PMP Preparation
In the next year, you will see the PMP initials next to my name. Right now I am preparing for the PMP exam and wanted to share what I am working on.
The PMP Certification will show that I am “skilled at managing the people, processes, and business priorities of professional projects.” While I’ve been leading professional projects for years, passing the exam will be a formal acknowledgement of that skillset.
The steps I am taking to become a certified project manager include the following:
Take a project management Udemy course. The course I enrolled in will cover the 35 hours of project management education required.
Study the PMBOK guide. This book is the most important resource to me as I prepare.
Follow project management experts on LinkedIn. That is free education right there.
Document my project management experience. I will need to verify 36 months of experience leading projects across the last eight years.
Pay for PMI Membership. Non-members pay $575 for the exam, and members pay $555 (for membership and the exam fee), and membership comes with resources to help study, so it’s worth it to join the institute.
Apply for, and schedule, the exam! And obviously, pass.
Why I am doing this? Part of me likes the challenge and the excuse to put together a study schedule. I also weirdly enjoy standardized exams? Mostly though, I want the validation that comes with having a formal leadership qualification. This will be beneficial to my career as it makes me more credible as I take on new challenges.
I’m always trying to push myself to grow and learn new things, so the PMP is a natural next step. It can apply to any industry, and supports professionals in many different roles. For example, as a senior instructional designer, I lead customer education projects as part of my job.
I already have project leadership experience; the PMP is just a way of signaling those skills to the public.
