As a project manager, if you want to take your career development to the next level, there’s only one way to do so – acquire the PMP certification. The PMP Exam is the only barrier that stands between you and your dreams of stepping out of your current corporate doorstep. PMI recently announced that the PMP exam has been revamped, with changes in effect from January 11, 2016. With several aspirants lining up to take the PMP exam, the fact that the PMP exam has been changed has raised a lot of questions amongst PMP aspirants.

If you’re concerned about what the new changes could mean for you, here’s an overview of what the new PMP exam is all about. Read on:

Why is the sudden change necessary?

The PMP exam is an accurate reflection of the tasks carried out by project managers on a daily basis. Practices change over time and so does a project manager’s role. In order to keep pace with the changes, the PMI conducts a Role Delineation Study (RDS) every few years. If PMI didn’t regularly change the PMP exam, PMP aspirants would still be tested on techniques that have long become obsolete and irrelevant.

What stays the same?

• The eligibility criteria for taking the PMP exam remains unaltered
• The new PMP exam remains a Computer-based test with 200 multiple choice questions to be answered
• The reference book – PMBOK Guide fifth edition – remains the same.
• The five domains – Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing will be the same
• The PMP Exam structure score report isn’t changing either

What has changed?

All the PMP aspirants who’ve been frantically looking for answers to this question can breathe a sigh of relief. The changes are minimal! So all the PMP exam prep courses you’ve attended and hours of PMP training you’ve acquired wasn’t for nothing.

Change #1:

Though the domains remain the same, the allocation of questions has slightly been altered. Specifically, the percentage of questions in the Executing section has been raised to 31% while those in the Closing section have been brought down to 7%.

Change #2:

The new PMP Exam Outline includes modification of a few tasks and removal of a few. The most notable changes made are the addition of 8 new tasks, raising the number from 34 to 42.

The key changes made in the PMP exam based upon the new tasks include:

• Emphasis on Business Strategy and Business realization
• Project Charter Responsibility
• Values of Lessons Learned
• Enhancing Stakeholder relationships

Change #3:

Nearly 25% of the new PMP exam content is focused on the topic areas covered under the eight new tasks. This means that a sizeable number of questions will be based on entirely new areas.

Change #4:

Even though principles behind a majority of the tasks remain the same, some of the language and the terminology used have been altered.

What’s the best exam prep approach?

• First, stay calm. The changes are minimal and there’s no need to push the panic button.
• Read PMI’s updated Content Outline thoroughly
• The reference book remains the same, but you’ll need to ensure that all your exam preparation material reflect what’s required for the new PMP exam.
• We have updated our study materials to fit the current PMP exam model. This means that if you’re enrolling into a PMP exam prep course with us, you don’t have to worry about the new changes at all!
• If you’ve already undergone PMP training and are looking for ways to update yourself on the new topics, consider enrolling yourself for a PMP boot camp.
• Take the practice tests that have been updated with new questions.

Remember, you already have years of extensive knowledge and work experience.  Add a few study hours and PMP training to the mix, and that’s it, you’re all set to take on the new PMP exam!