✪ CAPM®: Getting PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management® in 5 Steps ✪

Learn more about the 5 essentiell Steps you need to take to become a PMI-CAPM ...


By Markus

May 23, 2017 -   minutes read

May 23

2 comments

General Information

Regardless of your career stage, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is an asset that will distinguish you in the job market and enhance your credibility and effectiveness working on — or with — project teams.

Organizations with standardized practices attain better results, as shown in PMIs 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report.

Because the CAPM® recognizes your knowledge of the profession’s preeminent global standard, you’ll stand out to employers and be poised to move ahead.

Project management is a rapidly growing profession. Through 2020, 1.57 million new jobs will be created each year, and qualified practitioners are in demand. With the CAPM, you’ll be on the fast track to opportunity.

Who Should Apply?

If you’d like to manage larger projects and gain more responsibility or add project management skills to your current role, then the "Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)" is right for you.

CAPM Exam Guidance

To earn your CAPM® certification, you need to meet the experience and education requirements and pass the CAPM® examination, a 150-question, multiple-choice test.

Regardless of how advanced your project experience or education might be, you should still prepare vigorously for the exam. Successful CAPM® candidates typically use multiple study aids — including courses, self-study and study groups — and will spend many hours to prepare, so make sure you leave yourself plenty of preparation time before you take the exam.


Step 1: Learn about CAPM® Certification, create a study plan and apply

  • Start with investigating the following Links and Documents
  • ☛  CAPM® Overview
  • ☛  CAPM® Credential Handbook 

    Read the complete handbook in order to understand all the administrative and operational processes. This document defines “the rules” of the exam.

  • ☛  CAPM® Exam Content Outline 

    Read the complete outline to learn about the topics that you will be tested on during the exam. This document defines “the knowledge” necessary to pass.

  • ☛  PMI Code of Ethics and Prof. Conduct
     
    Read the complete code. You must accept the code in your online application. Read it again in a week’s time to ensure you’ve got a grasp of the content. 



Develop a study plan and dedicate a regular time to study.

If you want to pass the CAPM exam, you will need to have a plan to study in manageable chunks and establish discipline to follow through on the plan. The study plan includes what you are studying, how much time you plan to spend per day, what topics you plan to cover, and what materials you will use.

Make sure you have time to change your plan based on practice test results. For example, if you scored low in risk and procurement management topics on a practice test, you should change your study plan to emphasize those knowledge areas to bring yourself up to speed.

Whether you are self-studying or participating in a class, you need to be able to devote time to regular study to be adequately prepared for the exam. We have found that many CAPM test candidates do not need a boot camp, but it is vital that you are adequately prepared before you sit for the exam.

Click on the Button below to learn about How to create your very own study plan

How to create my CAPM study plan right?

Join our CAPM Group in WhatsApp!

Get direct Support within our WhatsApp Group of CAPM Aspirants and Experts!

PrepCast 4

Step 2: Start with PMBOK® Guide – but be prepared to move beyond

Any CAPM candidate needs to read or furthermore to study the PMBOK® Guide at least once, if not twice. The PMBOK® Guide is the primary source for exam questions, so you need to be familiar with it. Second, reading the PMBOK® Guide all the way through gives you more knowledge about its structure, which will help you look up key topics later on. If you need a copy of the PMBOK® Guide, you can purchase one at PMI’s store; Amazon or any other book store of your choice. If you are a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, you will be able to download a free digital copy.

On your first time through the PMBOK® Guide, we recommend reading and taking notes on a maximum of one knowledge area per day. At this pace, you will get a quick overview of processes and learn more about how the guide works.

After you are more familiar with the PMBOK® Guide, you can go back through and take more detailed notes to develop a greater understanding.

Please find some further guidance on how to work with and through the PMBoK Guide effectively in this article: ☛ “How To Get CAPM® Certification Using Four Study Techniques.”

Review the latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)

Study additional sources to supplement the PMBOK® Guide.

One such resource is CAPM®/PMP® Project Management Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition by Joseph Phillips. This book combines full knowledge area coverage with practice questions and innovative ways to reinforce your understanding of inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs (ITTOs).

