Want to Pass the PMP Exam? Question the Questions

Becoming a project management professional (PMP) has benefits that go beyond what money can buy. It's true that by passing the PMP exam, you receive more in terms of salary, but the fact that you give your professional and personal proficiency an added boost is more important. Indeed, who would not want to take in someone who has a PMP tag after his or her name?

Therefore, if you want to get that certification, you must of course be qualified to take it. The qualifications are pretty simple. If you are a high school diploma holder, then you need to have at least 5 years of project management (PM) experience. If you have a bachelor's degree, however, you only need 3 years exposure to PM to be able to take the PMP exam.

As with any exam, success highly depends on how well you are able to prepare for it. This is the very reason why many articles and websites - including books and manuals - have been dedicated to PMP exam preparation. This article, however, will focus on making use of the material- that is, how the questions are worded - will help you pass the exam.

Learn to Distinguish the Icing from the Cake

This does not mean that to pass the PMP exam, you need to have cake as your lunch or snacks. Rather, this points out to the fact that some questions in the exam may contain a lot of information - some of which are relevant, others are plain flowers. Your challenge then is to distinguish what's relevant and what's not.

Remember that not all the time do you need to make use of all the words (or pieces of information) on the question. Some of them plainly exist to distract you. Now that you know this, you must not let those useless pieces of information distract you from your goal - that is, to pass the PMP exam.

Be in the shoes of the Project Management Institute (PMI)

Remember that the PMP exam is about the universal standards of project management. This is exactly the reason why there's a PMP course. Therefore, when answering the questions on the test, take out your personal hat and replace it with PMI's. How do you think will the international governing body of project management answer the question? In essence, sometimes, to pass the PMP exam, you need to set your experiences aside - and focus on the set theories of the discipline.

Remember that there's Only One Correct Answer

All items in the PMP exam are in the multiple choice format. Therefore, among the four choices (A through D), there is always one correct answer. Sometimes, it would feel as though more than one is the right answer. When this creeps into your consciousness, focus on the most appropriate response. Don't be misled by other flowery pieces of information.

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen: a few notes in properly reading through the questions in the PMP exam. Once again, to be successful at getting that highly coveted PMP certification, be aware of the questions - in fact, be super aware of the questions. That's one of the surest ways of getting that title.

Are you looking for some insightful pieces of information on PMP exam preparation? About the PMP course, perhaps? Visit ThreeO.ca now and get everything you need in acing that PMP exam!

8 Steps to Become a PMP

The PMP (Project Management Professional) certificate is very prestigious certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA. PMI is the world's largest association of the project professionals. PMI offers many credentials out of which the PMP certification is the most famous and globally recognized certificate. Every project professional wants to earn this certification to add the "PMP" title with his name. However, many of them do not know the exact process to become a PMP.

Therefore, I am writing this article to help the professionals who want to become a PMP but not aware of the procedure.

To make things easy, I have divided this process in to eight logical steps. These steps are as follows:

Check Your Eligibility: This is the first step towards your journey to become a PMP. Go through the latest version of the PMP handbook to check the eligibility requirements. You cannot move further from here, unless you are eligible for the exam.

Join the PMI: This should be your next step. Once you find yourself eligible for the PMP Certification Exam, you should join the PMI membership. PMI membership offers many benefits such as, reduced exam fee, free access to many books at eReads and Reference and you can also download the PMBOK Guide at free of cost. These are just few examples of benefits of PMI membership. There are a lot of more things to explore.

Get Trained: Attending a 35 hours training for the project management education is a mandatory condition to apply for the PMP Certification Exam. In this step, you have to join the training program to earn these 35 contact hours.

Apply for the Exam: Once you complete your training program, apply for the PMP Certification Exam. PMI takes about one week to review your application. If your application gets approved, you will receive the mail from the PMI advising you to go ahead with the payment process.

Submit the Exam Fee: Pay the exam fee to PMI. One important thing you have to note that, after paying the examination fee, there is chance that you may be selected for an audit. If you are selected for an audit then you will have to send copies of your education, experience and training program certificates to the PMI to verify your credentials. After reviewing your documents PMI will send you the code to schedule the exam. After it, you would be able to schedule your exam.

Schedule the Exam Date: Schedule your exam date. Keep your exam date not more than three months. Most experts believe that three months' time is enough for you to prepare for the exam. Also don't cancel and reschedule the exam many times. It will hurt your concentration and ultimately you may lose your interest in the exam.

Start Preparation: Now, time to start study seriously. Buy any two good PMP Exam preparation books. Go through these books and refer the PMBOK Guide. Research on internet for topics you find difficult to understand and participate in various PMP exam preparation forums. Read the lesson learned from the professionals who have passed the PMP exam recently.

Take the Test: This is the last step. Go to prometric center at scheduled date and complete the formalities. Once you complete all formalities, your test will be started. PMP test consist of 200 multiple choice questions and duration of exam is four-hours. Complete the exam; review the answers before the final submission. Once you press the submit button, there will be a short survey and then you will see your result. If you pass the exam PMI will give you congratulation otherwise they will be sorry. I hope that you will see the congratulatory message from the PMI.

These are the eight steps to become a PMP and I believe that these steps will help you in your endeavor.

Fahad Usmani, PMP, PMI-RMP is a blogger on Project Management topics. He writes on his blog PM Study Circle to help professionals with PMP Certification Exam Preparation. Visit his blog to find various PMP Study Materials.

Dealing With a PMP Application Audit

If you are planning on earning PMP Certification you are, of course, preparing. Nevertheless, did you know your PMP exam application could get audited? It is possible. You want to deal with it and get on with concentrating on studying for the actual exam.

When an application is submitted and received it undergoes a review. This is to make sure it is filled out completely and correctly. When the review is complete the person submitting the application acceptance will be sent through e-mail and they will be asked to pay the exam fee. The person preparing for the exam will then be given a number for identification that is needed when scheduling the day and time for the exam as well as their location to take the exam. A confirmation email will then be sent once the exam schedule is selected. On the other hand, an ID will not be provided if the application is up for audit. PMP application audits are done randomly and only a few applications are chosen. Audit notification will be sent by email and include instructions on how to handle this situation.

This does not have to be a cause for alarm or concern. Think of what could happen. It could either mean the process does not go well or you will need to reapply for the exam. Another option is that the exam fee is refunded with a processing fee being kept.

Now, when it comes to the audit all PMI materials would need to be sent through the mail to the closest PMI center. These materials include training, certificates and educational items. Once all of these items are mailed then it is important to wait to hear from the auditing committee. There will be notification sent if the documents have been received and meet the requirements. Another email will be sent once the items have been reviewed that will indicate the materials are accepted then a PMP exam ID will be given. If the materials are not accepted the email will be sent indicating the materials are not accepted or are not what they need. The person is given another chance to send in information. If everything is accepted then an ID will be given or indicate that the audit was not complete. That would lead to a reapplying needed before taking the exam.

An audit can take around two weeks depending on how quickly items are mailed and how quickly items are reviewed.

For the latest information on PMP certification please visit http://www.pmpcertificationprograms.com/.

Sure Shot PMP Exam Prep Techniques

Have you ever dreamed of getting the title of a project management professional (PMP)? Have you been getting one PMP training course after another just so you will be fully prepared once you take the PMP certification exam?

If you do - if your feet have been itching to finally have PMP after your name - then you should heed these PMP exam prep techniques.

1. Memorize the formulas.

Modern project management is largely about mathematical equations and formulas (talk about PERT and earned values). Therefore, memorizing these seemingly useless and senseless strings of numbers, symbols and letters would prove to be an essential PMP exam prep technique.

But how do you get them into your head without having a nosebleed? For one, remember that your brain works best when the information that you want to store falls within the range of 7 plus minus 2. In simpler terms, to be able to retain data, you must "chunk" the details into a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 9 fragments. If you need to recode the formula, so be it. Just make sure that they remain the same, otherwise, you putting yourself in grave danger.

Second, you must understand what the formula means so you can properly remember it. Make a story out of it so it becomes more familiar in your head.

Indeed, by using these memorization techniques, you'd realize that taking the time to recode the pieces of information on and to make a story out of a formula would prove to be a very effective PMP exam prep strategy.

2. Guess, if you need to.

The PMP exam does not penalize you for putting a wrong answer. And remember, you have a time limit for the exam. You have at most 72 seconds per item (you have 4 hours for the 200-item exam). Therefore, get yourself used to guessing the answer. Just exercise this PMP exam prep technique with caution as you might totally depend on the guessing game come final testing. Remember, you've studied a whole lot for this certification exam, don't waste your effort and time by suddenly solely leaning on guessing.

