The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is a globally recognized certification for practicing project managers offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Currently, there are more than one million PMP-certified individuals worldwide.
The certification yields many benefits and opportunities. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), PM professionals who earn and maintain the certification receive not only a higher salary of 25%-60% (varied by country) but also the recognition that proves that they can manage the most challenging projects.
In other words, you can treat the PMP certification as a critical path that helps you get promoted and supercharge your PM career.
Those who want to attain this certification must pass an extremely tough certification exam. Although the PMI does not release test statistics, it is estimated that only 50%-60% of candidates pass the exam.
In addition, you can only have three attempts in one year. Suppose you are still not able to pass the exam. In that case, you will need to wait for another year before being able to register again, thus stalling your career progress.
Since earning a PMP certification is far from easy, it would be wise to take a high-quality prep course or a training program that can help you pass the PMP exam in a single attempt.
However, as hundreds of PMP prep courses are available, narrowing down all options has become extremely challenging.
I decided to do the heavy lifting for you. This article will only feature the best training for the PMP certification exam. You can then select the one that suits your preferences and start learning right away.
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Nevertheless, we always value integrity and prioritize our audience’s interests. You can rest assured that we will present each course truthfully.
Things You Should Know
Requirements for the Exam
Not everyone can get the PMP certification. You need to fulfill the following requirements before registering for the exam.
Option 1
- A 4-year degree (all majors are accepted)
- 36 months leading projects
Option 2
- A high school diploma or an associate’s degree
- 60 months leading projects
Suppose you have not fulfilled the requirements in either option 1 or 2. In this case, I suggest doing so before opting for PMP certification training.
Since the exam topics can change significantly, purchasing and taking the course too soon would be of no use as the course content may be outdated and irrelevant to your upcoming exam.
No matter which option you choose, you will also need to undergo 35 hours of project management education, known as contact hours (or PDUs if you have already obtained the certification).
However, once you complete one of the prep courses on the list, you will fulfill this requirement automatically without the need for another course.
Domains, Exam Format, and Fees
The PMP exam has 180 questions, which are separated into three domains as follows:
| Domain | Percentage of Questions on Test |
| People | 42% |
| Process | 50% |
| Business Environment | 8% |
The PMI also indicates that each exam question will represent one of the three project management approaches: predictive, agile, and hybrid.
You will have a total of 230 minutes to complete the exam. As of November 2021, apart from taking the exam at one of the test centers, you can now select an online proctored option to take the PMP exam anywhere you want.
PMP Exam Fees: $405 (member), $555 (non-member)
Criteria
Below are the criteria for the best PMP exam prep courses
Guarantee
A guarantee is an assurance that all course providers featured in this article offer to their students. They are frequently in two forms.
- Pass Guarantee
- X-day Money-back Guarantee (i.e., 30-day money-back guarantee)
The Pass Guarantee is misleading. It will not guarantee that you will pass the PMP exam and earn the certification.
Instead, the Pass Guarantee ensures that if you have completed the course but still failed the exam, the PMP online training provider will either
- refund all your course fees
- allow you to access live lessons and study materials until you retake and pass the PMP exam
The X-day Money-back Guarantee is more straightforward. The provider will refund all the course fees if you are unsatisfied with the course within X days of purchasing. Most providers offer 30 days.
However, things can get complicated, as the providers will outline certain conditions that you need to fulfill to be eligible for using a guarantee.
For example, you may need to complete all PMP exam questions before being able to use the pass guarantee. On the other hand, you may not be able to use a money-back guarantee if you have watched more than 20% of video lessons.
It is hence crucial to prudently read such conditions beforehand. If they are too tough to fulfill (particularly those of the pass guarantee), you should not worry too much about the guarantee. Concentrating on passing the PMP exam should always be your priority.
1. Project Management Academy (PMA)
Project Management Academy (PMA) is a PMI-authorized training partner with over a decade of experience helping students worldwide pass the PMP exam.
