TSI wants to let everyone know that PMI® has defined the deadlines for testing under the PMBOK Guide® Third Edition. The PMBOK Guide® Fourth Edition will be officially released to the public on December 31, 2008. The last day to test under the Third Edition will be June 30, 2009.
Now, I can almost hear the great “yawn” from the audience. “What”, you may ask, “does this mean to me”?
First of all, let me tell you what it does not mean – it does not mean that they way you do project management will change. Project managers the world over will continue to use the same methods that they currently use. Hopefully, those methods are proven and successful – otherwise it might be best to consider a change.
Because the PMBOK Guide® Fourth Edition is being introduced, it also does not mean that you HAVE to rush out and take a PMP course right now. The PMBOK Guide® Fourth Edition has 42 processes that are really very similar to the current 44 processes. A few things change and get re-organized. By my count 32 processes are re-named. If you have been studying for the PMP® or CAPM® credential and you want to do it before the change occurs, now might be a good time to take a class and take the exam, but certainly you are not compelled to do so.
But let me suggest a couple of reasons why now might be an excellent time to take a PMP® or CAPM® class and go ahead and take the exam – even if you have not already started to do so.
Reason #1: PMI® has not announced any test score requirements for taking the exam after June 30, 2009. The last time PMI® transitioned from one standard to the next edition, they raised the passing score by 12.5 points. This resulted in a lot of candidates failing the PMP® exam on the first try. While we do not know that this will occur in 2009 – why wait to find out. By the way – PMI® reduced the passing score after only 90 days, but it caused a lot of confusion at the time.
Reason#2: PMI® has changed test scoring on many credentials to eliminate a specific passing percentage as the qualification. I don’t know about you, but I always want to know how many questions and what percentage is required for me to pass the exam. While the new method of evaluating an applicant’s answers is technically and academically correct and acceptable, it makes me a little nervous. Tell me if I need a 50, 60 or a 70 to pass. To clarify this comment, we do not know yet if PMI® will change the way the PMP® exam is evaluated, but I am betting that they will.
Reason#3: When the PMBOK Guide® went from the Second Edition to the Third Edition the market was flooded with new Exam Prep Guides and Sample Questions for applicants to use for study purposes. If you knew what the processes were, you could easily differentiate between a study guide aimed at Second Edition and one written for Third Edition. If you did not know the processes, you bought the wrong version and studied the wrong processes, inputs, tools and outputs.
This is going to happen again. Everyone in the training industry is busy creating new materials to comply with PMBOK 4. (TSI’s new materials are well on their way towards completion – we just need to see the final standard from PMI® as soon as it becomes public on December 31). But guess what, the Amazon’s, Barnes and Nobles and Borders of the world do not know the difference between editions. They will happily sell you whatever you pick off the shelf or purchase over the Internet. Buyer beware.
Get your PMP® or CAPM® credential taken care of now, so you do not become part of the “test group” of applicants taking their test July 1, 2009.
Finally, there is one more reason for doing it now.
Reason#4: the economy is creating uncertainty and keen competition in the training industry. Prices are low right now for training classes and many retailers are running specials on books and other training aids.
Come on in and get your PMP® or CAPM® now. It is a very good time to enhance your personal value and your career.
