5 Tips for Passing the PMP® Exam

Brian Davidson, PMP, CSM
Mar 31, 2016
2 min read

PM Learning & Development Your Learning & Development

The Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification from the Project Management Institute is a beneficial certification to obtain for many project managers.

Studying for your PMP takes time, but it can be done in a relatively short amount of time if you use these five tips. Here are some ways to take the guesswork out of filing for your PMP and passing the PMP exam.

Tip 1: Find a qualified training course to obtain your 32 credit hours needed to qualify for the certification.

If you prefer in-person, many training providers guarantee a passing grade on the exam after a 4-day (some programs may vary) immersive training session.
For those who are budget conscious or who do well in self-paced learning environment, many online training courses are available. These course can also qualify for the 32 credit-hour requirement.

Tip 2: Acquire books needed to learn this method outlined by The PMBOK® Guide – 5th Edition by the Project Management Institute. Here are recommended books based on my personal experience.

The PMBOK® Guide is a must have reference guide to the official methodology
Head First PMP® is one of my favorites. The authors have an informal yet highly effective way of teaching this method in ways that are easy to understand

Tip 3: Acquire supplemental resources to help you study and learn the many inputs, tools, and outputs (The 5th Edition has roughly 365 of them)

The PMP® Exam: How to pass on your first try – Fifth Edition by Andy Crow, PMP is the most succinct yet thorough overview of the methodology described in The PMBOK® Guide
Flashcards – make your own so you can memorize the inputs, tools, and outputs to each of the 47 processes

Tip 4: Take practice tests. Many online providers provide practice tests you can purchase for a small fee. Take 3-5 practice tests until you achieve an 80% or higher passing grade.

Tip 5: Document your PM Hours. Refer to cottagepm.com for a clever way to document your PM hours to properly categorize your experience by the 5 process groups.