PMP Exam Change 2011 - Key Points and Guidance

The PMP exam is changing in 2011. Even if this is BREAKING NEWS for you, do “not” panic. I have been receiving lots of queries about the upcoming changes in the PMP exam. In this post, I’ve tried to capture everything that you need to know about the changes to the PMP exam which will be effective from Aug 31, 2011.

In Oct 2010, the Project Management Institute (PMI) announced changes to the PMP exam. The changes were made based upon PMI’s Role Delineation Study (RDS).

10 Key Points about PMP Exam Change 2011

1. The changes come into effect on Aug 31, 2011. Last date to take the current exam is Aug 30, 2011.
   
2. Separate domain for Professional and Social Responsibility (Domain 6) has been removed. The Professional and Social Responsibility content area will be tested in every domain rather than as a separate domain on the exam.
   
3. As a result of removal of Domain 6, the allocation of questions across the other five domains has changed. Refer to the PMP Examination Content Outline (exam blueprint) for details.
   
4. About 30% of the exam content would change. This means that your study material would change as well, and publishers and training providers will have higher revenues in FY12 :). You can get some idea about the changes from the PMP Exam Content Outline.
   
5. The PMBOK Guide is not changing.
   
6. PMP exam eligibility criteria remains the same.
   
7. PMP exam format and the total number of questions remain the same.
   
8. PMP exam passing score remains the same (or at least, no changes have been announced to that effect).
   
9. There's no change to CAPM, PgMP or other PMI credentials.
   
10. The Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) for existing PMP credential holders remain unchanged.
    

Tips for PMP aspirants to cope with the change

• Do "not" panic.
  
• If you have already started preparing for the exam, then try to take your exam within the next 3 months and give yourself sufficient time to retest (if God forbid, you do not pass on the first attempt). If one fails in the first attempt and retakes the exam after Aug 30, 2011, he/she would have to take the new exam. Sad, but true.
  
• Try to schedule your exam right away. As the D-day (Aug 30, 2011) approaches, it would become more and more difficult to get exam slots with [Pearson VUE](https://home.pearsonvue.com/pmi).
  

A few useful links on the PMP exam changes 2011:

• FAQs about PMP exam
• PMP Examination Content Outline
• PMI's Role Delineation Study - Appendix A

Image credit: Flickr / virexmachina