PMP Certification: Application Audit

Recently, I successfully passed the PMI PMP certification. My application for the right to take the exam was selected for an audit, and we managed to pass the audit on the second attempt. Under the cut my experience:

Four years long road

The first time I was going to take an exam four years ago. Like many others, I registered on the PMI website, applied for an exam, received confirmation, paid for membership, downloaded PMBoK and ... and immediately received an appointment for an interesting project that took up all my free time. The PMP surrender had to be postponed.
Two years later, I again decided to take up the preparation. Yes, yes, I registered on the PMI website, submitted an application, received confirmation, paid for the membership, downloaded PMBoK and ... received a promotion. New position, a lot of interesting work, lack of time, in general, the surrender of PMP again had to be postponed.
Despite the fact that I did not go to the exam, I spent some time trying to figure out what methods of preparation exist and understand what works well for me and what does not. In particular, nothing categorically “stuck” to me from Rita MulKahi’s book. Even dry PMBoK was easier for me to read.

The third time the spell does not work, the audit application

Last summer, I thought that I had stayed in one place, there were no interesting projects, I was tired of the routine, in general, I had to change something. There is a proven way - you only need to apply for PMP (just kidding). The third time the spell did not work, neither the position nor the interesting project was offered to me. In addition, my application was audited.

Audit failed, read handbook before applying

As it turned out, there is nothing terrible in the audit, a special section opens in the PMI site’s personal account, which clearly describes the requirements and the process of collecting and sending documents confirming education, training and work experience (looking ahead, the incorrect description of the experience in the application became the reason is not a successful audit).

Training Confirmation

With training, everything is relatively simple. It is necessary to include in the package of documents copies of certificates of attendance of trainings that give contact hours, and list them in a cover letter. Some course providers issue two certificates, for example in Russian (or another local) and in English, or a certificate from an educational platform (for example, Udemy) and a certificate from the author of the training. In general, you need to attach a copy of the certificate from the author of the training in English.

By the way, about the trainings, I already had enough contact hours received due to the training paid by the employer. Later in the process of preparation, I discovered the source of cheap contact hours in the form of trainings on the Udemy example . 35 hours for 10 USD is quite good. The main thing is to carefully read the summary of the training and make sure that it is provided by a provider accredited by PMI (Registered Education Provider or REP).

Proof of basic education

A little harder. here you need to attach a copy of the diploma and the insert (transcript) and a simple (not notarial) translation of the diploma and the insert.

Confirmation of experience

The most important thing here is to carefully, very carefully read the PMP Handbook , a document that describes the requirements for a PMP candidate and the rules for processing an application.
<paphos> The project you led or participated in can reduce the temperature of the earth by two degrees and stop the melting of glaciers, rid the world of hunger and incurable diseases, and finally, just bring good revenue to your employer and benefit customers. </ pathos> These problems are not interested in PMI. PMI is interested in your experience in each project being described in terms and processes of PMI. Unfortunately, I did not read the PMP Handbook well enough and made a fairly common mistake: I described the experience of project work in terms of the value acquired by the company and customers.

As it turned out, PMI does not audit the application until it receives a package of documents. The audit confirmation form for each project is generated automatically in the personal account on the PMI website. The form must be downloaded, signed by the contact person indicated in the application who can confirm your experience (for example, the director of the employer or client or your direct manager). The experience description in the confirmation form is copied from the application.
In my case, an incorrect description of the experience was copied from the application. PMI checked my experience for the first time only after receiving a package of documents. The experience was described incorrectly, and PMI rejected my application.
By the way, the cheapest way was to send documents using EMS. Sending from Moscow cost about 1,700 rubles. The package went to the addressee about 10 days, 2 days from the entry point in the USA to PMI by ordinary American mail and 8 days in Russia by express mail EMS.

Those. Experience needs to describe experience with standard terms indicating PMIs pointing to process groups.

PMI notifies of a positive decision about the application here

I really hope that my experience will be useful to future PMP candidates. I wish your applications were accepted without an audit. And once again: read the PMP Handbook carefully, very carefully before submitting the application.