You almost have all that's needed, but just add the Exam Content Outline from PMI and also many simulation exams. Schedule is a personal thing and only you can choose that. Saving Changes...
Patrick IkohAccount Development Consultant| American ExpressPhoenix, Az, United States
I passes the PMP about a week ago. Best advice is to understand the processes and how the relate to work functions versus trying to cram and brain dump.
See an overview of how i planned. I am the Project:
Project Charter - The high level why? The justification of earning the certification - much higher income, amazing career path, great work/life balance and professional specificity. This will also give me the go ahead to invest in myself.
Scope baseline - The only deliverable here is me passing the exam.
Time Baseline - 6 Weeks
Cost Baseline - Application fee, Training by PMI accredited institute fee, other monies spent on procurement of flash cards and extra practice questions
Project Quality Management - Making sure all these "Risks"are checked. Tailored mini practice exams based on attained stage or phase were a good way to check my study materials with up to par.
Project Human Resources Management - My availability to study and prepare for the exam. Multiple holidays within this time frame. Thanksgiving, a birthday, Christmas and New Year
Project Risk Management - Huge factor. So many risks, enough that i actually created a Risk Register. I never thought there would be so much risks just by trying to study for an exam. Weekends( Yes! Weekends became a constraint to my schedule. Other risks encountered include holidays, ineffective study materials, birthdays, fatigue, life, etc. I created ways to respond to these known risks, coffee, walks with my 5 year old. You would be surprised how refreshing listening to a 5 year old trying to rationalize why there are so many different types of trees.
I was able to adapt past experiences in risk and time management to the PMBOK guide. Project Manager Body of Knowledge 5th Edition was my key study material. Not sure if this will help anyone taking the exam but breaking down the process when you have to study a 589 paged book helped a lot. "He who plans to fail, failed to plan" or does it go the other way? My point being, self actualization prepares us for growth. Plan yours.
The CAPM is 100% based on the content of the PMBOK Guide unlike the PMP which draws on multiple references.
As such, other than the PMBOK Guide and some quality practice exams, nothing else should be required assuming you can dedicate sufficient time to studying.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Great advise from our fellow colleagues Saving Changes...
Kyle ConnollyProject Coordinator, Sales Acceleration| Sales BeaconOttawa Valley, Ontario, Canada
Hi, soon I'm starting my study for the CAPM. I'll be taking a professional development course through a university, however; my strategy is to create a study plan (with studying as the project, like Patrick wrote about) as I learn about PM through the university's course. Recursively, sort of.
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