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June 30th 2020 is the last date you can take the existing PMP® exam.
The new exam, which goes live on July 1, 2020, contains the biggest changes the exam has ever experienced.
In the past, candidates for the exam could look to the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide, or PMBOK) as the primary source for topics that would appear on the exam. This is no longer the case. If you want to learn more about how project management qualifications are evolving, the Institute of Project Management provides a wealth of resources to help you stay informed.
If you have been thinking about taking the exam, we recommend that you act immediately, while the target is clear. Make sure that you give yourself sufficient time to take your preparation course, prepare your application and schedule your computer-based exam at the most convenient test centre.
The key changes in the PMP® Exam reflect how both the role of project managers and project management itself are evolving. Here is a summary of the key changes:
The existing exam has 5 domains (% of questions for each shown below)
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The new exam will focus on 3 domains (% of questions for each shown below)
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Note that these 3 domains tie closely into the structure of the Talent Triangle which identifies the set of competencies the next generation project manager needs to possess. You can find a full certification overview to help you understand what is required to pursue the PMP credential.
The biggest change is a greater emphasis on Agile. In fact, approximately 50% of the exam content covers Agile topics. That’s a major reason why the current PMBOK is insufficient as the only source of study for the exam.
Rather than concentrating on a predictive (often called “traditional” or “conventional”) approach to project management, throughout all 3 domains, attention and value will be given to predictive and agile approaches, and to a hybrid of both. Candidates preparing for the new exam may also benefit from using a dedicated PMP simulator to test their knowledge across all three domains.
Before any exam change, PMI sponsors a role delineation study, an analysis of the typical responsibilities of a project manager. This is the method for keeping the PMP a relevant certification. In the most recent study, apparently a large group of the project managers surveyed were using Agile principles and frameworks. As a result, the exam moved to cover Agile topics even more than previously.
Some people think that maybe PMI is placing a big bet on the future with this new approach. It has been suggested that only 30% of ALL projects are Agile in nature (falling in the ‘adaptive project management’ category): 70% are in the ‘predictive project management’ category and will always stay predictive. For further reading on topics like this, the IPM blog covers a wide range of project management insights and updates.