3. Base Your Answers on the PMBOK.

The PMP exam is primarily taken from the concepts in the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) - the bible of this discipline. So acquaint yourself (in fact, don't just acquaint yourself but understand by heart) with the concepts in this handbook. Always base your answers to what the PMBOK says. When you feel that your experience says otherwise, let that thought go. The PMBOK always wins - after all, it is what the exam is about, not your personal experience in the field. So in essence, being humble is yet another PMP exam prep strategy.

Passing the PMP exam is no easy feat. You really have to prepare for it. You simply can't rely on your experience and on some stock knowledge. As such, when you find yourself ready to take the challenge of the PMP exam, take heed of the notes above. They will never let you down!

Visit ThreeO.ca for anything about the PMP certification exam. The website has a million and one information on PMP training courses and PMP exam prep techniques.

Benefits of the PMP

Full form of the PMP is Project management Professional and it is a trade mark name of a certification that is owned by Project Management Institute (PMI), USA. This certification can be earned by the professionals working in the project management field. Obtaining PMP Certification is a very stringent process. To be eligible to apply for this certification, a candidate has to show certain hours of work experience in project related tasks and he required to attend a training program for formal PM education.

PMI is a not for profit global organization that provides various guidelines and recommended practice to be used in projects. These guidelines and recommended practices are developed through an open channel with the help of experts from all over the world with different background area. Therefore, you can say that the guidelines provide by the PMI are industry independent and can be applied in any area.

Becoming a PMP is not an easy job. You have to go through a well-developed set of processes to attain it. This certification gives you the confidence, establishes your authority as a professional project manager and earn you respect among the professionals.

Following are the few benefits of the PMP Certification:


Industry Independent: The guidelines, given in the PMBOK Guide are industry independent. Skills acquired by this certification can be used in any industry, whether it is IT or construction field. Project Management skills are not bounded to any particular area and these skills are transferable to any field.

Switching Career: As explained earlier, skills acquired by passing this certification is industry independent; therefore, it will help you if you want to switch your career.

Knowledge Gaps: Many times it happens that you know something partly, or recognizes the name of technique but unable to explain etc. When you study for the PMP certification exam, all of your staggered knowledge will be streamlined, synchronized and knowledge gaps will be filled.

New Skills: To become a PMP, you go through a training program and have to refer many books on the subject. In this process you will learn many new skills to perform various project related tasks.

Efficiency: Since you're equipped with the best industry accepted knowledge and you know that how to handle the complex situation; therefore, you will perform the job with better efficiency.

Market Value: In the tough and competitive job market, your resume will stand out just for having the PMP title with your name. You will have a much better chance to get a job than the person who does not have this certification. On various job portals you can see that some companies clearly mention that having the PMP Certificate will be a benefit for the job seekers, and some others have made it mandatory to apply for the job.

Monetary Benefits: Possessing the PMP Certification may bring you the salary increment, bonus or promotion. Many surveys show that the PMP Certification holder earns approximately 11% more salary than their counterpart.

Credibility: If you have this certification means you have demonstrated the required level of education, experience and competency to lead and direct the project successfully within the established guidelines. This certificate establishes your credibility as a Professional Project Manager.

Recognition: The PMP Certification is a globally recognized certificate and now it is being endorsed by many large organizations. If you're dealing with a project spread throughout the world, this certificate will ensure trust of your clients in your abilities to handle such complex projects.

I hope that these benefits are enough to motivate you for the PMP Certification.

Article Author M. Fahad Usmani, PMP, PMI-RMP is a blogger on Project Management topics. He writes on his blog PM Study Circle to help professionals with  PMP Certification Exam Preparation and provides them PMP Exam Study Notes.

PMP Bootcamp - The Pros and Cons

Project Management Professional - PMP exam is a step forward to an attractive career or the enhancement of the career as a project manager. And this PMP certification can be obtained by passing the exam for which PMP bootcamps are touted as the ideal training grounds. As PMP is a globally recognized course, these boot camps are held across many countries of the world.

Though these boot camps are deemed to be very helpful in the preparation of the exam, some think better of it. As every coin has two sides, these boot camps also have their own pros and cons. Sometimes, the boot camps are designed in such a way that they deliver noticeable results but sometimes, its drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

Generally, those project managers which have years of experience in the industry at the same designation, find it easier to pass these exams with some training from the PMP boot camps. While industry experience is the criterion for eligibility to appear for the PMP exam, some may not hold so. In this face of situation, the boot camps offer guarantees for the result and assume financial risk in case of failure and re-examination, custom coaching and feedback.

Bootcamps may work for some because the instructors are usually highly qualified with master's degrees, prior training, and years of industry experience. Most also offer a pass guarantee and will assume financial risk if you fail. They may offer to pay for your exam re-take or provide custom coaching and feedback. The surest way to quickly pass the exam is the PMP bootcamp.

But some quote the fair share of drawbacks as these bootcamps prove to be expensive. As they provide the surefire way of passing with 4-day training or one-week courses, they charge exorbitantly and it is important to know whether that price includes the actual PMP exam fee. It poses as a pay-to-pass program and is beneficial for whom time is more important than money.

Bootcamps may also prove to be inconvenient as working professionals cannot leave their jobs and responsibilities to attend such camps, except for their locations if nearer. Most of the project managers find it easier to prepare with a study schedule that suits them better without interrupting their routine. Boot camps generally expect their students to cram and memorize because thoroughly understanding and mastering concepts like communication, cost management, human resources, integration, scope, quality, risk cannot be done in mere four days. This implies that there is no knowledge value-addition to the project manager in this term of attending the PMP boot camp.

Bootcamps can be inconvenient due to their locations and their limited spaces and times do not do justice to the preparation, as well as it costs. These boot camps focus on passing the exam and increasing their success rate instead of imparting thorough knowledge to produce better project managers.

For more information visit PMP bootcamp.

Various Factors of PMP Certification

PMP Certification is the Project Management Professional course which helps to specialize in the field of project management. PMP certification becomes very useful and beneficial to those who wish to make their career in project management field. This certification is globally renowned and gives a certified individual the chance to grab international opportunities. This certification also helps to increase the social and financial status of project managers and companies adhering to such qualified and certified project managers are sure to reach the height of success. For the PMP certification, there are various institutions around the globe in different countries, some institutions being international and having various franchisees. They give preparation material for these certification courses and also conduct classroom trainings for doubt-solving sessions. These kind of classes are a kind of bridge between those who already are project managers and those who want to become world known project management professionals. The study materials also include are thorough explanations of binding and successful methods of teaching, number of different knowledge fields as well as discussions about a lot of processes.

PMP certification exam not only tests theoretically but the preparation also gives an idea about diverse useful strategies as well as about how to use them in a real life. Number of ways how to boost effectiveness together with project efficiency is also included in the preparation material. Tips and useful methods how to successfully complete project are also covered with real life case studies and repeated to show the application of the possessed knowledge.

PMP certification requires an individual to have clear knowledge of crucial concepts and abilities and the presence of mind to put the theoretical knowledge to practical use. It is very difficult to get such a prestigious certification in an area as difficult as project management. On-the-job experience is an undisputable requirement without which, the certification is not possible. The guides to crack this certification course should encompass all the phases like initiation phase, planning phase, executing phase, monitoring and controlling phase finally through finishing and closing phase of the project.

The PMP certification training is also imparted online with active learning modules and there are also video training classes for the same. Most of these sessions are conducted throughout the week and the exams are given on the weekends. The success rate of any institution imparting knowledge for such an exam depends on the trainer and his ability to make students understand and grasp the concepts quickly and prepare them for the examination.

For more information visit PMP Certification.

Three Ways To Fail Your PMP Exam Audit

The Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is a globally recognized certification of project management knowledge, skills and experience. So it's not surprising that PMI takes great care to insure the quality of its certification process, from application through post certification.

When you apply to sit for PMI's PMP Certification, you will submit a qualification of your education, quantification of your project management experience and classroom hours. If accepted, you can then take the PMP Exam. And if you pass, you'll be added to the PMI list of certified Project Management Professionals with all its privileges.

You and every PMI certified professional deserves to know that their hard fought credential will retain its value and integrity year in and year out. PMI takes this responsibility very seriously. One of the ways they insure the integrity of your PMP certification is by auditing applicants as well as certified PMPs throughout their programs.

