Can I Pass PMP on My Own?

Can you study for the PMP® Exam on your own? The answer is yes!

 It is possible to study for the PMP® Exam independently if you have enough self-discipline and can dedicate the time required. In addition, there are many books, videos, and online courses available for purchase that can supplement your learning longer-term and in between classroom sessions.

The PMP® certification is an elite way to demonstrate your knowledge, skills, experience, and competency as a project manager. It is worth the investment of effort and time because those investments will positively impact your career.

Many PMPs take advantage of on-demand courses, which replicate the content found in a formal classroom course. These tools include videos and interactive exercises that mirror what you would do in a live class.

Eligibility criteria for the Exam

• Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, or the global equivalent)
• 7,500 hours leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education or CAPM certification

OR

• 4-year degree (bachelor's degree or global equivalent)
• 4,500 hours leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education or CAPM certification

Alternatives for studying on Your Own

Did you know that there are several ways to prepare for and take the PMP exam other than a formal classroom experience?

Just because you aren't sitting inside a classroom doesn't mean you can't learn. Our students find online learning more engaging and interactive than attending a live class! 

Besides, you can pace yourself through online learning, depending on your schedule.

First, participating in a study group is a great way to learn and retain information. However, it's also an opportunity to meet other people preparing for the same certification you are. 

A support system can be critical to your success, so we suggest finding a group through your local PMI chapter or perhaps on LinkedIn. 

Depending on the group and their degree of professional guidance, there may be no fee for participation or at least an affordable fee.

Participating in a study group includes mutual sharing of information and structure that provides much-needed motivation.

So find a PMP Study Group. If you are working and studying, it is often difficult to find additional time to set aside for study without disrupting your schedule. 

A good solution may be to get together with others who are also preparing for their PMP credential and apply teamwork to studying.

Second, though more challenging, self-study is an option. You'll need to dedicate a fair amount of time and money to do it right. This approach starts from scratch, studying all necessary materials, and qualifying yourself for the Exam. Traveling alone provides an opportunity to explore new surroundings without the influence of others.

Suppose you think Project Management is the career path and find that the PMP designation would be a valuable asset to your résumé. In that case, it's worth your while to research and plan for the certification process. 

Your goal is to become PMI certified. This certification carries a significant weightage in all industries because it represents your demonstrated skill, knowledge, and dedication to the field.

Is self-learning reliable?

Please consider carefully whether self-studying - without an exam preparation course - is the best option for your situation. While self-studying may reduce cost, it is also likely to increase the time commitment required to prepare for the PMP exam and affect your chances of success.

Many PMP certificate holders may not have attended a PMP Exam Preparation course before sitting the Exam. 

It may not be necessary for some to join a classroom-based preparation course. However, it would be best to keep in mind that self-studying takes more time than a course and has disadvantages. 

Self-studying involves taking in all of the information by yourself, which could result in an overwhelmed feeling. In addition, there would be no one you can ask questions during your study period. 

Also, you will probably not receive any professional input on your progress or level of knowledge as you are studying. 

And lastly, after a long and thorough day of work, having to study for another few hours at night might leave you tired and burnt out.

When choosing how to self-study, it's essential to consider factors such as your study rate and learning style. In addition, it would help if you also considered the resources available in content, community, and cost.

Tips for self-study

Find what works for you

Stick with the option that works best for you, and don't switch things up. If you find something that helps you remember information and focus more, stick with it! Every individual has different tips and tricks that work best for them, so discover yours and use it.

Study in short and frequent session

To understand why short study sessions are a more effective way to learn, think about what happens to your body when you exercise. For example, if you try to lift heavy weights for a long time, you'll burn out. 

But if you break up your lifting into short sessions with more extended rest in between, you'll be able to lift more as you build strength and endurance (hence the saying, "no pain, no gain"). The exact process applies when it comes to learning material.

Set the goals

Goals are a great way to stay organized and track what you need to accomplish. You can set weekly goals to ensure that you're making progress at the time that works best for you.

