PMP Smart Start Guide
PMP Smart Start Guide
PMP Smart Start Guide
Sm artStart
G uide
TM
August 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome
PMP What
The Science of Project Management
The PMP Credential
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3
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PMP Why
PMP How
PMP Certification Process Overview
Educational and Experiential Requirements
Accelerating Your Application Process
Filing Your Application
Application Processing Time
Eligibility Duration
Current Eligibility Changes
PMI Professional Development Program
The PMP Exam
Computer-based Examination Administration
Passing Score
Re-Examination
Exam Questions
Preparation and Study
Self Study or Commercial Prep
Types of Courses
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WELCOME
Congratulations. Downloading your free Cheetah SmartStart Guide for the PMP
exam puts you on the fast track toward Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. More than 500,000 people have downloaded this guide since its release in July
2001, learning from the valuable tips and tactics we include for passing the PMP exam
and then keeping the guide as a handy reference.
We designed the guide so you can easily read through it in 30 minutes, dividing it into
four sections for easy access to information: PMP What,
PMP Why, PMP How and PMP The Cheetah Way. So
get comfortable for the next half hour, and find out what you
According to PMIs Project Management
need to know to be prepared for the PMP exam.
PM OBSERVATION 1
Salary Survey Sixth Edition, despite the
PMP WHAT
At Cheetah, we do things differently. Much of the information
in the following pages you would have to pay for by attending
a formal PMP exam-prep class. But Cheetah Exam Prep for
the PMP is designed to get you to pass the PMP exam, not
just prepare for it. So we provide these tools to prep for the
exam for free in this guide. Enough said. Lets take a look at
what Project Management and the PMP certification are.
According to payscal.com, median salaries those who hold the PMP credential can be up
to 30% higher than their non-credentialed colleagues. Why? Because the more successful
people and organizations are with projects, the more successful they are overall. There
is no secret to Project Management success; its the science of getting things done. But
when did it start and how has it evolved?
PM OBSERVATION 2
Studies indicate that only 25% of all projects
worldwide succeed in achieving budget,
schedule, and quality objectives. However,
these same studies indicate a 75% success rate for projects that employ modern
Project Management concepts, tools, and
techniques. These facts, coupled with our
new ANSI Standard, are the driving forces
behind todays enormous interest in modern
Project Management.
execute, and control the process of building, populating, and sustaining the cities. Many
of the concepts and tools we use today in Project Management were developed during
the Manhattan Project.
More than 20 years later, in 1969, the Project Management Institute (PMI) was established to create industry standards, advance the science of Project Management and
promote professional responsibility. In 1984, a small handful of project managers became the first PMPs, and three years later, PMI published the industrys first comprehensive set of accepted Project Management standards, The Project Management Body
of Knowledge (The PMBOK Guide). The PMBOK Guide was updated in 1996, 2000,
2004, 2008, and again in January 2013 with the release of The PMBOK Guide Fifth
Edition.
PM OBSERVATION 3
In Harold Kerzners must-read book, In
Search of Excellence in Project Management, he studies 200 of the worlds
top corporations. His findings indicate
Although the ANSI Standard is quickly being embraced worldwide by industries, governments, institulent or on the right track. We have a
tions and academia, there is still a lot of catching up
to do. PMI estimates there are 20 million professionlong way to go before a high Projectals currently working in Project Management worldManagement maturity level is achieved
wide, of this only about 400,000 hold PMI accreditathroughout the industry as a whole.
tion. While some professions within the information
technology sector have made major strides in adopting modern Project Management practices, we cant forget that every part of an organization is involved in project work and can benefit tremendously by adopting modern
Project Management techniques.
achieve his highest rating as excel-
For example, look at the marketing department in a standard company. Marketing expenditures are typically 10% to 20% of a companys gross revenue, so a company
generating $100 million in revenue spends $20 million in marketing. People in marketing are managing multi-million-dollar projects with minimal Project Management skills,
and research shows that projects managed without using modern Project Management
techniques have a 75% failure rate. Couldnt marketing professionals drive significant
improvement in their organizations marketing projects by becoming certified in Project
Management? Definitely! And its not just the marketing department that could benefit.