Your PMP application and, later, your PMP Status, can be audited at any time. There are a lot of rumors about PMI's audit selection criteria, but the truth is that the audit selection process is completely random. There is no control chart of outliers or red flags.

So don't focus on whether you might fit a truly non-existent profile of someone who gets audited. Focus on making sure your information and actions are aligned with passing an audit from the start! There is a positive and proactive way to approach your PMP application. Take these simple ideas to heart:

Your chances of being audited:

During the application process your chances of being audited are about 50/50 and drop dramatically after certification. Since the PMP Exam audit selection process is completely random, you shouldn't waste your time listening to and worrying about the rumors of profiling or trigger conditions. Use your energy to properly study for the exam instead and take the time to make your application audit proof.

Being truthful means you don't have to remember anything:

PMI takes its code of ethics very seriously and so should you. The more time you take to make sure your application is aligned with your experience, the better it will withstand an audit.

Document, Communicate, Align:

Take the time to document clearly your experience. Make sure you know where you stored your degree, training certificates, dates, documentation, contact names, addresses and phone numbers from your projects. Better yet, create a new project folder of all the background information that supports your application.

When you submit your Project Management experience application you will be asked to provide contact persons for each and every project. Be sure to confirm their current email address and phone numbers. These contact persons could be your managers, co-workers, vendors, clients and any other applicable stakeholders from your past projects. Let them know you're applying to take the PMP Exam. Jog their memory of your projects by sharing with them what you're submitting and ask them if they agree with what you've written. Make corrections if they disagree.

The Three Ways to Fail a PMP Exam Audit:

According to PMI's Customer Care there are three ways that you can fail an audit: No Fault, Non-Compliance and Fraud. Let's look at them in detail. First we'll see what PMI writes for each, then we'll give you an interpretation and our recommendations.

1.) No Fault

"Cannot verify education or experience through no fault of their own - No suspension period and cannot reapply until candidate can provide the experience hours and document them."

You should be able to avoid this by making sure you have all your documentation before you submit your PMP Exam application. However, if for some reason, your education or experience cannot be confirmed, through no fault of your own, then PMI will still let you fail the audit. You may reapply as soon as you have your experience hours documented or confirmation of your degree.

2.) Non-Compliance

"Candidate chooses not to attempt audit - One year suspension period"

If you are audited and you simply have too much going on in your life to participate in the audit, then you can choose not to give any audit responses. Similar to pleading "no contest," the candidate is subject to a one year suspension period before he/she can apply for the PMP Exam again.

3.) Fraud

"Providing False Information - Permanently suspended from sitting for PMI exams.

This should be obvious to you... Don't lie! It's not worth it! If you provide false information on your PMP application and you fail an audit because of it, you will be permanently suspended from sitting for any PMI exams. And they truly do mean forever.

If you're concerned about not having enough contact hours, consider putting off your application until you do. If you're looking for projects to fill in those hours, there are a lot of volunteer project management opportunities through community service and other non-profit organizations.

If you need a certification by a particular deadline and you're short of hours, consider sitting for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® while you're accumulating the hours you'll need for the PMP. A CAPM certification requires only a high school (or equivalent) diploma and either 23 hours of project management education or 1,500 experience hours.

Although PMI can choose to change the PMP Audit process at any time, should you be audited, you'll be asked to provide copies of your diplomas or equivalents, signatures from people that can verify your experience such as managers and supervisors, and copies of certificates and/or letters from training institutions for each educational course you're claiming.

The PMP Exam audit process is a hiccup, but not a road block on your way to becoming certified. Take a little care up front, and you'll come through it with flying colors.

Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 15,000 students prepare for the PMP Examwith The Project Management PrepCast and The PMP Exam Simulator.

PMP Certification PDUs

Did you work hard to earn your Project Management Professional certification? If you're like most people you certainly did and now is not the time to let it slip away. Remember you need 60 Professional Development Unit's (PDUs) every 3 years to maintain your certification in Project Management.

Maintaining your PMP certification is not as hard as you might think, plan your re-certification as you would any project you've worked on. Plan your project well, look at the low hanging fruit and accomplish these small task first and then move on from there. This article is not a how-to for earning PDUs but rather a gentle reminder and motivational tool to keep you on the right track. Many of my friends and co-workers who are also PMPs get themselves very stressed out on how to earn the credits they need in the short three year allotment provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI). I remind them of the commitment they made in the beginning when they decided to go for the certification and that it's a thousand times easier just to maintain the certification - earn those PDUs!

There are many sources on the web that offers online course which some are expensive and some are not, you decide. There are free webinars and conference calls that can also earn you credits towards re-certification. And off course the most obvious is the PMI website which has a ton of invaluable information for you to read up on. If you're not spending a lot of time on this website then you are only hurting yourself by not staying in tune with what is happening in the Project Management Community.

One simple task you can do to earn PDUs is take online courses. This is one of my favorites because it benefits me twofold. I recently attained my Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification and was able to contribute most of these online courses toward my PMP re-certification. So I earned the ITIL certification and applied credits toward my PDUs - win/win. I hope you're starting to see that it's not that difficult to get those 60 PDUs in 3 years.

The certification I'm working on now is the Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) certification. I'm taking a similar path to the one I took when studying to get my PMP. A lot of online course work and many hours at the computer teaching myself this new methodology is beneficial. I remind myself often that this will all be worth it in the end because I know I'll have the CSSGB certification and of course I'll be adding credits to my PDU requirement.

The last thing I should mention here is the most obvious of all the methods to earn PDUs. In case you didn't know, you can earn PDUs on the job. That's right, if you are currently working as a PMP Project Manager you can claim a certain amount of credits for what you do every day.

Please check the PMI website for all of the different ways you can earn those Professional Development Units in the different categories. Don't be afraid to try something different, learn something new every day and have fun while you're taking the journey of maintaining your Project Management Professional certification.

Regards,

Chuck LaPenta, PMP

Chuck LaPenta, PMP - Senior Project Manager with over 15 years of telecommunications experience.
http://pmp-project-manager.com/

What Are the Requirements for a PMP Certification?

In order to succeed in the business field, it is important that you are equipped with the right set of skills that will pave your way to success. There are some tests and exams that assess these skills and offer you new opportunities to gain success. One of these is the PMP certification. It is known as the project management professional certification.

What this certification program actually does is it helps people to manage tasks and get them done in a more effective manner. It allows an individual to understand the whole process of planning, organizing, and getting the tasks done completely. The certification gives an individual a professional recognition and leads him to the top of the competition at times. You will need PMP certification training after receiving your certification so that your total experience and potential are at a higher level.

In order to qualify for PMP certification, you will need to focus on gaining work experience. You should have ample of experience with project management, especially if you want to gain this certificate. Your documents which relate to your work experience will be passed on to the licensing agency for certification. You are supposed to have a minimum of 36 months for work experience to qualify for the certificate. You can find out more about institutes that are offering apprenticeships in order to add to your work experience. You need to choose an institution that will give you comprehensive training.

Your education is also another requirement which will be scrutinized when it comes to gaining PMP certification. The test for the certificate will consist of 200 questions, which include un-scored and scored questions. The un-scored questions, which are about 25 in number, are there to test your understanding.

There are boot camps that will also offer you training in order to gain this qualification. The crash courses that these boot camps offer are as short as 4 days. You can also train for these tests online as well. If you go to an institute to train for the test, you will be provided with all the necessary course material you need. The classroom discussions, coupled with the exercises that you are given to do, will be sufficient in training you for the test. You can train for this course in any country, since this certification is a globally recognized qualification.

You will need to have about 35 hours of training for PMP. This requirement is set by the PMI standard. Only then will your application will be considered for the PMP certification. It's best to start studying for the test in advance so that you are well-prepared for the test. You can also attend seminars for these certification courses. The PMP experts usually give out helpful information in relation to these courses and tests which will be beneficial for you. Information can also be exchanged on online chat forums to talk about the PMP certification.

There are many sources which you can turn to, to find out more about PMP certification training. One of these sources is Off Peak Training. Visit their website to find out more about this certificate, its training and the requirements for the qualification.

What Is the Process for Applying to Take the PMP Certification

This is an exam sponsored by the Project Management Institute also known as the PMI. This is an extremely popular exam. Across the world, there are approximately 300,000 certified Project Manager Professionals. The PMP exam began in 1984. PMI offers many exams, with the PMP being the most popular.

