PMP Audit – What You Need to Know?

Project managers with PMP certification typically earn 22 per cent more than their non-certified peers. Many organizations across various sectors are looking for PMPs to improve the performance of their business. This shows how popular this credential is. So how does the governing body, the PMI, uphold the stellar standards of this certification?

For this, they carry out PMP audits.

In this blog, I will talk about what the PMP Audit is about. I will also tell you the tips and practices to clear the audit successfully. 

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What is PMP Audit?

The PMP certification has become a mark of excellence in project management. To ensure the program's continued prestige and value, PMI conducts application audits. This type of check aids PMI in ensuring that only eligible applicants complete the PMP Audit procedure. Only they might pass the exam and obtain certification. Not everyone who applies goes through an audit.

Companies rely on PMI to uphold the quality of project management professionals they employ. For this, they rely on the PMP Audit. 

The PMP Certification exam has certain conditions that the applicants need to fulfill. The purpose of the PMP application audit is to determine whether or not those norms have been met. This is why they review the eligibility of the candidates that have been selected randomly. The application audit also ensures the right candidate appears for the examination. 

Also Read: PMP Formulas

PMP Audit Process

Here, I am going to list down the steps of the PMP application audit - 

Selection criteria

The first thing you should do is check whether or not you are eligible. If you do not do this, you might not be able to attempt the exam. It is important that you meet the experience, education qualification and training criteria.

 Here are the criteria- 

• You should have a university diploma and 7,500 hours of project management experience. Or, 

• You must have a four-year degree and at least 4500 hours of project management experience. 

• Also, 35 hours of formal project management training are required.

What documents are needed for the process? 

As per my experience, here are the documents that you will require- 

• Your manager’s certification of your employment.
• Evidence of completion of upper secondary education, associate's degree or diploma, and master's degree, if applicable.
• Proof that meets the 35-contact hour requirement for your project management training.

You have 90 days to submit these documents. You will receive your eligibility number once the PMP audit has been completed successfully. 

Also Read: PMP Study Guide

Steps of PMP application Audit process

Register for PMI: After you are done checking your eligibility the next step is to register yourself for the membership. You can do it at www.pmp.org. You will get a lot of perks from this membership. This includes easy access to handbooks and deals.

Fill the form: There are three sections on the PMP exam application form that must be completed. 

• General information is contained in Section 1. 
• You should talk about your project management experience in Section 2. 
• The third section requests information about the 35 hours of PMP training.

Plan for your examination: The PMP Audit team will then have to validate your application. This will take around 5 to 10 days working days. After this is done, you have to pay the exam fee. Then you would have to schedule your examination. Please note- You only have three chances to clear the examination. The time to take the exam will start on the day the PMP audit team approves your application. 

The payment for the PMP examination can be done through credit cards.  

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What is Checked During the PMP Audit? 

On their website, PMI makes it very clear that you need to have led or directed projects. Therefore, rather than just having you contribute to the project on an individual basis, they want to see that you have undertaken some significant project management work. 

In my opinion, the following can be considered a project and apply to your experience- 

• You work for a functional division of the company that is engaged in a project that feeds into a bigger one.
• You do not have the position of a Project manager. But you call the shots and make important decisions. 
• You are employed by a company that specializes in project execution. As a result, you occasionally switch between projects or oversee several projects at once.

These are a few examples that could be relevant to your project management background and help you meet the PMP requirements. The underlying idea is that you have to have managed, led, and overseen initiatives in your organization from the forefront. 

They verify your professional and academic credentials in addition to your experience. This is why you should have records to support these as well.

Also Read: PMP Application

How to Pass the PMP Audit? 

As per PM Study Circle around 5 to 10 percent of the total PMP applications are selected for the audit process. Here are some tips that can help smoothen your chances- 

Read the guide: The PMBOK Guide is the vital reading for the PMP exam, as you may already be aware. This book has all the data you need to complete the PMP application.

Highlight yourself as a project manager: The PMP credential highly values the project manager position. This is because they are in charge of overseeing and managing the entire project. If you wish to draw attention, mention a project in which you acted as a project manager during the audit process.

Also Read: PMP Credential

Project Descriptions: When mentioning project descriptions, it is important to mention key deliverables or outputs. Also, include your role in the project. This will provide PMI with a clear explanation and understanding of your project’s scope. It will also highlight your involvement in it.

Select projects you are most confident about: You need to pick projects with which you are most confident about passing. After verifying with the supervisor, include just enough hours for the project. 

Also Read: After PMP Certification What Next? 

To Conclude 

If you follow the mentioned points in the above article then your PMP Audit process will be successful. You need to make sure that you go through the PMBOK guide thoroughly. This will surely boost your chances of selection. 

Also Read: What is the PMP Process Mapping Game?

FAQs

1. How do you know if your PMP Application is being audited?

After you finish the experience/education and exam details pages and click the submit button, PMI will notify you if your application is being audited on the following screen.

If your application is selected, you will obtain a selection email. The mail will have the necessary guidelines and details. During the audit process, you will have to submit important documents. This needs to be completed within ninety days. 

2. What are some of the common reasons for a failed PMP Application audit?

• Late submission
• Not following PMI guidelines 
• Wrong documentation 
• Not informing managers/supervisors
• Miscommunication with supervisors/managers

3. How to avoid PMP audit?

PMP applications audits are random. Not much can be done to ignore it. But you can be well prepared for it in advance. This means you should talk and let your reference know ahead of time. They would need to verify your experience. You should also obtain the PDU/contact hours certificate from the training organization. Also, keep a copy of your documents ready and handy. 

4. What is the timeline for the PMP audit?

The duration of the PMP audit process varies depending on a variety of factors. Once an application is submitted, PMI typically conducts an initial review within 5-7 days. If selected for an audit, candidates have 90 days to submit their audit materials by the pm deadline.