The same can be said for professionals who work in engineering, product development,
facilities management all areas of an organization where projects are the life blood of
day-to-day life.
The PMP Credential
As the Project Management professions flag bearer, PMI does extraordinary work to advance
the science and application of modern Project Management. One of its significant accomplishments and on-going programs is the formal certification of project managers the Project
Management Professional program. This program helps ensure the highest professional and
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
ethical standards within the community of practicing Project Management professionals. Earning the PMP credential increases peoples career options, gives them more ability to influence
the successful outcome of their projects and provides more opportunities for increasing their
salary. It offers similar benefits for organizations that employ people who are PMP certified.
What does this all mean for you? It means there is a rapidly growing demand for Project
Management Professionals to lead the worlds industries using effective Project Management techniques. Check out a few of the large, web-based employment sites. Search for
PMP or PMI and see how many employers are looking for PMP/PMI-certified project
managers. Check back next week, and the number most likely will have grown.
PMP WHY
At Cheetah Learning, we have helped people from a wide variety of professions become
PMP certified and have some amazing success stories about how people have dramatically improved their careers because of this certification. From the HR manager who, on
a whim, decided to become PMP certified and in two years was the Executive Director of
Human Relations with a $40,000 pay raise, to an Environmental Consultant who became
PMP certified to improve his business and saw a jump from $250,000 to $750,000 in just
six months, and a middle-school teacher who went through the program and is now leading curriculum development projects for her school district. Getting the PMP credential
was the critical element to launching themselves into amazing career success.
Everyone does projects its part of life. By becoming a professional in how you pursue
projects, you move your career in the right direction. Its easy to tell someone you can
get things done, that you are a project manager. But when you have a PMP certification
to prove it, your story rings true. If you want a sure way to advance your career, become
PMP certified.
The following table shows which parts of an organization gain the most by having certified Project Management Professionals. Look at your own organization and determine
which areas spend a significant amount of time and/or money on projects. Those are the
groups that benefit tremendously from having PMP-certified staff to lead projects. This is
where you, as a PMP, can deliver significant value, and its where you can have tremendous influence in motivating others to obtain their PMP credential, while benefiting your
career and your organization.
Department
Time Spent on
Projects Overall
Money Spent on
Projects
Value of PMPs in
the Department
High
Moderate
High
High
High
High
Sales
Low
Low
Low
Customer Service
Low
Low
Low
Engineering
High
High
High
Manufacturing/Production
Low
Moderate
Moderate
High
Moderate
Moderate
Low
High
Moderate
High
Low
High
Moderate
High
Low
Low
Low
Low
Moderate
High
High
IT
HR
Finance
Accounting
Administration
Legal
PMP HOW
PMP Certification Process Overview
The stated purpose and goal of PMIs Project Management Certification Program is the development, maintenance, evaluation, promotion, and administration of a rigorous, examination-based,
professional certification program of the highest caliber. In 2006, the PMP credential process
received ISO 17024 accreditation.
The certifi cation program supports the international community of Project Management Professionals and is designed to objectively assess and measure professional knowledge. PMP program
requirements and eligibility standards are applied fairly and impartially, and are consistent with
applicable laws.
To achieve PMP certification, you must satisfy all the educational and experiential requirements
established by PMI and must demonstrate an acceptable and valid level of understanding and
knowledge about Project Management that is tested by the PMP certification examination.
Educational and Experiential Requirements
In order to be considered eligible to take the PMP exam, you must meet PMIs experience and
education requirements. You can choose to qualify in one of two categories.
Category 1 At the time of application, you must hold a baccalaureate or equivalent university degree and have a minimum of 4,500 hours of Project Management experience within the five Project
Management Process groups. Groups are explained on the next page. Your Experience Verification
Form(s) must show a total of at least 4,500 hours, and the project dates must indicate that you have
at least three years of Project Management experience within the eight-year period prior to the
application. You must include at least 36 unique (non-overlapping) months of Project Management
experience on the Experience Verification Form(s) to satisfy the three-year requirement. Cheetah
students learn the terminology required by PMI to make sure their efforts on projects count towards
eligibility for the PMP exam.
