The PMP (Project Management Professional) certification has been gaining attention in recent years among people involved in project management.
In this article, I will discuss the PMP exam content outline, the benefits of earning the certification, difficulty level, passing rate, study methods, learning time, and the flow from exam prep to passing/fail results based on my actual experience.
If you are interested in project management or are considering earning certification, please refer to this article.
What you can learn by reading this article
- Understanding the PMP Exam (PMP content outline, PMP certification requirements)
- How Hard is the PMP Exam (Difficulty and Pass Rate)
- the Steps from Application to PMP Exam
- How Long to Study for PMP
- Tips for Effective Preparation
PMP Content Outline
What is PMP Certification?
PMP is an abbreviation for Project Management Professional, and it is an international certification related to project management certified by PMI (Project Management Institute) in the United States.
The PMP exam is conducted to measure the experience, education, and knowledge of project management candidates and to confirm their professional status.
Globally recognized and sought after, the PMP certification proves to clients, employers and colleagues that project managers have the project management knowledge, experience and skills to deliver successful projects.
the Highest Valuable Certification #1
In Japan, PMP ranks first in the Comprehensive Ranking of Valuable Qualifications researched by Nikkei HR, Inc., surpassing MBA and TOEIC.
From my point of view, the knowledge gained while studying for the PMP certification is extremely useful in actual work.
While studying for the PMP exam, a similar situation at actual work came to mind, and I wondered what I should have done at that time!
I was able to learn various ways to improve my business.
Please refer to the article below for the annual income of PMP holders.
(Japanese page only. English page is under construction.)
Difficulty and Pass Rate
The passing rate for the PMP exam is unknown as it is not made public.
According to information on the Internet, it is said to be less than 70%.
It is also being discussed in the discussion category of PMI Headquarters, although it seems to be just a guess, the phrase “60% of people pass” also appears.
(Reference : What is the actual pass rate for PMP)
The pass rate of the PMP exam seems to be higher than that of general qualification exams, but as explained below, one factor is that the candidates have already been selected to qualify for the PMP exam.
PMP Certification Requirements
In order to apply for the PMP exam, a certain level of project management experience and training is required.
- Project Management Experience
- Secondary degree :
Minimum five years/60 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience. - Four-year degree :
Minimum three years/36 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience.
- Secondary degree :
- Project Management Education
- At least 35 contact hours of formal project management education.
the Steps from Application to PMP Exam
I will discuss the process from applying to taking the PMP exam, including points from my experience.
Apply for Qualification Allowance to your Company
For office workers, there are many cases in which the company you work for pays exam fees and qualification allowances, but if you check the following points in advance, you can avoid wasting costs and make the application process smoother.
- Confirm to the department in charge of qualifications, such as the general affairs department or the business department, about how to apply for allowances and how to settle miscellaneous expenses.
- Confirm in advance whether you should become a PMI member.
Create PMI Account
Create a PMI account (“Register” at the top right of the My PMI ).
Please note that this is a “PMI account” and not a “PMI member” as described below.
Fill in the necessary information.
I recommend that you register your personal email address rather than the email address of your company. Because the account is personal and the PMP certification belong to the individual, which saves you the trouble of changing your email address in the unlikely event that you quit your job.
PMI Application for the PMP Exam
Log in to My PMI and apply to take the PMP exam.
Your application must include project management experience and project management education you have attended.
It will take approximately 5 business days for PMI to review the application details.
Furthermore, there will be random audits, and if you are selected for the audit, you will be required to submit supporting documentation.
I was fortunately not selected for the audit.
Please refer to the articles below regarding project management practical experience and project management education.
If you become a PMI member, you will get exclusive savings on PMI certification exam.
I confirmed with the general affairs department of my company to be sure whether it would be better to become a PMI member and then take the PMP exam, but the company replied that they would only subsidize the exam fee, so I took the test as a non-PMI member.
