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5 Free Exam Tips? Go right to Page 6. Otherwise, read on and learn about the
certification, how to apply to PMI, and what to expect during the certification process.
Whether youre an experienced manager with several years of projects under your belt,
seeking the best in exam prep services, or totally new to project management and
looking to learn more about the field, youve come to the right place. This guide will
offer some tips and information of immediate value, as well as explain how BetterPM
can help you meet your professional goals.
Weve designed the guide as a sort of buffet choose whatever section suits your
needs, and dig in. If youre new to project management and curious about becoming a
PMP, check out our first two sections on the PM job outlook and certification, as well
as our walkthrough of the certification process. If youve already decided that
certification is right for you, and youre gearing up for the exam, our test prep section
has plenty of useful tips. Finally, in the BetterPM Advantage section, youll find a full
overview of our products and services, from our outstanding study guides to our unique
mobile quiz app.
For those of you in IT, be sure to check out our special section on the upcoming Agile
Certified Practitioner certification (PMI-ACP). With Agile-oriented positions
exponentially increasing in demand, youll want to be one of the first to earn this
valuable credential.
Once again, thanks for taking the time to learn more about BetterPM!
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

What is Project Management? An Overview

Is PMP Certification Right for Me?
Certification: A Walkthrough
5 Must Know Tricks to pass the PMP Exam
The BetterPM Advantage
Conclusion

pgs. 2-3
pgs. 3-4
pgs. 4-5
pgs. 6-8
pgs. 8-11
pg. 11

What is Project Management? An Overview

Project management professionals (PMPs) work across a variety of industries, from
construction to education. They conduct marketing campaigns, spearhead product
development, and pilot new curriculum programs. Whether its launching a satellite or
directing the overhaul of a hospitals IT system, theyre at the center of things, ensuring
that key milestones are met, stakeholders are properly involved, teams are effectively
coordinated, and that events are proceeding on time and on-budget. Projects are vital
to any organization, and someone who can properly steer them through their life cycle,
from inception to completion, is essential.
As those hands at the helm, project managers are highly valued by employers. In a
recent Computerworld survey, 43% of respondents planning to make new hires sought
people with project management skills, and in a similar poll by Monster.com, more than
half of the respondents were seeking project management professionals. 1
Due to this demand, the overall job outlook for PMPs looks excellent. CNNMoney.com
recently reported an expected 16% job growth over for PM positions2 over the next ten
years, and a study by the
Anderson Economic Group
indicated that about 1.2 million
project management positions
will need to be filled each year
through 2016 in expanding fields
like healthcare, infrastructure
development, and green
technologies3. Even the IT field,
which experienced a slowdown

Agile Job Growth

the last few years, is ramping up demand again for project managers. Agile-themed
1

Collett, Stacy. 11 Hot Skills for 2011. Computerworld.

<www.computerworld.com/s/article/351231/11_hot_skills_for_2011>.
2
Five Money Resolutions to Make. CNN.
<http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2010/01/01/105890483/index.htm>.
3
Project Manager Job Outlook. Villanova University. <www.villanovau.com/project-manager-jobs>.

software development in particular is experiencing explosive growth, with an over

1000% increase over the last five years.
In response to this demand, the number of qualified PMs has rapidly increased in kind.
As of 2011, there are over 400,000 certified project management professionals a 50%
increase over the last three years.4

Is PMP Certification Right For Me?

What does all this mean? First, if youre considering a career in project management, or
you currently work in the field, youre looking at excellent job prospects. Second,
certification is probably a good idea. Heres why.
For one thing, the path to certification greatly enhances your professional toolkit. It
requires extensive study of the PMBOK guide, the standard industry text for project
management, as well as 35 hours of project-themed training. Youll learn a number of
management techniques and best practices, as well as how to best apply them. Due to
the degree of mastery required for certification, youll also be extremely skilled in them.
Secondly, this expertise can improve not only your employers bottom line but your own
as well. CNN Money ranked earning a project management certification as one of the
best ways to increase your salary in 2010. 5 Why? Qualified professionals have proven
that they can deliver goals and objectives on time and on budget, and companies will
pay a premium for this proficiency. On average, PMPs earn over $100,000 a year, and
their median salaries are 10% higher than their non-certified peers.6
Third, due to its rigorous demands, the PMP certification represents a high degree of
professionalism and experience, and carries with it a certain amount of prestige. This
respect and authority can prove valuable; it can open doors to new clients and help
4

PMI Fact File. PMConnection. <www.pmconnection.com>.

