UPDATE: PMI has postponed the implementation of these changes until January 2, 2021
If you have been considering getting your Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification but have been putting it off, now is the time to reconsider waiting … and Solarity is committed to helping!
The Project Management Institute (PMI)® has announced they are changing the PMP® exam as of January 2, 2021. The new Exam Content Outline (ECO) is a dramatic change from the existing 2018 version and it appears it will result in MASSIVE changes to the exam but they are not updating the PMBOK® Guide to match it for another 18 months.
It’s Not Just a Minor Update
PMI’s volunteer ECO taskforce wasn’t bound by the current version of the PMBOK® Guide, so the changes are huge!
The 5 current Process Groups are being replaced by 3 entirely different ones:
- People (42% of test questions)
- Process (50% of test questions)
- Business Environment (8% of test questions)
Overall 50% of the test questions will focus on the Predictive or Waterfall Project Management approach while the other 50% will now focus on the use of Agile or Hybrid Project Management.
PMI® is currently seeking volunteers to help with the creation of PMBOK® Guide Version 7, which is not scheduled to be release until 2021. That means that for approximately 18 months, the PMBOK and the ECO will not be very well aligned.
The above changes certainly offer the Project Management Institute (PMI)® the opportunity to increase the complexity of the test considerably with, we anticipate, more of a focus on situational questions. No one will really know just how much the test will change until people begin to sit for the exam. But why wait?
Get Certified Before the Exam Change
Solarity will be offering classes in September and October that will provide you the opportunity to be ready to take the exam while it is still based on the current ECO. Our PMP®/CAPM® Exam Preparation with Coaching course allows you the focus time to learn and review the concepts and terms necessary to pass the PMP® exam. It also includes videos, tips, tricks, exercises and additional materials that are targeted specifically toward passing the exam. We also include a complete PMP® exam simulation at the end of the course to help ensure you are ready to take the exam, or we will provide additional insight into the specific areas where you may need to review class materials to improve your chances of success the first time. If that isn’t enough to make you sign up, we also discuss and offer advice on how to prepare your application to help ensure approval to sit for the exam.
These classes will be your last opportunity to receive training to prepare for the PMP® exam based on the current ECO. To add one more incentive for you to make the commitment toward having the coveted PMP® designation added to your signature block, Solarity is offering a discounted rate for those that have previously taken one of our PMP® Prep classes but have put off taking the actual exam.
Why not make this the moment you do something for yourself and your career. Class sizes are limited to ensure the most personalized experience possible, so contact us and make the commitment to getting your PMP® certification before December 15th!
To learn more about the upcoming changes to the PMP® exam, sign up for our webinar on Friday, August 23rd.
About the Author
Glenn Thomas, PMP®, CSM, is a Project Manager and Trainer with Solarity, helping our clients achieve their strategic goals by assessing their current situation, defining their desired future state, and then acting upon an approved plan to help them reach their desired outcomes. Before joining Solarity, Glenn served as the Director of IT Governance for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is a member of both the global organization & local chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, and has served on the Board of the PMI Bluegrass Chapter as a past President and VP of Communications. Glenn possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge in Project Management, Strategic Planning, and Governance, and we are excited for him to be a part of our team.
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