Attending a PMP 35 Contact Hours training is a PMP certification requirement.
As you are interested in the PMP certification, I hope you know about the PMP 35 contact hours training program. This training is one of the three mandatory eligibility requirements to apply for the PMP exam. The other two eligibility requirements are education and experience in project management.
This blog post will discuss the 35 contact hours PMP training program and how you can achieve it with minimal investment.
PMP 35 Contact Hours
It is a training program where you invest 35 hours to learn project management fundamentals. The PMI has made it mandatory so you can understand project management concepts outlined in the PMP Exam Content Outline before applying for the PMP exam.
As the PMP exam is based on the PMP exam content outline, the training course should be aligned with the content of this guide.
The training should be formal. This means it can be a live classroom, online, virtual, a course attended at college or university, etc. The word ‘formal’ is used here because you must get it from a reliable source. You cannot just read the reference books for 35 hours and claim the 35 contact hours.
Who Can Provide these PMP 35 Contact Hours Training?
Anyone with project management knowledge and project management experience can provide you with this training. You can get this training from an ATP or non-ATP.
ATP stands for Authorized Training Partner. The PMI approves these training providers, and their course content is aligned with the latest Exam Content Outline. These are approved providers, so their content quality is probably better than other sources.
Preferred Training Mode to Earn PMP 35 Contact hours
Years ago, there was only one method to obtain this training: a live classroom training program.
This method was very costly and time-consuming with a fixed schedule and was not available in many cities. If you did not live in a big city, you would have to travel to attend this training.
This is what happened to me. While preparing, I did not know about the online training programs, so I opted for a live classroom training program. The location was around 600 km from home, and I needed four days to attend the classes.
I went there and stayed in a hotel and completed the training. It was not a good experience for me. I have spent a lot of money (almost equal to the training price) on travel and staying to get my PMP 35 contact hours training certificate.
Afterward, as the popularity of PMP certification increased, many new players came into the picture and started offering many other types of training programs. Among them, online training programs got the most attention because they were the cheapest, most flexible, had no fixed schedule, and gave people enough time to complete the course.
These days most professionals opt for online training programs because of their convenience, and I recommend you choose this option.
A Few Online PMP 35 Contact Hours Training Programs
Here I will provide you with a few programs you can take to earn your 35 contact hours completely online. These are PMI approved providers; they are well-known and are available at a very affordable price.
The first program, “PMSprout,” was developed by PMSimplify and Me.
PrepCast was developed by Mr. Cornelius Fitchner, a famous PMP trainer. This is one of the first online training programs which allowed professionals to earn 35 contact hours at a very affordable rate with ease.
FAQs: PMP 35 Contact Hours
I have been constantly receiving many queries on the PMP training. For most of the questions, I have already given answers in this blog post. You can find the remainder below.
Q: Is it necessary to get this training from a PMI approved ATP?
No, it is not necessary. There are many other ways to earn these contact hours.
As per the PMI,
You can satisfy the education requirements by demonstrating the successful completion of courses, workshops, and training sessions offered by one or more of the following types of education providers:
- PMI Registered Education Providers (REPs)*
- PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP)*
- PMI chapters*
- Employer/company-sponsored programs
- Training companies or consultants (e.g., training schools)
- Distance-learning companies, including an end-of-course assessment
- University/college academic and continuing education programs
The following education does not satisfy the education requirements:
- PMI chapter meetings*
- Self-directed learning (e.g., reading books, watching instructional videos or sessions with coaches or mentors)
*If at least one hour of a chapter meeting is spent conducting a learning activity, the hour(s) spent in that activity can be counted towards the educational eligibility requirement.
However, it is recommended that you get your training through an ATP because their course content is always up-to-date and approved.
When will this training expire?
It will never expire even if you attended your training ten years ago. There is no expiry date attached to the training. Once you get your training, you are done, and it will stay with you forever.
Q: Are PDUs and contact hours the same?
No, they are different. You need 35 contact hours to become eligible to apply for the PMP exam. Without these contact hours, you cannot apply for the PMP exam.
PDUs are required once you become a PMP. You need 60 PDUs every three years to retain your PMP certification. After attaining 60 PDUs, you can renew your PMP certificate for three years.
Q: Can I earn 35 contact hours for free?
Yes, but it is challenging, time-consuming, and not worth your time.
You will have to go to many places, record each activity, and ensure these activities align with the PMP exam content outline.
These days you can earn your contact hours for only 100 to 200 USD. I suggest you get your training with minimal expenditure instead of wasting your effort and time earning the hours for free.
Q: How can I get the most out of the training?
This is a good question.
If you want to get the most out of your training, prepare yourself well before attending the classes. Read at least one good PMP exam reference book completely. Once you are finished reading that book, read the PMBOK Guide. Read it again if possible.
If you do so, you can get the most benefit from the training and solidify your concepts.
Summary
You must attend a PMP 35 contact hours training program to apply for the PMP exam. This training program helps you understand project management concepts and the PMBOK Guide. There are many ways to earn these contact hours; however, if you are looking for an affordable program, you should attend an online training program.
Get your training, prepare well, and pass the PMP exam.
Have you attended your training? Was it online, through live classes, or some other mode? Please share your experiences in the comments section.