Tag: PMP® Exam Prep

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RMC Training Partner Program

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RMC’s Training Partner Program is designed for those who want to teach an exam preparation course using our trusted, proven materials. Rita “wrote the book” on PMP® exam preparation and her approach and philosophy are the foundation for our effective, up to date study materials!  Our best-selling products have been used by over 750,000 students since 1991!

Affordable Pricing for RMC’s Training Partners

As an RMC Authorized Training Partner, you’ll receive substantial discounts on our proven products for your students.  Plus, you’ll use our materials as the basis for a course you design including our comprehensive slide deck, effective exercises, and our FASTrack® online exam simulator.

Whether you’re teaching online in a live virtual format or in-person, and offering a once-a-week course, boot camp, or anything in between, our Training Partner Program can work for you. And you can be assured of accurate, up-to-date materials despite exam content changes.

Enjoy Discounts When You Select Multiple Programs

You’ll enjoy special discounts when you select more than one of our Training Partner Programs, which gives you a very affordable way to expand your Certification offerings.

PMP® Exam Prep
PMI-ACP® Exam Prep
PMI-PBA® Exam Prep
CAPM® Exam Prep

Available for training companies, universities and colleges, corporate internal training departments, PMI Chapters and those hosting study groups, RMC’s Training Partner Program is the #1 choice for those who want the most effective training program.

Plus, as a Training Partner you have the freedom to share your knowledge and expertise with your students. We’ve created our Program so you can customize your course to fit the needs and nuances of your customer, while ensuring the students are prepared for their exam. It’s the best of all worlds!

Training Partner Program Features

PowerPoint slide deck based on our best-selling Exam Prep Books. Each slide deck is a good foundation upon which Training Partners develop their own course.

  • Substantial discounts on our best-selling books, exam simulators, specialized flashcards and additional products for your students and you’re free to decide which to include in your course.
  • Instructor License for our best-selling FASTrack® Online Exam Simulators
  • Exam Prep Book – both the printed and cloud versions for you to use
  • Hot Topics Flashcards – cloud version for you to use
  • Instructor Notes*
  • “Authorized Training Partner—RMC Learning Solutions” graphic to use on your website and in your promotional materials to identify you’re using our world-class products and materials.
  • Supplemental online tools and information*
  • Ongoing support from RMC staff

* For PMP Exam Prep Program only

RMC is a Training Partner Leader

As the leader in training and professional development since 1991, we believe students learn and retain more through real-world application and we ensure our partners have the tools they need to apply this concept in their classes. We carefully designed our Training Partner Program to bring out the best in both instructor and student.

For more information about our Training Partner Program, please contact Marcie McCarthy at mmccarthy@rmcls.com, 952-641-6413 or 952-846-4484.

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What Good Are Certifications, Anyway?

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It is said that companies are solely interested in skills training rather than certification.  Why should a company care whether their employees are certified project managers, business analysts or Scrum Masters so long as they are able to perform those functions? What good are certifications, anyway?

Do Organizations Value Certification?

For a long time, we had seen this line of thinking play out.  There had been a reduction in sales of exam prep courses by our corporate clients while sales of our fundamentals courses in all areas increased. When we ask these clients if they want to get their employees certified, some said that they don’t see the value of certification.  There are several reasons why this line of thinking is, frankly, wrong.  And our corporate clients now seem to see this as well.  Certification training has rebounded.

One reason is due to the requirement that project managers working on government projects under a government contract over a certain dollar value, must be certified.  To compete for this business, aspiring government contractors need to identify certified project managers who will be working on the project.  Government business is likely grown significantly in the next few years as the result of efforts by the Federal Government to rebuild our infrastructure and to make the United States more competitive in world markets.  The more of this business out there, the greater the need for certified project managers. 

Investing in Certification Training

There are certainly other reasons for companies to invest in certification for their employees.  To get some insight into why companies are paying to get their employees certified, we asked our students. 

Software Developer Student Perspective

John (not his real name) is a developer at a software company (can’t say which one).  He’s relatively new in his career, been out of school two years.  John is in an MBA program but decided to take our CAPM® Exam Prep class, to study to become a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®.  We asked John why he wanted to get his CAPM®.