Five Money Resolutions to Make. CNN.
<http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2010/01/01/105890483/index.htm>.
5

The Value of Getting PMP Certified. Global Knowledge.

<http://www.globalknowledge.com/training/generic.asp?pageid=2057&country=United+States>.

during negotiations or when leading teams. The certification is also internationally

recognized as a standard of excellence- useful in this time of globalization when
business, more than ever, crosses borders and cultures.
Ultimately, certification keeps you on top of the latest trends in the profession and
maintains your competitive edge in the job market. Even if the PMP certification isnt
the best fit for you right now though, there are several other credentials you might want
to consider. If youre new to project management, and dont yet have the required
experience or education for the PMP certification, the Certified Associate in Project
Management (CAPM) is a good entry-level first step to demonstrate your grasp of the
fundamentals. On the other hand, if youre more experienced with managing multiple,
projects, and youd like to demonstrate your mastery in this area, the Program
Management Professional (PGMP) is a good selection. Finally, if youre familiar with
Agile software development, youll definitely want to check out the new Agile Certified
Practitioner (PMI-ACP), which is being released in the third quarter of 2011.

Certification: A Walkthrough
Before youre actually eligible to take the PMP exam and get certified, you need to
fulfill a number of requirements. Depending on your education and job experience, you
can qualify in one of two categories.
Category One Requirements

A four-year degree, either a bachelors or global equivalent

At least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours

leading and directing projects

Category Two Requirements

A secondary diploma, either high school or global equivalent

At least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading
and directing projects.

Note: Job experience needs to be within 8 years of your application.

Youll also need 35 hours of project management education from a PMI-approved

provider such as BetterPM. This coursework doubles as preparation for the PMP
exam.
Figuring out how to log your project management hours can be tough, so heres a
suggestion to make it easier. Grab your resume and some blank paper. For each
company in your career, write down any major accomplishments or projects. Then
estimate the number of hours you spent on each project. After you have your list of
hours, refer to the PMI requirements to find exactly how many of those hours qualify
for the PMI standard.
Give yourself some flexibility. Even if your official title wasnt project manager, think
hard about your responsibilities and activities on that project. See what reasonably
could be considered leadership roles. Maybe it was leading a weekly meeting, directing
a team, or overseeing a certain product feature. Maybe you served as a point person
managing customer interactions. All of these are different examples of project
leadership.
Keep in mind though that theres a big difference between thinking creatively outside
your defined role and lying about or embellishing your experience. PMI audits about
five to six percent of their applications. During the audit, PMI will verify information
with your former employers and schools, and if inaccuracies are found, your
certification of eligibility will be revoked. In short, think outside the box, but be honest.
Once youve filled out your forms, you can file your application either by mail or online.
We suggest becoming a PMI member first before filing the form, as it drops your exam
fee from $550 to $405. It usually takes PMI from five to ten days to file your
application by mail its shorter if you filed online.
For more details, the PMP handbook is your best reference.

Tackling the PMP Exam

After youve squared away all your hours and received your
application confirmation, youre eligible to take the PMP exam.
You have one year to do so. It takes a while to prepare, though. The
exam has a reputation for being a beast, and it deserves it: four
hours, 200 questions pulled from a bank of thousands. The exam
will not only test your practical experience, but also demand a
thorough understanding of the PMBOK, the project management
bible, inside and out.

EXAM TIP #1

Some questions are

padded with extra
information that you
really dont need to
find the right answer.
With BetterPM, youll
learn to recognize the
fluff quickly, ignore it,
and cut to the core of
the question.

Heres where BetterPM can be a huge help. We can make your

study time much more efficient. We take the PMBOK, break it down into sensible,
manageable components, and put it in accessible, everyday language. Then we guide
you through it. With us, you dont have to study harder; youll study smarter.
As we walk you through the material, we highlight the most troublesome content areas
and cover how to troubleshoot them. We regularly quiz you with the sorts of questions
youre likely to encounter on the exam, and once again give you targeted suggestions on
tackling them.
When it comes to the exam itself, even though no two versions are identical, you can
expect certain patterns. Questions are pulled from the five domain phases of a project
life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing. Heres the
breakdown of the test content:

EXAM TIP #2

Initiating

13%

Planning

24%

Executing

30%

Monitoring/Controlling

25%

Closing

8%

Focus your studying

on the areas of
content where there
are the MOST exam
questions. Many
students over look
this and their score
suffers as a result.

