PMP Certification Course - Frequently Asked Questions

Are you approved by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®?

Project Management Academy is a Premier member of Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Authorized Training Partner (ATP) program. PMI ATP status is awarded to only established, high-quality, financially-sound project management education providers who are aligned to PMI core values, have mature business practices, and offer courses aligned to the PMI Talent Triangle®. Training organizations that carry the PMI ATP Program Logo are a reflection of PMI and thus must undergo an extensive evaluation of their companies in order to be admitted to the Program. PMI’s Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) program was replaced by the ATP program in 2021.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). We also accept payment by check, wire transfer or approved purchase orders. We also accept government training funds, which includes an approved SF-182.

Can my company pay with a purchase order?

Yes. Simply register for the course you wish to attend, then on step 2 of the checkout process, select the billing type: "Quote / Purchase Order / Check." Purchase orders should be sent by fax to 408-521-3770 or emailed to contact@projectmanagementacademy.net. Please note that your seat is not confirmed until we receive either payment or an approved purchase order. For credit card orders your seat is always confirmed as soon as you place the order.

Can I get a quote for my training?

Yes, our system allows you to create a quote. Simply register for the course you wish to attend, then on step two of the checkout process select the billing type: "Quote / Purchase Order / Check." Purchase orders should be sent by fax to 408-521-3770 or emailed to contact@projectmanagementacademy.net. Please note that your seat is not confirmed until we receive either payment or an approved purchase order. For credit card orders, your seat is always confirmed as soon as you place the order.

Are exam fees included in the tuition?

Exam fees are not included in course tuition and must be paid directly to PMI® after your application is accepted and you are ready to schedule the exam. PMI currently lists the U.S. PMP exam fee as $425 for PMI members and $675 for nonmembers. PMI membership is optional and is not required to apply for or take the exam. Because pricing can change and may vary by region, review PMI’s current exam and membership pricing before submitting payment.

Can I buy a course even though I'm not sure when and where I can take it?

Yes, we have a voucher program that allows you to purchase a voucher before deciding when and where you want to attend. Vouchers can be used in any city in which we offer the course. You can register for a voucher by clicking this link:

Do I receive a certificate upon completing the course?

Yes, you will receive a certificate of completion showing that you completed the course and earned the 35 contact hours required to sit for the exam. You can download a PDF version from our online training portal.

Does your course satisfy the 35 contact hours needed to sit for the exam?

Yes, Project Management Academy's PMP exam prep course has been approved by PMI to issue the 35 contact hours required to sit for the PMP exam. For extra assurance, we will provide you with a certificate of completion at the end of the course that you can submit to PMI if you get audited.

PMI has also announced that, beginning in late Q4 2026, live PMP training hours will qualify only when the course is delivered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider, or an eligible accredited academic program. Project Management Academy’s ATP status means its live PMP training meets this provider requirement.

When do I get my course materials, and are they updated for the 2026 exam?

You can immediately access all of our training materials, such as the study guide, formula sheets, and practice exams, in your online training portal upon course registration. Log in to your account and select your course to launch the portal.

Materials for courses preparing students for the exam launched July 9, 2026 are aligned with the revised 2026 Exam Content Outline. The updated exam places greater emphasis on AI, sustainability, value delivery, strategy, and the Business Environment domain while continuing to cover predictive, agile, and hybrid approaches.

What changed on the PMP exam in 2026?

The updated PMP exam launched July 9, 2026. It awards the same PMP credential and retains the 180-question format, but the testing time increased from 230 to 240 minutes. Domain weighting shifted to People at 33%, Process at 41%, and Business Environment at 26%.

The exam also places greater emphasis on AI governance, sustainability, value delivery, strategy, stakeholder engagement, and changing business conditions. Candidates should expect more scenario-based, case-based, and graphic-based questions that test applied judgment. Predictive, agile, and hybrid approaches all remain part of the exam.

Can I re-schedule my course?

Yes, you may re-schedule your course as many times as you like at no charge. We kindly ask that you provide us with at least one week's notice. You can re-schedule your course by calling or emailing us.