All students at PMA will learn from instructors who hold active PMP credentials, have 20 years of experience in project management (on average), and possess exceptional teaching skills. In other words, you will learn from the best, allowing you to master all required domains in no time.
Hence, if you are looking for ultimate PMP training, PMA is probably the best option available right now.
Course Types & Learning Resources
The PMP offers three following course types for students to choose from:
- In-Person (75 locations in North America)
- Live Online
- Video-on-demand
All three options will provide different learning resources. However, they all satisfy 35 contact hours/PDUs requirements, follow a unique approach called PMA Way, and use the same curriculum.
The PMA Way is a blended approach consisting of detailed concept explanations, real-world examples, and knowledge assessments to create a strong foundation that can help you pass the exam handily.
The PMA curriculum consists of the following topics
- Project Management Mindset
- Effective Team Management
- Tools that help start the project
- Successful execution while managing risks and changes adeptly
- Leadership skills
- How to create projects that add value and support the organization
- Tips & Techniques for the PMP exam
From an overall perspective, the curriculum is comprehensive. It essentially features all three domains, plus additional tips & techniques that help you deal with the most challenging questions. Thus, once you complete the course, you will be well-prepared for the PMP exam.
However, it is still crucial to choose the right course types. The difference between course types is explained below.
In-Person and Live Online
Both options are different only because live online learners will take their courses through web conference software.
You can still ask live questions to the instructor, participate in activities, and communicate with classmates as if you attend the class in person. Hence, I don’t think there is a significant difference in learning experience between the two.
No matter which option you choose, you still need to select your class schedule. PMA offers various customizations in this matter.
First, you will choose the intensity of the course. For instance, you can select the one that crams everything in four days or a more spread-out course that will cover the entire curriculum in two weeks.
If you decide to move forward with the latter, the next step is to select the class time: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Weekday/Weekend. However, you will not have this option if you opt for the intensive course since the class time is all day (8.30 AM – 6 PM).
Note: PMA has courses in multiple time zones (US Eastern, US Eastern, US Central, US Mountain, UK/Europe, India, and Australia). Therefore, it is effortless to find the right class time that fits your busy schedule.
Regarding learning resources, learners who purchase In-Person and Live Online options will receive six-month access to the same learning resources as follows:
- PMP Exam Prep Training Guide – A course document that will allow you to follow along with the instructor. It will include explanations, core details, and terminology that you must master.
- Strategy Guide – This guide features strategies, tips, and tricks to help you avoid common mistakes and confusion and pass the exam handily.
- Quick Study Guides – Various portable guides that include all critical concepts, terminologies, processes, key formulas, ITTOs, and charts, best for last-minute preparation.
- 12+ Hour Deep dive video lectures – These on-demand video lectures help you review crucial concepts or grasp the content you may miss in the live classes.
- 2000+ Practice PMP mock exams and quizzes
- Terminology Flashcards
- Official Student Manual from the PMI Institute
- Pass guarantee (100% refund if you fail the exam)
Video On-Demand
Project managers can be extremely busy. Thus, although PMA has offered numerous class times, you may not be able to fit your schedule.
If that’s the case, I recommend switching to the on-demand course instead.
Essentially, you will receive the same learning resources as live online and in-person learners. However, all of your lessons will be pre-recorded. Hence, you cannot ask questions in real-time, but you will have an independent, fully flexible study time (learn anytime, anywhere).
Another difference is that this option does not come with a money-back guarantee. You will not be able to ask for a refund if you fail to pass the actual PMP exam.
Pricing
If you decide to move forward with the on-demand course, the price is $995.
However, if you are interested in live online or in-person courses, there are three other options for you to consider.
- Basic – $1995
- Advanced – $2495
- Premium – $2995
The Basic plan is what most students need. You will be able to access all the instructor-led classes and all the learning resources I mentioned above.
The advanced plan would add another day of PMP training classes and a 1-year PDU subscription. In this exclusive class, the instructor will drill deep into tricky project management concepts, which may help you understand
The latter is for maintaining your certification after passing the actual exam and becoming one of the active PMP certificate holders.
