The PMP Exam update has been moved to January 11, 2016. This will be the last day to test under the current version of the PMP exam. An updated version of the exam will be provided following this date.
Why is the PMP Exam Changing?
Every few years, PMI conducts a formal reexamination of the evolving role of the PMP. The result of this analysis is called the Role Delineation Survey, or RDS. The RDS is validated by thousands of PMPs around the world to confirm that it accurately reflects the current practice of the PM's role. The culmination is an updated Exam Content Outline. The exam attempts to reflect the current practice of the role of the PMP.
Four Primary Topics Were Changed
1.) A new topic area places greater emphasis on business strategy and benefits realization. This new area comes from the acknowledgment that many PMs are being pulled into projects earlier in the process than they have in the past. New tasks reflect the PM's earlier involvement, when benefits analysis is carried out. Expanded focus on project benefits is also found in each of the domains where the PM ensures that the project is focused on business benefits rather than the more generic concept of deliverables.
2.) More emphasis has been placed on lessons learned throughout the project life-cycle. Currently, knowledge transfer is done during project initiation, where other projects are examined, and Project Closing, where lessons from the current project are documented. This new emphasis stems from the acknowledgement that on-going knowledge transfer is essential to capturing and capitalizing on the value of project management. Documenting and taking advantage of lessons learned is fundamental to that.
3.) In current practice, the PM is no longer solely responsible for creating the Project Charter. Now, the Sponsor or the Customer is usually responsible for the content and completion of that document. The role of the PM is as a contributor to its development. The PM's task is then to inform the team and other stakeholders about its contents.
4.) Another evolution in practice focuses on stakeholder relationships and engagement. Additional emphasis describes the PM's role as building two-way relationships with stakeholders rather than what may have been viewed as a one-way relationship.
How is the PMP Exam Effected?
The PMP Exam reflects the changes described above. The following Project Domains were changed:
- Project Initiation added three tasks: task 2, task 7, and task 8.
- Project Planning added one task: task 13.
- Project Execution added two tasks: task 6 and task 7.
- Project Control added two tasks: task 6 and task 7.
25% of the exam now focuses on the new content topics from the 8 new tasks. This is different from previous versions of the exam. Additionally, a very large percentage of the overall exam questions, regardless of whether they are directly tied to the 8 new tasks, will also be new and updated.
Need More Help?
If you want more help understanding how these changes affect the PMP exam, you can visit PMI’s website. There you can also view the requirements that must be met prior to becoming PMP certified. These requirements include experience in a PM role and learning credit hours. Your learning credit hours can be fulfilled by taking a PMP training course, which will also help to prepare you for the material on the exam.
