Prospective PMPs have requested me a lot in different PMP preparation forums to share how I cleared my PMP exam in 30 days including the PMP audit process, please read my post on “PMP preparation strategy”. Here is the date by date account of PMP exam process, application to audit to exam.

I have been thinking of giving PMP exam for couple of years, but never prepared for it. One day in Feb’09, one of my friend mailed me that he has cleared the PMP exam with a message ” Pappu Pass ho gaya” (Kid cleared the exam). That day I asked congratulated me and he told me to stop being Lazy and I should also go ahead and get it, it’s worth it. So this instance triggered me to give a shot to PMP certification.
I reached to training department in my organization and asked them about PMP exam preparation courses (mandatory hours) and I was informed that they have tie up with cyberlearning to provide online Project management course which fulfills one of the eligibility requirements (mandatory 35 contact hours). If you are looking to get these mandatory hours at an optimum cost, I will recommend PMP prepcast. To know more about PMP prepcast, do read <”Benefits of PMP Prepcast”.>

Let’s begin the timeline.

May 15: I finally started uploading information to the PMP application interface on PMI website. I feel this step was not at all easy in terms of collecting all the information for last 5 years and then converting them in PMI format. Here comes the internet (especially Google) to my rescue. If you search on internet using a combination of these key words: “application, PMP, project, management, experience”, you will get so many articles and tolls (excel sheets) which can help you document your experience in a structured format. <Here is the List of some of these websites which provide good information on completing the PMP applications.> It took me 3 days of hard work to complete the application.

May 22: I submitted my application on PMI website and instantly got an email with subject “Your PMI credential application has been received” with a message that they will review and notify in next 5 business days to make the payment.

This is the day I started preparing for exam using Rita Mulcahy’s book.

May 27: A lot happened on this day. I received an email from PMI, after 5 days / 3 business days that my application has been reviewed and I can go ahead and make the payment for PMP examination. Now I had the two options while paying for the fee. Either I go ahead and pay a non member fee which was $ 555 or I take the membership, $129 and pay members fee which was $ 405. After evaluating benefits using a cost benefit analysis , I decided to take the membership and pay $129 + $ 405 for my exam. Why I took the membership? Please read my post on “Benefits of PMI membership”. So finally I made the payment and I got an email that payment is received, however you might be aware that as soon as you make the payment your application goes through a random application selection process. If you application is selected, then you have to follow PMI’s PMP application audit process and if you not then you are through and can schedule your exam.

I was unlucky to be selected for Audit process. There is nothing to be afraid of this audit process if you have filled the correct information in the application but this process delays your preparation and an unnecessary tension is there till the time you submit the documents and get an approval email. I lost lot of time here as I had to follow up with my ex-employers and project teams to get the required documents. I was not able to study during this time. There is not much available on 1st hand experience on PMP audit process, so I thought of posting my experience, if interested do read my post “My application selected for PMP audit”. Finally I submitted all the required documents and mailed them through registered post to PMI.

June 11: Last 14 days were tough as I was not aware when am I going to get approval from PMI and whether I will be able to give exam on PMBOK 3rd edition. On this day, finally got the email to schedule my exam, went through lot of tension, however I kept the faith continued my studies with PMBOK 3rd, still optimistic about 30th June deadline. As soon as I got the email, I reached out to Prometric website to schedule my exam, latest was June 25th and that too 80 miles. I selected that date as I wanted to give it before 30th June. I later preponed it to 24th June as a slot was available at Prometric center near my
place. Do read my post on selecting exam dates, “Tips to select exam dates”. Now, only 2 weeks to go.

June 24: Finally appeared for exam and cleared with Proficient in most of the areas. Initially thought, I will watch a good movie and take a good sleep.

To read about my strategy, please read  “PMP preparation Strategy” and “PMP exam strategy”