The New PMI® PMP® Exam: What does it mean for you?

From January 2016, there will be a new Project Management Professional (PMP)® examination from the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. The last day to take the existing format exam is 11 January 2016.

Why the Change?

The change is in response to the PMI®’s Role Delineation Study (RDS). PMI® conducts this research study for the PMP® credential every 3 to 5 years to ensure the credential reflects contemporary practice and evolves to meet the current needs of the profession.

The fundamental findings of the latest RDS identified that the project management professional role has evolved in some areas – as such, the PMP® examination has been updated to reflect this.

4 Key Areas of Role Evolution

The role of the project management professional has remained fairly consistent over the past few years, however specific areas of role evolution include:

1. Benefits analysis and realisation (not just focusing on deliverables).
2. Project charter responsibility (with the PM more as a contributor).
3. More emphasis on stakeholder relationships and engagement (recognising the need for 2-way communications).
4. Additional focus on lessons learned for knowledge transfer.

Generally it is recognised that a project manager should have an understanding of business needs, benefits and value, ensuring all stakeholders are engaged and communicated with accordingly and lessons learned are a focus area throughout a project.

4 Key Changes

The impact of the RDS on the PMP exam has led to the:

1. Modification to existing tasks
2. Removal of a few tasks
3. Revised weighting of the exam over the domains
4. Inclusion of 8 new tasks

As a result, 25% of the new PMP® exam content focuses on topics not previously tested, as driven by the 8 new tasks. In addition, the PMI® advises that a large percentage of exam questions are new and updated.

Has anything else changed?

No, the PMI®’s A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) has not been updated; the latest version is still the Fifth Edition.

There are no changes to the application or eligibility requirements. Nor will the scoring method or exam report change. The 5 domains (initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and closing) have not changed.
The PMP® exam remains a 4 hour 200 question multiple-choice exam.

So Next Steps?

If you are planning to complete your PMP® certification under the current exam version, ensure that you submit your application, undertake your training and study, and book your exam date for no later than 11 January 2016.

All PMP® examinations from 12 January 2016 will be based on the latest Role Delineation Study. Our 2016 workshops will prepare students for the updated exam.

PMI, PMP and PMBOK are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.