If you dont have the Project Management experience to pursue the PMP certification, consider
earning your CAPM certification instead. We offer a PM Fundamentals Online Certificate Program
that prepares you to take, and pass, the CAPM exam.
Required Documentation
1.Date of completion of your baccalaureate or equivalent university degree.
2.Experience Verification Form(s) meeting criteria listed above.
3.Thirty-five (35) hours of PM training prior to applying for PMP eligibility for people who register and pay for Cheetahs Exam Prep for the PMP online or classroom course, we offer an online
course that when successfully completed (as verified by a course completion certificate) may be
used to satisfy this requirement, if needed. This is only available to people who register and pay for
Cheetahs Exam Prep for the PMP course.
Project Management Process Groups
Initiating Processes: Recognizing that a project or phase
should begin and committing to do so.
Planning Processes: Devising and maintaining a workable
scheme to accomplish the business need that the project was
undertaken to address.
Executing Processes: Coordinating people and other resources
to carry out the plan.
Monitoring and Controlling Processes: Ensuring that project
objectives are met by monitoring and measuring progress and
taking corrective action when necessary.
Closing Processes: Formalizing acceptance of the project or
phase and bringing it to an orderly end.
Category 2 You can qualify under this category if at the time
you apply, you do not hold a baccalaureate or equivalent university degree but hold a high-school
diploma or equivalent secondary-school credential and have a minimum of 7,500 hours of Project
Management experience within the five process groups. The number of hours on your Experience
Verification Form(s) must total at least 7,500 hours, and the project dates must indicate that you
have at least five years of Project Management experience within the eight-year period prior to
the application. You must indicate at least 60 unique (non-overlapping) months of Project Management experience on the Experience Verification Form(s) to satisfy the five-year requirement. Again,
Cheetah students learn how to position their project efforts in the correct terminology to ensure
they meet eligibility requirements for the PMP exam.
If you are unable to meet the requirements to sit for the PMP exam, consider earning your CAPM
certification. Our PM Fundamentals Online Certificate Program is designed to help you prepare for,
and pass, the CAPM exam.
Required Documentation
1.Experience Verification Form(s) meeting criteria listed above.
2.Thirty-five (35) hours of PM training prior to applying for PMP eligibility for people who register
and pay for Cheetahs Accelerated Exam Prep for the PMP online or classroom course, we offer
an online course that when successfully completed (as verified by a course completion certificate)
may be used to satisfy this requirement, if needed. This is only available to people who register
and pay for the Cheetahs Accelerated Exam Prep for the PMP course.
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
CHEETAH TIP 1
There is a science to preparing people for
the PMP exam. The key is not in the what,
its in the how. At Cheetah, we are masters
of the how of using accelerated learning in
our curriculum design. Others may copy us,
but they dont compare to us. We guarantee
you will pass the PMP exam not just learn
about Project Management. Our methodologies are unusual, probably not like anything
youve experienced before. So put what you
know aside, dont argue with success, and
well show you how to pass the PMP exam
guaranteed.
PM OBSERVATION 4
PMI audits 5-6 percent of accepted certification applications, so dont even stretch the
truth. During the audit process, PMI requires
formal verification by your employer(s) and
schools of all information. This process is
designed to maintain quality in the certification program. If incorrect information is found
during the audit process, you will have your
certification of eligibility revoked.
CHEETAH TIP 2
When people submit their PMP eligibility
application online with PMI, it takes
approximately 5-10 days for PMI to respond
by requesting payment for the exam.
(You pay PMI for the exam as they are
the ones who actually grant the certificate).
Once you pay PMI for your exam, you will either be informed that you were chosen for a
random audit (about 5% of candidate are)
or you will be issued an eligibility letter
which includes information you will need to
schedule your exam at www.prometric.com.
You must verify at least 35 contact hours of specific instruction that addressed learning
objectives in Project Management. Document all education hours regardless of when
they were accrued. The course work must be completed at the time of application.
