How to get a PMP Certification in Less than 5 Weeks, for Less than $500 in 5 Simple Steps: A Guide for Busy Engineers

If you are an engineer who is juggling a hectic work schedule and you have a very limited budget,

The idea of getting PMP (Project Management Professional) certified might seem daunting…But!! What if I told you it’s actually possible for you to book and pass the PMP exam in less than 5 weeks and, for less than $500?

Well it definitively is possible and Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored for busy professionals like you.

Introduction

The biggest challenge for most young engineers when it comes to PMP certification is time and money.

You need 35 hours of PDUs (Professional Development Units) before you can even apply for the exam, and most accredited courses are quite expensive.

However, by planning wisely and using some insider tips, you can achieve your PMP certification without breaking the bank.

The PMP exam costs $575 for non-members and $405 for members of the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Now, the PMI membership fee is $139, meaning you can save $31 by becoming a member first, before paying for the exam.

In this article, I’ll share insights on tips, that got me my PMP certification for just $457, namely

• $284 – Exam
• $109 – Membership
• $20 – Local Chapter Subscriptions (Zimbabwean Chapter)
• $10 – Accredited PMP Exam Prep Course for 35 PDUs
• $34 – PMI Study Hall Pass (Mock Test and Questions)

See part of the proof below

Compare this to the $998 for classes alone from PMI, or $1,300 USD for a full 2 months course plus exam in some parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

😲Expensive!, I know right.

Well Fear not….

Follow me and let’s dive right into the five steps to get PMP certified efficiently and economically.

(Note this method will involve you studying on your own and setting your own timelines – If you are a maverick and free spirit like me, you will like it)

Step 1: Set Your Calendar, Goals, and Budget – $0 & 1 Day

a. Why This is Important

Setting a clear calendar, goals, and budget is crucial for staying on track and minimizing costs. It is also crucial to ensuring this strategy works.

b. How to Do It

The key is timing.

Every holiday season, from Thanksgiving (November Time) to New Year’s, PMI offers significant discounts on their PMP exam fees, “remember PMI is from the United States so yes Thanksgiving is big deal over there“.

During this period, the exam fee drops to about $284 for members and $395 for non-members. Simultaneously, Udemy runs specials where you can find the accredited 35 PDUs course by Andrew Ramdayal for just $10 – $13.

So my advice is set up a Google account alert on all news involving PMI and the PMP exam so that once the discount arrives you get wind of it.

c. Action Plan

• Plan: Evaluate your situation and see if you are willing to study on your own or you need a teacher. “Do note that, most of the online courses are just as good as studying on your own, trust me I saw this with PRINCE2″
• Budget: Allocate funds for the exam fee, membership, and course. “Set aside or budget around a max of $550 just in case you need good wifi to do the lessons aswell.“
• Goals: Dedicate a holiday period to focus on this certification. “Construction Shutdown is always a good time if you are a site or production based engineer“

d. Analogy

Think of this step like planning a road trip across the country. You need to map out your route, decide on your stops, and budget for fuel and snacks. Without a clear plan, you’ll end up lost or broke halfway through.

Step 2: Get the 35 PDUs for just $10 in 2-3 Weeks

a. Why This is Important

Completing the 35 PDUs is mandatory before applying for the exam. “After all you need to study before actually writing an Exam right”

b. How to Do It

Sign up for the Udemy course by Andrew Ramdayal as soon as it goes on sale. Every holiday season, Udemy offers significant discounts, and you can get the accredited 35 PDUs course by Andrew Ramdayal for as low as $10 to $13.

“Yes Andrew Ramdayal is legit and his course might be the best thing after sliced bread”

Once you have enrolled in the course, set a strict study schedule to complete it within 2-3 weeks. Dedicate at least 2 hours each weekday and 4 hours each weekend day to studying. For example, you could study for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening on weekends.

This approach ensures you complete 36 hours of study within two weeks, But if life happens and you need a little extra time, you’ve got the 3rd week as a contingency.

This methods allows you maintain a consistent learning pace without overwhelming yourself and on the weekends his gives you the flexibility to manage other activities while still focusing on your studies.

