Debunking Eligibility Myths of the PMP Exam

There are many concerns regarding eligibility to take the
PMP Exam. Most people who are looking into becoming a
PMP have a high school diploma, but question the experience needed. Because of the uncertainty, many myths start to generate into why someone should not be eligible. I hope to demystify some of the concerns and give truth to why someone has eligibility to take the
PMP Exam.

The eligibility requirements are stated in the
PMP Handbook. Eligibility consists of education, experience, and 35 contact hours. Page 8 of the PMP Handbook states that there must be education and experience background, per below:

Educational Background	Project Management Experience
Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or global equivalent)	Minimum five years/60 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience 7,500 hours were spent leading and directing the project*
OR
Four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or global equivalent)	Minimum three years/36 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience 4,500 hours were spent leading and directing the project*

*Leading and directing the project as identified with the tasks, knowledge, and skills specific in the Project Management Professional Examination Content Outline.

The details mention “leading and directing the project”. What does that mean?

More direction is given on page 7 of the PMP Handbook through “Role Delineation (Job Analysis)”, per below
Candidates for the PMP credential:

• Perform their duties under general supervision and are responsible for all aspects of the project for the life of the project




• Lead and direct cross-functional teams to deliver projects within the constraints of schedule, budget, and scope





• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience to appropriately apply a methodology to projects that have reasonably well-defined requirements and deliverables

Myth #1: My job title is not “Project Manager”
It makes no difference what the title is in your experience to apply for the PMP Exam.What does matter is the understanding how the role that you play in projects affects a deliverable. In fact, the application will ask which of the following roles your experience is in:

• Project Contributor




• Supervisor





• Manager




• Project Leader





• Project Manager




• Educator





• Consultant




• Administrator





• Other

PMI does not expect everyone to have the title of “Project Manager”.
Myth #2: I have not worked on “projects”.
Let us keep in mind, the definition of a project is “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result” (PMBOK Guide-5th Edition, pg 553).