Preparing for the Program Management Professional (PgMP) Exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course prepares you for the PMI Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification exam. Not only do you gain the skills to assure your exam preparedness, you also learn how to successfully complete the three steps of the exam application process, navigate the 39 processes of The Standard for Program Management, and align your program management experience with PgMP terminology and definitions. What is the PgMP? The PgMP is one of the latest credentials from the Project Management Institute and defines an exciting global standard of best practices for program management professionals. The PgMP credential recognizes the experience and skills required to oversee multiple, related projects at a strategic, program management level within an organization. Do I need to be PMP certified to take the PgMP exam? No. You are not required to have the Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate in order to take the PgMP exam. However, it will help you as you prepare for the exam if you already hold the PMP certification or are familiar with the contents and language of the PMBOK Guide®. What background do I need? Knowledge at the level of Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success, or Course 340, Project Management for Software Development, is assumed. Specifically, you should have a minimum of four years of project management experience and an additional four years of program management experience (Category 1, see below) or seven years of program management experience (Category 2, see below) prior to taking this course. You should also be aware of the significant PgMP exam eligibility criteria established by PMI. Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for anyone who wants to achieve PgMP certification including program managers, experienced project managers and senior executives. What are the eligibility criteria for taking the PgMP certification exam? The PgMP eligibility criteria, as established by the Project Management Institute, is divided into two categories. Category 1: You must hold a bachelor's degree, and You must have at least four years (6,000 hours) of project management experience within the five PMBOK Guide® process groups, and You must have at least four years (6,000 hours) of program management experience within the six program management domains defined for The Standard for Program Management. Learning objectives and detailed definitions of these certification examination domains can be found in PMI's Program Management Professional Examination Specification. Category 2: You must hold a high school degree, and You must have at least four years (6,000 hours) of project management experience within the five PMBOK Guide® process groups, and You must have at least seven years (10,500 hours) of program management experience within the six program management domains of The Standard for Program Management. It is possible to have approved graduate school programs at selected PMI-approved universities count as a portion of your required experience hours. Current examination qualifications and additional details can be found at www.pmi.org. What is the application process I have to follow in order to achieve PgMP certification? The exam application process consists of the following three steps: Step 1: Eligibility for the examination. You are required to complete PMI's online application form, documenting your project and program management experience and education. This application is reviewed to determine your eligibility to take the exam. In addition to documenting your experience and education, you are required to write a number of experience essays on specific topics in program management, relating those topics to your own program management experiences. Step 2: Scheduling, sitting and passing the PgMP examination. After your eligibility is determined, you have one year to schedule your PgMP exam at a local testing center. The 170-question, multiple-choice exam tests your ability to apply your program and project management knowledge to a variety of situational and scenario-based questions. You are given four hours to complete the exam. Step 3: The multi-rater assessment. After you pass your PgMP exam, you must undergo a multi-rater assessment in which your former and current colleagues evaluate your competency to perform program management tasks. How do I keep my PgMP certification current and up-to-date? To maintain your PgMP certification, you will need to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three years. (This is the same requirement to maintain your PMP credential.) I already have my PMP. Do PDUs earned for my PMP count toward my PgMP certification? Yes. PMI has aligned the cycles of the PMP and PgMP certifications so that you only need to acquire 60 (not 120) PDUs for both certifications. To maintain the certifications, the PMP credential must be current and in good standing at the time you obtain the PgMP certification. Do I have to sign the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in order to pursue PgMP certification? Yes. Candidates for any PMI certification must sign the code as part of their application process and maintain its standards after certification is achieved. What if I fail my first exam attempt? You have three opportunities to take the exam within your one-year eligibility period. Failure to successfully pass the PgMP credential examination on your third attempt will require a one-year wait from your last test date before re-applying and re-testing. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Navigating The Standard for Program Management 3.0 Defining the program 3.0 Initiating the program 3.0 Planning the program 3.5 Executing the program 3.0 Controlling the program 3.5 Closing the program 2.0 Applications and eligibility requirements 2.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much of this course is spent in workshops? Approximately 65 percent of this course is spent in workshops. Workshops include taking daily PgMP-style practice exams and cross-referencing answers, designing personalized exam techniques targeting your exam success and completing a sample experience section and essay for your application. Do I get any study guides to take home after class? Yes! You receive your own copy of The Standard for Program Management and The Program Management Professional Examination Specification. You also get a study guide with over 500 sample exam questions-including two 170-question simulation exams-flash cards, mind maps and a quick reference place map. Does this course provide me with PMI professional development units? Yes. Completion of this course counts as 23 professional development units (PDUs). If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. In this course, you learn essential PMBOK® Guide terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? The following courses may also be of interest: 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam  915, The PMBOK® Guide in Practice: Applying the Principles to Your Projects  296, Project Management: Skills for Success  287, Strategic Project Management: Achieving Organizational Goals  299, Microsoft® Project: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  249, Hands-On Microsoft® Project: Managing Multiple and Complex Projects  252, Strategic Planning for Organizational Success

PgMP is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.