PMI does make general test outline available, and you should definitely read through
it. Youll notice that it includes a list of tasks for each domain area. Try skimming these
lists; it tells you what you need to know and be able to do. For example, task three
under Executing requires knowledge of
implementing the quality management plan using the appropriate
tools and techniques, in order to ensure that the work is being performed
according to required quality standards.
Just by reading this, you can figure that youre going to be

EXAM TIP #3

Youre given a
practice section
before the actual
exam. Use this time
to collect your
thoughts, jot down
important equations
or definitions you
want on hand during
the exam, and do
some Zen breathing
exercises, if thats
your thing.

tested on what those tools and techniques for

implementation are, and how theyre used. Youll also
probably need to be familiar with the quality standards.
To help plan your test prep, try this. Print out the content
outline, and keep it handy as you study. Check off tasks and
areas as you begin to feel comfortable with them, and mark
weak areas youre having trouble with. This way you can
focus your study efforts better. Flagging relevant areas in
the PMBOK, like those quality standards, is another good
idea.

Now, back to the actual exam. The questions fall into three general categories:
memorization/recall prompts, problem sets, and logic questions. Recall prompts, the
simplest, usually ask for a specific fact or definition. To prepare for these, its really just
a matter of memorization; bust out the flash cards. After a good deal of practice
problems, youll have an idea of what sorts of terms pop up for recall. We also highlight
a number of them in our study materials. Problem sets, the second type, require you to
perform some form of calculation; the key to these is practice. Logic questions, the third
type, give you some sort of a problem or situation to think through. Once you know how
to recognize a question type, you can immediately figure out the sorts of strategies to
use on it. Well teach you how to do this, saving you valuable time on the day of your
exam.

There are a few specific types of problems that youll want to pay particular attention to
when youre studying. While everybody tests differently, these three in particular give a
lot of people trouble.

EXAM TIP #4

Know these 3 areas

well, and you will be
set to an easy PASS
on the exam. These
are three problem
areas that sink most
students chances of
success on the PMP
exam.

1) EVA (Earned Value Analysis) questions require you

to recall and use a variety of formulas, and applying them
correctly can be confusing. Memorize these formulas, and
on the day of the test, take some time to jot them down on
the provided scrap paper for easy reference.

2) Input/Output Calculations There are 42 defined project management processes

you need to be able to perform calculations for, and each has a variety of 2-10
possible inputs, applicable calculation techniques, and outputs. For these, its a
matter of practice makes perfect.
3) Scenario-based Questions
These wild card questions can be particularly frustrating,
because theres no easy way to prepare for them. Theres no
single definition or answer to memorize, and you cant solve
them with a concrete equation. The correct answer is often
unclear, but you can usually eliminate some of the options,

EXAM TIP #5

Watch out for answers

with generalizations.
Terms like always,
never, must, and
completely often flag an
incorrect answer.

whittling them down to your best choices. Well provide you

with plenty of examples to familiarize yourself with this type of question, as well as
some ways to think your way through them.

The BetterPM Advantage

If youre planning to take the PMP exam, theres no shortage of test prep options. You
could enroll in a week long, in-person classroom course, or you could select from a
variety of online classes. The question is which one is right for you, considering your
personality, learning style, and schedule. If you prefer learning in a group, through direct
instruction, then an in-person class is probably your best bet. If you prefer to learn at
8

your own pace, according to your own schedule, then an online course like BetterPM is
a better fit. BetterPM offers three major advantages over other test prep options,
however: flexibility, cost, and quality...especially if youre an independent do-ityourselfer.
5 stars. Great PMP App.
wish I had found this course
when I started. The best thing
about this course is that the
questions are more similar to the
questions asked on the PMP test
than in any other review course.
This app is great, but its only a
small sample of what Im finding in
the full course, which is excellent.
Im going through the full course
now and the quality really seems
much better than the others Ive
seen

BetterPMs Mobile Quiz, Rated 4 Stars on iTunes

App Store with over 100 reviews!!

Best!
- Jim576

With BetterPM, youre empowered to learn on the go and on your own terms,
whenever and wherever its best for you. Theres no classroom you need to fight traffic
and find parking for, no lecture times to block out on your schedule. You dont have to
worry about the course going too quickly or too slowly. You set your own schedule and
move through the material at your own pace.
Our materials are available in a variety of formats, including printable pdfs, online
quizzes, and both downloadable and streaming media. If you have several hours to
study, access our course material online or print out a paper copy. Listen to an audio
lesson on your iPod while you chop vegetables for dinner. Watch a video chapter on
your iPad while you fold laundry. Even if its a particularly busy day and you only have
15 minutes while you grab coffee, you can tackle a few exam questions with one of our
practice quizzes on your mobile device in the cafe or break room. Its available in the
iTunes store. No other competitor has gone mobile like we have.

