PMP Certification Exam Overview
The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and is the most recognized project management credential worldwide. The 2026 exam focuses heavily on Agile and hybrid approaches.
Exam Format
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 180 questions |
| Time Limit | 230 minutes (3 hrs 50 min) |
| Passing Score | ~60% (no fixed score) |
| Exam Fee | $555 (PMI members: $405) |
| Eligibility | 36 months PM experience + 35 hours education |
| Validity | 3 years (60 PDUs to renew) |
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Exam Content Outline (ECO)
The PMP exam is organized into three performance domains:
People (42%)
- Manage conflict
- Lead a team
- Support team performance
- Empower team members
- Ensure team training
- Build a team
- Address impediments
Process (50%)
- Execute project with urgency
- Manage communications
- Assess and manage risks
- Engage stakeholders
- Plan and manage budget/resources
- Plan and manage schedule
- Plan and manage quality
- Plan and manage scope
- Integrate project planning activities
- Manage project changes
- Plan and manage procurement
- Manage project artifacts
- Determine methodology (Agile, Predictive, Hybrid)
Business Environment (8%)
- Plan and manage compliance
- Evaluate and deliver project benefits
- Support organizational change
- Evaluate external business environment
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Key Exam Topics for 2026
Agile & Hybrid Approaches (~50%)
The modern PMP exam is approximately half Agile/hybrid content:
- Scrum framework
- Kanban boards
- Sprint planning and retrospectives
- Servant leadership
- Adaptive life cycles
Predictive (Waterfall) Approaches (~50%)
Traditional project management remains important:
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
- Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Change control processes
- Procurement management
PMBOK Guide 7th Edition
The exam aligns with PMBOK 7, which focuses on:
- 12 Project Management Principles
- 8 Performance Domains
- Tailoring to project context
Study Timeline
| Week | Focus | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | People domain + Agile basics | 20-25 |
| Week 3-5 | Process domain (largest) | 35-40 |
| Week 6 | Business Environment + Review | 15-20 |
| Week 7-8 | Practice exams + weak areas | 25-30 |
Total: 100-120 hours recommended
Eligibility Requirements
Four-Year Degree
- 36 months leading projects
- 35 hours of PM education
High School Diploma
- 60 months leading projects
- 35 hours of PM education
Tips for Success
- Focus on Agile - Half the exam is Agile/hybrid content
- Understand "Why" - PMI tests situational judgment, not memorization
- Practice situational questions - Most questions are scenario-based
- Know EVM formulas - CPI, SPI, EAC, ETC, VAC
- Think like a PM - What would a PMI-aligned PM do?
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