Career Bonuses

The PMI Program Management Professional certification validates your ability to manage multiple, related projects and navigate complex activities that span the organizations, functions, geographic regions, and cultures. After earning this certificate, the successful candidates can take up such job roles as a Project Manager, a Program Manager, a Client Success Manager, a Customer Solutions Manager, and an Engagement Manager, among others. The salary rates associated with this sought-after certification range from $93,000 to $142,500 per year, with a median annual salary of $113,124.

Where to Take the PgMP Exam

The PgMP exam is taken across several countries, with the US having the most test centers. Thus, it can be taken in over 5000 Pearson Vue’s testing sites across the world. For the complete list of test centers, check the PgMP Test-Centers As Of 2019 for your region’s centers.

Reference: https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/certifications/pgmp-exam-content-outline.pdf?rev=67166f23d2794860865edbaeff922a59&sc_lang_temp=en

Exam Topics

The candidates pursuing the PMI PgMP certification need to go through five topics included in the qualifying test. These objectives and their percentage share in the exam content are elaborated below:

• Benefits Management (11%)

  The third subject area includes the tasks, such as developing the plan for realizing the benefits and measurement criteria; identifying and capturing synergies in addition to efficiencies; developing a plan for sustainment; monitoring metrics. Other topics are verifying that the issues, such as the closure, integration, and transition of constituent projects, satisfy or exceed the realization criteria for the benefits; maintaining a register for the benefits and recording program progress; analyzing and updating the plans for the benefits realization in addition to sustainment targeting risk identification, uncertainty, risk mitigation, as well as risk opportunity. The final task focuses on developing a plan for the transition to operations.

• Program Lifecycle (44%)

  The second domain of the PMI PgMP exam comes with the following tasks: developing a program charter, translating strategic objectives, developing a top-rated milestone plan, and developing a matrix for accountability. Other subtopics covered are defining criteria for standard measurement, conducting kick-off for a program with the major stakeholders, developing a detailed statement about program scope, developing program WBS, and establishing the plan for program management. The students will also be required to undertake the additional tasks, including optimizing the plan for program management, defining PMIS (Project Management Information System), and identifying & managing unresolved issues about the project. In addition, the test takers should be capable of developing the plan for transition/closure/integration, developing KPIs, monitoring key programs for human resources, chartering and initiating constituent projects, among others.

• Stakeholder Management (16%)

  When it comes to the fourth section, the learners have to develop mastery in identifying the stakeholders (including sponsors) and creating the matrix for them; performing stakeholder analysis; negotiating stakeholder support, including that of sponsors; generating and maintaining the program’s visibility as well as confirming stakeholder support; defining and maintaining communications targeted at varied stakeholders, including sponsors. Other tasks covered include evaluating risks that the stakeholders/sponsors have identified; incorporating them in the plan for the program’s risk management & development; fostering relationships with key participants.

• Strategic Management of Projects (15%)

  The initial topic focuses on various tasks, including performing an initial assessment of the program by defining its objectives, requirements, as well as risks. Other tasks include establishing a top-notch road map, defining a top-rated roadmap or framework, defining the mission statement of the program, and evaluating the capability of the organization. Some more tasks include identifying the benefits of a specific program to an organization and estimating the program’s top financial benefits as well as those that are non-financial. It also covers evaluating the program objectives based on regulatory as well as legal constraints, sustainability, social impacts, political climate, cultural considerations, and ethical concerns, among other tasks.

• Governance (14%)

  The fifth part involves a number of tasks that the individuals must be proficient in. They include developing standards in addition to structure for managing the program/project; selecting a model structure for governance, including policies, standards, and procedures; obtaining authorization(s) as well as approval(s) through reviews for stage gate; evaluating KPIs; developing and/or utilizing the PMIS and integrating varied processes as required. Other tasks concern regularly evaluating new and existing risks that have an impact on the strategic objectives; establishing escalation policies & procedures; developing and/or adding to a knowledge repository that contains lessons learned related to the project as well as processes in addition to documentation. The domain also covers the skills of the individuals in identifying and applying lessons learned and monitoring the environment of the business and requirements for program functionality & benefits realization. The last task addresses developing and supporting the integration of a management plan for a particular program.