Project Management Online Training - Explore the Alternatives

Are you looking for project management training to meet the PMI-set criteria of earning 35 contact hours to appear for the PMP certification test?

Are you planning to take the PMP exam and constantly searching for a suitable online training option?

To advance your project management career, are you looking for training options to enhance your expertise?

If the answer to these questions is YES, then this article is a sure piece of helping hand to you.

We all know what PMP is and how globally recognized the accreditation is. You are also aware of the eligibility criteria of PMP, among which a vital requirement – attend PMP training courses to earn 35 contact hours.

For newcomers unaware of PMP requirements or details such as exam cost, maintaining of certification, earning of PDUs, and more, please refer to our other articles cited on iCert Global’s website.

PMP Online Training

The demand for project management is rapidly growing, especially for the online course mode. Apart from the pandemic disruption, candidates seeking PMP accreditation are often working professionals; hence, they opt for online education due to their convenience in terms of location and time.

In response to this growing demand, several training providers and institutions are offering project management education online options to their students. However, as students start to seek the best options that suit their requirements, they feel confused about having different choices but unsure what to pick.

a. Options to Earn 35 Contact Hours with PMP Training

There are various methods to acquire PMP education and related 35 contact hours to be eligible for the PMP exam. These approaches differ in terms of how the training is offered, where they are done, and when you can enroll.

With these challenges, their comfortability varies from one option to the next considering expense, time, flexibility, and location.

Let’s look at some choices from which you can select to acquire 35 contact hours:

1. Classroom Boot Camps

The most common approach to PMP training is the traditional classroom boot camps. This provides a training program that fulfils the eligibility criteria of 35 contact hours. 

In this mode, the candidate has to attend physical classrooms for several consecutive days ranging from 3-5 days, and several hours per day varies from 4-to-9. Hence, this is considered the most challenging approach among the rest.

Moreover, the education providers tend to price their programs costly.

Though the primary goal of this training is to increase candidate focus; however, it might result in the reverse effect as it doesn't offer them the space to practice the knowledge obtained.

2. Classroom Training (Traditional)

Another standard method of offering education is the traditional classroom training, where candidates attend the same for a longer timeline. Here, the schedule is less compressed, and they got more time to digest learned knowledge, thus, having a chance to practice it.

Instead of focusing on just a week, it has a more relaxed timeframe that ranges between 3-8 weeks. However, this might lead the students to lose track of their progress. Similar to boot camp training, this method also has expensive pricing.

3. Virtual Classroom Training

This method involves setting up a planned training to be offered live to candidates. These classrooms have a fixed schedule where a training provider provides the education, and candidates must attend the same in the scheduled time.

The virtual classroom offers location convenience as the candidates can access the program from anywhere with a reliable connection. However, this approach lacks time flexibility as they can't change the scheduled sessions according to their convenience.

4. Self-paced Training

This is an online approach that lets candidates access training courses anytime. Moreover, this type of training doesn't restrict them to a specific time/place. As a result, they have the flexibility to learn at their own pace from anywhere and can readjust the schedule if required.

b. Online PMP Training: A Better Choice for Full-time Professional

Full-time working professionals have very little time to spare for their growth. Yet, they're in desperate need of constant development so that they won't fall behind their peers.

Therefore, PMP online training options offer flexibility in terms of location and allow the candidates to return to the knowledge areas they didn't grasp.

Moreover, the PMP online education is cost-effective, making it a perfect solution for full-time professionals.

c. Points to Consider When Selecting PMP Online Training

Moving to the final topic of today's article, we'll see some factors you need to consider when selecting PMP online training option. As several training providers offer numerous PMP online education with different methods, it's challenging to decide which one to choose.

Here are some of the factors that makes your evaluation and selection seamless:

1. The quality of training providers/instructors
2. Fulfilling PMI PMP eligibility criteria
3. Learning at your own pace option
4. Feedback, success rate, and testimonials
5. Provider offering costs
6. The flexibility of learning
7. Variety project management training course catalog

In conclusion, PMP online training option always offers the flexibility of location, while e-learning offers time flexibility. To fulfill the PMP exam criteria in a flexible approach, you should opt for self-paced PMP online training from a PMI-approved and trusted center/institution.