The course hours may include content on project quality, scope, time, cost, human
resources, communications, risk, procurement, and integration management. You can
satisfy the educational requirements by demonstrating the successful completion of
courses, workshops and training sessions offered by one or more of the following types
of education providers:
1. PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s)*
2. PMI Component organizations*
3. Employer/company-sponsored programs
4. Training companies or consultants
5. Distance-learning companies, including an end-of-course assessment
6. University/college academic and continuing education programs
* Courses offered by PMI R.E.P.s, PMI Components (chapters, specific interest groups,
colleges), or PMI, are pre-approved for contact hours in fulfillment of the educational
eligibility requirement.
NOTE: One hour of classroom instruction equals one contact hour. If you have completed a university or college course on Project Management that met for three hours
per week for 15 weeks, you would document 45 contact hours. If only a portion of a
course dealt with Project Management, only the hours spent on project management
can be applied toward the total. The following education does not satisfy the
education requirements:
PMI chapter meetings*
Self-study (e.g., reading books)
* If at least one hour of a chapter meeting is spent conducting a learning activity, the
hour(s) spent in that activity can be counted towards the educational eligibility requirement. Refer to the PMI Credential Examination Policies & Procedures section in this
handbook for details on next steps after you submit your application.
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
CHEETAH TIP 3
EXAM TIP 1
When you arrive for the exam, you must sign in. The
exam proctor calls your name to start the exam in the
Being relaxed is the best way to pass this exam.
order in which you have signed in. Before starting your
Eat an adequate meal before the exam, and learn
exam, you must show two forms of identification along
stress-reduction techniques for when things get
with your eligibility letter. One must be a government form
tense. Drive to the exam location several days
of identification such as a drivers license or a passport
that has your picture and signature. The other can be a
before your exam to be sure you know how to
credit card or your PMI membership card, as long as it
get there. Make sure to bring healthy snacks and
has your signature. The test center will give you a locker
water for your breaks.
outside of the testing room for your belongings. Some
centers watch to make sure you empty everything out
of your pockets, including your wallet. You will not even
be allowed to bring in your own pen. Many test centers do not let you access your
locker during the exam. If you bring snacks and water, which you will find
necessary, you can keep it on top of the lockers.
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CHEETAH TIP 4
You do not have to start the exam when you
first sit down. We recommend you do the
tutorial first, then start the exam. Cheetah
test takers are able to quickly record the
key PM concepts and equations on scratch
paper provided by the test center when they
first arrive. This keeps them calm when they
encounter difficult questions that require
working through complex calculations or
thought processes. It also makes them
feel less rushed to get their answers down
before they forget them.
CHEETAH TIP 5
Most people find the examination process
very stressful, but those who go through the
exam after the Cheetah Exam Prep course
are encouraged and supported by following
our diet, exercise, lifestyle and attitude plan
to significantly decrease their stress levels.
Our program also improves their focus and
Passing Score
concentration, even under the most difficult
The PMP exam has 200 multiple-choice questions, with
circumstances. Course participants say they
175 of those items scored and 25 unscored. There are
have never felt better passing the exam is
two levels of information provided on your score sheet.
One is the overall examination results, which tells you
sure to help with that overall feeling of well
whether you passed or failed. The other is a diagnostic
being.
representation of your proficiency level per domain.
Each domain is accompanied by one of three possible
proficiency levels proficient, moderately proficient, or
below proficient. There is not a minimum or maximum number of domains in which you
need to demonstrate proficiency in order to pass the exam. Your pass/fail score is based
on your overall performance, not on how many questions you answered right or wrong
in a particular domain or chapter. Note: The 25 unscored items are placed randomly
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
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EXAM TIP 2
You have a little more than one minute per ques-
Even with our coaching and our intense immersion aption during the exam. The best strategy is to anproach, every once in a while we have people who dont
swer the easy questions first since you dont score
clear the gate, even though they report they have never
more points by answering the hard ones.
failed an exam in their life. You not only have to thoroughly know your stuff, you also have to have a variety of
real-world experience to work through the questions. The
people from our Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP course who score very high on the
exam have a wide range and depth of PM experiences, are able to completely immerse
themselves in the four-day classroom or four-week online program and are able to use
the techniques taught in the program to relax and focus during the exam.
