What is PMP Certification?

Introduction
Project management is one of the most important fields in modern business. Nowadays, virtually every major endeavor a business might become involved in is recognized as a project. Therefore, business professionals with project management expertise are in greater demand than ever. Thanks to the high standards of performance attested to by the modern Project Management Professional certification, decision-makers can ensure their PMs are of the highest caliber.

What is PMP Certification?
PMP stands for “Project Management Professional” and is a certification issued by Project Management Institute, the world’s largest professional association of experts in the project management industry. To qualify for the PMP certification, you must demonstrate experience equivalent to several years of project management leadership. Currently, this equals 4,500 hours of project leadership combined with 35 hours of related education for those who hold a bachelor’s degree. The PMP certification is the global standard of excellence for experts in project management. It demonstrates that you have worked hard to achieve mastery of industry best practices. Likewise, it can have a significant impact on your compensation!

What is the Project Management Institute?
Founded in 1969, the Project Management Institute is one of the largest nonprofit professional associations of any kind in the world. It has a roster of more than 650,000 active members in more than 185 countries. For more than five decades, the Project Management Institute has been developing and refining professional credentials that demonstrate high achievement in the project management industry. It claims among its board members many of the finest minds in the design of new standards and practices that raise efficiency, effectiveness and profitability for global enterprises. In short, there is no other organization that can certify you to the standard of project management excellence that PMI provides. It administers the PMP examination.

What Are the Benefits of PMP Certification?
The PMP examination is perfect for those who have decided that they wish to specialize in the exciting world of project management. Becoming a certified Project Management Professional is a signal to senior executives that you are striving to remain at the forefront of your profession. It is an excellent choice for project management specialists who would like to find themselves in senior leadership roles in complex areas such as internal project management offices or international projects. Many Fortune 500 employers look very favorably upon the PMP certification. PMI members frequently report the PMP helped them achieve their career goals.

How Does One Become PMP Certified?
Once you have achieved the basic standards of education and experience required for the PMP exam, you can sign up to take the examination at a local testing center. These centers tend to be the facilities where other advanced professional and academic exams are also proctored. The PMP examination comes in the form of a 200-question test presented in multiple choice format. The test covers the entire length and breadth of project management best practices and professional ethics. Thus, even experienced professionals often invest dozens of hours preparing for testing. Once you are PMP certified, you must maintain your PMP certification with regular continuing education that shows you have kept your knowledge current.

Conclusion
The PMP certification is the best route to expanded responsibility, professional flexibility and executive compensation in the world of project management. If you consider yourself a project management specialist, the prestige of the PMP is simply indispensable in shaping your career as you see fit. PMP preparation classes can save you time and money by significantly enhancing your odds of achieving PMP certification, so don’t delay in arranging your courses!