Taking the PMP® Exam in 2020 or 2021?

As you know, PMI is changing the PMP Exam as of January 2, 2021.  We know you are trying to figure out which option is best for you in the time that remains — or if you have already made your decision — to help shake off any worries you may have on your journey to certification.

Why Take the Current PMP Exam in 2020?

If you have the qualifications to sit for the exam now, why wait?  If you are confident in your preparation, you should leverage your knowledge and take it now.  You can schedule to take the exam online or in person.  However, if you are not ready or struggling to achieve your goal before the exam changes in January, but still want to take the exam before it changes, consider a virtual class with an experienced instructor.

You know the benefits of becoming a PMP.  If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be considering it.  Getting the benefit of being PMP-certified will get you those benefits that much sooner.  Having the PMP now, could help you further demonstrate your value in your current position. It could also help you secure a new job in this uncertain economic climate.

The current PMP Exam is a well-known. Exam parameters, question style, and virtually everything else about the current exam is known and documented. We have it figured out. The current exam content outline has been in place for several years.  We understand the level of difficulty and what it takes to pass.  On the contrary, we are still getting to know the 2021 exam and its level of difficulty.   This uncertainty can increase the areas you’ll need to understand and study.

Although the passing score of the current exam is not published, it is a well-established, consistent figure and it will not change before the end of 2020.

Therefore, if you qualify to sit for the exam, are executing on your study plan and have your education hours, getting your cert in 2020 is still your best option!

Why Take the NEW PMP Exam in 2021?

The PMP Exam is not trivial.  It requires disciplined study and 35 training contact hours.  Don’t try to jam it in this year if you don’t have the time or you need to take additional classes to get your contact hours.

If you don’t have the required experience hours for your application right now, you should probably plan for the new exam.  Get the new book and start studying now!  You can learn new skills and become a better project manager to impact your work today.

If you are experienced in Agile or Hybrid, it will help with 50% of exam questions in the new 2021 exam.  Remember, study will still be required — particularly if you don’t have plan-driven project experience which remains a significant part of the PMP exam.

You may have more options to take the exam in a testing center in 2021.  We suspect pandemic conditions will improve in 2021, allowing for more testing center options to open.  Also, many testers find the online proctored exam environment is much more restrictive than in-person testing centers.

What is My Best Option Right Now?

The best plan for most of us right now is to try to get the exam in and get certified in 2020.  Either way, you need time to study.  Be sure to honestly assess your time available to study and your overall readiness.

No matter which choice you make, RMC can help.

RMC’s Exam Support and Guidance

If you choose to take the 2020 exam, and you are using our 9^th Edition products or eLearning,  that’s great; however if, for some reason, you find you can’t take the exam in 2020,  we offer free or discounted upgrades to 10^th Edition products for the new 2021 PMP exam.  For students in our 9^th Edition instructor-led courses, who fail the exam in 2020, you qualify for our class guarantee (subject to guarantee provisions).

Want to speak with someone directly?  Our customer service staff can help advise you. Please contact RMC at 952-846-4484 or info@rmcls.com with any questions.  You can also register for one of our PMP Exam free monthly webinars.

Sources: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/project-management-pmp