As a developer, John works almost exclusively on projects.  Placement on a project team is competitive.  As a developer John naturally wants to work on the most interesting and visible projects.  The more of those projects he can work on, the better his chances are of getting promoted or at least larger salary increases.  Even though John is not a project manager at this point in his career, having a working knowledge of the terminology and practices associated with project management is helpful in performing his work.

The natural question for us was, so why not just take a basic PM course.  Why bother with the certification?  John’s response was interesting.

Because selection is competitive, project managers look for things like the CAPM® to separate them from other applicants.  Because John is new to a large organization and not well known yet, the credential is helpful in making the first cut, to even get a shot at being on a project team.

PMP View of Agile Certification

Then there’s Mary.  She is a certified project manager, a Project Management Professional (PMP)®, in fact, she is wanting to become a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) ® so is taking our PMI-ACP® Exam Prep class.  Mary had gotten her PMP® years ago.  In fact, she was taught by Rita Mulcahy, the founder or RMC Learning Solutions, then passed the PMP® exam with flying colors on her first try (admittedly we’re blowing our own horn).  Mary is a longtime fan of RMC Learning Solutions.  We asked Mary to comment on the statement that: “companies don’t care whether their employees obtain certifications so long as they can do the work.”

Her response was: “Well, they should.”  Mary’s comments relating to the PMP® focused mostly on new hires.  “Say you’re looking to hire a project manager.  You get a large stack of resumes.  They all show experience, describe the projects the applicants worked on and their responsibilities on those projects.  You can’t interview everyone, and let’s face it, a lot of these resumes sound impressive.” She went on to describe the time she wasted interviewing applicants who had impressive resumes but had no clue what they were talking about or even what real project management was.

She found that applicants who had their PMP® were more likely to be actual project managers or at least had the minimum competence level necessary to perform project management work.  It did not take long before she started rejecting applicants who did not have their PMP® out of hand.  They never got to interview.  As far as she was concerned, the PMP® became a job requirement to be a project manager.  Her conclusion was that “yes, for the organization, skills are more important than the credential, however, in the hiring process, the PMP® credential allows her to save time by interviewing only qualified candidates.”  So it was more a perquisite for the employee than a value to the company.  “True,” she said.  “But if you want to keep your high performing employees, you need to do things like that.”

We asked why she was taking the PMI-ACP® Exam Prep class.  “Same reason,” she said.  “Agile is becoming more and more important in the workplace.  I need to stay current in best practices or be left behind.  Having this credential tells the world that I’m still on top of my game and it tells my company that I’m committed to being the best I can be.”

RMC Certification Training

So, from what we are seeing, there is still strong demand for certification, and it does have value.  Companies that feel to realize this are shortchanging their employees and, in the long run, themselves.

As you weigh the value of certification, remember it is an investment and you want your employees to train for their certification with proven, experienced training partners.  

RMC Learning Solutions offers Certification Training for the PMP and PMI-CAPM, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA.  We also offer as and Skill Development Courses & Self Study Products. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you!

Additional resources:

https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/About/The-value-of-certification.aspx

 

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5 Tips to Reduce PMP Exam Test-Taking Fear

Woman at computer studying for the PMP exam

Are you losing sleep worrying about taking the PMP exam? Is your mind flooded with all sorts of “what-ifs” related to possible exam catastrophes? Well, did you know that thoughts like these can hinder your exam performance and can cause you to waste exam prep time. Many of the fears you might be having are unrealistic and can be relieved through positive thinking and practicing your test-taking skills with an exam simulator. Consider these 5 tips to help alleviate your fear to achieve your goal of passing the exam.

1. Remember Your PMP Exam Test Taking Strategies

If you’ve used RMC exam prep products, or other study tools, you’ve developed test taking skills to boost your confidence. Focus on the test taking strategies you’ve learned, including:

  • Control the exam; do not let it control you.
  • Read the question and all four answer choices.
  • Watch for choices that are true statements but do not answer the question.
  • Be prepared for more than one “correct” answer, but there is only one “best” answer
  • Control frustration and maintain focus on each question.
  • Use the Mark for Review function on questions you struggle to answer. Return to marked questions later.