What are the requirements for certification

In order to get certified, a person must attend 35 hours of classroom training in Project Management. You also must have completed 4,500 hours of experience doing some form of Project Management. There is a PMP certification handbook will all of the qualifications listed as a reference guide. After meeting these qualifications, you can then file the application along with the fees. When have completed all of these things, PMI will then review your application. If everything is acceptable, you will receive an acceptance letter or phone call with the good news. Now you may contact the website or call the Prometric Center and make arrangements to schedule your exam.

Preparing for the PMP Exam

There are several things you can do in preparation for your exam, you can review the PMP content outline, also get familiar with the sample PMP questions. You could also form a study group with friends. There is a Project Management Book of Knowledge (fourth edition) available on CD, also known as PMBOK, to help you prepare for the PMP Certification. Some people refer to this book as the bible, due to the wonderful information it contains. There are several other books available, one is the PMP Exam Prep Book(sixth edition) which is the most popular. PMP Professional Management Study Guide, and a couple others. The PMP Exam: How to Pass On Your First Try, and Head First PMP: A brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam. There are also flash cards available, they are called the Hot Topics Flashcards for Passing the PMP Exam: Hot Topic Flashcards. Approximately 150 hours study time is recommended. This is a very expensive test, and you definitely want to do your best. The cost of this test is $555, unless you are a PMI member, then the exam is only $405. The cost for PMI membership is $119, so if you are not already a member, it is not going to save you any money.

Structure of the PMP Exam

This test consists of 200 questions, 175 regular and 25 pretest questions. In order to pass this test, you must answer 106 of the 175 questions correctly. About 80% of the people who take it, pass it. In preparing for your exam, it is highly recommended that you get a good night sleep before the exam. Upon entering the exam room, jot down some notes that you remember from studying, these could pose very valuable to you, during your exam. You are only allowed to take you ID into the exam room. They will provide you with an ear plug, a calculator, pencils and paper. Getting the Project Management Professional Certification will help your success rate in the job market, it will help improve the performance of your job as well.

Paul Naybour
Business Development Director
Phone 0845 519 2305
Paul.Naybour@ParallelProjectTraining.com

Parallel Project Training, Davidson House, Forbury Square, Reading, RG1 3EU

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PMP training from Parallel Project Training

10 Important Points for the PMP Exam

Dear Friends, The PMP Exam is not easy. But it is not hard too, specially if you understand what they want to test you on.

To pass the PMP exam, you need to have some key points ingrained in your mind forever. These points are used again and again in the PMP Exam Questions. Nothing difficult... Just simple principles, and once you understand them, you will be better prepared for the revised PMP exam.

Here are 10 Very Important Points to remember for your PMP Exam:

1. The project manager is empowered and has ultimate authority and accountability for a project. Therefore, the Project Manager must always be proactive, and look for areas of improvement, and communicate all the time, with all the key stakeholders. Be prepared to make decisions quickly, proactively, and solve problems quickly, directly, and effectively. People look upon you for direction and leadership.

2. Projects should be strategically aligned with the high-level strategic objectives of the organization. This improves the chances of the project success. Do not include any changes to the project, which do not align to the corporate vision, as they will take up valuable time and resources. Get clarity from the Change Control Board (CCB) if required. The Sponsor or Client should be part of the CCB.

3. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) forms the basis of all estimating and project planning. This is part of Scope Management. Many people confuse the WBS to be part of the Time Management Knowledge Area. Beware! The WBS is an extremely useful tool in clarifying the scope of the project. Because it is like a org chart ( and looks like a picture), it is easy to find any missing areas, are identify blind spots in the requirements.

4. Project Managers spend almost 90% of their time in communicating. It will not do you or the project any good if you simply hide in your cubicle and communicate using email alone. It is important to go out, and meet the team members, stakeholders, and understand what is going on in their world. Communication has to be a 2 way thing. Not only Written, and not just one way.

5. Planning is the most important of all the Project Management processes. Projects don't fail at the end, they fail at the beginning - if they are not planned properly and accurately. Of the 42 processes in the PMBOK Guide, 20 belong to the Planning Process Group. And 48 questions out of the 200 come from Planning processes alone. So study this carefully. There is a proper sequence of doing the planning work, and it is not listed in the PMBOK Guide. Let me know if you need help in this area...

6. The Project Team must be involved early in the Planning process and in all major decisions concerning the project. The earlier you can onboard your project management team, the better it is. Do not attempt to do everything on your own. Get your project management team, who can assist you in the tasks. Remember that Project Management is an art, and you do not have to be a domain expert to manage projects successfully. You should be good at managing people, communicating, negotiating, motivating, and have leadership qualities, which are more important than technical expertise.

7. Lessons Learned and Historical Records are essential inputs to just about every Project management process, especially Planning. For the sake of the PMP Exam, assume that you always have access to the Project management office (PMO), who will be able to provide you with the required templates, checklists, procedures and policies. They also have a complete archive of past projects' project files, templates, checklists, risk registers, milestone list, assumptions, constraints etc. You can easily get access to this handy resource for this project, just by asking the PMO.

8. Project Stakeholders and their needs & expectations are very important and should be well managed and balanced from the early on. Remember, the cost of making a change increases as time passes. So the early we can get the stakeholders involved, and see their inputs, complete requirements, the better it is for the project (and lower cost too). Stakeholder influence is highest in the beginning of the project, and comes down as the project reaches completion.

9. Quality Control is an internal affair. It takes the completed deliverables coming from the Executing Processes, and converts them into validated Deliverables. These deliverables are then tested by the customer in the Verify Scope Process, and converted into Accepted Deliverables. Both of these processes happen in the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group. Many questions arise from the close relationship between these 2 processes.

10. Adding out-of-scope extras (also called "gold plating") to please project stakeholders adds no value and is strongly discouraged. You must always be on the lookout for "scope creep" and "gold plating", as they can take up valuable time and cost on the project. Remember also that adding scope increases risk and impacts time and cost too. So beware of adding any extras. Only deliver what is expected of you.

Understanding and memorizing these key points, and applying them to PMP exam questions will assist you in getting correct answers.

Remember, when in doubt, go by the PMI PMBOK Guide, 4th Edition. Do not apply only practical project management knowledge or else you will fail the PMP exam.

Quality Control is an internal affair. It takes the completed deliverables coming from the Executing Processes, and converts them into validated Deliverables. These deliverables are then tested by the customer in the Verify Scope Process, and converted into Accepted Deliverables. Both of these processes happen in the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group. Many questions arise from the close relationship between these 2 processes.

Adding out-of-scope extras (also called "gold plating") to please project stakeholders adds no value and is strongly discouraged. You must always be on the lookout for "scope creep" and "gold plating", as they can take up valuable time and cost on the project. Remember also that adding scope increases risk and impacts time and cost too. So beware of adding any extras. Only deliver what is expected of you.

Understanding & memorizing these key points, and applying them to PMP exam questions will assist you in getting correct answers.

Remember, when in doubt, go by the PMI PMBOK Guide, 4th Edition. Do not apply only practical project management knowledge or else you will fail the PMP exam.

If you need more articles, Tips, Trick on passing the PMP Exam, check out PMCHAMP.com.

Study for the PMP Exam anytime, anywhere, at your own pace!

We also offer Online PMP Exam Prep Training. Currently, we have students enrolled from 15 different countries, including USA, Canada, UAE, India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia etc. It gives you the flexibility to study for the PMP Exam anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

PMChamp offers Online PMP Exam Prep Training. Currently, we have students enrolled from 15 different countries, including USA, Canada, UAE, India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia etc. Next online class starts October 3. It gives you the flexibility to study for the PMP Exam anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

Vinai Prakash is PM Champ. Yup, that's me. I love coaching and training PMP aspirants to pass the PMP Exam in their first attempt, without stress, and without hassles.

To date I have coached hundreds of students in face-to-face PMP Training Preparation classes and shared valuable PMP resources. After getting my PMPCredential, I often wondered how I could share my new found knowledge of passing the exam easily on my first attempt, and impart it to people struggling to get the PMP certification, but don't have a clue.

Project Management Certification - Stop Procrastinating Based on What You've Heard

No more delays in getting the PMP® certification?

Let's say the following statements apply to you:

· You are managing projects

· You heard the PMP® exam is difficult

· You are an admitted perfectionist when it comes to projects assigned to you.

· You ensure your projects are successful and get better and better with each new project.

· You have the title and performing the work without the credential.

· You have many years experience managing projects even before moving into your current position.

· You are performing the role as a project manager managing projects by any means necessary but you don't have the title.

