06/03/2017 How much time is required for PMP preparation?

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How much time is required for PMP preparation?

January 24, 2014 (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/) Praveen Malik, PMP (http://www.pmbypm.com/author/pmalik/)

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How much time is required for PMP Preparation?

(http://www.pmbypm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pmp-prep-time-knowledge-1052014_640_pixa.jpg)

Oh! That is easy to answer. Just take a look at any advertisement on PMP Training and you will get the answer.

Alas! The answer is not that easy. I am sure you would have seen many advertisements. I have seen my fair
share. The claim ineach one of them is dierent. If one goes with these advertisements, then the time required
for PMP Preparation could be anywhere betweena week to 45 days.

But PMP Exam preparationis not like one size ts all. So I conducted a small poll on LinkedIn to determine
the answer to our question How much time is required for PMP Preparation?

It was a multiple choice poll with 4 options. The exact question of the poll was

AdChoices ExamStudyGuide ExamQuestions PMPCertificationExam

How much time is required to
AdChoices PMPTraining PMPCourses TestExam
get PMP certication after doing
35 hours training?

The poll was mostly taken by certied PMPs. You can look at the results of the poll in the gure below.

(http://www.pmbypm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PMP-Preparation_.jpg)

Let us take a close look at the result. The majority (more than 50%) of the respondents felt that the time required for PMP preparationis between 4 to 8 weeks. We
can derive another more interesting conclusion from the data more than two-thirds (68%) of the respondents felt that time required for PMP preparationis less
than 8 weeks.

This poll also does not give us a denite answer to How much time is required for PMP preparation?. But it gives us an indication. Let me elaborate.

My Opinion on Time Required for PMP Preparation

My views may not represent a true picture since I am a PMP trainer and I did my PMP long time ago. Since then, 3 new editions of PMBOK Guides have been
published. However, I sincerely believe PMP certication can be done in4 weeks after you have takenthe 35 hours training.

4 weeks is not a established hard deadline. The time required for PMP preparation would vary from person to person. Some of you may be able to crack the
certication within aweek also. And I have seen people doing it within a week. But eachperson is unique. The educational background, professional experience,
available studytime, etc. wouldbe dierent for each person. So you are advised to develop your own study plan and a time-frame. Think like a project manager,
estimate the work at handand prepare a proper schedule.

At the same time, I would like to advise youthat youshould not delay the certication beyond 12 weeks (roughly equal to 3 months). My reasons for saying so
are are:

http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/ 1/4
06/03/2017 How much time is required for PMP preparation?
1. Youwould gain some understanding, momentum and motivation during the training. Everythingwould be lost if youdelay your studies.
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2. If you have not yet taken the training, you should delay the training rather than delaying the exam.
Read More
3. Why did you take the PMP training in the rst place? You would have a time-frame in mind.And I am sure it would not be 3months or beyond.
4. You should understand the importance of a setting a deadline and you should adhere to it, especially since you are aproject manager.

If you have already done the training but have not appeared for the exam, you would agree with the above points. But, nothing is lost. You should read about 5
reasons to do PMP training again (http://www.pmbypm.com/pmp-training-again/) and write the exam soon.

Lastly, there are many benets of having a PMP Certicate. So it is in your own interest to prepare a time-frame and get the certicate early. All the best.

Let me know if you have any questions about the study plan. Please leave a comment and I will be happy to answer.

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June 2014 Update 20

LinkedIn has discontinued the Polls feature on May 15, 2014. The Poll data is no longer available on LinkedIn. I have copied the poll image while the feature was
still available. The original poll was available at Linkedin URL (http://www.linkedin.com/groups/How-much-time-is-required-4456858.S.5823303794955407364?
qid=cad673a6-f901-47b6-ace8-f3b8b4137061&trk=groups_most_popular-0-b-ttl&goback=.gsm_4456858_1_*2_*2_*2_lna_PENDING_*2.gmp_4456858).
7

Praveen Malik, PMP (http://www.pmbypm.com/author/pmalik/)

Praveen Malik, PMP is a certied Project Management Professional (PMP) with a rich 20+ years of experience. He is a leading Project
Management Instructor and Consultant. He regularly conducts Project Management workshops in India & abroad.

(http://www.facebook.com/praveenmalik) (https://www.blogger.com/prole/09560073460504778652)

(https://www.google.com/+PraveenMalik-me) (http://linkedin.com/in/pmalik) (https://twitter.com/praveen_malik)

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5 thoughts on How much time is required for PMP preparation?

Moa (http://www.blogger.com/prole/05083266766495218765) says:

March 22, 2014 at 10:56 PM (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/#comment-78)

What to do if the exam is already delayed for 2 years from the training date?Should the training be taken again OR any other idea?

Reply (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/?replytocom=78#respond)

Praveen Malik, PMP (http://www.blogger.com/prole/09560073460504778652) says:

March 25, 2014 at 11:07 PM (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/#comment-80)

Hi Moa, It totally depends on your prep. You can check it by doing some sample tests. For more info you can join linkedin group PMI-
PMP-PREP

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06/03/2017 How much time is required for PMP preparation?

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nd due date (http://due-date-calculator.org) says:

May 3, 2014 at 9:47 PM (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/#comment-159)

do you have a twitter that i can follow

Reply (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/?replytocom=159#respond)

Praveen Malik says:

February 6, 2016 at 2:10 AM (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/#comment-41835)
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You can follow us on our twitter handle PMbyPM. (https://twitter.com/pmbypm)

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Sakshi says:
May 14, 2014 at 4:40 PM (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/#comment-201)

Hi Sir, My husband is PMP and had taken training from you and he is your big fan. He recommended me to take training from you. I just 7
started preparing for PMP. I am electrical engineer working in Samsung Engineering. I am having 5 years of combined experience Pojects
and Design of Industrial Projects. Please let me know from which institute I take training and how much time is required for less experienced
professional like me for clearing the exam. I think 4 weeks is very less time.

Reply (http://www.pmbypm.com/how-much-time-is-required-for-pmp-preparation/?replytocom=201#respond)

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Hi, I am Praveen.
(http://www.pmbypm.co Welcome to my eponymous blog! I am passionate about Project Management. Here you will nd a wealth of information
m/about-praveen-malik/) on Project Management and PMP Exam.

If you have any question, you can post it to our LinkedIn group (http://www.linkedin.com/groups/PMIPMPPREP-4456858/about). I personally respond to all the
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