Here are our recommendations for CAPM Prep Books (in no particular order!):

CAPM Prep Books recommendations: 

Who This Book Is For 

Project management practitioners preparing for the CAPM exam, entry-level project managers and project team members preparing for the CAPM exam, beginners who want to join the field of project management and get up to speed quickly, project managers who need a quick and easy reference to the discipline of project management, instructors and trainers who need a textbook for a course on project management

achieve_capm_prep_book

Used in conjunction with PMI’s PMBOK® Guide—Sixth Edition (2017), this concise study guide presents all the fundamental knowledge, concepts, exercises, practice questions, and simulated exams needed to prepare for and successfully pass the CAPM® exam on your first try. However, this book is much more than a study guide. It is a valuable desk reference that project team members can use to improve their effectiveness and a good resource for those considering a career in project management. Readers will have free web-based access for 45 days to over 1000 questions including hundreds of situational questions, enabling users to perform practice tests by simulating actual 150-question exams and arrange questions by Knowledge Area. (Note: This access begins when you register for the test bank, not when you purchase the book.)

Thoroughly revised for the current PMBOK Guide, this up-to-date resource offers complete coverage of all the material included on the CAPM and PMP exams. You’ll find learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, exam tips, and practice exam questions with in-depth answer explanations. Written by a leading project management consultant and trainer, CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition will help you pass the exams with ease and will also serve as an essential on-the-job reference.

CAPM_Prep_Book_Ritas

CAPM® Exam Prep, Fourth Edition Aligned with the PMBOK® Guide, Sixth Edition From the author of the best-selling PMP® exam preparation book in the world, CAPM® Exam Prep is the worldwide standard for people studying for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® exam. CAPM Exam Prep, Fourth Edition contains hundreds of updates and improvements from previous editions including major updates to the topics of Integration Management, Risk Management, Quality Management and Resource Management. Offering 180 sample questions, critical time-saving tips as well as games and activities available nowhere else, this book will help you pass the CAPM exam on your first try. CAPM Exam Prep, Fourth Edition is updated to reflect PMI's changes to the CAPM® Examination Content Outline and the release of PMBOK® Guide, Sixth Edition

CAPM_Belinda

Based on Belinda Goodrich's comprehensive educational program for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam preparation, the CAPM Exam Prep Study Guide is the only all-in-one program on the market that leverages the power of real-time feedback and robust analytics on the CAPM exam.
Using data captured from 100s of students and instructors, Belinda provides an intuitive format to learning the detailed concepts of the CAPM Exam. Using a straight-forward and real-world approach, the incredibly robust CAPM Exam Prep Study Guide includes a deep-dive of the 49 PMBOK® Guide processes, vocabulary, and concepts to ensure maximum readiness for the exam

Join our
LinkedIn CAPM 
Group of Experts & Aspirants

Our supportive online community is the best place to connect with others just like you.

Step 3: Take an exam preparation course and earn your 23 contact hours of project management training which are a requirement for CAPM exam application!

It's no secret! The CAPM® certification from PMI® is a stepping stone for beginning project managers to climb up the corporate ladder. It provides you with the most sought after appreciation and visibility within your organization. The certification enhances your chances of professional growth within the organization and opens up new avenues.  It not only enhances your earning potential but also provides you with a competitive stand in the job market.  

The CAPM® certification confirms that you have the skills necessary to execute projects on time and within budget. It is one of the most globally recognized and respected certification credentials in project management. The certification requires a rigorous and comprehensive preparation for the exam. The closer the exam gets, the more stress you will feel. Your best answer to this pressure is to be well prepared through weeks or even months of studying.

The CAPM exam contains questions from all the knowledge areas of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) and it can be difficult for you to work through all the material yourself. You might need an online CAPM exam preparation course. Such a course will help you to go through the material in a structured and planned way. It will also provide focused instruction dealing with the most important topic areas and points of emphasis. This will help you face the exam confidently.

Here are the 7 steps to go through as you select the course that best suits your needs:

  1. 1
    Decide if you Really Want an Online PMP course or In-Person course!
  2. 2
    Compare the Price to your Budget
  3. 3
    Select PMI® Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s) only 
  4. 4
    Check that the Principal Instructor is CAPM/PMP® certified 
  5. 5
    Ensure that the CAPM course is based on the most current Guide
  6. 6
    Ensure that you’ll receive 23 Contact Hours with End of Course Assessment 
  7. 7
    Review these Criteria for each Online CAPM Course and Provider

CAPM Online Course recommendations:

My #1 recommendation:

CAPM Prep Course

The PM PrepCast for CAPM® Elite gives you the “standout factor” you need to succeed on your exam, and makes the skills, knowledge, tools and techniques required for passing seem like second nature...