The Premium plan will add even more learning resources (Agile Fundamentals VOD and PM Triangle Bundle) to strengthen your understanding of concepts.
Although I believe these additional learning materials and classes are helpful, I don’t think they are worth $500, not to mention $1000. You can even buy a top-notch PMP exam prep course from another provider at that price. Hence, I recommend sticking with the Basic plan.
[sc name=”pmaint” ][/sc]Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely reliable: PMA is a verified authorized training partner of the PMI
- 99%+ Pass rate
- All course options provide 35 contact hours/PDUs to fulfill PMP requirements.
- Learn from veteran project management professionals with two decades of experience (on average)
- Comprehensive curriculum (Concepts, strategies, tips & tricks, and challenging questions are all included.)
- Offer one of the best prep materials + numerous practice questions with detailed solutions
- Flexible class time + Self-paced option is available.
- Pass Guarantee is available for live-online and in-person courses (Full refund if you fail the PMP exam).
- Unemployment discounts are available.
Cons
- Costlier than other alternatives
- Extremely fast-paced: could be overwhelming for some students
- No pass guarantee for a self-paced course
- Allow only six months of access to study materials
2. Master of Project Academy
Master of Project Academy is a robust project management training provider and a solid competitor to PMA. From 500000+ students, the company claims that 99.6% of them pass the PMP exam, an astounding achievement that indicates the quality of instruction.
Course Information
Currently, Master of Project Academy offers two types of courses: Self-paced and Live Classes. Both grant 35 contact hours/PDUs upon program completion and follow the following curriculum.
PMP Course Curriculum
- Introduction & The operating environment of the project
- Project Management Processes
- Role of a Project Manager
- Integration Management – Project Charter Process, NPV & IRR, BCR, Opportunity and Sunk Costs, SOW, etc.
- Scope Management – Scope Process, Project Scope Statement, Constraints, Work Breakdown Structure, etc.
- Schedule Management – Activities Process, Network Diagrams, Estimation Techniques, Critical Path Method, etc.
- Cost Management – Estimation of Cost Processes, Budget Processes, Earned Value Management, etc.
- Quality Management – Tools & Techniques, 7QC Tools, Quality Process, etc.
- Resource Management – Vital Roles, Organization Charts, Management Plans, Team Processes, Team-building activities, Conflict Management, etc.
- Communication Skills and Management
- Risk Management – Quantitative & Qualitative Risk Analysis, Risk Response Strategies, etc.
- Procurement Management – Fixed Price Contracts, Costs Reimbursable Contracts, Management Plan, Tools & Techniques, etc.
- Stakeholder Management – Stakeholder Engagement Processes, Tools & Techniques, etc.
- Agile Practices
- 20 Real-world situational project cases
- Other miscellaneous techniques
- and many more
Note: The above is just a summary of all course content. In fact, Master of Project Academy provides more comprehensive curriculum information on its website. You can click the link below to read them yourself.
Overall, the curriculum is comprehensive and well-structured. Most video lessons are only 3-5 minutes long and grouped in an easy-to-follow manner. Therefore, you can grasp the concepts effortlessly and find it much easier to do the last-minute review.
Self-Paced
A self-paced course is the affordable option of the two. Below are the learning resources and features you will receive.
- 35 contact hours/PDUs upon completion
- Self-paced video lessons covering the entire curriculum
- Real-world project examples and cases
- 750 practice questions and one complete PMP practice exam
- Downloadable Flashcards, Cheat Sheets, etc.
- 24/7 Student Support + Access to a moderated forum
Course Fees: $470 per year or $87 per month.
This self-paced course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. In other words, if you are not satisfied with the course, you can ask for a full refund within 30 days.
However, Master of Project Academy does not offer a pass guarantee for the self-paced course. Hence, you cannot get your money back if you fail the PMP exam.
Important Note!: Some crucial course materials, such as an exam prep book or practice exams, are not included in the price. If needed, you have to purchase it individually on-site (see below).
