How long should I study for PMP ?

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Study time while preparing for PMP

Everyone knows that preparing for any exam requires tremendous effort, time, and diligence. The Project Management Professional (PMP) exam is more challenging than many exams, requiring extensive preparation over many months to pass the examination. There is a lot of study material to absorb in Project Management, and you have to master the practical applications of that information. How long does one need to prepare for the PMP exam depends on how many hours you can put in each day and how big is your knowledge gap? Because the number of months put on the study is not a valid measurement, that you should consider. It depends on your determination levels, learning skills, setting your goals, efficiency, and setup and attitude of achieving deadlines.

Step by step preparation for PMP Exam

To prepare for the PMP exam, you have to go through the following steps:

  • Collect Information
  • Attend the Training
  • Complete the PMBOK Guide
  • Additional Reference book
  • The time required for the PMP exam
  • Test Simulator for sample questions
  • Preparation Schedule

Collect Information

Once you decide to take the PMP exam, the first thing to do is collect all the necessary information. You can find information on the best study resources and types of training programs according to your convenience. You may contact the PMP Training Expert at Learning Mudra and join your 35 contact hours training program. You should not invest more than one week in this.

Attend the PMP Training

It would be best to begin your PMP preparation by taking a 35 contact hour training course from a top institute like Learning Mudra. The contact hour training is a mandatory requirement while applying for the PMP exam. The training will provide you initial preview, motivation and help you understand the nitty-gritty of Project Management concepts.

It is paramount that the study material provided by the training institutes becomes your first source of study. Many aspirants start with the PMBOK Guide and become frustrated with the preparation as it is a difficult book to read. So, begin your practice with the PMP Training course.

Complete the PMBOK Guide

Before going for the PMP exam, it is essential to complete the PMBOK Guide. Many aspirants think that studying PMBOK will be more than enough for them to pass the PMP Exam. But it is a misconception that the PMP Exam is based on the PMBOK Guide. Although the guide is one of the essential materials to study, it is necessary to go beyond the PMBOK Guide.

how long should i study for pmp

For more information on how long should you study for PMP; get in touch with us at +91-987-123-7360 or email us at info@learningmudra.com

Additional Reference book

It is essential to know that the majority of the PMP Exam is based on content written in the PMBOK Guide, so it should be your primary source of study material for the exam. Still, as mentioned above, the guide does not cover everything. You have to go through at least one other reference book covering concepts that are part of the PMP Exam curriculum and are not described in the PMBOK Guide.

The time required for the PMP exam

A formal PMP Exam preparation schedule is necessary for passing the PMP test on your very first attempt. The steps provided below would give you broad guidelines for your PMP preparation.

  • There are thirteen chapters in the PMBOK Guide. As the weightage of these chapters is very high, it is better to study one chapter simultaneously.
  • Start your preparation by studying a chapter from the study material provided by your training institute. You can follow the videos, training notes, and faculty.
  • After studying a chapter from the training material, go to the PMBOK guide chapter on the same topic side by side.
  • You may go through other credible study materials that you have access, to gain focus on the same topic.
  • After completing a chapter, you should need to do some sample questions. Your performance on the sample tests will help you in estimating your knowledge level.
  • If you are satisfied with your performance, then move to the next chapter and so on.
  • Finally, once you’ve worked on all the 13 chapters, take some full-length sample tests.

Depending on the chapter’s size, you will require anywhere between one and two hours to finish the training material. In addition to that, you would need about three to four hours for the PMBOK Guide and reference book study. Lastly, about one to two hours each for practicing some end-of-chapter sample test.

In total, you need to set aside about seven to nine hours for completing a chapter. This duration might change depending on your current skill level, length of the chapter, etc. On a higher note, you need around 120 hours to finish all 13 chapters.

Test Simulator for sample questions

Depending on your Project Management proficiency and knowledge, you need to practice anywhere between 1500 – 2000 questions. To wrap up your preparation, doing three to four full- length mock tests is essential. It might take you another 20-30 hours. Overall it is safe to plan for 150 hours for PMP Exam preparation.

Preparation Schedule

Assuming you need a total of 150 hours, you can devote three hours per day to studying; then you need 50 days for the PMP Exam. Fifty days is approximately seven weeks, but including contingencies, it will take about eight weeks. With a time estimate for the preparation, prepare a schedule for your study period.

Conclusion to the Topic: How long should I study for PMP ?

Aspirants are cracking the exam in less than four weeks, but it is best to take ample time to finish your preparation before taking the exam. A formal PMP study schedule is essential for passing the exam. If you want to pass the exam on your first attempt, you should start your preparation by creating a proper plan. If you can spend three hours a day for three months then it is enough to pass your PMP exam. We suggest you not spend more than three months, as you may lose interest and give up. However, do not plan to complete your preparation in less than two months as the exam pressure can overwhelm you.

There are many training centers and materials available online and on the market. Depending on your situation, choose a suitable training center like Learning Mudra. After completing 35 hours contact training course:

  • Choose your study materials.
  • Finalize your PMP preparation schedule.
  • Get going to crack PMP Certification.

We wish you all the luck!

The Author : Learning Mudra


Learning Mudra is one of the world’s authoritative providers of online training for Project Management, Data Science, Software Development, Digital Marketing, Cloud Computing, , IT, and many other budding technologies.

Visit Learning Mudra’s Corporate Training page to know more about core trainings for enterprises, enabling the employees in the field of project management.

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