If you answered yes to any of the above statements you are procrastinating to obtain your PMP® certification credential. Don't stare at yourself another day saying I should get the PMP®, you know you're supposed to do this so let's get on the road.

If you have been managing temporary initiatives or endeavors over time it is time to wake up and make some immediate changes prove your work. Get on the right road to travel to certification complete lane. It shouldn't take you long now that you know that's where you need to go. Yes, you need to go there. First, you have to determine where you are in terms of what do you formally know about the processes and practice you have been performing while managing projects. Project management is not accidental although many fall into it by accident or should I say, by gift. Nor is it reactive or unconscious. Project management is intentional, proactive and purposeful. Quite naturally if you are a critical thinker and into details and realize that nothing just happens there are some specific actions that make things happen then you are deemed the perfect personality trait for the profession of project management. There are some tried and proven methods in theory that should work most of the time and when practiced improves competencies and communications among all involved and affected by the project. Due diligence of the profession is required so that you pick the right vehicle for your journey.

I believe getting the PMP® certification is a reflection of where your consciousness already resides and verification of those standards you uphold as an individual when you work. Especially if you are the type of person that influence factors to ensure success of the projects you work. You are the trailblazer within your organization and can open uncharted waters and innovate ways to do things. You are totally reliable and the go to person that many draw great solutions from. Go ahead and step into the destiny of your true self by crossing the hurdle of becoming PMP® certification. Restore your wholeness and live life with no regrets.

Current market conditions warrant a demand of knowledgeable practitioners of the Project Management Profession. Along with that statement I'd like to add we need you. We need you to join the team of PMP® credential holders and advancers of the PMI way in this profession. Yes, the journey can be rough if you take the wrong transport through it. They main key is to know how you learn. What is your most dominant learning style? Apply that to your study plan and viola you'll be well on your way to certification success. It increases your efficiency and decreases time with non-productive study efforts.

The requirement to pursue wholehearted the PMP® certification credential is experience. Meaning those of you reading this article are practicing project managers without the certification. You are actually managing projects or have in the past managed projects. The exam tests your knowledge of the PMI way to manage projects. This is demonstrated with the ability to answer questions on a rigorous exam concerning the steps a true practitioner would take when faced with various situations. The PMP® credential is evidence of understanding the proactive PMI method of managing projects. It shows that you can apply to a test question the competency needed by professionals in Project Management.

PMP® Certification is an important credential that can help hiring agents weed out resumes to obtain practitioners not afraid to demonstrate their competency by taking the PMP® certification exam. Even the best project managers without certification once they leave their current environment find it difficult to be taken seriously as a Project Manager without the PMP® certification credential.

What the certification does for you?

· Gain professional recognition for accomplishment by a recognized entity.

· Ability to share a common language and knowledge base.

· Opens door for discussions around salary increases and promotions.

· Demonstrates your knowledge and competence of best practices by knowing what they are.

· Documents your commitment to your profession.

· Creates a career path worthy of noting for those seeking to diversify skills and take on challenging projects.

Go ahead and complete the journey, don't just start it. If you've started it in the past and then just quit before arriving to certified; then it's time to get back on the road and complete the journey. The ride may have been tumultuous before and the directions may have been awful. You were lost along the way and haven't been able to find yourself back to the right place to get you to the certification destination. Well it's alright this has happened to many and has been conquered by many as well. No need to postpone this journey any longer pretend it's a project that you will not let fail. Purposefully pursuing it and not stopping until it's done is the attitude you would like to possess when you stir yourself up to accomplish this goal. Gather all your supporters in your life and allow them to hold you accountable to quickly complete this journey and WIN.

No more FEAR finish the PMP®. It is possible just make it possible.

PMstudy a globally recognized registered education provider with courses offered monthly near you throughout the U.S, Canada, Africa, Europe and Asia.

© Magaline Harvey, PMP @ All Stop Communications, 2011

Magaline Harvey is an independent contractor of PMstudy.com

PMstudy is a PMI Approved Global Registered Education Provider for Project Management Institute®, specializing in providing quality education to prepare students for Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Certified Associate in Project Management(CAPM)® Certification Exams. We also offer very economical and effective 100% online continuing education courses for PMP/CAPM® certified professionals.

Magaline Harvey is passionate about training with a phenomenal track record of helping simplify the PMP® terms so that anyone can understand. http://www.linkedin.com/in/magalineharvey

Facts to Know About the PMP Certification

In United States, PMI is the authority that offers Project management professional (PMP) certification. This certificate is valid throughout the world. It is very important to know about its origin and applications in your career. One of the main advantages of PMP certification is that it is recognized worldwide. Each and every year a number of professionals are taking up this exam which tests their abilities and skills. You need to have two or more years of experience in order to take up this exam.

These days there are even students who confidently attend the exam to pursue a good career through this certification. To get into Project Management Institute, you are required to pass from a recognized professional institute. This is mainly done to screen the students before submitting the application form for the course. The demand for PMP is growing higher day by day.

Each and every year, the number of candidates who apply for PMI is rising exponentially. The total number of seats allotted for PMI is only hundred thousand. It is quite surprising that students and professionals from different parts of the world take up this examination. It is found that persons from around 125 countries appear for this exam each year. Paper presentation, seminars as well as group discussions are some of the main features of the PMP examination. One of the main aims of this exam is to check the confidence level of the individuals. In addition to this, this exam is intended to check their communication skills and level of knowledge.

If you consider taking this test, it is advisable to solve some of the sample questions. This way, you will know the pattern of questions. You can easily get the sample questions these days. A simple online search will be quite enough to obtain them. This evaluation test will surely sharpen your talents and skills. The benefits of PMP certification are numerous. Many multinational companies hire only professionals with this kind of certification. They mainly prefer those who have the skills and abilities to carry out complicated tasks.

An employee with a PMP certification would certainly serve his customers and clients in a better way. He or she will even provide assistance for other employees to become more organized and productive. Thus we see that the PMP certification helps an employee to develop his skills and talents. With this certification, you will have more job opportunities as well.

Click here to know more about PMP certification Maryland.

Boost Your PMP Studies - Join PMP Exam Prep Internet Forums

One of the best sources of information you currently have at your disposal is the use of an internet forum. The opinions and information available on these forums can be extremely valuable and they often provide specific examples and personal experiences to help guide you in your quest for knowledge and instruction. PMP Exam prep internet forums are no exception.

You may be wondering why it would beneficial for you to spend your precious study time reading materials on internet forums. This is because these forums can actually help you prepare for your exam. If you are having trouble understanding a specific project management concept, there is probably someone on these forums who can explain it in such a way that you can better understand it. Chances are that they ran into the same problem during the course of their own studies. This will save you time and frustration and you will understand the concept, instead of just memorizing it.

There are many ways that you can use these internet forums. The method you use will depend on the specific type of information you are looking for. This information may include asking specific questions, using a 'search and scan' technique for more detailed information, or soliciting advice on specific PMP Exam Prep topics. Many project managers (who are Project Management Professionals in their own right) are active participants in these types of forums. They are usually open to answering your specific questions, willing to provide you with information search tips, and also enjoy sharing their experiences from their own journeys to PMP certification.

If you have a specific question that you want to ask concerning preparation for the exam, most online forums have a detailed and easy-to-follow process for you to submit your question. The beauty of this is that you will most likely receive answers to your question from many different project managers, who will offer a variety of perspectives and experiences. This will help you choose the best answer as it pertains to your specific question and/or situation.

On the other hand, if you are a self-starter and you prefer to do your own research, internet forums can also make this very easy. Almost all of these forums include a very strong search engine so that you can quickly 'search and scan' the forum content to find the information that you are looking for. And since you will be reviewing internet forums specific to PMP Exam Prep, your search will be that much more targeted.

Most importantly, you will find participants on these forums who have already completed the entire study process for the exam, and who have successfully passed the exam. One of the main reasons these PMPs spend their time on these forums is to help aspiring PMPs become successful so that they too can use these skills to give back to their local communities. You will also find expert advice on how to properly complete the PMP application process. This can be very tedious and time-consuming and is probably the most difficult part of the entire certification. Forum members will give advice on the best way to complete the application, sometimes even providing templates and tools to make this process as easy and as painless as possible.

You will also find advice on how to study for the PMP exam. There is a wealth of information on these forums about specific study tools such as PMP Exam Prep courses, books and guides, audio/visual aids, tips and tricks, and the all-important exam simulation practice questions. You will learn exactly what happens from the moment you walk into the exam room until you leave it from the point of view of someone who has actually been there. PMPs will also suggest the best time to take the exam, as well as letting you know the specific "Dos" and "Don'ts" of effective exam preparation.

