMP WHY
After 75% Projects Succeed. Common way of doing projects creates opportunities because of more succesful outcomes. PMPs create more value for their organizations than non-PMPs
All people and organizations do projects. Project Success = Overall Success
Become Eligible with PMI Prove you have the project experience. 4500 hours with college degree 7500 without college degree. Prove you have the education 35 hours PM training
PMP HOW
Pass PMP Certification Exam • 4-hour test, 200 multiple choice questions. • Test very tricky-65% pass rate • Know PMBOK • Be able to logically deduce correct answer very quickly Long Term Career Support • Cheetah Learning’s commitment is to help our students be the most successful people on the planet • Cheetan PMPs learn how to learn. FAST. This stays with them for life • Cheetah PMPs get access to numerous career development opportunities on an on going basis. (We share what we are learning) • Cheetah Network enables Cheetah PMPs to tap into success, FAST
Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP Exam • Start on Monday, PMP by Friday • Offer the most classes worldwide • Just-in-time course material ensures most current prep for every class • 80% new business from word of mouth very satisfied client base • CEO selected as one of the top 25 most influential woman in PM worldwide due to PM teaching technique