PMP Certification - Some Facts

This is one topic that will create a discussion among professionals about PMP certification. As an author of this article and having many years of experience in project field and called as PM.I have an ambition of becoming a PMP certification holder but it does not happen. First my congrats to those all who received the PMP training and got PMP certification. But when I come across people with PMP certification I am finding it difficult to understand their knowledge of PMP. Experience is key and in my case it happened. The real time work experience is better than those who are having the PMP certification as their experience is only with theory only. I am not blaming all but the PMP training or any other training is taught with real time situations. Then only the trainees can easily learn the PMP course.

I am a PMI member from 1990s and early 2000s I managed 20 projects and the company does not take care to offer me to go for the PMP certification. I then joined another company with a promise of getting PMP certification in six months I was offered $10k increment to my salary. Then my preparation started for PMP exams and for some reasons the company has been closed and there goes my ambition of getting an increment and PMP certification. Now I have to find another job and I got it. Having PMP certification in front of your name looks great but there is no proof that you are a good PM. By virtue of passing the PMP exam with 61 percent of the answers correct gives you PMP certification.

But I find fault with employers looking for professional with PMP certification. They give preference to those who hold PMP certification and not to candidates and their ability. This is not good. There are people in many companies with many years of experience to handle projects and they indeed worked on the project. The HR department only goes by certifications only and not even taking experience into account.

About the PMP certification and PMI I have no objections. I salute those who have taken the PMP certification after some hard work. But my point is they cannot be compared or posted above experienced ones. I have some suggestions on the levels that are followed in Six Sigma. If the PMI follows it then their income will increase. The following are my suggestions,

• PMP black belt to be given to trainees who score more than 91% marks
• PMP brown belt to be given to trainees who score more than 81 to 90% marks
• PMP green belt to be given to trainees who score more than 71 to 80% marks
• PMP yellow belt to be given to trainees who score more than 61 to 70 % marks

By virtue of these certifications professionals will be classified and offered a salary.

This article will certainly attract criticism from others especially those who got PMP certification. I am not against PMP certification but wants equal opportunity for people with experience. The project is a test of nerves and handling pressure and people on the ground knows about the importance more than the professional with PMP certification.