FAQ for PMP/CAPM® Certification

What is the difference between PMP® and CAPM® Certification Exam?

• CAPM® is for new or aspiring project managers, entry-level project managers. They would need 1,500 hours of work experience or 23 hours of project management education. The exam covers considerably less material and focuses on the PMBOK® Guide and is a knowledge-based exam. It focuses more on terminology; Total Exam time is for 3 hours. Total number of questions on the exam: 150

• PMP® Exam is for experienced project managers. The would need a Bachelor’s Degree, 4,500 hours of project management experience and 35 hours of Project Management education. If they do not have a Bachelor’s Degree, you would need a High school diploma or equivalent, 7,500 hours of project management experience and 35 hours of Project Management education. The exam covers all materials from the PMBOK® Guide plus additional concepts such as Risk, Quality and Agile methodology. The exam is more situational based. Total Exam time is 4 hours, 200 questions.

What does the Bootcamp cover?

• The class will review all pertinent materials that will be covered on the PMP® exam in accordance with the PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition. The most recent update to the materials was March 2018.

Is this course offered live online?

• Yes, we do offer the course live online. The students can interact with the instructor and will receive the same course materials that students in class will receive.

Do you offer a free retake of the course?

• Yes. Attendees may retake the course once within six months. 

Is the exam fee included with the Bootcamp?

• No, the exam fee is not included as part of the course price. However, students can get a leg up prior to taking the Boot Camp and register with PMI.org. The membership fee is $139.00 ($129.00+$10.00 new member fee). There is a possibility for a volume discount on memberships if the organization is sponsoring the membership. They would have to call PMI directly to obtain further information. A member will receive a $150.00 discount on the exam. The exam fee for PMI members is $405.00, and $555 for non-members. Members also received a free downloadable copy PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition. Trainees can begin reading the PMBOK® prior to attending the Boot Camp.

Can I take the exam without taking a PM Education course?

• No, the trainees cannot apply for the exam until they have completed the 35 hours of required project management education for the PMP® Exam or 23 hours for the CAPM®

How does the application process work with PMI? Does the Boot Camp review how to set up the application?

• Throughout the Bootcamp our instructors will provide you instructions on how to register with PMI, and how to complete your application, on the last day of class, when students are taking the examination, the instructors will review the application and help submit the application if the student is ready to submit.
• Once an application is started, you have 90 days to complete it. It takes PMI approximately 5 days to review the application. If the application is selected for audit, you have 90 days to send the materials requested. PMI normally takes 5-7 days to complete the audit. When approved, PMI will send an email confirmation providing instructors to schedule your exam. The exam cannot be scheduled until payment is made.
• You have up to 1 year from date of application approval to take the exam (exam can be taken up to 3 times during this year).

Where do I take this exam?

• The exam is taken at a Prometric testing center. You will find out whether you pass or fail when the exam is complete.

Can I cancel the exam after scheduling the exam?

• Yes, a student can cancel their exam. If it is done within 30 days of scheduling the exam, there is a $70-dollar rescheduling fee. You have until 2 full days before your exam date to cancel or reschedule; however, you will forfeit the entire exam fee.

What happens if I fail the exam?

• You can retake the exam up to 3 times in one year. There is a fee to retake the exam. Cost for PMI members, $275. Cost for nonmembers, $375.

How soon after the course should I take the exam?

• There is no set time, each student has varying needs, we do not suggest taking the exam the next day after your finish the Boot Camp. The PMP® exam is difficult, and you will need some time to review all the materials and ensure you have a complete understanding. However, we do not suggest waiting too long either.

What are the PMP® exam questions like?

• Eighty (80) percent of the questions on the exam are related to the planning, execution, and monitoring and control phases of project management. Nearly one-third of the questions are related to the Execution phase of project management.

There are six types of questions that you’ll find on the PMP® exam:

• Formula questions involve using specific formulas to calculate things like Schedule Variance (SV), profit and Cost Performance Index (CPI). While formula questions do require mathematical calculations, you cannot use a calculator during the exam.
• Situational questions require you to apply theoretical knowledge to a hypothetical situation. These questions are tricky in that more than one answer will seem correct, but there is always one option that is the best fit.
• Knowledge questions assess your ability to recall or recognize specific concepts in a hypothetical situation. You might be required to identify information from a graph or chart.
• Interpretational questions require you to use calculations, theories, and other facts to assess a project’s position or situation using the data provided.
• Technical questions require you to draw upon the expertise learned in the PMBOK® guide to solving a project problem.
• PMBOK® questions, like knowledge questions, evaluate your ability to recall information from the PMBOK® guide, from which the exam draws its test content.

Is the PMP Exam difficult?

• The PMP ® exam is a 200-question, multiple-choice exam that you have up to four hours to complete. Each multiple-choice question offers four or five answer choices. It’s important to note that 25 of the 200 questions are sample questions intended for future exams that do not count towards your score. Distinguishing between the sample questions and actual exam questions is impossible. To pass the exam, you’ll need to answer at least 106 of the 175 questions correctly (approximately 60%).

Are you approved by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®?

• Yes, we are approved Yes, we have been reviewed and approved as a provider of project management training by PMI. As a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), we abide by PMI established quality assurance criteria. Our REP number is 4768 (NYC Career Centers).

How long does my PMP® certification last?

• Certified project managers must renew their PMP® certification every three years. To renew the certification, a student must have at least 60 hours of PDUs (Professional Development Units) every three years. PMI® members have access to free PDUs throughout the year by signing up for free seminars/classes on PMI’s website.