Re-examination
If you dont clear the gate with a raw score (number of correctly answered items on the
examination) to pass on your first attempt, you can take the exam again just submit a
Re-examination Form to PMI. There is no waiting period to submit the form or to re-take
the exam. You can usually reschedule your exam within two weeks, but you must submit
your re-examination form within one year from the original test date. Once PMI processes the re-examination fee, they send you a new eligibility letter containing testing information and identification code. You are allowed to test three times in a year. If you dont
pass, you must wait a year to reapply to sit for the exam again. The re-examination fee is
$275.00 USD for PMI members and $375.00 USD for non-members. We get a number of
students through our program that didnt pass the exam the first time through when they
were using their own self-study approach or one of the other exam-prep programs on the
market. We love having them in our class the pass rate for that group is very high with
our approach.
Exam Questions
Be careful if youre practicing with an exam database that gives you short questions with
five answers that is the previous format when the exam was 320 fact-oriented, multiplechoice questions. Thank goodness PMI took a different approach! With the old exam,
candidates were given eight hours to complete it. So if you knew your facts and figures,
you could whip through the exam questions pretty easily. With the new format, all of this
has changed.
Todays exam is designed to fully test your understanding of modern Project Management concepts, standards, tools, and techniques not to see if you can regurgitate a
boatload of facts and figures. The questions are designed to test both your understanding and your practical application abilities, so you see a wide variety of question types.
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EXAM TIP 3
Some exam questions offer you all correct
answers to choose from while others ask you
to choose the best answer where none of the
choices are what you would choose to do in real
life. You have to read some of these questions
three or four times to understand them. Take your
time, check your work, and answer each question
from the PMI perspective.
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EXAM TIP 4
During the test, mark the questions on the computer if you dont immediately know the answer,
so you can easily find them when you go back to
check them later. By the time Cheetah students
get to the exam, theyre already in the habit of
recording whether they knew the answer immediately, could narrow their choices or had no
idea. This allows them to focus on the questions
they know and move through the exam quickly.
Then they have time to go back to the ones they
marked. Not only does this save time during the
exam, but it builds your confidence as you answer
the easier questions so your mind is clear for the
more difficult ones.
CHEETAH TIP 6
CHEETAH TIP 7
When people can absorb new information in at least three different formats
and contexts, they can more quickly and easily recall that information. When
studying for the PMP exam, find a variety of formats that present the
information on the test and review your study material at least three times.
BOK Guide and integrating fresh, updated material into our courses. Thats one reason why were
your best chance to pass the PMP exam.
modern Project Management, yet the PMP exam requires a thorough understanding of
all areas to pass. That being the case, you need some formal training to at least reinforce your weaker areas and ensure you are using the proper PMI terminology.
A general outline of what you must have down cold to take the exam is
a thorough understanding and working knowledge of the current PMBOK Guide:
Project Management Context and Framework
Project Management Processes and the Five Process Groups
All Ten Project Management Knowledge Areas
1.Project Integration Management
2.Project Scope Management
3.Project Time Management
4.Project Cost Management
5.Project Quality Management
6.Project Human Resource Management
7.Project Communications Management
8.Project Risk Management
9.Project Procurement Management
10.Project Stakeholder Management
Multiple sets of Inputs/Tools and Techniques/Outputs
47 Defined Project Management Processes
54 Common Project Management Acronyms
381 Project Management Term Definitions
A thorough understanding of and working skills with:
Network Diagramming
Earned Value Analysis
Project Scheduling
General Management Practices
Change Control Systems
Work Authorization Systems
Work Breakdown Structures
Strategic Business Planning
Project Task Interdependencies
Estimating
General Accounting Standards
Quality Control
Quality Assurance
Conflict Management
Motivation Theory
Communications Management
Risk Management
Contracts Administration
Procurement Management
PMP Professional Responsibility
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There are many sources of information and training available to help you prepare for the
exam. The important thing to recognize is that your sources need to include all of the
listed items.
The PMBOK Guide is an essential part of your study materials. You must know it inside
and out, understanding that The
PMBOK Guide is an industry
standard. It is not a teaching
guide or textbook, so it may be
difficult to read and intuitively
understand. Remember that you
cannot learn modern Project
Management from The PMBOK Guide alone.
