PMP Certification: What is your prognosis?

Luis -

I think it is possible to meet the requirements for the exam honestly, but someone who has managed low complexity projects in a fairly narrow domain might not really be a highly competent PM. They wouldn't be misrepresenting their experience, but they just wouldn't be effective in a number of project contexts.

I can't speak to how Ivy League schools maintain their credibility beyond the calibre of their faculty, research and publications. I DO believe that traditional secondary education is well past due for a significant evolution to make it continue to be provide value cost effectively.

As far as the exam getting simpler, I wouldn't draw that conclusion based on the number of folks I've encountered who did fail it on their first attempt. Yes, there continue to be lots of resources available to help someone study, but as those are all guesses (some better than others) on what types of questions will be asked, it doesn't correlate with higher pass rates.

Also, I believe that PMI does review and re-calibrate things like what is the minimum score required to pass from time to time...

Kiron

Luis -

I think it is possible to meet the requirements for the exam honestly, but someone who has managed low complexity projects in a fairly narrow domain might not really be a highly competent PM. They wouldn't be misrepresenting their experience, but they just wouldn't be effective in a number of project contexts.

I can't speak to how Ivy League schools maintain their credibility beyond the calibre of their faculty, research and publications. I DO believe that traditional secondary education is well past due for a significant evolution to make it continue to be provide value cost effectively.

As far as the exam getting simpler, I wouldn't draw that conclusion based on the number of folks I've encountered who did fail it on their first attempt. Yes, there continue to be lots of resources available to help someone study, but as those are all guesses (some better than others) on what types of questions will be asked, it doesn't correlate with higher pass rates.

Also, I believe that PMI does review and re-calibrate things like what is the minimum score required to pass from time to time...

Kiron

I would suggest that dilution of its value already happened years ago...

Luis -

I think it is possible to meet the requirements for the exam honestly, but someone who has managed low complexity projects in a fairly narrow domain might not really be a highly competent PM. They wouldn't be misrepresenting their experience, but they just wouldn't be effective in a number of project contexts.

I can't speak to how Ivy League schools maintain their credibility beyond the calibre of their faculty, research and publications. I DO believe that traditional secondary education is well past due for a significant evolution to make it continue to be provide value cost effectively.

As far as the exam getting simpler, I wouldn't draw that conclusion based on the number of folks I've encountered who did fail it on their first attempt. Yes, there continue to be lots of resources available to help someone study, but as those are all guesses (some better than others) on what types of questions will be asked, it doesn't correlate with higher pass rates.

Also, I believe that PMI does review and re-calibrate things like what is the minimum score required to pass from time to time...

Kiron

Dear Vincent
Thank you for participating in this reflection and for your opinion

What can we do to achieve the value of PMP certification?

When PMI lowered application requirements ca ~2005 (I think) and then dropped verification process of new applicants to meager 3% - it reshifted the focus from proficiency certificate to PMP-title holding.

Additionally, recruiters in US put extra 10-20K on the resume with PMP - which further influenced schools pumping BA and MA graduates with no experience and somewhat skewed understanding of project management in practice.

Barring another certification gaining momentum (watch our for ITIL/PRINCE) while confusion ensues around PMPv7 and PMI-ACP - we will have 20-30 million PMPs in next decade.
It will translate in real-feel pain to realize that "project managers are a dime a dozen" (just wait until India and China mass certifies entire workforce to steal pm market share) because there is no true accreditation body that sifts through new to profession vs veterans.

As to the testing process - please, don't get me started.

"I would suggest that dilution of its value already happened years ago..."

Kiron, I agree. During a job interview about 3 years ago I was asked to explain what distinguished me from other candidates. I started by saying that I have a PMP certification I was interrupted by one of the panel members who said "So what, so does everybody and their brother; that only proves that you know how to take a test."

The interruption happened mid-sentence, before I could share how I've implemented and expanded on my PMBOK knowledge, Scrum Master certification, Kanban and Scrum experience, etc.

I finished the interview, but pulled myself out of consideration for the position; there were a number of red flags after that first interruption that made me feel my expertise would not be valued.

When I took my PMP, PMI still assigned you a score. I remember that shortly after I passed, they increased the passing mark to about 82.5%. I remember thinking that I would have passed the elevated threshold.

Luis,

Not clear on your question.

Achieve or increase the value of PMP certification?