BetterPM is also by far your most cost-effective option. A typical five day, in person
PMP prep course costs from $1500-$3000, not including travel expenses, parking, and
the vacation time you need to take. We offer high quality instruction and materials at a
fraction of the cost. Also, unlike other online competitors, who charge a flat fee, we
offer a monthly subscription option. If youre a quick study, and you only need a month
or two to get ready for the exam, why pay $500-$750 when you can subscribe to
BetterPMs services for less than $200? Once again, the name of the game is flexibility
dont pay more than you have to.
With BetterPM, youll get more than your moneys worth. We pride ourselves on our
top-notch content the best in the business. With BetterPM, youll have immediate,
easy access to over 400 pages of in-depth study guides and handouts, highlighting key
information, terms, and concepts, illustrated with hundreds of useful charts, graphs, and
explanations. Each chapter starts with clear objectives, so you know exactly what youre
focusing on. Theres also an extensive review at the end of each chapter, including a
summary of the main points and a short quiz. Youll have over 200 practice exam
questions to help review, practice, and hone your skills as you study, and we also
provide full length, timed, computer-based tests, for when you feel ready to simulate
the actual PMP exam conditions. Weve received great feedback on our exam
questions so far; many people find them closer to those on the actual exam than those
offered elsewhere.

I was extremely satisfied with

the level of customer service
that I received from Aaron and
was happy with both the speed
and resolutions to my many
questions. I really liked the
practice quizzes, as they
indicated to me directly where I
need to further focus my
studies. I just took my official
PMP exam yesterday (and
PASSED, yay!)
- Colleen F.

Unlike some of our competitors, we do more than

just supply a variety of practice questions and
answers, though. We provide pointers for incorrect
answers, so you can understand why you missed that
question on Earned Value Management, and how
you can improve your chances of nailing it next time.
We also include specific references in the PMBOK,
directing you to the exact section in the source
material to help with your studying.

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Were extremely confident in the quality of our materials. If you havent already
checked them out yet, please feel free to do so at BetterPM.com. Theres free access
not only to a sample practice exam, but also the first chapter of our course materials.
No other company provides as much open access to their materials as we do. Weve
practiced what we preach, as well. All of our materials are created by certified
professionals in project management who were in your very same shoes prepping for
the exam, and aiming to succeed.
In addition to outstanding content, we offer responsive, quality customer service. One
of our most positive responses from customers has been the quality of our customer
assistance. Theres always someone there to help, whatever your question may be. Just
email us, and youll hear back from an instructor. With BetterPM, youre never on your
own; theres always a helpful guide or coach available.
Finally, were constantly updating our content to provide leading edge training. One of
the current projects we currently have under development includes PDU training
solutions for those of you whove already earned your PMP, and want to keep up with
your certification. Well also soon be releasing an Agile-focused component designed
for those of you who are planning on gaining your Agile Certified Practitioner
credentials.

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Conclusion
Whether certification is a month or a year away, if youre ready to get serious and start
studying, we hope youll choose BetterPM.com as your personal coach and guide. You
wont find our level of flexibility, quality, support, or affordability anywhere else. We
look forward to working with you!
Aaron MacDaniel, MBA, PMP
BetterPM.com - Head Instructor
Aaron has over ten years of experience in project management as a software engineer, instructor,
manager, and consultant. He has worked in a variety of industries, including education,
technology, telecommunications, and healthcare, and for a number of groups such as Microsoft
Research, Ciena Systems, Nortel Networks, Partners Healthcare, Kaplan Test Preparation, and
Harvard Medical School.
Prior to founding BetterPM.com, Aaron was a manager within the higher education and healthcare
consulting practice at Huron Consulting Group. During his time with Huron, he worked with four of
the top 10 research universities in country, leading a variety of endeavors in technology, strategy,
and training.
Over the course of his career, much of Aarons work has focused on training and course
development. He has developed new project management and process standards, software
development methodologies, and new project introductions. He has authored course syllabi and
materials, trained and evaluated instructors, led classroom instruction, and worked with top
university staff across the country.

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