How to Get Project Management Experience for PMP Certification!

 

If you’ve set your sights on earning your PMP certificate for project management, it may seem like an overwhelming undertaking due to the requirements. Of course, this is precisely why the PMP certificate holds such weight in the industry. Someone with this certification is a skilled project manager that has all the necessary qualifications, including adequate training and relevant credentials.

PMP Certification and Training Requirements

The PMP certificate has two requirements:

1. 35 hours of project management education

2. A specified number of experience hours

Simplilearn's PMP Certification Training Course can help you meet the requirement for the 35 hours of project management education, with 36 hours of instructor-led training and 29 hours of eLearning content. The course also prepares you for the exam with six hands-on projects and seven simulation test papers, along with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. You’ll walk away with all the preparation and confidence you need to conquer the exam and earn the PMP certification.

In addition to completing the required education and passing the exam, you’ll also need to have two to four years of project management experience. Depending on your level of formal education, the PMP requires a set number of hours of experience. With a four-year degree, you’ll need to provide 4,500 hours leading and directing projects, and without a four-year degree, you’ll need 7,500 hours, along with the 35 hours of education. 

The required 4,500 hours for someone with a four-year degree will take about two and a half years of full-time work in the field. If you don’t have a degree and need 7,500 hours of experience, this will require about four years of full-time work in the area. Now, you might ask, “how do I get the project management experience without my PMP Certificate?”

Getting Project Management Experience Without a PMP

First, you don't need to have previously had the title of the project manager to have project management experience. You likely have the experience already. Have you been a team leader? Have you participated in the testing or evaluation of a solution? Have you taken the lead in organising a food drive or coordinating a donation effort? These things can all be considered project management experience.

When reporting your experience for your PMP certification, you’ll be asked to list your experience in the following five categories: 

1. Initiation
   Starting the project and defining the goals 

2. Planning
   Determining the scope and creating the project plan, considering costs, quality, resources, and the timeline

3. Execution
   Completing the project deliverables  

4. Monitoring and Controlling
   
   Measuring project performance and progress during the execution phase, and at the end of execution. 

5. Closing
   Reporting on the outcome of the project and archiving it

Start by reviewing your past positions. Remember that you don’t need to have worked as a project manager to have performed relevant project management tasks and duties. You may already have some experience under your belt, but it doesn’t include operational, administrative, or routine tasks. 

If you don’t have enough previous experience to meet the PMP requirements, don’t fret. There are several ways to gain the knowledge you need:

Volunteer Experience

Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to volunteer for managing “project-like” efforts. You might find that you can help set up a food drive for your child’s school, help your church set up their website, or help coordinate the efforts for a 5K run for a non-profit. All of these could be opportunities to gain the required experience. 

Side Hustle Hours

You might be able to find a part-time side gig to lead or assist in a project management effort. If this is something you might consider, try searching on one of the many freelance job sites, such as Upwork or Freelancer.

Stepping Up at Work

Even in your current position, you might be able to volunteer to participate in a project. Remember that participation in execution (category #3) or monitoring and controlling (category #4) count towards your experience requirements. 

To Continue Read - How to Get Project Management Experience for PMP® Certification?