By the end of the 2-3 weeks, you’ll have completed the necessary training, received your certificate, and be ready to move on to the next steps of the PMP certification process.

c. Action Plan

• Course Enrollment: Buy the Udemy course when it’s on special. “There are so many other courses on discount but this has to be the best of all of them”
• Study Schedule: Study 2 hours on weekdays, 4 hours on weekends. “This is how i did it, i dedicated 2 hours from 1900hrs to 2130Hrs with a 30 minute break in between”
• Completion: Finish the course and obtain your PDUs certificate. “This is what you will need to then use to fill out your PMI Application”

Step 3: Apply for the Exam & Pay for it and Membership – $410 + 3 Days

a. Why This is Important

You need to apply and get approved by PMI before you can schedule your exam.

b. How to Do It

Visit the PMI website, create an account, and complete your application. Ensure your resume reflects at least 3 years of project-related work experience. Submit your application and wait for approval, which usually takes about 72 hours.

Once your application has been approved go forward and order the PMP Exam on discount and add the membership package as well.

If you want, you can also add a subscription to a local chapter in your city or country so that you can get regular updates from your local Project Management Society and also great discounts in the future.

“Remember this only works during the discount season which normally falls every holiday season so it’s very important for you to be on the lookout”

c. Action Plan

• PMI Account: Create and fill out your profile. “I will create another article just on how to do this to help out those who struggle with this”
• Application: Submit your project experience and PDUs. “This is where Andrew’s Udemy Course comes in handy”
• Approval: Wait for PMI’s response (about 3 days) “If you have the 3 years and did Andrew’s Course you will always get a positive feedback”
• Payment: Proceed to order and pay for the exam and your PMI membership and schedule your exam for the next upcoming week. “Preferably on a Friday”

Step 4: Use Study Hall and Mock Exams – Final Week or 2 + $34

a. Why This is Important

Practice with mock exams to ensure you’re ready for the real thing and Study Hall is the official mock exam simulator provided by PMI itself.

b. How to Do it

While waiting for application approval, purchase the PMI Study Hall for $34, which includes mock exams and practice questions. Yes you can use Andrew Ramdayal’s mock exam that comes with the course itself but get more and more questions from Study Hall will help you to get a realistic feel of the exam. It is very cheap and one of the best investments you can make on top of the $10 course.

I have provided receipts just in case some one wants to know if it is all legit.

My advice on the mock exams though is that Study hall comes with 2 options this one being for $34 offers only 2 mock exams but a bucket load of questions and another offers the same features but 3 additional exams and comes at a pricier tag of $55 but…

You don’t need the 5-exam option trust me the exams are exhausting you are better off doing the bucket loads of sample practice questions that come with your study hall pass.

“Remember these are the member prices, if you are not a member study hall is $49 and $79 respectively for the 2 options.”

Step 5: Final Preparations and Taking the Exam

a. Why This is Important

Proper preparation ensures you perform your best on exam day.

b. How to Do It

As I mentioned earlier, schedule your exam for a Friday to give yourself a buffer.

Spend the last few days doing light review i.e do the Mock Exams say on Saturday and Sunday before the exam or Monday and Tuesday.

After that just do some practice questions and 1 helpful tip spend sometime focusing on agile-based questions using David McLachlan’s YouTube videos on “200 Agile Questions”.

After Andrew, I would say he is one of the best in the business.

c. Action Plan

• Schedule Exam: Book for a Friday.
• Final Study: Light review and focus on agile questions.
• Rest: Take 2 days before the exam to rest and stay calm and do light work

d. Analogy

This step is like the final lap before the finish line. You don’t sprint all out from start to finish; you pace yourself, conserve energy, and ensure you’re in the best shape to cross the line strong.

In Body building or Power-lifting they say you want to hit your peak during the day of the show not before or after. Apply the same mantra to everything in your life.

Conclusion

By following these five steps, you can book and pass the PMP exam in less than 5 weeks for under $500.

Remember, staying organized, using available discounts, and focusing your study efforts are key. I managed to pass with Above Target in all areas using this method, and you can too.

Also note Results are not immediate, You will get an email later on maybe as early as 48 hours though, Anyways

Keep calm, plan well, and as YODA would say “may the force be with you on your PMP journey!”