PMP Contact Hours Requirement

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by JoAnnP38, Sep 4, 2006.

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  1. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    I'm thinking about preparing myself to take the PMP exam; however, what is the best way to achieve the 35 contact hours required to take the exam? Also, while I have quite a bit of project management experience, my education has been strictly devoted to Computer Science. Anyone have any suggestions that could assist me in preparation?
     
  2. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    I don't know how it is structured with respect to contact hours, but I'd be surprised if Charter Oak's Certificate in Project Management (3 courses, 9 sh undergraduate total), designed around the PMBOK and positioned PMP-preparatory-thing, didn't end up with at least 35...
     
  3. Daniel Luechtefeld

    Daniel Luechtefeld New Member

    Look for courses certified by PMI. My own school, University of Denver, offers several, but of course it's not the only one.

    My experience in DU's Intro to PM class was great. The instructor was top notch, and the curriculum was centered around the PMBOK, but not to the exclusion of other materials that made the course immediately useful in the real world. Several of the other students were long time PM practitioners.

    http://universitycollege.du.edu/program/academic/oncampus/motm/index.asp

    That one class did not meet the full number of contact hours for the PMP exam, but it did meet the hour requirement for the entry-level CAPM exam.

    Mississippi State offers an entire AACSB-cerfified online MBA with a PM concentration - presumably they've structured that curriculum around PMI standards.

    http://www.distance.msstate.edu/mba/description.html

    Following up on the U of Illinois discussion, it would appear that Mississippi State uses actual tenure-track professors (in addition to PhD adjuncts) in that online MBA program, don't I know if this holds true specifically for the PM concentration - the phrase "project management" doesn't appear in the faculty listing:

    http://www.distance.msstate.edu/mba/profile.html

    Another option, University of Washington:

    http://www.extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/pm2/pm2_gen.asp
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 5, 2006
  4. eric.brown

    eric.brown New Member

    Check out the following website:

    http://www.4pm.com

    They provide training for the PMP test (as well as the CAPM test). They also have arrangements with Avila University and Thomas Edison State College so you could receive college credit and even a Masters degree in PM.
     
  5. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Hi, JoAnn. I'm currently slogging through the PMI application process as well (hoping to have it submitted by the end of the week) to be cleared to take the exam. It seems that they're pretty liberal with the 35 hr education requirements, given that they wrote the description of what constitutes acceptable training so broadly.

    My military tech training took care of most of it (I've been a telecom/IT PM my entire career), but USDA courses, SkillSoft CBT's, numerous on-line training courses, etc. have worked for others that I've known in the past.

    As far as preparation, if you're looking for the self-study route, most folks swear by Rita Mulcahy's books and exam simulation software (which can be pricey). Andy Crowe's study guide (The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try) isn't bad as well.

    If you're interested in any of the "Boot Camp" approaches to test prep, virtually all of the classes offered by the major players (Cheetah, Velociteach, RMC, Global Knowledge, and PMTI) satisfy the 35 hr education requirement. As additional trivia relating to the self-study guides above, RMC is owned by Rita Mulcahy, and Velociteach was founded by Andy Crowe.

    Best of luck and let me know how it works out. If I hit anything during the application or testing process that would be useful, I'll make sure and post it/send it to you. Ah well, back to documenting my 4500 experience hrs......

    Dave
     
  6. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Thanks Dave (and everyone else.) I looks like I'm going to first try to get the CAPM credential as I don't think I will be able to document the number of experience hours needed to take the PMP. Now that I know what the documentation process is like, I will start keeping documents as I encounter each project.
     

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