Update: For all PMP candidates, the PMI is extending access to the current PMP exam until 31 December 2020 and postponing the launch of the new PMP exam until 2 January 2021
PMP exam changes every 3-5 years based on the PMI leadership conducted by subject matter experts from leading organizations around the world. The PMP exam changes do not mean that PMBOK will change as well. Latest PMBOK (6th edition) has been released by end of 2017 and PMP exam changed on 2018 Q1 based on the PMBOK. In this article, we’ll discuss all the important aspects of the 2020 PMP exam changes.
What are the New PMP Exam Changes?
The current PMP exam is based on five domains, which are outlined in the current ECO. The domains are:
- Initiating: Outlines the processes to define a new project or a new phase of an existing project and have the needed authorization to start off.
- Planning: Outlines the processes to establish the scope of the project, refine objectives on scope, time, cost, quality, etc. and informs on how these objectives will be achieved.
- Executing: Outlines the processes to complete the work defined in the project management plan, which is created in the Planning domain.
- Monitoring and Controlling: Outlines the processes to track, review, and control the progress and performance of the project and manage corresponding changes.
- Closing: Outlines the processes to finalize all activities across all process groups to formally close the project or phase or contract.
The new PMP exam will be based on three domains, which are outlined in the new ECO. They are:
- People: Emphasizes the skills and activities associated to effectively lead a project team (conflict management, team building, mentoring, etc.).
- Process: Reinforces the technical aspects of managing a project (scope management, schedule management, cost management, etc.).
- Business Environment: Highlights the connection between projects and organization strategy (benefits delivery and management, organizational change management, etc.).
Not a particular domain area will be focused on an approach but all these three domain areas will be focused on predictive, agile, and hybrid approaches. The new PMP exam content outline gives you a framework of what you can expect in the new PMP exam.
Check the below table to understand the percentage of each domain in the new PMP exam.
New PMP Exam Outline | |
DOMAIN | % WEIGHT |
Domain I. People | 42% |
Domain II. Process | 50% |
Domain III. Business Environment | 8% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Consider the difference between the current and new PMP exam i.e. Current PMP Exam vs New PMP Exam.
Current PMP Exam vs New PMP Exam | ||
Points of Difference | Current PMP Exam | New PMP Exam |
Domains | 5 | 3 |
Tasks | 42 | 35 |
Enablers | No | Yes |
Enablers: Enablers are illustrative examples of the work associated with a task. For example, for Task 2 (Lead a team) under the “People” domain, we have these enablers:
- Enabler 1: Set a clear vision and mission
- Enabler 2: Support diversity and inclusion
- Enabler 3: Value servant leadership
- Enabler 4: Determine an appropriate leadership style
You have to to understand Tasks and Enablers, what they are and how they are mapped to the contents of the PMBOK guide.
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When will the PMP Exam Changes Come into Effect?
The new PMP exam changes have been announced by the PMI (Project Management Institute). But the changes won’t come into effect from now. The current version of the PMP exam will remain valid until 30 June 2020, and 1 July 2020 is the first day to take the new version of the PMP exam.
So, there are 2 important dates to remember at this moment:
- 30 June 2020 – The last day to take the current PMP exam
- 31 July 2020 – The first day to take the new PMP exam
Note that, while these are the current dates announced by PMI, based on the previous history of changes in PMI, they might postpone the last day to take the current version of the PMP exam.
PMP Exam Changes to the Question Types
PMI will be adding two new question types to modernize the PMP exam. These are:
- Drag and Drop questions (which it has already been using in its CAPM exam)
- Animations that will let it better test soft skills and agile mindsets
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