2. Keep a Positive Attitude

If you worry, you are spending time on the negative and will, in all likelihood, have a terrible experience. What can you do to change your view? Ask yourself what’s going on in your head? When taking practice exams, are you saying things to yourself like the phrases listed below?

  • I’m not fast enough
  • I will never get this
  • I will fail
  • Oh no, a formula question
  • I am sure I got that question wrong

Thoughts like these waste brain power and actually hurt you on the exam! Your strategy needs to include what you will do to stay positive before and during the exam.

Try using deep breathing techniques to help you relax and focus. Breathing techniques can be as simple as breathing deeply five times. If you have read a question more than three times, try taking a few deep breaths.

3. Dispel Common Unrealistic Fears

Your mind is a powerful tool. It can conjure up common fears or misconceptions that may not be realistic. For example:

  • Running out of time. Almost no one runs out of time. Practice your timing using PM FASTrack®.
  • Having test anxiety. Panic is a personal issue. If you think panic is a concern for you, make exam simulation core to your prep strategy. Practice taking exams in a situation similar to the actual testing environment.
  • Misunderstand PMI’s Perspective. Answer questions by applying good practices of project management from PMI’s perspective.  During the exam, rely on your exam prep training then your own project experience.
  • Remembering the formulas. Formulas may appear on the test. Thus far, test takers have not had to perform calculations during the exam.  However, you will need to know how to correctly identify key formulas.

4. Understand What to Expect

Though many fears you may have about taking the PMP exam are unrealistic, there are some things you should be prepared to expect. Doing so will also reduce your worry.

  • Follow your study plan. It is your road map and will serve you well.
  • Use exam simulation more than twice before taking the exam and achieve a score 75% or higher.
  • Use your project management knowledge — but be prepared to separate your experience from PMI’s perspective.
  • Understand your own test-taking tendencies. Pay attention to these during your prep class and practice tests.
  • Know what a project manager should do for each process. Practice Rita’s Process Chart game Track your score until you achieve 80% or higher.

5. Know Your PMP Exam Test Environment

You have the option to take your test online or in person. For in person testing, each center is different.  You will not have the exact same experience as someone else who has taken the exam before. Even in the same test center, you may experience differences. You need to eliminate as many distractions on the day of the test as possible. Read up on the test center process and their policies. PMI and your test center also have video tutorials that walk you through the experience. Consider some of these questions to reduce the unknowns about the test environment:

  • What can you bring into the test?
  • How many breaks do I get and what is the best way to use my breaks?
  • Where can I put my snacks so I can get to them when I need to?
  • What happens if the test crashes while I am taking it?”

Answers to these types of questions will give you a sense of control over the unknown. Know the process for signing in, taking the exam, and the post-test processes. Anything that might worry you, get the answers now.

For online testing, there can be a lot of technical elements to plan in advance to reduce stress and worry. Consider some of the following to set you mind at ease:

  • Make sure you are well versed in the rules of the online proctored format. Pearson Vue and PMI do a nice job provided the details of what to expect.
  • Find a quiet place away from the delivery people, pets and children. If you cannot be assured you will not be interrupted, consider scheduling a conference room at the office.
  • You will be asked to perform a system check. Try to do this beforehand so you don’t experience delays once the exam starts. This will also help you make sure your anti-virus and firewalls allow access.

Trust Your PMP Exam Testing Skills

Don’t underestimate the power of your test prep training. Studying and taking practice tests have honed your test-taking skills. You’ve tweaked your strategy until it works for you. Now you just need to follow it. Don’t do things differently when you sit for the real exam. Remember to bring a positive attitude

So, stop losing sleep and use these tips to help reduce or eliminate your worries about the exam. Good luck on your exam!  And remember if you have any questions, just contact us.  We’re here to help.

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PMP Exam Tool: Master Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart

Image of Rita Mulcahy's Process Chart game

If you are preparing for the Project Management Professional exam, having a proven PMP Exam tool to support the learning process is key.  One such tool is Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart game. Rita’s game is an important tool to learn the project management process in more detail, quickly and effectively.  It helps you understand what should be done when.

