There’s no better catalyst for self realization than taking the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam. I’m kidding you, of course, but there is some truth in that the PMP exam day will illuminate that “you don’t know what you don’t know.”

The PMP® Exam is a ‘closed’ book exam. That means the only reference material you are allowed to carry into the testing facility has to be contained in your brain. But during your exam, your brain is going to be very busy interpreting the PMP exam questions and trying to apply all of the knowledge, skills and principles you’ve accumulated in your studies and work experience.

[Note: This is an update to the article “10 Easy Ways to Earn PDUs" that was published in July 2010. The update is necessary because Project Management Institute (PMI)® changed the categories, structure and policies governing Professional Development Units (PDUs). See http://www.pmi.org/en/GLOBALS/PDU-Updated-Category-Structure-Implementation.aspx.]

PDUs we need and PDUs we want. Professional Development Units (PDUs) dominate our minds, our conversations, and our spare time in the last quarter before our Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) deadline. With a little proactive planning we can all make the PDU procurement process much easier. The bottom line is that we want the fast and consistent path to our PDUs… and we want them now!

How do we accomplish this? By just ‘doing’ what ‘you do’. The easiest way to earn Professional Development Units is to leverage what you currently do. Here is a short list of PDU eligible activities that might already be part of your professional life.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam is not an easy exam. It is a four-hour, 200-question multiple choice exam. Out of these 200 questions you will have to answer 106 correctly in order to pass. However, candidates fail. It happens every day of every week. Yet, knowing that it happens is little or no consolation if the person who fails is you. OK...so you have failed...what can you do now?

Let's start at the beginning. After the exam you will be handed a score report that doesn't just show that you failed, it also gives you an indication about your proficiency level for each of the performance domains. There are three possible levels: Proficient, Moderately Proficient, and Below Proficient. Each of the performance domains contains a different number of questions on the exam and you can now see your proficiency level in each of these domains. This is important information for you so that you can prepare properly for next time. Because you know where you were not proficient you can better focus your future studies.

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. Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam prep internet forums are no exception.

Congratulations! You are a Project Management Professional (PMP)® as soon as you pass the exam. There is no waiting period. As soon as you see "Passed" on the screen you hold the PMP certification. Go home and send an email to all your friends and colleagues and tell them that you are now a PMP. Celebrate!

Spoiler Alert: You are not a PMP® for life without a little extra effort. 

In accordance with Project Management Institute (PMI)® rules, every three years you will need to collect and claim Professional Development Units (PDUs) to keep the certification active. You will need 60 PDUs every three years to keep your certification active.

In this article, you will learn the 3 easy steps to maintaining your PMP certification.

By applying to take the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam you also automatically agree to comply with the audit terms. The Project Management Institute (PMI)® writes about this in the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credentials Handbook as follows:

"To ensure that only qualified individuals attain credentials from PMI®, we routinely conduct audits of candidate applications. The audit process is primarily random however, PMI® reserves the right to audit any candidate or PMI® credentialed individual at any time."

It's no secret! The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from Project Management Institute (PMI)® is a stepping stone for project managers to climb up the corporate ladder. It provides you with the most sought after appreciation and visibility within your organization. The certification enhances your chances of professional growth within the organization and opens up new avenues. It validates your skills as an efficient project management professional. It not only enhances your earning potential but also provides you with a competitive stand in the job market.  

The PMP® certification confirms that you have the skills necessary to execute projects on time and within budget. It is one of the most globally recognized and respected certification credentials in project management. The certification requires a rigorous and comprehensive preparation for the exam. The closer the exam gets, the more stress you will feel. Your best answer to this pressure is to be well prepared through weeks or even months of studying.

Do you feel that in order to pass the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam you should memorize the ITTOs (Inputs, Tools, Techniques and Outputs) from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)? Do you think that the PMP® exam is full of ITTO type of questions? Many people still believe this myth. Well, let me clear some misconceptions...

Many project managers have successfully passed the PMP exam without any memorization. The current PMP exam is all about an in-depth understanding of applying project management concepts and principles from the PMBOK® Guide as well as general management knowledge from other sources to project situations.