Should you get the PMP?

I just saw a question posted in one of my LinkedIn groups regarding whether one who is not currently a project manager should obtain the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential.

This is a very good question.

Here is my take on it. First please note that to even sit for the PMP exam one requirement is a significant amount of project management experience. However, I know quite a few people who have the PMP who were able to claim project management experience, when in fact, the experience is fairly suspect. A lead on a portion of a project, does not a project manager make. Note that the Project Management Institute (PMI)’s own “Top 10 Reasons for Earning a PMI Credential” is focused on “project management practitioners”. They are assuming that you have already been functioning as a project manager and are considering now getting PMI-certified. Almost like, you have been a bookkeeper for a long time and are deciding whether or not to go for your CPA.

That said, I would encourage anyone who would like to do so, to study for the PMP in order to LEARN an industry standard viewpoint and the common language used by PMPs or PMO’s who base their methodology on these standards. I do NOT mean attend a class, memorize enough to pass the test, and then forget everything. I mean really learn it. As the person who posted the question pointed out, for anyone who has played a variety of roles on a project, but who hasn’t been the project manager (yet), this type of learning could provide more of a 360-degree understanding of a project. Learning is always valuable. But once again, studying textbook project management and learning what PMI believes is the right answer in multiple-choice scenarios … does not a project manager make.

While I understand that many PMO’s list the PMP as a requirement for new hires, particularly given the economic situation, I have worked for and hired great project managers with no PMP because they have real end-to-end project management experience. And some of us can actually assess the real thing pretty quickly. So if you are not a true "practitioner", please be sure to position yourself appropriately lest you be in violation of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Here is my unfiltered bottom line. Personally, I don't know why one would bother getting the certification if one doesn't want to be a project manager for a living. Once you get it, you don't have it forever. You have to do a lot of work over the next 3 years to keep it (i.e., obtain 60 PDUs). Rather, you could attend a course and study it, but not go through the pain of applying for and sitting for the 4-hour exam. Then, you would still get the benefit of that 360-degree view and be able to wow your management with your knowledge and appreciation for the standards set forth by PMI, which generally do make sense in real life too.

Good luck with your decision!

Disclaimer: Obviously I may be biased because I am PMP-certified myself and have also developed training curriculum and trained project managers to become certified. And oh yes...I hate exams.