All courses from Master of Project Academy are no-frills. They will only provide the essentials but allow you to purchase add-ons.
This strategy is fair enough because it helps the provider keep the entry price low (currently costs less than half of PMA’s), which can also benefit some students who don’t want to pay for what they do not need.
You need to be informed about this because it is crucial when you compare courses from different providers, especially if one is no-frills (i.e., Master of Project Academy’s), while another is all-inclusive (PMA’s).
Live Classes
With this option, you will learn live online from leading project managers who have decades of experience under their belt.
You can select your class to be on either weekdays (Mon-Thurs) or weekends (Sat-Sun). However, unlike PMA, you cannot customize class intensity or the starting time.
There are four sessions in total. Each starts at 8.30 AM to 6.00 PM US Central Time. Apparently, the training would be fast-paced and intense, which is optimal if you plan to take the actual exam soon.
However, this option is not suitable for those who prefer learning at a gradual pace. Also, there are no sessions in other time zones. Thus, students who live in Europe and Asia may find it uncomfortable joining the sessions late at night.
Regarding pricing, Master of Project Academy offers three pricing plans for its live virtual training as follows:
- Standard – $1070
- Pro – $1370
- Xclusive – $1497
The Standard plan only provides access to 35-hour virtual training and nothing else. Although it is the cheapest, I don’t think it is worth the price since you will receive no course materials that help you review and practice.
It would be best if you opted for the Pro plan, which provides lifetime access to the self-paced course along with the 35-hour live instructions. With this plan, you will have the essential learning resources you need to succeed.
The Xclusive plan adds a one-hour private coaching session to the Pro plan for an extra $127. Although this may be beneficial for some students, I think it is expensive and completely unnecessary.
Important Note
All live online plans come with a Pass Guarantee. However, its condition is different from PMA’s. Master of Project Academy will not refund your money. Instead, they will allow you to join the live sessions until you pass the exam.
If you are still unsure whether Master of Project Academy is right for you, I suggest following the link below and watching a one-hour sample session for free to test whether its approach suits your learning style.
Additional Learning Resources
The major drawback for Master of Project Academy is that its courses do not include some crucial learning resources (while PMA does). You have to purchase them separately on their website.
Certainly, many students comfortably pass the exam without them. However, some may need additional explanations or practice tests to strengthen their skills and gain confidence. In this case, purchasing additional learning resources may prove useful.
Below is a list of learning resources that you can purchase.
PMP Exam Prep Book – This 550-page comprehensive guidebook summarizes all key points for the PMP exam. Included in the book are 100 flashcards for important concepts and more than 500 practice questions.
This book costs $67 per year (Yes, it is a subscription). You will receive all updates without paying extra for one year. Alternatively, you can get a paperback or kindle of this book on Amazon for $87.
PMP® Exams & Math Lectures – Included in this package are 9 realistic practice exams, 1600 PMP exam questions, and 30+ Math lessons that help you handily answer the toughest Math questions in the exam.
This package costs $141 per year or $297 lifetime. In most cases, an annual subscription should suffice.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Well-developed curriculum
- Bite-sized lessons (3-5 minutes long) with well-visualized examples
- No-frills PMP course (low entry price)
- One-year/ Lifetime access to all course materials
- Flexible payment (Subscription or one-time) for self-paced courses
- 30-day money-back guarantee for self-paced courses
Cons
- Need to pay extra for learning resources such as an exam prep book and practice tests
- No refunds if you do not pass the exam
- Cannot customize the class’ start time (applied to live classes only)
3. BrainSensei PMP
BrainSensei is a robust prep course provider that utilizes a unique approach in PMP exam preparation. Students will learn key project management concepts through an engaging Japanese samurai animation.
Hence, if you are not a fan of traditional prep courses, I highly suggest giving BrainSensei a try.
Course Information
BrainSensei used to have only a self-paced course. It has only recently introduced a live online alternative.
Self-Paced Course
The self-paced course is the flagship prep solution from BrainSensei. As mentioned above, you will learn the key concepts through the interactive platform that utilizes unique storytelling.
