Tips for Completing Your PMP Application (2021 Version)
Overview
Target audience: Applicants for the PMP examination after January 1st, 2021.
Presentation covers: Eligibility requirements, updates to the application, navigating the application process, and tips for writing experience descriptions.
Eligibility Requirements
Educational Background:
Secondary Degree (high school diploma, associate's degree):
5 years (60 months) unique non-overlapping project management experience.
35 contact hours in project management class.
Four-Year Degree (bachelor's degree):
3 years (36 months) unique non-overlapping project experience.
35 contact hours in formal education.
Postgraduate Degree from GAC accredited program:
2 years (24 months) unique non-overlapping project management experience.
35 contact hours in formal education.
Application Structure
Education: Must complete before moving on.
Experience: Key area; must meet requirements and write effectively.
Exam Details: General information needed for certification.
Changes in the Application (as of June 18, 2020)
Experience Description:
Minimum of 100 words (previously 550 characters).
Suggested length: 200-500 words.
Reporting Time: Report months instead of hours worked.
Role Identification: No longer required to state your role (assumed to be project manager).
New Fields Added:
Organizational primary focus (replaces industry field).
Project methodology (Agile, Traditional, Hybrid).
Project Team Size.
Project Budget.
Completing the Application
Education Section
Academic Education: Highest degree, institution, attendance years, field of study.
Professional Education: Record 35 hours of project management education (e.g., IIL's PMP exam prep course).
Experience Section
Importance: Common reason for application rejection.
Narrative Requirements:
At least 100 words, average 200-500 words.
Focus on your activities as a project manager—not the project itself.
Structure:
Start with project objective, followed by activities broken down by domains: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring, Controlling, Closing.
Use active verbs (e.g., managed, led, governed).
Reference the 2021 Examination Content Outline for tasks and enablers.
Experience Counting:
Projects must be unique and non-overlapping.
Count only the months that do not overlap.
Exam Details Section
General information needed for certification and contact information.
Double-check spelling and correctness of your name on the certificate.
Key Pointers on Experience
Must be in a professional setting (paid or unpaid).
Record each project individually; do not group small projects.
Experience must be leading and directing the project.
Can go back 8 consecutive years to count experience.
Maintenance of Certification
Continuing Education: 60 PDUs every three years to maintain certification.
For coursework, webinars, etc., check with IIL, an authorized training partner.