As you can see, there are many benefits to participating in PMP Exam Prep internet forums that will help you prepare for the exam, take the exam and successfully pass the exam. But how can these forums help you after you successfully pass the exam and obtain your PMP certificate from the Project Management Institute (PMI)? Well, by participating in these forums during the exam preparation stage, you will have established and grown your project management network base, which will lead to many opportunities for both your personal and professional growth in the discipline of Project Management.

There are many internet forums available that provide all the information you need to get you on your way to becoming a PMP. Following are some recommended choices:

• allpm.com

• pmp.groupsite.com

• groups.Google.com (search for "PMP Exam")

• pmpbest.com

• projectmanagement.ittoolbox.com

I am certain it is obvious that by joining a PMP Exam Prep internet forum you will save both time and money, avoid frustration and counter-productive study habits, and be thoroughly prepared for successfully passing the PMP Exam. Then it will be your turn as a PMP and an internet forum participant to pass on your knowledge and experience to future generations of aspiring project managers.

Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 16,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast and offers one of the Best PMP Exam Simulators on the market.

Importance of PMP Examination

A lot of people have asked me about the importance of obtaining the PMP certification. Some asked if it is really required, and if it proves any point - given that they achieve real experience in executing projects in the real life, and learn from them.

Well, I must say that all my life I was selected for all the jobs I held in the corporate world based on my merit, my experience, my capabilities, and I didn't bother about any certifications in the corporate world.

However I did notice that more and more companies were advertising for the PMP® certification in their job ads, and upon further investigation, I found the PMP certification program offered by PMI® to be quite interesting, challenging and tough by many accounts. My job did not require me to get a PMP certification, yet it seemed quite impressive.

Being the one to always take on challenges, I decided to take up this opportunity to get the certification, and I must say it opened my eyes to a completely new and holistic way of managing projects. Studying for it and taking the test was quite a task, and having done it, I would suggest that every experienced, current or aspiring project manager must get a PMP certification as it certainly gives you a new and much larger perspective on project management, as well as open quite a few new doors.

As I joined the PMI chapter in my city of Singapore, I found a much larger community of like minded project managers & people with similar interests, and immediately my circle of interest, and influence grew. I was getting invited to speak, and many people were seeking my advice on diverse topics.

This led to many speaking and writing opportunities, and with my project management articles getting published in local newspapers like the Straits Times, magazines like Today's Manager from the Singapore Institute of Management, I felt that I had a much higher credibility than before. Somehow, people accord a higher value to the views of a person who is a published author.

Well, so much for that. However, the fact remains that all this started with my taking up the challenge, studying and achieving the PMP certification.

Who knows what doors are waiting for you to open. Go ahead, give it a try, take up the challenge, perform the journey and I am sure you will find immense benefit, and new things will appear in your life. Doors can only open if you knock on doors. Try, and you shall succeed. A PMP certification is certainly a great asset in your career managing projects.

Do let me know what you feel about the importance of getting a PMP certification.

Cheers,

Vinai Prakash, PMP

PMChamp offers Online PMP Exam Prep Training. Currently, we have students enrolled from 15 different countries, including USA, Canada, UAE, India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia etc. It gives you the flexibility to study for the PMP Exam anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.
SO far we have produced a good number of PMP passers.

Vinai Prakash is PM Champ. Yup, that's me. I love coaching and training PMP aspirants to pass the PMP Exam in their first attempt, without stress, and without hassles.
To date I have coached hundreds of students in face-to-face PMP Training Preparation classes and shared valuable PMP resources. After getting my PMPCredential, I often wondered how I could share my new found knowledge of passing the exam easily on my first attempt, and impart it to people struggling to get the PMP certification, but don't have a clue.

The Advantages of PMP Certification

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is regarded as the biggest project management organization of the world. The PMP exam that is now standard over the world for skills of PM is sponsored by them.

The PMP credential which ensures employers that you're committed to PM is one of the most valued credentials in project management. It describes a solid establishment of experience in efficiently managing projects by earning and remaining this credential. Founded in 1969, PMI was examined firstly in 1984, and today it includes more than 150,000 members through the world.

You should be PMP for some certified reasons:

It is the evidence of your expertise performance
It brings more job chances in your specific sphere or industry
It enhances your marketableness
It enhances confidence of customer in you as well as your organization

In case you consider for taking the exam, you need to have been a PM for some years, containing 35 hours for formal PM education before taking exam for 4 hours which includes 200 questions generated randomly, however, it just scores 175 of the questions. You need to get 141 correct answers to pass.

The Advantages of PMP Certification

PMP certification makes your resume look great

It can improve your resume, help you be different between going for a career as a project manager and being accepted in favor of others, probably those certified PMP. In addition, PMP certification of the PM is required by many employers and they won't hire people who don't have PM certification. If you have the credential it will be definitely easier to seek a career as a project or program manager.

In the process of application for a job, a professional recruiter chastised me for not getting "PMP" beside my name at the top of the CV, there is someone overcoming hundreds of CVs every week. She thought it's important to get PMP certification. And finally, I ended up having that job.

The Disadvantages of PMP Certification

PMPs having project experience don't indicate that they're good project managers.

When you pass the PMP exam, it's shown that you get some PM experience as well as education, and additionally, you have overcome a difficult test which is based on the PM framework of PMI. But this doesn't indicate you are a good project manager, or possibly you haven't achieved success from projects managed by you. Perhaps you could be the worst PM because you could not have any successful projects to your credit in the country while still possessing PMP certification.

Generally, I think that PMP certified project managers are better than non-certified PM because in fact, PMP certified project managers are aware of the credential's importance and they have made an effort to gain it. Like someone who has got a university degree, it's the fact that the person having overcome the trouble of getting the degree says something about their character.

You are welcomed to visit PMP Certification Requirements, for more information on PMP Certification.

2 Top Paying IT Certifications

It is an accepted fact that technology has changed the ways in which businesses function and run currently. Technology is present in all minor areas today and is affecting people's life in a positive way and making their life's more easier. In organizations today, all aspects of new age business management reporting analysis, dispatch management, employee management, and customer relation amongst others are IT based.

There are many IT certifications that are invaluable in employers because of the value add these kind of certifications can provide to employers. However, the IT certifications in demand are only going to be a handful and from that we will be discussing 2 top IT certifications. Depending on your interest level you can opt of IT project management, IT Security and Cisco certifications. These certifications are growing in value day after day and year after year.

Top 2 Paying IT Certifications

Project Management Professional

If you're interested in project management, this is one of the best certifications you opt for. This certification teaches you life cycle of project management framework which covers the following areas and encompasses This encompasses to 42 processes

Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitoring and Controlling
Closing

Mapped to these five process groups are nine project management Knowledge Areas:

Project Integration Management
Project Scope Management
Project Time Management
Project Cost Management
Project Quality Management
Project Human Resource Management
Project Communications Management
Project Risk Management
Project Procurement Management

In terms of salary, the PMP certification is the best in the IT industry in which average salary ranges between from $90,428 - $117,252 in United States and European Countries.

Cisco Certified Network Associate

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) program is hugely popular and is in fact Cisco's most well known certification. CCNA is the entry-level certification for the Cisco Career Certification Program. In the past few years, the salary for CCNA has increased and a person with this certification is able to demand a lot more in terms of salary. The CCNA exam topics cover the following areas:

Describe how a network works
Configure, verify and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications
Implement an IP addressing scheme and IP Services to meet network requirements in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network
Configure, verify, and troubleshoot basic router operation and routing on Cisco devices
Explain and select the appropriate administrative tasks required for a WLAN
Identify security threats to a network and describe general methods to mitigate those threats
Implement, verify, and troubleshoot NAT and ACLs in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network
Implement and verify WAN links

A CCNA certified average salary ranges from $72,343 - $98,137 which would depend on the no. of years experience you have in the field of networking.

These two IT certifications are the best in the field of Project Management and Networking.

Chris Ryan is a certification enthusiast and if you can read about more on CCNA Salary and PMP Salary

The 12 Most Popular PMP Exam Preparation Tools

If you are about to start studying for your Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, you'll want to make sure your toolkit is bursting with things to help you on the journey to becoming a PMP. There are so many options to consider when looking at the study materials on the market that it can be difficult to know where to start.