However, the most cost-effective option is to become a PMI member, take the test, and then not renew your PMI membership after passing.
| First exam fee | Re-exam fee | Renewal fee (per 3 years) | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMI-Member | US$405 | US$275 | US$60 | |
| non-PMI-Member | US$655 (*) | US$375 | US$150 | (*) Oct., 2024, the first exam fee has been revised (US$555 to US$655). |
| First PMI-Member fee | annual renewal fee | |
|---|---|---|
| PMI-Member | US$139 | US$129 |
| PMI Japan Chapter Member | US$50 | US$50 |
Exam Appointment (Exam day & Exam Delivery Type)
Log in to My PMI and make a reservation for the test date and test center for the PMP exam.
Cancellation fees will apply from 30 days before the test date, so it is better to apply after preparing thoroughly for the test.
the PMP Exam
A standard computer, keyboard, and mouse will be used for the exam.
You can choose between the CBT (Center-Based Testing) method, which uses test centers nationwide, or online proctored testing, where you take the test at home.
| Exam Delivery Type |
| There is no problem in operation as long as you can use a general computer. |
| Exam time | 230 minutes | You can use the clock and calculator installed on your computer. |
| Exam length | 180 questions |
After answering 60 questions, you can take a 10-minute break. You can also take a 10 minute break after answering 120 questions. |
You can use the demo site to experience how to navigate your way through computer-based examinations.
(Pearson VUE demo test)
My impression was that many of the first 90 questions were long and the choices were vague, and I felt like I wasn’t sure if my answer was correct for most of the questions.
After the break, the questions became easier in the second half, and many of the questions were shorter, so I felt like I was able to answer them quickly.
By the time I got to the end, I only had 3 minutes left and only had to review about 2 calculation questions. I get the impression that I don’t have much time to spare.
- Be careful not to forget to mark your answers!
It’s possible that you thought you clicked the mouse but it wasn’t pressed. - When you have finished answering all the questions, be sure to check to see if there are any unanswered questions.
Please refer to the following articles for information on time allocation, exam preparation, and techniques.
(Japanese page only. English page is under construction)
Exam (pass/fail) Results
The test results will be displayed on the screen immediately.(*)
You can also check detailed results by logging into MyPMI.
(*)The immediately results display service may be discontinued after 2023.
My Exam Record
Schedule
For your reference, my exam record is shown below.
- Exam Day : Dec.17th, 2020 (passed)
- Number of exams taken : 1 time
- Test Center : Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
- Exam Delivery Type : CBT
| 2020 | ||
| Fri. 4th Dec. (Night) | Application for exam | |
| – | Review of application content by PMI | |
| Sta. 12th Dec. (Day) | Passed the review | 5 business days |
| Sta. 12th Dec. (Night) | Make a reservation for the test | The current month and the next month tend to be crowded. |
| Thu. 17th Dec. (8:00-12:00) | Take the PMP exam. | |
| Passed |
Learning Time
I studied on my own for a year and a half, and the total study time was just under 120 hours (average of about 6 and a half hours a month).
According to the internet, there are many sites that estimate it to be around 100 hours.
My track record is a little high, but it’s generally consistent.
Study Method
I studied on my own using two Exam prep workbooks.
In addition, udemy offers PMP mock exams at relatively low prices, so I recommend them.
Also, there is no need to study on your own. It is effective to make good use of the wisdom of the pioneers.
Each person has a different learning style, so it is best to choose a study method that suits your style.
Recommended Exam prep workbooks and courses are listed below.
ポチップ
ポチップ
udemy-2025 PMP Mock Practice Tests
udemy-PMP Exam Cram Course – 35-Hour Course Condensed – 12 PDUs
Conclusion
Thank you for reading to the end.
Finally, I would like to summarize the main points of this article.
In my experience, PMP is one of the most useful qualifications for work. I would be really happy if I could be of any help to you.
- PMP certification is an international qualification that allows you to prove your project management ability (knowledge, experience, skills) internally and externally.
- A certain level of project management experience and formal education is required to qualify for the PMP exam.
- The study time is approximately 100-120 hours for self-study.
- You can learn various ways to improve your business.