PMP Exam – Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart Game

  1. An Introduction to Rita’s Process Chart
  2. The Process Domain and the PMP Exam
  3. What You Need to Understand to Pass the PMP
  4. Study for the PMP® Using Rita’s Process Chart Game
  5. Prepare for the PMP

An Introduction to Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart

When students discover Rita’s process chart game, they often ask, “Which parts should I memorize?” It’s a simple question, right? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so straightforward. It’s more than just memorizing―it’s realizing that to pass the exam, you need to thoroughly understand each process.

Let’s start with some basics. Understanding the overall process of project management is integral to learning the terms and concepts for the exam.

PMI® has defined five process groups in Project Management. Rita’s Process Chart is our interpretation of those groups and the associated actions that result in unique outputs attributed to each process.

Rita’s process chart game is not intended to map to other management resources. Its function is to state the efforts involved in management a project.   The game helps you learn the five process groups of Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing.

The Process Domain and the PMP Exam

Prior to January 2020, the PMP exam was generally focused on planned project management.  Planned project management revolves around five process groups and nine knowledge areas.  This is still the case; however, after January 2020, the PMP exam dramatically changed.

Now the exam is organized around three Domains. These are People, Process and Business Environment.  Planned project management is part of the Process Domain along with agile and hybrid project management methodologies.  Process represents 50% of the exam content.

Planned project management remains an important part of the Process Domain.  For this reason, you still need to understand planned aspects of project management to pass the exam and why Rita’s Process Chart Game is an important tool for passing.

What You Need to Understand to Pass the PMP

The PMP exam may ask questions that present a situation which requires you to which process group the project is in.  Rita’s process chart game lays out what specific actions are in each process group and why these actions occur.  There is no specific order for the activities in most of the process groups.  The exception is the planning process group which has a set order of actions.

Rita’s Process Chart game will solidify your understanding of the overall project management process and help you identify and focus on gaps in your knowledge.

Study for the PMP® Using Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart Game

A typical exam question will only give you some of the information. For example: “You’ve just gained acceptance of interim deliverables from the customer.” Because you’ve done some memorization, you’ll know this action occurs in the Monitor and Control process group.

Now you know where you are within the process but that’s only half the battle. The question then asks, “What should happen next?” The exam is testing your knowledge of the process and outputs associated with the action. In this example, the process is Validate Scope, and the outputs are: work performance information, accepted deliverables, change requests, and project documents updates.

If you understand the actions associated within a process, and what process groups they primarily align with, then you can use logic to quickly analyze and select the best answer.

If you know where you are in the process and understand why processes, actions, and outputs occur you’ll be better prepared to pass the exam.

Prepare for PMP Exam

The process groups are key to planned-driven project management. Rita understood this which is why she created the process chart game to help break down each element to help you more quickly learn the process groups and actions.

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PMP® Exam Change 2021

African American PM working at her desk

Now is the time to get your PMP certification.  PMI® has announced that the PMP certification exam will change on January 2, 2021. This announcement gives you time to get your application submitted and to prepare to take the exam before the exam changes.  Stay current on the latest PMP exam information.

PMP 2021 Exam Content Outline – What’s New?

The exam change is prompted by the June 2019 release of a new PMP Exam Content Outline. The Exam Content Outline provides a basic description of the number of questions that will be on the PMP exam.  It also includes the number of domains and the percentage of questions within each domain.

A significant difference for the new exam is a change from five performance domains to just three domains. Those domains will include People, making up 42% of questions, Process with 50% of questions, and Business Environment at 8% of questions. It’s also worth noting that PMI has indicated about half the exam will represent predictive management approaches.  The other half of the exam will cover agile or hybrid approaches.

What Are the Content Outline and Exam Based On?

The content outline and exam are based on a role-delineation study of project managers.  This study is performed by PMI about every 4 years. Through this study, PMI gathers and analyzes data describing the role and work of project managers in the workplace. PMI then creates the Exam Content Outline.

The outline provides the foundation of the certification exam based on the results. It includes the percentage of questions by domain, the tasks of the project manager by domain, and the knowledge and skills associated with the project manager’s work. This is designed to keep the PMP exam consistent with the roles and responsibilities of project managers in the workplace.

Important Date to Remember

The PMP exam changes on January 2, 2021. RMC strives to provide early analysis of updates. Please visit our Exam Updates Page for the most current information we have concerning the upcoming content outline and exam changes!

