PMI-RMP® Exam Changes for 2022

The Project Management Institute (PMI) has announced upcoming changes to the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® certification exam. The updated exam is expected to be released on April 1, 2022. Review this Project Management Academy guide to the PMI-RMP® exam changes to learn how best to prepare for the new PMI-RMP® exam.


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PMI-RMP® Exam Changes

The new PMI-RMP® exam will cover updated content areas, such as agile and hybrid practices, introduce a new type of question, and be available in Arabic as well as English.

PMI-RMP Exam Format

How long is the new PMI-RMP® exam? The approximate length of the PMI-RMP exam is expected to change in 2022:

  • A smaller number of questions on the PMI-RMP® exam: reduced from 170 questions to 115 questions
  • Shorter length of time for the PMI-RMP exam: reduced from 210 minutes, about 3.5 hours, to 150 minutes (or 2.5 hours).

The updated exam will have new multi-select questions in addition to traditional multiple-choice questions. Multi-select questions, also called multiple answers or multiple selections, require you to identify one or more correct answers from a list.

PMI exams are also moving in the direction of including mostly situational exam questions. A question might present you with a scenario and ask you to apply your knowledge about risk-related topics to identify the best next steps.

New PMI-RMP® Exam Domains

PMI domains are high-level knowledge areas containing related tasks and enablers that are essential to effective project management practices. The updated PMI-RMP® exam includes the following domains:

  • Risk Strategy and Planning: 22% of the exam. Related tasks:
    • Performing a preliminary document analysis
    • Assessing the project environment for threats and opportunities
    • Confirming risk thresholds based on risk appetites
    • Establishing a risk management strategy
    • Documenting the risk management plan
    • Planning and leading risk management activities with stakeholders
  • Risk Identification: 23% of the exam. Related tasks:
    • Conducting risk identification exercises
    • Examining assumption and constraint analyses
    • Documenting risk triggers and thresholds
    • Developing a risk register
  • Risk Analysis: 23% of the exam. Related tasks:
    • Performing qualitative analysis
    • Performing quantitative analysis
    • Identifying threats and opportunities
  • Risk Response: 13% of the exam. Related tasks:
    • Planning risk response
    • Implementing risk response
  • Monitor and Close Risks: 19% of the exam. Related tasks:
    • Gathering and analyzing performance data
    • Monitoring residual and secondary risks
    • Providing information required to update relevant project documents
    • Monitoring project risk levels

The former PMI-RMP® exam domains included the following:

  • Risk Strategy and Planning
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Risk Process Facilitation
  • Risk Monitoring and Reporting
  • Perform Specialized Risk Analysis

Although these domains have been updated, the new PMI-RMP® exam will still thoroughly assess your ability to enhance and protect your organization’s needs by identifying and assessing project risks, mitigating threats, and capitalizing on opportunities.

Predictive, Agile, and Hybrid Approaches on the New PMI-RMP Exam

Previously, predictive or traditional project management was the only approach tested on the PMI-RMP® exam. The biggest change with the new PMI-RMP® Examination Content Outline (ECO) is the addition of Agile and Hybrid concepts and related implications for risk management.

With this change, there are also newer reference materials available from which to study, so your study base will become much broad. Use the tips below to prepare for the updated PMI-RMP® exam.


Studying for the PMP Exam?


Tips to Prepare for the Exam

These PMI-RMP® exam study tips can provide a great starting point to ensure you cover all the knowledge needed to pass the exam successfully.

Formal study courses are paid programs offered by PMI chapters or accredited Authorized Training Partners (ATP) such as Project Management Academy. You can also review self-study books published by ATPs and other reputable training organizations.

Using an ATP will help you fully digest the topics contained in the ECO. Project Management Academy’s PMI-RMP certification training course can help you satisfy the exam’s contact hours requirements, which differ depending on your educational background. Review the exam requirements to ensure you understand what’s required as you plan your certification journey. PMA’s course also comes with a range of resources to support your exam success, including a full-length practice exam to help give you confidence for the actual exam.

Get ready for the PMI-RMP® exam with confidence

To ensure you are prepared for the PMI-RMP® exam, you should be comfortable with the following:

  • The five PMI-RMP® exam domains covering risk-related concepts
  • Applying risk-related knowledge to hypothetical situations
  • Predictive, Agile, and Hybrid project management approaches

Let us help you gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to pass the PMI-RMP® exam. Register for one of our one-day live, virtual, on-demand, or in-house PMI-RMP® Exam Prep Boot Camp courses to master risk-related concepts.

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Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO
Director of Product Development at
Erin Aldridge, PMP, PMI-ACP, & CSPO