If you're unsure of the date, we can convert your registration into a voucher to be used for any course date and city. Please call customer service to make these arrangements.

What is the latest date that I can sign up for the class?

You can sign up for the course up until the day before class begins. However, we have limited seating capacity and many of our courses fill up well in advance. We therefore advise students to register at least a few weeks before the course begins.

How does the Money-Back Guarantee work?

Our Money-Back Guarantee is simple. You must attend the entire course and complete the mock exam and three full-length practice exams from our online training portal. If you do not pass the PMP exam in three attempts, we will refund your entire course tuition, provided that all attempts occurred within 120 calendar days of completing the course.

How soon after the course should I take the exam?

Each student is different, so there is no "one size fits all" approach. The average student takes the exam roughly ten days after the course. You should plan to spend some time studying after class to make sure you are ready. We provide you with a lot of resources to help you prepare, so you will want to set aside time after class to utilize these tools. We also provide metrics along with our practice tests, which will help you know when you are ready.

Can I take the exam the day after I complete the prep course?

We strongly advise our students not to follow this approach, as the statistics show it to be seriously flawed. The PMP exam is difficult, and you will naturally want to take some time to solidify what you learned in class (using the many training resources we provide).

Moreover, you may feel a little drained after the boot camp as a lot of information is presented to you in a relatively short period of time. You should allow some time to decompress and relax, instead of having the added pressure of testing right after class. Simply put, the day-5 testing model drastically lowers your chances of passing, and causes unnecessary stress as well.

Can I apply for the PMP exam prior to attending the live course?

You can apply for the PMP exam before attending the course, provided you have already completed the required 35 hours of PM training needed to sit for the exam. Most students wait until the live course is completed, at which time they will have earned the necessary 35 hours to apply for the exam, and that's what we generally advise students to do. However, circumstances sometimes require students to get certified within a short timeframe.

You must also meet one of PMI’s education and project leadership experience pathways. Current requirements range from 60 months of experience with a high school diploma to 24 months with a degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center program. Qualifying experience must be non-overlapping and earned within the 10 years before you apply.

As a word of caution, we generally do not recommend taking the PMP exam immediately after completing the course. While it certainly can be done, it requires extra preparation prior to the live course. We recommend allowing yourself at least 1 week of study after the live course to ensure that you are fully prepared.

Did the PMP certification eligibility requirements change in 2026?

Yes. PMI’s current eligibility structure recognizes four education pathways. Candidates need 60 months of non-overlapping project leadership experience with a high school diploma or equivalent, 48 months with an associate’s degree or qualifying vocational credential, 36 months with a bachelor’s degree or higher, or 24 months with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center accredited program.

Qualifying experience must have been earned within the 10 years before the application is submitted. The requirement for 35 hours of project management training remains in place, although an active CAPM® certification can satisfy the training requirement.

When and where do I take the exam?

The PMP exam is administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. Pearson VUE has hundreds of centers worldwide and usually offers the PMP exam Monday through Saturday. Since each center is independently operated, you should check with your local center for hours of operation and exam availability. You can locate the centers nearest you by visiting www.pearsonvue.com. Note that, in some cases, the availability of testing appointments reflected may seem rather limited. We recommend you call the center directly if this happens, as the availability shown online may not always reflect the true availability (due to cancellations, rescheduling, etc.). Our students have found this to be very helpful in many cases.

Additionally, you can now take your PMP exam online via a secure platform using proven exam delivery technology with Pearson VUE. The online exam is exactly the same as the version administered at a test center. You are required to be video monitored by a live proctor during your exam and you will need to schedule it ahead of time. Virtual exam appointments are offered 24/7 so you should be able to find a time that is convenient for your schedule.

Both the online proctored testing and center-based testing option for the PMP exam have multiple 10 min breaks. You do not need to take the entire break but are more than welcome to. The exam is divided into three parts and your break will start once you review and submit each 60-question part of the exam. Please note, that you will NOT be able to review questions from the first part of the exam after you submit it and start your break.