First, don't be overwhelmed by the choice. The tools that your colleagues and classmates are using may not be the right ones for you. How do you learn best? Choose study materials that will help you prepare for PMP certification in a way that best suits your learning style. You'll also want to consider your budget. Don't feel that you have to buy really expensive exam preparation tools. There are products on the market that are both efficient and cost effective. Reading what other students have to say about the study tools they use can also be helpful: check out independent review sites.

Still stuck for where to start? Here's my guide to the top 12 most popular PMP exam preparation tools.

1. PMI's Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

The PMBOK Guide is the workbench of PMP exam preparation tools. It's the foundation that everything else is built on. This is the most "popular" study material simply because everybody has to read it for the exam! Remember that PMI members get a PDF copy for free.

2. PMP Exam Study Guides

These are also known as PMP exam prep books. They cover the same materials as the PMBOK Guide but in more accessible language. They often explain the concepts in ways that are easier to understand and to learn.

3. PMP Exam Courses

Training courses come in many varieties. You could attend a course online or in a classroom. You could study at your own pace or with an instructor. You could choose a boot-camp or to study over many weeks. Look for a PMP exam course that will give you the required 35 contact hours.

4. Exam Simulators and Free Questions

These are the torch in your toolkit, helping you shine a light on your weaker areas. Taking sample exams via an exam simulator will help you assess your readiness for the real thing. You can find free questions online, but these only go so far, so be sure to sign up for a professionally created simulator from a PMI Registered Education Provider. Some PMP exam study guides also come with a CD or DVD which contain questions.

5. Podcasts

Podcasts can be in audio or video format. A PMP podcast is very easy to carry around with you and has the benefit that you can listen to or watch it wherever you are. Some of these are so elaborate that they actually fall into PMI's Category F ("distance learning") for PMP Exam preparation courses and even offer 35 contact hours.

6. Flash cards

Flash cards allow you to study and memorize the concepts that you need to know for the exam. You can make your own and carry them with you at all times, so you can test yourself in spare moments. Another alternative is electronic cards that you can use on your phone.

7. Apps

Apps are becoming more and more popular and there are lots to choose from. For example, there are games that teach you the ITTOs, there are apps that teach concepts with mnemonics and others that test you with questions. Check out the iTunes app store for additional ideas.

8. Formula study guides

Study guides for PMP formulas are a precision tool. They will help you review and learn the formulas required for the exam in a way that makes it easier to recall them under pressure.

9. Lessons Learned

Don't underestimate what you can learn from others. Talking to colleagues who already have their PMP certification can be an invaluable resource. If you can't talk to anyone, read what others have to say about how they studied, what they studied and what their experience was like. You could also get a mentor to help you prepare, and learn from his or her experiences too.

10. PMI Chapter

This is the spirit level of the toolkit, helping you stay centered and motivated. Tap into your colleagues at your local PMI Chapter. They may have a study group that you could join. At a minimum, you'll be able to talk to PMPs about how they managed their journey to PMP certification.

11. Brain dump sheets

A brain dump sheet is a way to recall information under exam conditions. It's a personal study tool that you can shape to fit the way you study best, and it's becoming more popular. Create a sheet of paper with all the key information on and then practice writing it out until it's second nature. Then you simply have to do that in the exam and all the key information will be at your fingertips!

12. Internet forums

There is lots of information on internet forums - and many of them are free. Chat to other students about how their exam preparation is going, or ask advice from seasoned PMPs.

Whatever tools you choose, it is important to study regularly. Try to spend some time on your PMP studies every day. The study materials you buy should reflect the fact that you'll be using them on a daily basis, so that might influence what you invest in. Tools like electronic versions of flash cards, books and guides are very portable and can be used whenever you have a spare moment.

Finally, studying for your PMP is a difficult job, so choose PMP materials that you enjoy using and find fun! That will make your revision more enjoyable and the PMP credential an achievable target.

Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 16,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast and offers one of the Best PMP Exam Simulators on the market.

Studying For The PMP Certification Exam

In the economy of today it helps to have all the management knowledge and organizational skills that you can for a competitive advantage over other candidates in your field. Becoming a Project Management Professional (PMP) is your key to staying ahead of layoffs and cutbacks. By showing that you can take decisive action and be an asset to the company, you guarantee yourself a spot at the workforce table for years to come. You can also use your PMP skills and knowledge to freelance on your own, if you are prepared for dealing with the pressures of that lifestyle. However you choose to use your certification and training, there are some things that you need to remember when it comes to preparation.

First of all, studying for the PMP certification exam requires you to be highly organized. You need to know how to take an overview of the project at hand as well as schedule and implement the necessary objectives that go in to accomplishing your goal. Also, you will need to learn how to work with and supervise others. No one can take on each and every task himself. To be successful, one must be able to build a team they can trust, and then trust that team to carry out their assignments and work toward the overall goal. Remember, this is the certification exam. This is what is standing between you and being a bona fide professional, so make sure that you've got it down pat by the time that you submit your answers.

Secondly, in order to pass the PMP certification exam, you need to put your trust and your training dollars in a program with a proven success rate. It's not enough to simply choose the first fly by night educational institute. You want to know the percentage of students, who pass the exam the first time, that have taken the courses in question. You also want to make sure that their prices are comparable with the competition. Quality costs, and it is unlikely that you'll get that from a bargain basement provider.

Thirdly, once you have become familiar with all the pertinent issues pertaining to your profession and you have attained the training and education that you need to succeed, it's time to implement it. Before ever taking the main test, make sure that you have taken several practice exams in order to land a better idea of what the exam entails.

One of two things will happen with the right training: you'll either decide it's too hard to pursue, or you will receive the knowledge and the intimate practicality necessary for passing the test. Either way your career will be exactly where it needs to be.

To get high quality PMP Practice Questions or PMP Practice Exams, look no further than our website, where you can prepare for your future today.

PMP Certification and Its Preparation

It is very important to have constant innovation and upgradation of skills in any business to achieve heights of success. There are various examinations which test the skills and accreditations which can offer new opportunities. One of them is the PMP certification which is globally renowned as Project Management Professional Certification.

The PMP certification programs helps to handle and mange and get the tasks done more effectively. T helps in achieving a standard in planning, organizing and completing various tasks. The benefits of PMP certifications are that it sets a professional apart in this break neck economy and helps him lead the competition. A bit of additional training can help gain specialized knowledge which supplements the total experience and increases the potential of the professional which also raises his financial status. The job is performed with better effectiveness and administration skills and more substantial work can be done with optimum utilization of time.

PMP certification has to be earned after gaining the knowledge of quality assurance and control, setting agendas, human resource plans, evaluating costs, better inner communication, performance reports and closure of projects and much more. This certification requires a professional to satisfy a criterion of eligibility like specific degrees and work experience at specific designations.

The PMP certification preparation can be done by many ways. There are PMP boot camps which help in training for the certification exam and that too in a short period of time. The crash courses can be 4-day courses with test on the fifth day. There are also online courses which give the freedom to prepare at convenience as and when possible. Some distance learning institutes also provide learning material and classroom discussions as and when needed. As PMP is a globally renowned course, almost all countries have the courses for Project Management Professional Certification preparation.

For PMP certification, there are necessary requirements to be fulfilled those are given by the PMI. The degree holders have to acquire 35 hours of PMP training according to the PMI standard and then the initial application can be made. The preparation should be started well in advance to understand and master all the concepts thoroughly and also get a taste of the exam with mock sample tests.

There are also seminars held where one can get good idea about Project Management Professional Certification from the PMP experts and the tactics and techniques to be used. Effective strategies and methodologies always help for better preparation. There are also online forums and communities and information can be exchanged amongst those who are also preparing for PMP certification.

For more information visit PMP Certification.

What Makes a Good Project Manager, Is It PMP Certification?

Role of a project manager (PM) is very critical in the success of a project. The larger the scope of the project, the more critical is the responsibility of the PM. A PM has to be able to see the big picture and at the same time also manage the details associated with planning. Not only is a PM required to successfully execute on a project, he or she is also is responsible to keep all stakeholders aligned with each other. This is not an easy job and both education and experience makes the best PMs. Even so some people are born to make good PMs because they have the leaderships skills and capabilities to manage a wide range of stakeholders.

Project management training is crucial to understand not only the basics but also learn leaderships skills that will make you an a highly competent at delivering in highly complex situations. PMP certification from the project management institute is the best training course a PM could take. This course is very practical and teaches how to deal with all the obstacles and hurdles that one comes across during the course of a project. The PMP certification is one of the most widely recognised PM qualifications with over 400,000 holders of the qualification around the world.