Alternative Options:

CAPM Prep Udemy

Passing the CAPM certification exam is a must for any individual looking to move up the corporate ladder in any company. This course will cover all the topics needed to pass your CAPM exam on the first try. Topics such as the 49 processes, EVM and network diagram will be covered.

This course is taught by Instructor and PMP author Andrew Ramdayal. Andrew has over 53 certifications and has authored a few bestselling books for the project management. Andrew has taught this course to thousands of students around the world both in the classroom and online.

CAPM Exam Prep Seminar - PMBOK Guide, Sixth Edition

Pass the CAPM and Earn 25 Contact Hours to Qualify for the CAPM Exam

Certified Associate in Project Management is an entry-level certification, intended to demonstrate the knowledge of candidate in fundamentals, processes, and terminology of the project management.

Join our
Facebook Group of PMP Experts & Aspirants

Our supportive online community is the best place to connect with others just like you.

Step 4: Optimize your preparation by utilizing an online exam simulator!

Take practice exams and note where you struggle.

Consider the following when looking for practice exams:

  1. Do you get a rating of how you did in each area? PMI provides you this rating when you finish your actual exam. Any area where you score Low Proficient needs more attention.
  2. Do the answers give you references to the PMBOK® Guide? Looking up these references is a good habit because you get immediate feedback about how to get the question right next time.

Manage your practice exams by keeping the following factors in mind:

  • If the questions don’t change, then don’t take the exam more than twice. After two passes through, the exam is of less value because you remember too much. If a resource’s exam questions are drawn at random from a database, you can probably take it more than twice without a significant repeat of questions.
  • Aim for a score of 75+ percent. If you can achieve this score consistently in every NEW mock exam you take, you should feel confident in passing your real exam.

Quiz yourself using a CAPM Exam Simulator, flashcards and study tables, review your notes from the course and take lots of practice exams.

Practice is the key! - Make Practice as much as Possible

CAPM Simulator recommendations:

My #1 recomendation:

CAPM

Prepare for and feel 100% confident to pass your Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam by using The CAPM® Exam Simulator.

The simulator gives you access to 650 realistic CAPM exam sample questions in an online environment. Question difficulty and style is very close to any question that you will encounter on your actual exam. A team of certified project managers (one of them was even a former volunteer who developed questions for the Project Management Institute (PMI)®) not only developed all questions to be as close to the real things as possible, but they are also updated them to the latest CAPM Exam Content Outline as well as the most recent PMBOK® Guide

CAPM Practice

Are you ready to pass the CAPM certification exam? Find out by testing yourself with this new offering on Udemy. Each of the 3 full practice tests in this set provide an entire exam’s worth of questions, enabling you to confirm your mastery and providing you with the confidence you’ll need to take your CAPM exam.

The tests in this set are timed, so you’ll know when you’re taking more time than the official test allows, and at the end of the test you’ll receive a personal breakdown of the questions you answered correctly and incorrectly to help you continually improve. You’ll also be able to see an explanation for each question at the end of the test to help you avoid making the same mistakes when taking the exam.  Are you ready to prep for your future?

CAPM

Certified Associate in Project Management is an entry-level certification, intended to demonstrate the knowledge of candidate in fundamentals, processes, and terminology of the project management.

Join us in Telegram!

Get direct Support within our Telegram Group of CAPM Aspirants and Experts!

PrepCast 4

Step 5: Take the exam and earn your CAPM®!

Managing your time and confidence during the exam gives you the best chance to succeed.

Don’t spend too much time on any one question. We recommend spending no more than 30 seconds on a question during the first round and marking any for review that takes longer to complete. When you’ve completed your first round, you can then go back and spend more time on the marked questions. Give yourself a minute for these, and then as a final pass, take your best guess or employ some strategy. Never leave a question blank. There’s no penalty for guessing, but any blank question is 100 percent wrong.

There are several strategies you can use to manage your confidence. Remember to smile, as it will encourage you to relax, and take short mental breaks with the time you save using your time management strategy. Remember not to get stressed out if there’s one really hard question. It could be one of the pretest questions. Mark it and move on.

Conclusion

We hope that by following these tips and tricks, you will be able to obtain your CAPM® certification. Passing this exam helps you clear a large hurdle and shows your competence and commitment to project management.

Do you have any other concerns going into your CAPM® exam? If you’ve passed the exam, what other tips have you found useful? Please let us know in the comments.

Regards, 

Markus

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