1. When Should I Take
the PMP® Exam?
PMI, PMP, CAPM, PgMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP and PMBOK are trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc. PMI has not endorsed and
did not participate in the development of this publication. PMI does not sponsor this publication and makes no warranty, guarantee or representation,
expressed or implied as to the accuracy or content. Every attempt has been made by OSP International LLC to ensure that the information presented
in this publication is accurate and can serve as preparation for the PMP certification exam. However, OSP International LLC accepts no legal
responsibility for the content herein. This document should be used only as a reference and not as a replacement for officially published material.
Using the information from this document does not guarantee that the reader will pass the PMP certification exam. No such guarantees or warranties
are implied or expressed by OSP International LLC.
2. How will I know
that I am ready to
take the exam?
3. Do you have the qualifying work
experience that you need?
• 4500 hours of project management experience if you have a
BS or equivalent or 7500 hours with a GED or equivalent?
If your answer is no,
stop here. It is not
time for you to take
the PMP® exam.
(You might consider
the CAPM®.)
4. Have you submitted your application and
has your application been approved?
• This is a predecessor to scheduling your exam date.
5. Have you studied?
• You do need to study for the PMP® exam.
• You need to understand what the PMI® wants you to know
and the PMI® really wants you to understand The Guide to
The Project Management Body of Knowledge®.
6. Are you consistently scoring well on
PMP® practice exams?
• Take note that the PMI® does not
publish a minimum passing score for
the exam.
• A rule of thumb is that your actual
exam score may be from -10 to +10
points of your typical practice exam
scores.
• You do not need to be consistently
scoring 100% on your practice
exams, but a range of from 80 – 85%
is a good comfort zone.
7. When you miss practice exam
questions, do you understand why?
• You do not want to simply
memorize PMP® exam
questions and answers.
• Be sure that you
understand what makes
the correct answer the
best answer.
8. The above are valid considerations whether or
not an exam change is imminent.
• If you have studied and you are doing well on
your practice exams, it is time to take the
exam.
• If an exam change is imminent you might
consider pushing yourself to take the exam
before the changes occur – if it makes sense to
do so.
You still want to schedule the exam feeling
confident in your ability to pass the PMP® exam.