Successful preparation requires
supplementing your The PMBOK Guide studies with other
material that addresses the basics of modern Project Management. There are many excellent
texts and desk references available, written by experts in Project Management. Some
offer in-depth and comprehensive information, while others are good for quick answers
to common Project Management tools and techniques. Project Management: A Systems
Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling (8th edition, 2001) by Harold Kerzner,
Ph.D., provides most of the supplementary information you need. It is a 1,200-page,
small-print text that takes some time to master. It is a good idea to focus your supplemental study only on those areas that track with The PMBOK Guide. Use The PMBOK
Guide to identify the areas you need to study and then go to the other PM references for
that supplemental information.
There are 29 questions on the PMP exam to address Professional Responsibility. The
best single source of study material in this area is PMIs Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct, available at PMIs web site. The concept and practice of respecting cultural
differences is an integral part of Professional Responsibility. Therefore, any material that
addresses this topic may be a good source for supplemental study.
CHEETAH TIP 8
Make sure the PMP exam prep method that you use reflects the information
in the PMBOK Guide - Fifth Edition, as this is the most recent PMBOK book
and what PMI will test on.
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The Fifth Edition continues to reflect the evolving knowledge within the profession of project management
and represents generally recognized good practice in the profession.
The content from Section 3 The Standard for Project Management of a Project has been moved to
Annex A1. The new Section 3 addresses project management processes and Process Groups as in
previous editions.
A new Knowledge Area has been created called Project Stakeholder Management that increases the
focus on identifying and engaging stakeholders. This increases the number of Knowledge Areas from nine
to ten.
Four planning processes have been added to reinforce the concept that each major Knowledge Area has
a planning process focusing on how that area will be planned and executed.
Self Study or Commercial Prep
Surveys indicate that only 10% of all candidates take the self-guided study approach.
With this method, you get what you put into it. If youre confident you can learn and assimilate all the material you need to know to clear the exam, and you can put in several
hours per day for several months, try this route. Its not the fastest, but if you have more
time than money (and you cant make money from your time), then its the way to go.
The worst that will happen is you spend three-to-six months studying and dont pass the
exam. Self-guided study certainly works for some candidates, but for most, it represents
the longest and riskiest path.
Types of Courses
If passing the exam after investing hours of study time is important to you, then you
might want to consider a prep course. But make sure your time is well spent. Some prep
courses provide the same information you get in this guide and not much more, and
there are many seminars and development courses from which to choose. PMI usually
has a current list of Registered Education Providers on its web site. To ensure this type
of training fulfills the 35-hour, pre-exam training requirement, make sure you participate
in a program offered by a Registered Education Provider. The list of companies offering
exam PMP exam prep is extensive and dynamic. You may want to check out https://ccrs.
pmi.org/ to get the most up-to-date listing.
17
There are a variety of options for commercial training, and there are pros and
cons to consider with each approach.. For example, the majority of PMP prep
courses are two or three days in length, cost about $1,700 (when you factor in
travel costs), and promise the world in their promotional materials. However, all
they really do is direct you on what to study and provide you with their recommended study materials, much of which we cover in this guide. You may still have
to spend a few hundred hours studying on your own.
Before signing up for one of these programs, talk directly with the provider to
clearly understand what youre getting. Many guarantee that you will pass using
their method, but there are all types of hoops you have to jump through to validate the guarantee in terms of pre-course and post-course studying. They also
over promote their pass rate and simply rely on their students to report their own
scores. At Cheetah Learning, our PMP coaches pay is based, in part, on whether their students pass, which we verify with PMI. So our pass rates are the ONLY
documented pass rates in the industry that undergo a full, internal audit. Ask the
provider youre considering if their instructors are compensated based on pass
rate and how they are audited.
CHEETAH TIP 9
There are a number of honest and reputable companies that offer PMP exam-prep programs. But
dont fall for deceptive advertising tactics. Ask the following questions:
Do you guarantee I will pass the exam? If so, find out the terms of their guarantee. Ask if the
company reimburses the fee to retake the exam if you dont pass.
How do you document your pass rates? Many companies make undocumented claims about
pass rates. If they dont verify every students results, be careful. Also ask how their instructors are
compensated. Cheetah PMP coaches are compensated based on their students passing, so the
Cheetah pass rate is internally audited.
