PgMP: The next big differentiator? My certification experience.
I recently received my PgMP certification and thought it would be a great time to blog about my experience with the overall process. For those of you not familiar with the PgMP certification, it is one of the Project Management Institute’s three new certifications, and there are currently ~400 PgMPs worldwide. It is for those that have managed overall programs, and getting certified was a 2010 goal for me as a program management consultant. Here are some of my takeaways:
It’s definitely worth reading the PgMP Handbook upfront as the application process is expensive ($1,500) and has numerous steps. For me, it took about 4 months start to finish. Below is a quick overview of the steps:
It’s definitely worth reading the PgMP Handbook upfront as the application process is expensive ($1,500) and has numerous steps. For me, it took about 4 months start to finish. Below is a quick overview of the steps:
- Complete the online application. This part is not hard, but it is somewhat tedious. You will need to list all of the programs and projects you have worked on, a list of reference contacts, and complete 8 summary statements. Plan at least 1-2 weeks to get this done. It was helpful for me to update, print out, and have my resume next to me as I was completing the application. Also, I would highly recommend reading PMI’s “Standard for Program Management” prior to answering the summary questions. I listed my experiences without using specific program management terminology/concepts, and it was kicked back (thus delaying the process by a few weeks).
- Pay PMI your money. This takes only as much time as it takes to pull out your credit card and pay online.
- Submit audit documentation. I got audited, and you probably will too. With as few PgMPs as there are out there, I imagine everyone gets audited. This involves getting a copy of your diploma and signed statements from a colleague or supervisor at each place that you have led programs. Everyone sends their statements to you, and you mail everything back to PMI. PMI gives you 30 days to get everything in. This took me about a week or so. I made sure to send emails to everyone to give them a heads up, and that helped move things along.
- Re-submit your summary statements (as needed). Hopefully, you will take my advice above and will only have to submit your summary statements once. In my case, PMI let me know what questions did not meet their standard and sent me some thought provoking questions to help me better answer what they were asking. This was extremely helpful.
- Study for and take the exam. This is where my experience may differ from others. I know a few PgMPs as well as some of the authors of PgMP study material and reached out to them for advice. I consistently heard that the “Standard for Program Management” was helpful, so I bought the book from Amazon and read it twice (once to complete my summary statements and once in preparation for the exam). I memorized the Program Management framework table at the beginning of the book and made sure I understood each of the concepts throughout. I even went so far as to chart mind maps of all 47 processes across my office wall. Looking back, this might have been a little overkill, but it seemed to help me. I had also heard from a number of people that most of the PgMP study guides currently out there do not do a great job of testing to the exam, so I figured I would study this one book, take the exam, and hope for the best. All told, I studied for about 1 week (I would recommend spending more time studying than I did. A colleague told me, much to my panic the day before my exam, that the pass rate is 50% on the first try). I went in a little blind (and a LOT stressed), but managed to pass on the first attempt. My two cents:
- Ultimately, PMI’s “Standard for Program Management” was sufficient to get me through the exam. Overall, the exam itself wasn’t too bad. However, with all of the reading required for the scenarios, I used the whole 4 hours to complete the exam; and it was pretty stressful. I drew out the Program Management framework from the “Standard on Program Management” on the scratch paper provided and was a little surprised there weren’t more questions on Inputs, Outputs, Tools & Techniques. The Input questions that were on the exam didn’t quite line with up what I studied, so I made a best guess. There were also a number of redundant questions and scenarios that seemed to ask the same thing (i.e. making sure the overall program lines up with organizational goals). However, the questions were pretty straight forward, and I was actually able to answer many of the questions by looking at the answers first and deducing which was the “best practice” answer.
- Complete the Multi-Rater Assessment. Your reference contacts will receive an online survey to rate their perception of your skills as a program manager. One of the tips I received from a fellow PgMP (Jeff Hodgkinson, who was a huge help to me, and I want to be sure to thank him here) was to include more than twice the number of references that you need as not everyone will complete their surveys within the allotted time (21 days). I sent an email to my reference contacts when I first started the application process. However, it took me awhile to get through all of the steps. I would recommend waiting to contact your references until after you pass your exam.
Posted by Erika Flora at 11/9/2010 4:25 PM 
Categories: project management
Tags: program management PMP project management application PMI credential certification training PgMP
Categories: project management
Tags: program management PMP project management application PMI credential certification training PgMP
many congratulations , a real differentiator indeed this !!!
Reply to this
Erika,
This is great information. I especially appreciate you discussing the amount of time the process takes.
Jamie Foster, PMP
Reply to this
Glad you liked it. When are you going to get your PgMP?
Reply to this
Congrats and thanks for writing this great post, I am planning to go for PgMP and this is really helpful.
Reply to this
Best of luck to you! A similar certification you may also want to check out is OGC's MSP: http://www.msp-officialsite.com It was recommended to me after I had started the PgMP process.
Reply to this
Erika,
I came across your profile on LinkedIn in search for individuals holding the PgMP credential.
This is great information & exactly what I was hoping to find. I hold the PMP credential but was looking to further differentiate myself from others. The PgMP is a 2011 Goal for me.
Great job & Congratulations on your PgMP!
Jonita Floyd, MSTM, PMP
Reply to this
Wish I had read this before I submitted my application. In review of the standards after the fact, I think I covered all terms in the experience section. I am currently waiting to for acceptance.....
Reply to this
Hi Erika,
Thanks for the information on PgMP.
I have one question. Normally the exam payment of 1500$ is done after your application is accepted (after even a audit) right? .... I get the feeling from the above text that the 1500$ is to paid much before even the audit is done.
Could you clarify on that point please.
Have you come across any other good Prep books now that you have your PgMP
I would also like to add you in Linked in. I found your blog really useful.
Thanks
Michael Fernandes, PMP, MCSE, A+
Reply to this
The $1,500 is paid when you initially submit your application (pre-approval and pre-audit). With that said, if you do not pass certain stages of the PgMP application process, PMI will refund part of the application fee. Craig Letavec has a PgMP exam prep book out: http://tinyurl.com/3fo4zu8 However, I do not know if has been updated to the most current version of the exam. Best of luck to you!
Erika
Reply to this
This is a nice information and I guess the information is very relevant even now. I am planning to take PgMP for sometime and now I think time is coming near. Please suggest me which is the good book for written test.
Reply to this
The best book that I know of is PMI's "Standard for Program Management" - http://marketplace.pmi.org/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?GMProduct=00101095601 However, you may want to check out other PgMP study materials listed on either PMI's site or Amazon.com
Reply to this
Hi Erika,
First let me congratulate you on the YouTube series. I have listened to it and I know it can bring value to anyone. Second I wanted your advice relating to PgMP. I am taking the test in a couple of weeks. I read the STD a few times, I am answering questions from the two main books out there and I am trying really hard (and yes English is not my first language, lucky me). Yes I still feel stressed and not yet ready.. Currently I have prepared a few mind maps for the ITTO because I know I would need to know them... could you give me your 2 cents?
Again I think you are a perfect example of excellence and professionalism. I congratulate you for all of your achievements.
Thanks,
David - NYC
Reply to this
Hi Erika,
Many thanks for sharing this valuable post, it was really helpfull. I have a question regarding the experiance required for the PgMP, actually i need to know if my experiance (duration) will be considered or not before spending money and time in process. Im a PMP certified for more than 4 years now, and i have alomst a total of 8 years of experiance, in which the last 4 years were in program Mangement, would this duration be considered for the application during the panel review or should i postpon the process till i gain more experiance.
Thanks in advance, and congrates for the credential though its late
Firas
Reply to this