Lets take a look at various aspects of a project that a PM has to be aware of and successfully execute. Keeping the sense of progress and keeping the stakeholders aligned is a number important aspect of managing a project. This aspect involves dealing with multiple personalities and their opinions and sometimes their ego as well. This will also involved resolving conflicts between multiple parties. Second most important aspect is keeping the schedules aligned for different milestones of the project. PM raining will teach you different tools to manage schedule and deal with delays and inconsistencies etc.

Another key element of managing a project is changing requirements and how to deal with these changing requirements in order to keep the schedule intact. At times, a PM will have to deal with people turnover specially in cases where the project is a long term project lasting for multiple years. Last but not the least is how to keep the team motivated to keep at the project when the time frame can be really long. Some of these aspects are learned at the project management training and others are learnt with hands on experience while managing projects.

Paul Naybour
Business Development Director
Phone 0845 519 2305
Paul.Naybour@ParallelProjectTraining.com

Parallel Project Training offer a wide range of project management courses including PMP Certification Training. These are available on-line or face to face in London or Reading.

Knowing the PMP Certification Requirements

Prior to understanding some PMP certification requirements, you have to make sure that you are first equipped with pertinent knowledge about PMP. Basically, the Project Management Institute is first established in 1969. There is some buddies provided accreditation to the institution because this is indeed one of the standard developers these past years. The certification examination is first introduced in the year 1984. At this time, there are already so many people who want to pass this certification. It is important that prior to getting this, you know the PMP certification requirements. This write up will supply you information about PMP certification requirements.

Among the PMP certification requirements for you is getting your work experience. Make sure that when you plan to get this certification, you have experience on extensive work about project management. The document related to your experience is passed to the licensing agency. Basically, you are required to have minimum of 36 months experience. There are so many institutions in your place where you can get your working experience. By using the internet, the institutions offering apprenticeship will be revealed to you. Make sure to choose the institution that will provide you with comprehensive training so that you will learn great information about the profession you have chosen.

Not only that because education is also one of the possible PMP certification requirements for you. According from some information that you can find online, you are required to finish about 35 contact hours spent in project management and other related courses. The good thing is that there are lots of institutions out there offering you with such kinds of courses. It is a must to determine which among these universities will offer you with the best education. As soon as you completed the course, immediately ask for the certificate of completion. You have to pass this when taking the examination.

It is also a must that you will pass the duly offered examination in order to get your own PMP certification. This is one of the most important PMP certification requirements that you need to know. Primarily, the test involves 200 questions which are combinations of scored and un-scored questions. There are about 25 un-scored questions in the test. This is asked to measure you understanding with the degree. See to it that you will review your notes in order to pass the examination. In addition to that, you can also take advantage of the online tutorial classes out there to pass this examination. You will pass the exam if you get 61% correct answers.

These are among the PMP Certification Requirements you have to keep in mind. Though it seems that the overall process of getting your PMP certification requirements is a complicated task, getting your own certification will provide you so much bright possibilities in the future. It is important that at this moment, you will already begin getting your PMP certification requirements. Depending from place to place, there are other requirements that you need to know. Conducting simple study online will give you idea of these additional requirements that you need to secure.

Comparing Online Certification to a Traditional Degree

Online certification in many fields has become a major part of the educational experience. Obtaining a document of certification in a field of study establishes to all concerned that a certain level of knowledge and experience has been achieved. Traditional schooling refers to the receiving of a degree at the end of a program of learning. Often, a degree signifies a broad amount of learning has taken place, along with some specific knowledge.

The traditional schooling degree can mean different things to different people. A nursing degree shows that a person has been through a program of specific knowledge with many options. Depending on the options that each individual selects, the outcome can be significantly different from person-to-person. The degree is the same, but the options are many.

Online certification, on the other hand, provides an established way of measuring what has been achieved. Many people can hold certificates, but they all have to pass through the same door to achieve it. No matter how varied their education was, the certificate is a specific benchmark that a certain minimum level of knowledge and experience has been achieved.

Usually, a certification program has a specific end in view. The users may obtain varied knowledge along the way, but the options are not as great, and the timeframe is usually shorter than the time it takes to receive a traditional degree. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this approach. The advantages include a shorter time period of study and experience. Certification programs can be as short as few days, and as long as several years. If one is testing knowledge and experience already gained, the certification program usually involves an instructor giving a short presentation from the perspective of the certifying body, and then a test given as a means of demonstrating the required knowledge has been achieved.

In longer certification programs, the classroom instruction is usually geared toward the requirements of the certification. There may be some optional classes, but usually within a narrow field of choices.

In a traditional degree, there is no single, all-inclusive testing. Each class has an evaluation, but the sum of the entire program is not condensed into a single outcome, as is the case with certification.

Certification programs are growing in popularity as the need for specific skills grows, and the assurance that a specific level of knowledge and experience has been achieved. Traditional degrees are sometimes viewed as stepping-stones to a certification. They insure a broad basic knowledge in many areas have been covered, and the person with a traditional degree has a wide perspective on many different issues.

What is the next step? Find out about inexpensive online certifications are to obtain, for example, radiologist salary. Also, opportunities in health related fields with options such as CNA classes online. Many different certification fields are now available. Jump start your career today! Learn more from this author.

Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

Being certified as a project management professional has certain benefits. First, you will most likely be able to command a higher salary with your project management professional (PMP) certification. This credential tells current and potential employers that you are an expert in your field; that you have the knowledge and experience needed to effectively complex projects and be effective leaders. People with PMP certification are highly regarded, it is recognized worldwide, and it is something that stands out on a resume. Although you can have a fulfilling career as a project manager without this credential, it is something that can give your career a much needed boost.

The PMP certification is awarded by the Project Management(PM) Institute. You must pass an exam sponsored by them. The test is 200 questions long and you have 4 hours in which to complete the exam. Generally, the test is conducted via computer at a testing center. The test questions focus on testing individuals in nine areas of knowledge such as project integration management, project time management, and project risk management. You will also need to know about the five major process groups, initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Many of the questions are based on the PMI book 'A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge'.

Before you can take the test, however, you must have achieved the minimal level of requirements. You must have a four year degree, 35 hours of PM courses, and a minimum of three years of related experience totaling 4,500 or more hours leading projects. As an alternative, you can apply to take the test if you have a high school diploma, 35 hours of education in PM, and a minimum of 5 years of experience totaling 7,500 hours directing projects. If neither option applies to you, you may still qualify to take the PMP certification test if you complete the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.

To apply to take the PMP certification, you can register online at the PMI website. You can also download a paper application to send in. Because entry for the test is highly competitive, it may take a few weeks to a few months to be approved. In the meantime, it is a good idea to begin studying for the test. There are several PMP test preparatory courses available online and offline that will help you get ready.

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Procedures to Get Your PMP Certification

PMP certification from a Project Management Institute (PMI) is considered to be one of the major credentials for team leaders and project managers in many of the companies and corporations. There are nearly 400,000 project managers who are certified with Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from PMI. PMI is a global ruler in creating some of the best management courses. To become a member of this elite group, one has to pass the PMP examination conducted by PMI. Here we will be discussing in detail about how this exam is being conducted and the qualifications required for attending this exam.

To be qualified for attending the PMP exam, one must have completed a three year degree and at least have three years of experience as a project manager. There should be a total of 4500 hours of working experience as a project leader or as a director in various projects. If you don't have a degree, but is having a high school diploma, then you should have five years of experience as a manager. It means, you should have 7500 hours of experience as a project manager.

If you fulfill all the qualifications criteria, you should join a Project Management Education class. There will be a total of 35 hours of training. The course is commonly referred to as PDU. There will be online and in-class training for completing this course. The course will touch various aspects of management. Detailed syllabus and prospectus will be available from their website.

After completing the 35 hour PDU, one can apply for the PMP Certification examination. Submission of application can be done through the PMI website. Along with the filled application, the applicant has to provide certain documentations for proving the eligibility. This includes his experience and the educational qualifications. All the required information and documentations should be gathered before you fill in the application.

It would be better if the applicant is a member of the PMI. Though it is not a required criterion for applying for this certification, but will avail some discounts in fee payment for the examination. Along with that, the membership at PMI will give you a good idea about how the exam is conducted and what do they require from an applicant. This will be beneficial if you are preparing yourself for the examination. In the examination there will be 200 multiple choice questions which are to be answered within 4 hours. There are no negative marks. If you pass this exam you will become a Certified PMP.

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