Do most people take the test immediately after the prep program? If the prep provider doesnt
encourage you to take the exam immediately following the course, be guaranteed that you will
have to do more studying after their program.
Do I need to purchase extra prep material in addition to what I get in class? No, but you do need
a copy of The PMBOK Guide, which is not part of Cheetahs course materials. Many other
training companies, however, tell you what you need and what you should do and then leave you
on your own to study. This can end up costing you more money and time than you thought, and
may reduce your chances of passing the exam. At Cheetah, we teach you in class or online what
you need to know to pass the PMP exam guaranteed. So how much is your time worth?
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Cost Comparison
During our exam-prep PMP course, students learn how to analyze the risk of different
project options known as Expected Monetary Value analysis. Getting the PMP certification is a project (its a temporary endeavor, unique, and has a definite beginning and end).
And you have two ways of completing that project. You can choose between the Cheetah
accelerated approach and the traditional approach (self-study). Each approach has associated risks and these risk events can have either a positive or a negative impact. Lets take
a look at those risk events.
The four basic risk events associated with pursuing the PMP are:
Passing the PMP exam
Failing the PMP exam
Studying for the PMP exam
Taking a PMP exam-prep course
These risk events can happen whether you choose Cheetahs accelerated approach or the
traditional approach. For each risk event, there exists a probability that it will occur and an
associated cost (or gain) for that risk event.
The expected monetary value (US pricing) for each risk event is calculated by multiplying
the probability of the risk event times the cost (or gain) of that risk event occurring. With
this information, we can calculate the expected monetary value for the risk events associated with each PMP pursuit option and determine an overall expected monetary value for
the accelerated PMP pursuit approach vs. the traditional PMP pursuit approach. Table 1
shows the Expected Monetary Value Analysis for the Cheetah vs. the Traditional Approach
for getting the PMP certification. A positive number represents a gain while a negative
number represents a loss.
The Expected Monetary Value Analysis shows that with the Cheetah approach to pursuing
the PMP, there is an associated $4,450 gain. With the traditional approach, there is an associated $4,100 loss. This makes the Cheetah approach an $8,550 better option.
Table 1. Expected Monetary Value Analysis
Cheetah Approach
Traditional Approach
Risk
Event
Probability of
Occurring
Impact $
Expected
Monetary
Value (P x I)
Probability of
Occurring
Impact $
Expected
Monetary
Value(P x I)
Pass the
98%
+$10,000 (typical
+$9,800
60%
+$10,000
+$6,000
Test
pay raise)
Fail the
2%
$0
40%
-$275
Test
80%
-$9,000
(180 hours x $50 per hour)
$0
-$110
100%
-$2,000
-$2,000
the Test
(our course is
(% of people who
per hour)
Take a
100%
-$3,350
-$3,350 (avg.
90%
-$3,100
Course
(Cost of course)
(average cost of
classroom
(% of people who
our classroom
cost)
course)
-$2,790
petitors programs)
+$4,450 USD
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
-$7,200
-$4,100 USD
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Cheetah Students
So who chooses to take the accelerated Cheetah approach to PMP certification? People
who know how to get things done. Think about it. If you had a project manager who came
to you and said this project has a 65% chance
of being successful, and its going to take me six
months, and one who said this project has a 98%
chance of being successful, and it will take me a
week, who would you think was the better project
manager? There are a lot of copy cats out there,
but theres only one Cheetah. They dont have our
success rate or our follow-up programs. If youre
serious about your success in Project Management, tell your employer that Cheetah Learning is
not only your best chance of passing the PMP but
the most logical choice from the three perspectives
that drive all projects cost, schedule, and quality.
