PMI POSTPONES CHANGES IN PMP® EXAMINATION FROM JANUARY 2021

The PMI just posted that the change for the exam date will not take effect until January 2^nd, 2021. With certifications being suspended and the uncertainty to know how long they will last has required to postpone the date to change the exam, initially scheduled for July 2020. We review some of the changes:

PMP®

From January 2^nd, 2021, the exam will be modified in order to get adapted to the progress in the profession and the impact of emerging trends on it. Progress is seen through a study of project manager’s role and conducted by the PMI every 3 ~ 5 years. The study results have updated the manager’s responsibilities in the "Examination Content Outline" project. This document is the study plan for the exam, which is the basis of the exam’s questions. Hence, even if the PMBOK® is not modified, the content of the exam will be modified.

Main changes:

• Questions approach: 50% of the questions will have an agile or hybrid approach, in order to get adapted to complex environments.

• Domains: the structure of the “Examination Content Outline” is changed from groups of processes to domains: People, Processes and Business Environment. This document is the basis for the content of the exam’s questions.

• 19% New content: Comparing the previous document "Examination Content Outline", 19% of tasks are new. Most are already covered in the PMBOK®, although some of them are new.

In order to adapt to changes, our PMP® and CAPM® certification preparation courses will be updated, as well as the simulator.

Our recommendation is to take the exam before January 2^nd, 2021, if you already started studying. It is important to be carefully informed of the exam dates, because in these kinds of situations the examination centers are easily overloaded, although fortunately there are already two centers to take the exam in Madrid. Pay full attention since the list of the Pearson Vue centers that shows up when a query is made on their page, only those with a level of quality are eligible to perform the PMP exam, which means that they are fewer.

Online alternatives for certification

Many companies and organizations are currently facing the challenge of moving forward in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, while seeking a balance between safety and well-being in their teams. In a short period of time, it has been necessary to make rapid changes, sacrifices and adjustments to the way we work and live. Many of these new working practices will continue, i.e. they will not be temporary and the collective relationship after the COVID-19 pandemic will mean that the way of working in the future will be very different.

E-learning options and customizable digital services are important to PMI, so they have put in place different resources for their members, certification holders and stakeholders from anywhere in the world.

Online PMP supervisor test

Candidates are expected to have the option to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam online from their home or office in mid-April. As a reminder, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certifications can now be completed online.

Elisabet Duocastella Pla

European Donor Development Partner del  Project Management Institute Educational Foundation.

Profesora en La Salle-URL