Study Plan for PMP exam certification

Preparing for the PMP certification is in fact a real project, it requires setting clear objectives, developing and following a plan, and of course, time management skills, especially if you have a full-time job and extracurricular activities in combination with your personal life.

In mid-2020, I completed my specialization in Project Management as part of my MBA. However, it was necessary to carry out self-study sessions to consolidate knowledge and close the gaps identified during the specialization.

3 key aspects to achieve the objective

1. Set achievable goals

In my case, the goal was to earn the PMP certification on my first attempt before the end of the year (December 31st, 2020).

But, why?

Because I already was familiar with the project management framework, the 49 processes, and 10 knowledge areas, so all this effort could not be in vain.

A key aspect when deciding to become a certified PMP is to apply on the PMI site, and once your profile is accepted, you must schedule your exam. In this way, with a defined date, you can proceed to establish your study plan.

2. Design a study plan

The plan should be established taking into account the date of your exam, as well as your availability.

In my case, my study plan consisted of the following key aspects:

• 2 daily hours of self-study

• Followed by 1 or 2 daily hours of group discussion

• After completing each knowledge area --> Take Rita's practice exam and Rita´s flashcards (for that specific knowledge area).

• After completing all 10 knowledge areas --> PMI's online Mock Exam plus Prepcasts.

For those knowledge areas that are more complex, you may need to fragment the content by processes.

3. Form a study group

If you have the possibility of forming a study group, do not hesitate, it is an added value. Make sure you select a partner who is on the same page, who is available and is committed to the study plan. The knowledge exchange and daily discussions are too enriching and allow you to better fix the framework.

In summary, our study plan consisted of 3 intense months (Q3 2020) since my partner and I have full-time jobs. During the last two weeks of study, we performed at least 8 mock exams. we focused on the incorrect answers and built discussions around them to understand the reasoning behind the situational question. All our study sessions were conducted online during the confinement. Therefore, if you want to achieve a goal, there is no valid excuse, you just have to focus and do your best to achieve it.

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