Covered Costs
The cost of the classroom Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP course is shown once you
click on the Register for Class link next to your selected class, and you see the online
course cost once you click through on the Register PMP Exam Prep Online Course link
on the www.cheetahlearning.com home page. The cost of the four-day class includes all
class materials, equipment, lunch, mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, trainers being
available more than 14 hours each day at your convenience, and the guarantee that you
will pass the exam. You just need to bring a copy of The PMBOK Guide with you. Our
course cost does not include the price PMI charges to take the exam. You are required to
pay the exam fee directly to PMI once you receive approval to test, and you are responsible for scheduling your own exam date. Cheetahs price reflects very high value 98%
success, four days of your time. You spend just one week to complete all exam preparation work and take the actual PMP exam. Once you factor in the cost of study materials,
class fees and study hours, other exam-preparation options are considerably more costly
and time consuming. The online course cost covers all materials, unlimited online access
to your instructor and the Cheetah guarantee that you will pass the exam. The course
cost does not include the fee PMI charges to take the exam, but it does reflect very high
value 99% success and four weeks of your time.
When to Take the PMP Exam
We highly recommend you schedule your exam on the Friday morning immediately following the last day of class (or the next day after completing the course) at the Prometric
test facility either near where you are taking our classroom course or near your home if
you completed our online class. Once registered for a classroom course, we provide a
list of the closest Prometric centers to our class. Our online course kit provides a link to
where you can view all Prometric locations and test times. Some people dont get their
eligibility application in on time to reserve a seat at the exam location for that Friday. For
those folks, we suggest they schedule their exam early the following week when they
return to their home town. When you register for the Cheetah Exam Prep course, you
receive a list of the Prometric testing facilities near the course location you selected.
Cheetahs Guarantee
We guarantee you will pass the PMP exam after participating fully in the program. Participation in the program means receiving your eligibility letter from PMI, having your
exam scheduled for Friday of class week (or within seven days of the last day of class),
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
22
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number and schedule your exam retake within 30 days of the previous exam date or (b)
provide you with a promotion code to receive a $750 USD discount off our four-day exam
prep classroom course at any of the scheduled locations in the United States.
Our four-week, exam-prep course guarantee is valid ONLY if you complete the precourse work in two weeks, the Exam Prep Online course in four weeks, and you take
your second exam within 30 calendar days of failing the first time.
Cheetahs Success Rate
Since we started offering this program, nearly 40,000 participants, most of who are now
PMPs, have gone through our Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP courses. We know what
you need to know to pass the exam. We have it down to a science. This is not an add
on course for us like it is for many PMP exam-prep providers and for companies that
have tried to copy our program to offer it in-house on their own. Interestingly enough, we
still get a great number of students from companies that have created their own Cheetah-like PMP exam-prep program. They just cant afford the hit to their career if they
dont pass the exam. Preparing people to be successful, FAST, with the PMP exam is
what we do. We have the most courses offered throughout the world, so we are also the
fastest at rolling in new changes to the course to ensure our pass rate remains high. We
are the best because we put all our energy into making sure our students are the most
successful people on the planet. Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP is the course to take
if you need to earn your PMP and want the assurance that you will pass the PMP exam
the day immediately following your course. It is your best chance to pass the PMP exam.
Many companies suggest their pass rate is well above the 90% range, but ask them to
support their statistics. Some training companies make selected calls to students and
seem to support their statistics that way through selective sampling. Others make
a guess. Cheetah supports a 97% pass rate by tracking each and every student who
comes to class. We verify they have passed by having them fax their score sheet to their
Cheetah Coach AND check to make sure their name is listed on the PMI registry. And
since our PMP coaches are paid, in part, based on their students success, all our pass
rates are audited as part of their compensation. We support our students, if they happen
to fail, to make sure they stay focused and attain their certification.
CHEETAH TIP 10
Become PMP certified and watch your career options soar. Register to take the Cheetah Exam Prep
course today. Its your best chance to pass the PMP exam. Take your career in the right direction FAST.
How to Register
You can register at our web site, www.cheetahlearning.com, or by contacting our registration hotline toll free in the United States at 888-659-2013 or from outside the United
States at 604-536-2531. Once you register and pay, you have access to our ONLINE
orientation kit to speed you through the PMP certification application and prepare you to
pass the exam after four days in our classroom course or four weeks in our online class.
Looking forward to becoming part of YOUR ongoing success story!
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Before
After
PMP WHY
Become Eligible
with PMI
Pass PMP
Certification Exam
PMP HOW
Long Term
Career Support
PMP WHAT
www.cheetahlearning.com
2013 - Cheetah Learning, LLC
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