Grad Cert or no Grad Cert before PMP

Quick question guys. I need to earn a PMP this year. Got to, job related, "recommended" by the boss, all that stuff. What I'm wondering is this... Should I just buy the books, suck down some coffee and get elbow deep in this stuff or should I spend the next 6 months working on a graduate certificate that should prepare me for the test?

I guess what I'm really asking is, once I have the PMP certification will anyone give a rat's ass that I also have a graduate certificate of completion in project management?

 

Per the PMP handbook you need 35 contact hours of PM related education, with self-study not being counted. Do you have the formal educational background to get around this?

See:
http://www.pmi.org/PDF/pdc_pmphandbook.pdf

 

Actually I think I can get this from my employer. For example today I completed 2.5 hours online through a website or provider my employer either contracts with or designed themselves. It is an automated course though... Still I think I can rack up 35 hours pretty quick.

 

If you don’t need the project management training in order to sit for the PMP exam, I suggest the self-study method. Get the PMBOK, a good PM textbook (I recommend Kerzner) and if possible a software prep (I recommend Project Management IQ). In this way you can work at your own pace, and focus on your weaknesses, as opposed to being tied to a certificate program.

In my opinion, the PMP trumps the grad certificate. PMP is a professional credential, requiring continuous learning to maintain certification, adherence to code of ethics and so forth.

 

Spot on. Thanks guys.

 

In my opinion,you don't really need to enroll for any certificate course. Undergo the 35 hr class mandated by PMP, then buy a good book, there are many Kerzner, Mulcahy et al, and go for it.

Make sure that you have a good understanding of PMBOK. I recommend reading it atleast twice before you get ready for the exam.

Good luck.