With this approach, you may be able to stay concentrated longer and find it easier to recall and retain information.
Below are the learning resources and additional features that you will receive in the pack.
- Interactive story-based eLearning modules, covering all three domains and associated concepts that will appear in the exam
- 4 PMP practice exams with 800 questions in total
- Spaced Repetition System to help you remember concepts and key terminologies
- Base knowledge assessments to help you discover your weaknesses
- 35 Contact Hours/PDUs
- Money-back guarantee
The price for this course is $499.99. You will have one year of access to all course materials.
Live Virtual Instructor
If you believe that the self-paced curriculum alone is not sufficient, you can opt for the Live Virtual Instructor course. You will learn live online with certified project managers who will guide you through all the topics.
Included in the course is the entire self-paced course from BrainSensei. However, apart from that, you will not receive any learning resources or features that make the course look more “premium” at all.
Furthermore, unlike Project Management Academy, BrainSensei offers only one live online session per week. You cannot customize the class time or intensity to make it suit your preferences.
The price of this course is $1199, which is cheaper than most alternatives but still quite expensive considering that it offers few learning resources (no add-ons can be purchased) and no flexibility.
I believe you should stick with the self-paced option or consider other alternatives if you want an instructor-led prep course.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A PMP training course that utilizes interactive lessons with excellent storytelling to keep students concentrated and help them understand the concepts.
- Learn from PMP certification holders with more than two decades of project management experience
- Provide innovative tools to help you assess your skills and track your progress
- Receive 35 contact hours/PDUs once you complete the program
- Fast student support from the team
- The self-paced program offers excellent value for money.
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- No flexibility for students to choose their class time or intensity (Live Virtual Instructor only)
- Fewer learning resources than other alternatives
- Some students noted that a few sections on the self-paced option need an update.
4. PM Training
As an authorized training partner of the PMI, PM Training is another robust option when it comes to PMP prep courses. The company has been in business for almost 20 years and has trained tens of thousands of students with great success.
Course Information
Although PMTraining offers both on-demand and live online courses, you will fulfill the 35 contact hour requirement only if you choose the live online one. The on-demand course will not suffice since it provides only 30 contact hours.
Curriculum
PM Training organizes its PMP curriculum into three modules as follows:
Intro Module: The first module will provide an overview of the PMP exam, the PMBOK Guide and throw light on crucial topics such as the environment in which the project operates and the role of a project manager.
Core Module: This module will discuss core topics, including managing the team, scope, integration, procurement, communications, etc. Furthermore, you will also learn about Agile and hybrid approaches along with relevant techniques.
Final Module: This last module will drill deep into ethics and professional conduct and conclude with a course review that will summarize all topics that will appear in the exam.
Each module has several tests and mock exams that allow you to use the knowledge you have learned right away. Hence, you will be able to remember the concepts faster and longer-lasting.
Live Online PMP Prep Course
The live online course is a flagship training solution from PMTraining. Like PMA, you can fully customize the class time and intensity to suit your work schedule.
To give you an idea, you can select a 4-week, Saturday-only class or a 2-week, weekday BootCamp.
In addition, each course on the sales page has the instructor’s name. If needed, you can even choose the instructor.
Hence, you will have flexibility and should not have a problem reserving the right live classes that suit your schedule and preferences.
Regarding learning resources, below is the list of what is included in the package.
- Live online classes + 35 contact hours provided upon course completion
- Licensed material from the PMI
- Practice Exam Portal (Mock exams, quizzes, performance reports, etc.)
- PMP On-Demand Course (30+ hours of pre-recorded videos covering all concepts, 250+ printable course slides, Agile planning activities, quizzes, assignments, and exercises)
- One-on-one coaching session with the instructor
- PMI Exam Application Assistance
- Pass Guarantee (If you fail to pass the exam despite three attempts, PMTraining will refund all the course fees.)
From an overall perspective, the package is packed with cumulative learning resources. You will get everything that you need to pass the exam.
