PMP exam prep: a practical guide
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The PMP is PMI's main project management certification. Before you can sit the exam you need project experience and 35 hours of project management training. Below: what PMI requires, a simple study path, and where a course and a practice-exam tool each fit. Rules change, so always check the official PMI PMP page before you apply.
1. Check you're eligible (per PMI)
You need one of these education + experience combinations. Experience means time spent leading projects (planning, decisions, delivery) in the last 10 years; overlapping projects don't count twice.
- Secondary school diploma (high school / GED or equivalent) + 5 years managing projects
- Associate's degree or vocational diploma + 4 years
- Bachelor's degree or higher + 3 years
- Bachelor's or post-graduate degree from a PMI GAC-accredited program + 2 years
Plus 35 hours of project management training, from one of:
- an online, self-paced course from any organization;
- a live class (in person or online). From 1 December 2026, PMI accepts live classes only from a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP), a China REP, or an eligible accredited higher-education program;
- or an active CAPM certification.
Keep your course completion certificate: PMI can audit applications.
2. Know the exam
- 180 questions in 240 minutes, with two 10-minute breaks.
- Three domains: People 33%, Process 41%, Business Environment 26% (from PMI's current Exam Content Outline, the ECO). Questions cover predictive, agile and hybrid ways of working.
- Taken at a Pearson VUE test center or online with a proctor.
- Offered in 15 languages, including Arabic.
- Up to three attempts within one year.
- You pay the exam fee to PMI after your application is approved. Check PMI for the current fee (it's lower for PMI members).
3. A simple study path
- Start free. Download the ECO from the PMI PMP page, try PMI's free one-hour PMP intro course, and work through PMI's sample questions.
- Get your 35 hours with a structured course that covers all three domains. If you choose a live class that ends on or after 1 December 2026, confirm the provider is a PMI ATP.
- Apply to PMI while you study. List each project separately and describe your own role.
- Practice under exam conditions. Do question sets by domain, then full-length timed mock exams (180 questions, 4 hours). Review every wrong answer and work out why PMI's answer is better.
- Book the exam once your full-length mock scores are trending up and steady. PMI doesn't publish a passing percentage, so watch the trend, not a magic number.
- After you pass: you'll need 60 PDUs every three years to keep the PMP. That's what the rest of PDU Finder is for: renew for free.
4. Where the paid options fit
These two products do different jobs: one gets you the 35 training hours, the other is for exam practice. Most candidates need a course; a separate question bank is optional but helps you rehearse the real exam.
For the 35 hours: Velociteach InSite
- Velociteach's "Pass the PMP" online course on its InSite platform. Velociteach says that completing it (including the media-center activities) gives you the 35 contact hours and a printable certificate of completion you can send PMI if audited.
- Covers the People, Process and Business Environment domains, including agile and hybrid approaches, with practice questions.
- Three extra simulated practice tests are sold separately or in a bundle with the course.
- Self-paced online, so it falls under PMI's "online, on-demand course from any organization" route.
Price: see the current price on Velociteach's site.
For exam practice: PrepSolution
- A PMP question bank (1,800 questions, aligned to the current ECO) with an explanation for every answer option.
- 3 full-length timed mock exams in the 180-question format, plus flashcards and a short video course.
- One-time payment for a fixed access period. No subscription or auto-renewal.
- It does not provide the 35 contact hours; PrepSolution positions it for after your course. Try its free question packs first to see if the style suits you.
Coupon code: AVA10 (the discount is applied at checkout). Price: see the current plans on PrepSolution's site.
PrepSolution and Velociteach are independent companies. Neither is PMI. Check each provider's current price, inclusions and refund or guarantee terms before you buy. PMI also sells its own official prep (e.g. PMI Study Hall and a full-length practice exam), listed on the PMI PMP page.
Quick checklist
- ☐ Experience meets PMI's minimum for my education level
- ☐ 35 hours of training done (certificate saved)
- ☐ ECO downloaded and read
- ☐ Application submitted to PMI
- ☐ At least two full-length timed mocks done and reviewed
- ☐ Exam booked (test center or online)