For more information, check out PMI’s Online Proctored Testing page.

What should I expect on the PMP exam?

The PMP exam launched July 9, 2026 contains 180 questions and allows 240 minutes, or four hours, for testing. It includes two 10-minute breaks and is divided into three blocks of roughly 60 questions. Once you review and submit a block to begin a break, you cannot return to questions from that block.

The updated exam weights the People domain at 33%, Process at 41%, and Business Environment at 26%. About 40% of questions address predictive approaches, while 60% address adaptive or agile and hybrid approaches. Questions place greater emphasis on applied judgment, including scenario and case-based formats, value delivery, AI governance, sustainability, and changing business conditions.

What happens if I get audited?

The audit process sounds painful, but it is actually pretty simple. You will know if you have been audited immediately after submitting payment for the exam (you will receive an e-mail if you are selected for the audit). Roughly 5-10% of all candidates are typically audited. You will be asked to document your formal project management training contact hours, which you will do using the certificate we provide. You will also be asked to provide references to verify that the work experience you entered in your application is correct (they will just complete a simple form, sign it and send it to PMI).

You will need to have a supervisor or manager from the projects you used to record your experience verify your descriptions, so be sure to list someone you won’t have trouble getting in contact with if you are selected for audit.

Most people can easily complete the audit process in a week or less. As part of our course we will walk you through the entire application process and assist you with any questions you may have. We also offer free post-class tutoring and assistance with the application, so you will have plenty of support along the way.

How do I prove my experience, and what experience qualifies?

You will document your experience in your online application at www.pmi.org. Your job title does not need to be "project manager," but you must show that you were responsible for leading and managing project activities. PMI counts experience in non-overlapping calendar months, so months spent leading concurrent projects cannot be counted more than once.

Qualifying experience must have been earned within the 10 years before you apply. PMI currently requires 60 months with a high school diploma or equivalent, 48 months with an associate’s degree or qualifying vocational credential, 36 months with a bachelor’s degree or higher, or 24 months with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center accredited program. If your application is selected for audit, PMI may request documentation of your education, training, and project experience.

Where is the course located?

Course locations are displayed on our website. Please refer to the bottom of the PMP Exam Prep page or the Contact Us page. Approximately 10 days before class begins, you will receive a course logistics document via email confirming the course location and other helpful details.

Do you provide financial assistance?

Unfortunately, professional training courses, such as PMP certification boot camp, do not qualify for federal financial aid programs. If you are between jobs, however, you may inquire about your state's workforce development benefits or check out PMA’s unemployed professionals discounted training program.

Are you covered by the VA?

No. Unfortunately, training courses such as ours fall under the exam preparation exclusion and are therefore ineligible for VA funding (though the cost of the exam would likely be covered).

How many students are in the course?

Class sizes vary by location and date, but the average class size is 10 to 15 students.

Can I get a digital copy of the PMBOK® Guide?

Yes. The PMBOK® Guide, Eighth Edition is the current edition. PMI members receive complimentary digital access to the PMBOK® Guide and PMIstandards+™ through their PMI account. Sign in at www.pmi.org and open the PMBOK® Guide or PMIstandards+ resource page to access the current edition. Availability and download options can change, so use PMI’s current product page rather than relying on older menu paths.

Can I get a digital copy of the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep Student Manual?

Yes, we have provided step-by-step instructions for accessing and downloading the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep Student Manual on the “PMI Resources” tab of our PMA Learning Portal. Access to the PMI CHOICE platform and a digital PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep Student Manual is included in your purchase of your PMP Exam Prep course with Project Management Academy.

Students preparing for the exam launched July 9, 2026 should use the current manual and course resources aligned with the 2026 Exam Content Outline rather than materials created for the retired exam.

Once I register, how do I access the online training portal?

At the top of our website there is a "My Account" link. Click on that and log in using the email address you registered with and the password that was e-mailed to you after you registered. If you lose your password, there is a password reset option, which requires your email address used during registration.

If you have any problems, you can always call us at 877-637-0450 or email us at contact@projectmanagementacademy.net.