First it should be stated that the reason why PMI randomly audits PMP applications is solely to maintain the quality of the applicants becoming PMP certified by making sure that all applicants are eligible for the PMP credential. Naturally, PMI cannot audit all the PMP applications, but auditing just a small percentage will deter quite a few (though definitely not all) applicants that do not meet the requirements.

The PMP audit process starts immediately after the applicants pays the fees for the exam, at this point PMI might elect to audit the candidate’s application who will be notified electronically shortly after paying the PMP fees.

Once notified, the candidate has to provide PMI with documents supporting his application. This might include:

• College/University diplomas (copies)
• Signed attestations from supervisors in the projects that were documented in the candidate’s application
• Proof of accumulating the 35 contact hours. This may include university/college certificates, letters certifying that training has been undertaken, etc…

The candidate has to physically mail (no other form of sending documents is accepted) all the supporting documents to the PMI headquarters in Pennsylvania. Once PMI receives the candidate’s mail, it will make a decision on the candidate’s application within 5 working days. If accepted, the candidate will be allowed to take the test, if not, the candidate will be refunded the fees.

Note that PMI sometimes audits applicants who are already certified, this is very rare, and only happens when someone raises concerns about the applicant’s actual eligibility prior to taking the exam. If an already PMP certified Project Manager gets audited and fails the process, then PMI will revoke his credential.

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A rule of thumb is that any government issued identification with the applicant’s picture and signature is acceptable. This includes drivers license, passports, permanent resident cards (US and Canada, referred to as “Green card” in the US).

There are some government issued identifications that do not have any photos, in these cases, a secondary identification (doesn’t have to be governmental) showing the applicant’s photo is required (for example, a valid university card). In case the government issued identification lacks the applicant’s signature, then also a secondary identification bearing the signature is required (for example, a credit card signed by the applicant).

Any form of identification presented to PMI should have the same name as the one on PMI records (otherwise the applicant will be denied taking the test).

Failure to submit proper identification when taking the test usually results in barring the applicant from taking the exam. The main reason behind PMI’s strictness about this is to prevent people from taking exams for others. If the applicant is denied from taking the PMP exam because of this reason, then he must reschedule the exam and pay the full rescheduling fees. PMI treats this case as if the applicant missed the PMP exam with a voluntarily reason.

Note: Social Security Cards/Social Insurance Cards are not an acceptable form of identification (although government issued), as they bear no signature nor a photo. Library cards and gym membership cards are not accepted as secondary form of identification.

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Voluntarily reasons are those reasons that are under the applicant’s control such:

• Traveling for leisure/business
• Overload at work
• Marriage

Involuntary reasons are those reasons that are beyond the applicant’s control, such as:

• Urgent medial issues
• Family illness
• Death of a close relative
• Accidents
• etc…

In either case, informing PMI in advance (48 hours in case of a Computer Based Test, 35 days in case of a Paper Based Test) will allow the person to either reschedule the PMP exam for free or cancel the PMP exam and get a refund.

Informing PMI after the PMP test should happen within 72 hours of the test day by contacting the PMI customer care department, failure to do so will result in paying the full reexamination fee. Even when the applicant informs PMI within the 72 hours after the test, it is at PMI’s discretion to whether accept the applicant’s excuse or not. Naturally, it is very hard for PMI to accept any “voluntarily reason” as an excuse for missing the test. In case of an “involuntarily reason”, PMI may request related documents to the applicant’s case, such as death certificate, accident report, doctor/hospital report.

In case the PMP applicant elects to proceed with a reexamination (instead of canceling the exam), the PMP exam should be scheduled within 1 year from the date the PMP application was approved.

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The answer is no, PMP applicants are not allowed to bring a calculator with them to the PMP exam. In fact, according to the PMP Handbook, all the following items are forbidden in the testing center:

• calculators, cell phones (including iphones and blackberries), pagers, laptops, ipods, and any recording device
• any kind of food or beverage (including junk food and bottled water)
• notebooks, scratch paper, and dictionaries
• coats, sweaters, and other personal items

However, the good news is that calculators are integrated into the CBT (Computer Based Testing) exam, and are provided by PMI in case of a PBT (Paper Based Testing) exam. Additionally scratch paper is also provided to candidates taking either kind of exam. Note that candidates have to surrender all the material given to them by PMI (including used scratch paper) once they finish their exam.

© 2009 Project Management Learning – Reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited without the written consent of Project Management Learning.

The short and only answer is No. PMI does not penalize examinees (e.g. by reducing their score) if they answer wrongly on the PMP exam. Not only this fact is comforting for PMP applicants, but it can also be used as a strategy to their advantage: even if they don’t know the right answer, examinees can choose a random answer (or an answer that is more likely to be the right one) and “hope” it’s the right answer.

The best thing to do in a PMP exam is answering every single question, there is no point whatsoever to leave questions unanswered, in fact, doing so (leaving questions unanswered) can only do harm. On the other hand, answering all the questions on the PMP exam will more likely increase the applicant’s chances to pass the exam.

Note: Various sources “claim” that the most common right answer in any multiple choice exam is B. Having said that, the previous statement should be taken with a grain of salt as none of the sources had their claim scientifically proven.

© 2009 Project Management Learning – Reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited without the written consent of Project Management Learning.

The are several ways to get 35 contact hours for your PMP application, including:

• Taking a Project Management course at a university/college. For example, if a Project Management course is 12 weeks long, with 3 hours every week, then this will give you 12 x 3 = 36 contact hours.
• Taking a Project Management training session either with an R.E.P. (Registered Education Provider) or at a company sponsored program.
• Taking a distance learning Project Management course.

Note that you are not restricted to a specific time-frame previous to your PMP application for the collection of the 35 contact hours. For example, if you took a Project Management course 10 years ago, the hours you’ve earned are still eligible and claimable in your PMP application.

Also note that any contact hours you submit in your application must relate to a course work that is already done (eg. finished, completed). For example, if you’re still undergoing a training in Project Management in house, and you’ve already accrued the required 35 contact hours in this training, but this training is not yet over, then you cannot claim the contact hours in your PMP application.

© 2009 Project Management Learning – Reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited without the written consent of Project Management Learning.