IMPORTANT

This question and answer only applies to the Project Management courses.

What is the PMP exam? How can I take the PMP exam?

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is an industry-recognized certification for project managers. You must pass the PMP exam to become a PMP Professional. In order to take the PMP exam, you must meet the prerequisites set forth by the Project Management Institute and apply to the Project Management Institute (PMI) to sit for the exam. The prerequisites are 3 - 5 years of experience leading or directing projects depending on your education level and 35 hours of education in project management.

For details on the prerequisites, application process, costs, exam format, and exam preparation, visit the PMI Certifications page. 

Can I use this course as prerequisite education for the PMP exam?

Each of the three courses in the RITX Project Management MicroMasters program can count as 35 prerequisite hours of project management education required to take for the PMP Exam. This means that just one of the courses will fulfill the required 35 prerequisite hours. To provide evidence of successful completion, you should enroll as verified so that you get a certificate when you pass the course. On your application for the PMP Exam, you will need to list the course name, the start and end date of the course, and that it was an RITX edX course worth 35 contact hours.

How does this course prepare me for the PMP exam? Is this course a PMP Prep course?

Although this course does follow PMI standards, it is not a PMP or CAPM exam preparation course. If you plan to sit for the PMP or CAPM exam, I recommend that you take a PMP or CAPM exam preparation course as that course will go into more detail into the PMI knowledge areas. This course is designed from a practitioner's perspective - to allow you to implement and immediately use the project management knowledge on a project.

Some options for PMP or CAPM exam preparation courses are:

  • View PMI's website for some suggested exam prep materials, including links to PMI chapters and education providers with exam prep courses.
  • Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep Book is a good source if you want a textbook option. Ensure you use the most recent edition for the most accurate content.

What should I do if I don't meet the prerequisites for the PMP exam?

If you don't have the years of experience you could consider the CAPM certification, however, this certification is not as widely known or accepted.

The CAPM Exam prerequisite is 23 hours of project management education. Each of the three courses in the RITX Project Management MicroMasters program can fulfill this requirement by providing 35 hours of education. To provide evidence of successful completion, you should enroll as verified so that you get a certificate when you pass the course. On your application for the CAPM Exam, you will need to list the course name, the start and end date of the course, and that it was an RITX edX course worth 35 contact hours.

If you have further questions regarding the PMI certification options, contact PMI directly as they are the ones that administer the certification.

Is there a time limit to earn the prerequisites to the the PMP exam?

Per PMI, all project management experience must have been accrued within the last eight consecutive years prior to your application submission. You cannot submit experience that occurred more than 8 years ago at the time you apply for the exam.