The entire course starts at $1498. However, PMTraining frequently offers a sharp discount of $300-$500. Undoubtedly, you can enroll in this top-notch program by paying less than $1000.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- PMI Authorized Training Partner
- Receive 35 contact hours/PDUs upon course completion (live online only)
- Learn from project management experts
- Customize class time, intensity, and even select your instructor
- Provide abundant learning resources
- Offer multiple services that smoothen the process to obtain the PMP certification
- Easy-to-follow curriculum
- All-inclusive pricing + No hidden fees or add-ons
- Pass guarantee
Cons
- Do not offer a self-paced package that grants 35 hours. Completing the current self-paced course will not fulfill the contact hours requirement.
- The reviews indicate that the quality of instruction varies wildly, depending on with whom you take the class. For example, several students complained that how their instructors handle course slides left them confused due to a lack of cohesive flow, while many others praised their instructor’s teaching skills and attitude.
5. GreyCampus
GreyCampus is an authorized training partner of the PMI who provides top-notch training for the PMP exam. If you are one of the PMP candidates looking for a reliable instructor, GreyCampus should be on the radar.
Course Information
GreyCampus offers two types of training: Live Online (through Zoom) and In-Person. However, due to the current pandemic situation, all of the courses are live, online.
Curriculum
GreyCampus’ curriculum closely follows the PMP content examination outlined by the PMI and the PMBOK Guide. The curriculum structure has imitated the famous PMP learning objectives as follows:
- Creating a High-performing Team
- Starting a Project
- Doing the Work
- Keeping the Team on Track
- Keeping the Business in Mind
Live Online Course
All classes are 35-hour long in total. You have the flexibility to choose between a regular pace (10 three-hour-long sessions) and a more intense one (4 eight-hour-long sessions).
No matter what option you move forward with, you can customize your class schedule to be weekday-only, weekend-only, or continuous (10 days in a row). Hence, you should not have any schedule conflict issues.
Apart from the instructor-led lessons, the following are learning resources that you receive from the training program.
- One year access to class recordings and 21-hour video lectures – If you miss the class, you can catch up with your classmates by watching class recordings, while additional video lectures can help clarify some challenging concepts or processes.
- One year access to 3 Simulated Exams + more than 1500 practice questions
- Exam Demo, an additional class where your instructor will lead the mock PMP exam and walk you through the process to solve challenging problems
- 30-day instructor assistance to answer specific questions you may have
- 35 contact hours/PDUs upon course completion
- Other useful learning resources such as flashcards
The price tag is $700-$1300, depending on the location you live in. If you reside in the US, this course will cost $1300.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- PMI Authorized Training Partner
- Well-structured curriculum that strictly follows the examination guidelines
- Flexible schedule options
- Abundant practice exams and questions
- Exam demo and instructor assistance can be extremely helpful.
- Receive 35 contact hours/PDUs
Cons
- Do not offer self-paced training
- The quality of instruction appears to vary wildly by the instructor. Furthermore, unlike PMTraining, you cannot choose your own instructor. Thus, there is a real risk that your learning experience would be subpar.
6. PM PrepCast
PM PrepCast unarguably provides one of the best self-paced project management training courses. Therefore, if you want to buy a PMP prep course that is both affordable and high-quality, PM PrepCast is definitely the provider that you will want to consider.
Course Information
Unlike all providers discussed above, PM PrepCast does not offer live online instructions. You will learn through a series of video lessons that will guide you through the concepts, tips, and tricks that will help you pass the exam handily and fulfill the 35 contact hours requirement.
Curriculum
The curriculum is well-organized. PM PrepCast has broken down all the topics based on the PMBOK guide and exam strategies & tips into 22 accessible modules, including but not limited to
- Foundational Elements of Project Management
- Environment in which Project Operate
- Role of a Project Manager
- Integration/Scope/Schedule Management
- Cost/Quality/Resource Management
- Communication/Risk/Procurement/Stakeholder Management
- Agile Approach
The training is 50 hours long, which is long enough to clarify all the key concepts informatively.
