This is a guest post by Aria Miller.
Every industry has a certain set of training and courses designed to help participants hone and perfect existing skills. Among all the courses that are available, one is considered valuable and viable in every type of industry.
That is the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
If you’re wondering about what PMP online courses are and their benefits, you’ve come to the right place.
Below we discuss what a PMP certification actually is, plus the six (6) biggest benefits online PMP certification can give you.
What is a PMP certification?
PMP certification is often referred to as the “Gold Standard” of project management. It is a
program offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) providing experienced managers with an immersive course that helps them become more efficient and goal-oriented leaders.
Test-takers are evaluated based on five performance domains:
● Initiating the project (13%)
● Planning the project (24%)
● Executing the project (31%)
● Monitoring and controlling the project (25%)
● Closing the project (7%)
Note: Values indicated in parentheses are the weightage given to each domain.
There are two ways to be eligible to take the PMP exam.
The first way:
The applicant must have completed between 3,500 to 7,500 hours of management experience and at least 35 hours of management education through the PMI or another authorized provider.
The second way:
The applicant must have completed at least 4,500 hours working as a project leader or director, as well as completed at least 35 hours of project management education.
This exam has about 200+ multiple-choice questions. Out of these, 25 are not counted towards the final score. These randomly placed questions are used to improve the standard of the exam. Also, it is a closed book test. It means that no reference material will be allowed to be used by the applicant during the test. That being said, one should consider going through prep reviews and mock exams, finding the right online courses and their benefits, to better prepare for the actual certification test.
That said, it’s important to prepare yourself for the challenges up ahead. A great way to do this is to take online prep review courses and mock exams.
6 Benefits of Online PMP Courses
1. Save time and resources
While they are not equivalent, you can think of getting a PMP certification as something akin to completing a master’s degree in project management. It’s not the cheapest course of study pursue — neither is it the easiest.
For managers taking the PMP exam, studying in preparation for the upcoming test can be a hassle. Balancing lessons with work and other responsibilities can put a lot of pressure on an individual.
By choosing to take your PMP course online, you remove the hassle of having to drive back and forth between work and review centers. This saves you both the time and money you would have spent sitting in traffic and burning petrol.
Now, you can simply take your PMP review from the comfort of your home; at your own pace and your own time.
2. Improve your chances of passing
While it’s true that the PMP examination was designed to help managers pursue heavier
positions of responsibility and leadership, it doesn’t necessarily mean every taker can pass. The exam is made to test the abilities and limitations of each applicant. So, it’s not going to be easy to pass it with flying colors.
Online prep courses can provide you with a solid understanding of how the PMP examination works. These courses can help you strategise your next moves in order to safely navigate the entire process of the exam.
3. Learn new skills
Online PMP prep courses are often designed by professionals with the intent to equip each of their takers with skills and valuable tools they can use to pass the PMP exams.
That said, many of these skills can be used in other areas of life and education. For instance, the study tactics you learn from your PMP course can be used to study business strategies and risk management framework designs.
4. Develop self-discipline
Online prep courses typically give you the freedom to choose when and where you study. This puts the responsibility of making sure you complete all lessons and practice exams in your hands. It forces you to take a more active role in your preparation and to build enough self-discipline to avoid procrastinating.
5. Get a better feel of the exam
One of the main reasons why PMP test-takers fail is because they get confused by the phrasing and the format of the exam. Once again, the PMP wasn’t designed to let just anybody pass; it was designed to test your skill and ability to interpret data and solve problems.
When you take an online PMP course, it familiarises you with the way test questions are
phrased and how problems are posed in the PMP exam. This makes it easier for you to adjust when the actual test comes around.
6. Build confidence and self-reliance
Taking an online PMP course does more than just give you the answers and lessons you need to pass the exam. It also imbues you with a certain sense of self-reliance and confidence. Confidence that you can pass the test no matter how challenging because you’ve properly prepared for it. Anxiety is one of the other leading reasons why test-takers fail the PMP exam, as it can cloud the mind and make it more difficult to understand the questions or items you’re reading.
The Bottom Line
If your goal is to pass the PMP examination, then considering an online PMP prep course is a great step in the right direction. Good luck with your pursuit of better leadership and higher education!
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About the author
Aria is a perfectionist who reviews and edits content with unmatched passion. A master’s degree in journalism has allowed her to develop her writing and editing skills. Straight after graduation, she started writing for a local newspaper, covering topics related to education and literature.