Creating a self-study schedule is crucial to the success of your learning plan. Setting realistic weekly goals for yourself and rewarding yourself with mini-breaks every week can help you stay on track.

Sequence for study

Start by reading the PMBOK Guide thoroughly at least two times. Pay special attention to definitions and make sure you understand the content. Then get some practice exams to test your knowledge.

Studying hard is the first step to success. Take practice exams excessively to fix your mistakes and correct your weaknesses. Remember, skillful examination preparators are often not just creating a test to see if you know how to recall facts but rather to present you with problems that must be solved by applying facts. The tests are to evaluate whether or not you can perform these functions under pressure.

You should seek out as many practice questions as possible when you are learning. So, although you might have access to higher-fidelity, situation-oriented, more complex questions, in the beginning, you should aim for a typical score of 60 percent or more.

Your question set is scored according to PMBOK Knowledge Areas (Plans, Stakeholders) or Process Groups (Initiate, Plan). Note which areas are lower and review them carefully in the PMBOK Guide until you can consistently answer the questions correctly.

You're ready to start timing yourself once you're answering at least 80 percent of the questions correctly. Take one or two practice exams under exam-like conditions (230 minutes). You've shown that you're ready for the test if you're still getting 80 percent or more of the questions right.

Consistency is Key to Becoming a PMP

If you want to earn the designation of Project Management Professional, you must study every day. If you study for even just an hour each day, you will be amazed at the progress you can make in a week.

Being mindful of the necessity of consistency will allow you to prepare better for the PMP.

The more consistent you are in your preparation, the better you will do on the PMP test.

Consistency is crucial to passing the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam.

Few recommendations to start PMP Exam Preparation

The PMP certification is growing fast, which means more competition for you! But, don't worry—you can still get the PMP certification with effort, dedication, and guidance. The systematic approach to deal with PMP are:

Research

Make a list of questions about the PMBOK® Guide before you begin reading. This will help you become an active researcher. The overall objective is to understand each knowledge area's meaning by using a bottom-up approach. 

After going through the guide, you will have a good grasp of what each knowledge area entails. This can be very helpful when you study the PMBOK® Guide or prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) ® Exam.

Survey

It's a great idea to read through all the material in your prep book and the PMBOK Guide before you start your study sessions. This will help you get oriented and make it easier to understand what you're reading when you delve into the individual topics.

 It will also help you identify where specific topics are located in the prep books, making it easier for you to figure out where to start when you study.

Motivation

Set your goal. Before you begin your work, think about what you want to learn today. If your preparation material has specific study goals or questions at the end of articles or chapters, read them first to know where you are headed and what kind of information you need to learn by the end of the day.

Disengage

Cognitive research has found that a person remembers best the first and last things they learn during a given study session. Use this finding to your benefit and take frequent breaks while studying; this should break up the monotony of studying, making it easier to recall previously learned.

Tips for PMP exam

Memorize the PMBOK® Guide

The PMP® is the premier and most recognizable project management certification. Consequently, it is one of the most highly sought-after certifications. The PMP® Credential test is based on the PMBOK® Guide created by PMI, which covers numerous project management topics. Use that to your advantage.

To prepare for your PMP® Exam, study one knowledge area of the PMBOK® Guide per week. 

Begin with the guide itself, then move on to other study material to make sure you cover all your bases.

Make sure that you understand concepts in-depth and study them with focus and concentration. The PMP® Exam will test how well you can apply these concepts, principles, and ideas. 

Search for videos in your knowledge area and add them to your playlist. Also, feel free to study with practice questions flashcards or create Quiz lets in your knowledge area.

Follow a good PMP book

Purchasing a high-quality text on project management is essential for preparing for the Project Management Professional certification exam. The PMP® certification exam assesses your ability to integrate knowledge, skills, and experience in applying project management principles. Preparing for an exam requires a significant investment of time and commitment and a high-quality study guide.

Active on study groups and forums

Study groups and discussion forums can be an invaluable resource for preparing for the PMP® Exam. If you are active in one, you can help others prepare, get your concerns addressed, learn more about valuable resources, and significantly reduce the time required to prepare for your Exam.

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