You can also stay current on the exam changes by registering for one of our free webinars on Taking the PMP Exam: What You Need to Know.   Previous sessions are recorded if you cannot attend in person.

Last Content Outline Change

The last time PMI conducted a role delineation study that resulted in an exam change was 2015. At that time PMI estimated that approximately 25% of the exam content changed as the result of the study.

What Can I Do Between Now and 2021 to Get my PMP Certification?

To provide you with the most current exam preparation materials, RMC has analyzed the Exam Content Outline. RMC has fully updated our Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep Products and our Exam Prep Courses to align with the 2021 PMP exam change.

However, there is still time to take the current exam. RMC provides the most effective and innovative project management training available. Using Accelerated Learning Theory, we focus on teaching valuable, real-world skills and practical techniques to help our students learn more in less time. Rita Mulcahy started RMC with the modest idea of helping people pass the PMP exam. Her best-selling book, PMP® Exam Prep, set an industry standard for training material.

Project managers meeting the PMP exam qualifications are strongly encouraged to get certified before the exam changes. We recommend using Rita’s Way™ to complete your study and taking the exam before the January 2021 exam change. Those needing help to prepare can find all our PMP test preparation materials, or call RMC’s customer service at 952-846-4484.

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New Webinar for Project Management Professionals | RMC Learning Solutions

African American man attending project management webinar

Webinar – Taking the PMP® Exam: What You Need to Know

The PMP® certification exam changed significantly on January 2, 2021. If you are looking to become a certified project manager, you won’t want to miss this webinar.

Join us for information on preparing for the PMP® exam, the changes in the new exam, our recommended strategy to certification, and more. In this one-hour webinar we will answer the top questions professionals need to know when it comes to preparing for the PMP® exam:

  • Is the PMP® right for me?
  • What does the NEW PMP® Exam Content Outline include?
  • Why the changes?
  • What’s the latest information on new question types, exam length and breaks?
  • Should I take the new Online Proctored Exam option?

Thursday, February 4, 2021
12:00 – 1:00 PM Central Time

RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!

 

Interested in Other Project Management Webinars?

If you are interested in other webinar topics from RMC Learning Solutions, we’ve got you covered.  Simply check out our previous project management webinars.

 

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Why Take the PMP Exam?

Two women working together on a project using their computer

Why take the PMP exam? This is a common question many people ask as they weigh the pros and cons of the PMP® exam. What is the purpose, what will it do for you, and is it worth it? There’s no doubt that preparing to take the PMP® exam is a journey. And, if you let it, this journey can help you enhance your project management capabilities. 

As you prepare for this exam, you will improve your project management skills. The opportunity to expand your knowledge is one of the best reasons to get your PMP® certification.

Understanding is the Key to Passing the PMP Exam

The PMP® exam is an international exam designed to prove your knowledge and experience in applying the art and science of project management. It focuses on situations you might encounter in the real world, rather than just asking you to repeat data you have learned.

Therefore, to pass the PMP® exam, you cannot simply cram a lot of information into your brain and try to retain it just long enough to get through the four-hour testing period. Instead, you’ll take your knowledge to the next level. You’ll better understand the process of project management, and the value that process can bring to your daily work on projects.

Learn without Rote Memorization

RMC’s PMP® training classes and products bring you unique games, activities, exercises, and techniques designed specifically to increase both learning and knowledge retention. 

This approach not only gives you the knowledge you need to quickly prepare for the exam, but also the knowledge to become a better project manager—without rote memorization. 

Where’s the proof? RMC has heard from students who received a bonus, a raise, or both after they passed the exam. Other students have reported that they were offered a job when hundreds of other qualified candidates had applied, simply because they were PMP® certified!

Get PMP® Certification to Set Yourself Apart

In addition to the opportunity to improve yourself and your abilities, there can be financial incentives for passing this exam. A 2015 salary survey conducted by the Project Management Institute (PMI) found that PMP® certified project managers across all countries are paid, on average, 20% more than those without this certification.

The bottom line is this: having a PMP® certification can be the reason you get a job, keep your job, or are promoted. And, with RMC’s support,  you can get started today.