PMP® Exam Prerequisites & Exam Details

To earn the PMP®, candidates must meet education and experience requirements detailed below, agree to a professional code of conduct, and pass the PMP® Exam. It is advised that you download the PMP® Handbook to review the complete PMP® eligibility requirements and the PMP® Exam details. If you have specific questions, contact PMI directly.

Education and Experience Prerequisites

To apply for the PMP®, you must meet all education and experience prerequisites in one of the following two categories:

General Education:
Secondary Degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)

Project Management Experience:
Minimum of five (5) years of non-overlapping project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects

Project Management Education:
35 hours of project management education*

General Education:
A four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent)

Project Management Experience:
Minimum of three (3) years of non-overlapping project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects

Project Management Education:
35 hours of project management education*

*This requirement is met by successfully completing most Global Partner Instructor-Led Courses. Please confirm with your chosen course provider.

PMP Exam Details:

  • 200 multiple choice questions (175 scored questions + 25 unscored/pre-test questions).
  • 4-hour time limit.
  • Computer-based testing (CBT) format administered by Prometric testing centers (paper-based testing is available under limited circumstances).
  • Exam is administered in English.
  • Exam content weighted by the five domains from the PMP® Examination Content Outline, updated June 2015 for exams administered between January 11, 2016 and March 25, 2018:
    I. Initiating the Project (13%)
    II. Planning the Project (24%)
    III. Executing the Project (31%)
    IV. Monitoring and Controlling the Project (25%)
    V. Closing the Project (7%)
  • Exam eligibility period is one year from your exam application approval date. You may test three times in one year.
  • You will receive a printed copy of your exam results immediately after completing your CBT exam. This will include pass/fail status and a proficiency level by domain (Proficient, Moderately Proficient, Below Proficient).

For complete details regarding the PMP® eligibility requirements and the PMP<sup>®</sup> Exam, please review the PMP® Handbook.