|
Studying for the CAPM 2008-02b
Most of us work in places that have some type of projects. This is especially true for IT professionals. An example would be an Accounting or HR software system upgrade. This type of projects requires the participation from functional users, senior management, IT professionals, as well as project management experts.
The Project Management Institute, PMI,is a membership association for the project management profession. It has more than 260,000 members in more than 171 countries. Currently, it offers three types of certifications. There are pros and cons arguments as to the "worth" of certifications. It is the same kind of debate that has gone on for years regarding IT certifications from Microsoft, for example.
I always look at it this way. If I was a hiring manager, given everything else is equal, I would pick the candidate that has a certification. Reason? Whatever their motivation was, this candidate demonstrated their determination to complete a task successfully.
With that said, I have recently passed the CAPM exam. My motivation for doing so is to use it as a door opener for a new career in project management. (I didn't have enough project participation hours for the PMP). I will share my experience here so you can save some time while preparing for your CAPM exam.
- Read the CAPM credential requirements.
- Gathered project experience information. I have included samples of 3 projects I participated in, see Figure A1~A3 below.
- Submit the application to take the CAPM Exam on this page, follow the Get certified now link
Wait until you received the application acceptance before going on to the next step.
Look and decide on your study needs, classroom or self study. I chose self study. Purchase the study books. I used 3 books
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
- CAPM Exam Quicklet:
- The CAPM Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try
Create study schedule. See Figure B below. Then, schedule a test date. Read this page, and look for the links to understand the fees and how to schedule a test.
As you study, you can create study notes like I did, or your can use mine. I created a page for formulas, Big Picture, Knowledge Areas Process. See Figures C1~C3
You can also download the Excel Template file I used for your studies. Good luck on the exam!
|
