“How do I choose a PMP prep course?” If you’re questioning this, let’s recall one very vital thing: PMI calls for 35 hours of project management training. I know, I know, you already read, “What are the PMP Prerequisites?” so it's miles truthful which you’re asking, why is that this relevant? Well, this training requirement advised PMI to offer a listing of accredited PMP prep course alternatives. These alternatives variety from in-person to online, from at work to on your personal time. So let’s dive a little deeper and evaluate all your options.

PMP Prep Course Options

PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s)

REPs are agencies that might be accredited by PMI to provide project control education in addition to trouble continuing training certificates. Since you may be required to get hold of persevering with training to stay licensed when you ace your PMP examination, it's miles profitable to set up a courting with this kind of agency at the beginning of your journey. There are advantages for running with one of these agency that PMI graciously outlines. However, in case you ask me, the largest gain is you do not need to worry about providing giant documentation in case you are audited for the duration of your software manner due to the fact those agencies are pre-certified.

PMI Local Chapters

Similar to REPs, PMI neighborhood chapters provide pre-accredited education applications. As the neighborhood company of offerings, on behalf of the countrywide PMI enterprise, you may make sure this prep programming is in absolute alignment with the maximum present day model of the PMP examination. Typically, those neighborhood agencies provide lots of face-to-face or on line trainings. For instance, let’s test out my hometown’s PMI neighborhood bankruptcy – they provide more than one alternatives; which include a 10-week prep, a 4-day boot camp, or a web route. The key gain I see with the use of this feature is the community it gives you. Just assume you may connect to a gaggle of human beings with comparable pursuits as you, withinside the equal metropolis as you!

Employer/agency-backed applications

Although that is an incredible alternative, it's miles restricted to people whose agency gives in-residence education for his or her employees. Ultimately, this education may be a low or no price alternative for you – in case your enterprise gives it. In my enjoy businesses with prepared PMOs – Project Management Offices – or consulting corporations with project management services are much more likely to offer this education choice to employees. My recommendation, test together along with your HR to look if that is something your agency organizes. If it's miles, I assume your selection simply were given a touch easier.

Training businesses or consultants

Okay, you're in all likelihood asking, what's the distinction between an education agency and a REP? Well, the fast solution is, they can be equal, or they can be distinct. What I imply is, a few education businesses aren't Registered Education Providers (REPs). For instance, Global Project Management Group is an education agency and a REP – the equal; however, Cheetah Exam Prep is an education agency, however, they do now no longer display up on a brief seek of REPs – consequently distinct. It has to not be a deal-breaker if an enterprise isn't always a REP. If you discover an education plan that appeals to you at this kind of agencies move for it. The worst it is able to be is supplying a touch extra documentation approximately the coursework, withinside the occasion you're audited for the duration of the application process.

Distance-mastering businesses that consist of an end-of-route assessment

Again a distance-mastering agency may be similar to an education agency and a REP. The key distinction right here is that those prep publications are supplied thru online – distance training layout only. Additionally, due to the asynchronous nature of online mastering PMI calls for those kinds of applications to have end-of-route assessments. This guarantees which you, because the user, have finished all gadgets and might exhibit competency of the material. For instance, PMStudy gives on line-distance mastering, is an education agency, and is a REP. If you want an extra bendy alternative, wherein you may have a look at to your personal time, then on line – distance mastering is probably your quality choice.

University/university educational and persevering with training applications

This alternative is quite straightforward – it's miles made from any route paintings furnished via way of means of a university or college with a content material awareness of project management. The awareness may be on any of the subsequent: project quality, project scope, project schedule, project budget, project communications, project risk, project procurement, and project integration control. Doing a brief seek Villanova University gives an instance of project control route offerings. Ultimately, in case you are seeking to improve yourself via way of means of finishing a bachelor's or master's degree, this feature assists you to acquire dreams at once.

What PMP Prep Doesn’t Count

Just as PMI gives alternatives that fulfill the 35 hours of project management training requirement additionally they observe what does not fulfill the requirement.

 PMI particularly outlines the subsequent as not meeting the education requirement:

PMI chapter meetings

Although PMI local chapter conferences are incredible for different reasons – networking, volunteering, always mastering, etc. – those conferences do not fulfill the PMP training requirement. PMI chapter conferences may have many distinct subjects covered in a meeting, and usually, a number of it's miles approximately the logistics of the enterprise. As I even have stated in different blogs, becoming a member of and collaborating to your neighborhood PMI chapter could be very useful; its miles simply now no longer suitable for this unique requirement.

Self-directed mastering

We mentioned above that PMI desires to see proof which you have finished sports and might display competency of the examination material. With self-directed anything, it's miles difficult to show off the paintings you finished. Please observe: self-directed mastering is important to your fulfillment at the examination. Think lower back to whilst you have been attending excessive college or university – became it sufficient to simply concentrate for your instructor lecture on content material in elegance as a manner to put together to your final examination? Probably now no longer, you possibly hung out out of doors of elegance – self-directed – studying for your exam.