Hi, I am thinking about going down the PM road and thus looking at eventually taking the PMP exam and perhaps that would help me get the foot in the door but not sure if my current project work counts toward the 4500 hours project management work related experience requirement. So I hope you can help me clarify some of this.
My background. I have a BS degree. I have been in IT, infrastructure to be specific, for over 15 years working primary as system admin/engineer. The last 4 years has been solely focused on infrastructure projects (i.e. upgrading the virtual infrastructure, implementing new remote access system, implementing new disaster recovery system, upgrading document management system and email system, etc.). In short, at my current employment, I am the project lead on all projects but I also do all the technical tasks.
Since the company (legal industry) I work at currently is not an enterprise or a large organization, we do not have a PMO or a PM. My supervisor and I decide on the projects and I am tasked to complete them however I prefer. These projects are mission critical, so they are not small tasks, and successfully completing them is obviously important if I wanted to keep my job.
When I started these projects, I did my own planning, executing, and closing without any knowledge of the 5 Process Group or follow any kind of project management frameworks. I used common sense, past experience, and my own tools to keep track of things. On some projects, a few of my associates are involved. However, what I am concern of that is relating to Project Management RELATED work experience is that I am also the one who actually does all the heavy lifting in terms of doing all the technical stuff, research, configuration, testing, implementation, etc. and these are not related to project management at all. The bulk of my time on a project is spent here.
Given the above, are the projects that I completed and currently working on count toward the 4500 hours requirement? I suppose I need to weed out the hours that are PM related as described in 5 Process Group? What if I completed them already and didn't follow the PM methodology?
I know that if I break down the PM related work experience and hours, my supervisor would have no issue vouching for them in the case of an audit.
Now, I realize that I am a total PM newbie, I would need real training in PM, and that would begin with starting all my current infrastructure projects using PM methodology and taking PM courses. I really do not want to do the CAPM as that takes consider amount of time and money also but the ROI is not so great. Who knows maybe it would help get me started. If I can clarify that my past infrastructure projects somewhat qualify as PM related work experience, then I would rather spend all of my energy toward the PMP.
I see you already have a good years of project experience. Please go ahead with PMP certification if you plan to.
Check the Prerequisites
Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent) 7,500 hours leading and directing projects 35 hours of project management education
OR
Four-year degree 4,500 hours leading and directing projects 35 hours of project management education
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Howard, welcome.
Based on what you described, you should have no problem meeting the hours requirement. Follow the instructions in the supplied links from Anupam for how to format each projects description and contribution.
My recommendation, is create an excel document with the areas required for the application to figure out your responses, dates, roles, and responsibilities. This way, when you begin the application online, you have all the information ready.
I would also recommend informing the managers listed in the application that you are submitting the application, listing them in your project resume. In case you are selected for an audit, the manager(s) will not be caught off guard when needed to sign off on the stated projects under their management. It sounds though that most are under one manager, so that will be helpful.
Another question I have is that for the completed projects, I DID NOT follow the PMBOK framework or other PM framework but of course I had to do some scoping, planning, executing, etc. So is it OK to use these hours as PM related work experience for the the hours requirement?
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Jan 12, 2017 12:33 PM
Stéphane Parent
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Absolutely, Howard.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Jan 12, 2017 11:51 AM
Replying to Howard Rark
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Another question I have is that for the completed projects, I DID NOT follow the PMBOK framework or other PM framework but of course I had to do some scoping, planning, executing, etc. So is it OK to use these hours as PM related work experience for the the hours requirement?
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