Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification Exam Preparation Course

College of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Student FAQs

GENERAL INFORMATION

"Which version of the PMBOK® Guide does this course cover?"

This course reflects the 4th edition of the PMBOK Guide, which is now the manual that the PMP® certification exam references. The CAPM® certification exam will reference the 3rd edition of the PMBOK until August 1, 2009, at which time it too will reference the 4th edition.

"I'm interested in getting my PMP or CAPM credential. What should I do first?"

We strongly recommend that you read the PMP handbook or the CAPM handbook to find out everything you need to know about qualifying for your PMI® credential and scheduling your exam.This handbook tells you everything you need to know about PMI's processes and policies. It also includes helpful links to sections within the PMI web site and Prometric testing centers (the provider of the PMP/CAPM exams).

PMI requires that all credential applicants read the entire PMP or CAPM handbook. It is important to read and understand the handbook because it:

• Helps you determine which credential is most appropriate for you
• Contains important information about the credential process
• Outlines the eligibility requirements for the credential
• Provides contact information for PMI and PMI's test administration partner, Prometric
• Gives guidelines for examination scheduling, test administration, and test site policies
• Discusses credential fees and refund policies
• Details PMI's policies and procedures, such as the audit process and appeals procedure

You also will have to affirm that you have read and understand the handbook before you submit your credential application.

"How long do I have to complete the course?"

From the day you are given access to the course, you will have 120 days to complete the course. Your registration e-mail message will include the specific dates during which you can access the course. You will also have an additional 90 day access to an online testing bank, where you can practice with sample exam questions.

"How much does this cost?"

The fees for this course are as follows:

• $1,495 for the online course

Discounts on this program will be offered to the following University of Illinois groups:

• University of Illinois employees: $1,200*
• Current University of Illinois students: $695*

Note: Fee amount does not include membership with the Project Management Institute (PMI®), or the cost of the certification exam. It does, however, include the textbook, practice quizzes, and 90-day access to an online test bank of over 10,000 practice questions.

* Current University of Illinois employees will be defined as active, full-time faculty or staff of the University (all campuses). Current University of Illinois students will be defined as having been registered full-time at the University (all campuses) within four months prior to their registration in this course.

"What textbooks are required for this course, and how do I get them?"

All required materials will be provided to you within the course itself, primarily the digital textbook, entitled Secrets of the PMP Exam Success Study Guide, Sixth Edition (2009), ISBN: 0-9763147-7-0.

It is strongly recommended that you also get a copy of the PMI® manual, entitled A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Fourth Edition (2008), ISBN: 978-1933890517. An electronic copy of this book is available for free if you join the PMI organization.

"How or when do I access the online test bank?"

Once you are nearing the end of the online course, you will be given details for accessing the online test bank in the course itself. You will be given a URL and a temporary login and password, at which point you be prompted to set up your own profile in the test bank system. You will have access to the test bank for 90 days from the point at which you activate your profile. For issues related to test bank access, send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu.

"Am I eligible for financial assistance for this course?"

This course does not usually qualify for financial aid (Federal, Veteran's, etc.) or the University of Illinois employee tuition waiver (although it is available to employees at a reduced cost). However, your employer may be willing to provide tuition reimbursement for your participation in this course.

"You say that this course counts as 35 PDUs. What does this mean?"

PDUs (or professional development units) is the unit of measure PMI uses to quantify the amount of time you've spent working on project management education or service. One PDU equates to one hour of "seat time," "contact time" or clock hours. So, in essence, a 35 PDU course should take you approximately 35 clock hours to complete.

"Does this course satisfy the 35 PDUs of project management education required by PMI to sit for the PMP exam?"

Yes, this course fulfills that requirement. It also more than fulfills the 23 hours required for the CAPM® certification.

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

"I can't remember my Enterprise ID login or password."

Send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu. They will be able to assist you.

"How do I cancel my registration?"

Send an e-mail the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu with your request. The team will verify that you meet the cancellation conditions (see our Terms and Conditions for more information) and they will handle your request.

"I can't find my registration information."

Send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu. They will be able to assist you.

COURSE ACCESS QUESTIONS

"How do I access the course?"

You will receive an e-mail notification once you have been given access to the online course. This e-mail will include the URL for the course and your login and password. If you cannot locate this e-mail, the URL for the course is global.mrooms2.net, and you can e-mail the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu for your login and password.

"I can't log in to my course."

Send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu with details about the issue you are experiencing.

"How do I get technical support once I'm in the course?"

For technical support during your course experience, please contact the PMP Help Team by sending an email to PMPHelp@uillinois.edu.

When contacting the Help Desk, please provide the following information:

• Name
• Login Name
• Name of the Course
• Operating System (e.g., Windows XP, Mac OSX, etc.)
• Internet Browser with Version (e.g., IE7, FireFox 2.0, etc.)
• Specific details surrounding your issue (e.g., page error occurred on, error message, date, time, narrative description of task you were trying to complete, etc.)

"I need to reset my course password."

Go to global.mrooms2.net and click on the login link at the top of the screen. This will take you to the login page, where you can click on a "Help me log in" button. This will allow you to reset your password. If this doesn't work, send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu with details about the issue you are experiencing.

"I can't remember my course user ID."

Go to global.mrooms2.net and click on the login link at the top of the screen. This will take you to the login page, where you can click on a "Help me log in" button. This will allow you to enter your e-mail address and be notified of your user ID. If this doesn't work, send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu with details about the issue you are experiencing.

CERTIFICATION/EXAM QUESTIONS

"How do I know whether I'm qualified to sit for the PMP or CAPM certification exams?"

The Project Management Institute outlines their requirements for both the PMP and CAPM exams on their web site. We recommend you review their section on PMI credentials. Any questions about whether you are eligible for PMI certification should be directed to PMI itself.

"What do I need to do in order to sit for the PMP or CAPM certification exams?"

You should begin the process as soon as possible to get authorization from PMI to seek either the PMP or CAPM credential. You will need to apply (online is recommended, but paper is also available) for the credential and receive an authorization number. It is this number you'll need in order to schedule your PMP or CAPM exam. Consult the PMP handbook or the CAPM handbook for the specific information on applying for each credential. The Obtaining a Credential section of the PMI site covers this information and also provides you online access for beginning your credential application.

"What is the difference between the PMP and CAPM certifications?"

The difference between the two is in the years of project management experience and the hours of project management education required. The CAPM certification requires less experience as a project manager and fewer education hours than the PMP certification. The CAPM exam is also less expensive and shorter than the PMP exam. See our Prequisites page for the specific requirements for each certification or access the Credential Overview section of the PMI web site for more information.

"How much do the PMI certification exams cost, and what is the format of the exams?"

Visit the PMI web site for the most up-to-date information on the cost and format of the CAPM exam or the PMP exam.

"Where do I go to take the PMI certification exam?"

We do not administer the PMI certification exams. You will need to schedule and pay for your certification exam through Prometric Testing and Assessment. You can schedule your PMI certification exam by visiting Prometric's web site at http://www.prometric.com/PMI/default.htm. Remember that you'll need to have authorization from PMI in order to schedule an exam with Prometric. Consult the PMP handbook or the CAPM handbook for details on this process.

"I've failed the PMI certification test. How do I request re-enrollment in the course?"

Send an e-mail to the PMP Help Team at PMPHelp@uillinois.edu. The team will verify that you meet the re-enrollment conditions (see our Terms and Conditions for more information) and they will handle your request.