Learning Resources & Pricing
The self-paced course comes with access to a set of learning resources as follows:
- Video lessons covering all topics that will appear in the exam plus additional tips and tricks.
- Review of ITTOs
- Self-assessment questions
- Access to a mobile app
- 35 Contact Hours
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Above is what is included if you pay for a PrepCast Basic package ($279). However, this plan will not offer any practice questions nor Guidebooks. Thus, I recommend skipping this package and moving forward with more comprehensive ones instead.
The following package is the PrepCast Elite ($349), which will add 90-day access to the Exam simulator, consisting of 1600 PMP questions with detailed solutions, to the PrepCast Basic.
Finally, the finest and ultimate package is the PrepCast Elite Plus ($389). This plan will include everything from PrepCast Elite, plus a guidebook (to study alongside your video course), a formula study guide, and multiple cheat sheets.
I think the PrepCast Elite package is modest, but the one that provides the most value for money is indeed the Elite Plus.
At $40, you will receive crucial learning resources that can speed up your learning, smoothen the reviewing process, and become your reliable reference, thus increasing your chance of passing the PMP exam.
Alternatively, suppose you have purchased training courses from other providers but want to get your hands on more practice questions, you can purchase the Exam Simulator for $149.
No Pass Guarantee
PM PrepCast does not have a pass guarantee for all its courses. You will not be able to ask for a refund if you do not pass the exam. However, they do offer a 90-day money-back guarantee. You can request a refund if you are not impressed with the learning experience.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Receive 35 contact hours/PDUs upon course completion
- Self-paced learning
- Abundant practice questions (1600+)
- More affordable than most alternatives (except Udemy)
- Generous 90-day money-back guarantee for all courses (not applied to the exam simulator)
Cons
- Offer only 3-month access to the Exam Simulator, which may not be optimal for students who start preparing for the PMP exam early.
- No Pass Guarantee
- Some previous students believe that the practice questions are more complex than the actual exam.
7. PMP Exam Prep Seminar – Complete Exam Coverage with 35 PDUs
If you are looking for a more affordable solution to get 35 contact hours and prepare for the PMP exam, this Udemy course from Joseph Phillips is undoubtedly worth your consideration.
Joseph is a PMP certification holder, a project manager with two decades of experience, and an author of dozens of PM books published by leading US publishers such as McGraw Hill, Pearson Education, and many more.
Hence, he has the knowledge, tips, and techniques to help you pass the PMP exam easily.
Note: All video lessons in this course are 29.5 hours long in total. Hence, if you wish to earn 35 contact hours/PDUs, you must complete all assignments and exercises available in the course, including the pre-assessment exam.
Course Content
Below is a summary of course content that you will learn from the course.
- PMP Exam Structure + PMBOK Guide
- Project Management Foundations + Components
- Environment that a Project operates + Roles of a Project Manager
- Integration/Scope Management
- Cost/Quality Management
- Resources/Communications/Risk Management
- Procurement Management/Engaging Stakeholders
- Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
- Agile approach and Scrum
- and many more
Besides the lectures, there are hundreds of practice questions for you to complete. You will fulfill contact hours requirements while strengthening your test-taking skills in one go.
Reviews: 4.6/5.0, Students: 225000+
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Learn from a veteran project manager
- Well-structured curriculum
- Concise explanations with straightforward examples
- Fulfill 35 contact hours/PDUs requirements upon course completion
- Self-paced learning (learn anytime, anywhere through Udemy’s mobile app)
- Lifetime Access + 30-day money-back guarantee
- Affordable ($20 or lower when on sale)
- According to the reviews, many students pass the PMP exam using this course as a sole study material.
Cons
- The course does not provide as many study materials as other PMP courses from test prep companies.
- Some students believe that the Agile section seems to be created in a rush. Hence, it is not very detailed and has several inconsistencies.
- Some sections require an update to match the current PMP exam (As of November 2021, this course still uses the 6th PMBOK edition.)
8. PMP Certification Exam Prep Course 35 PDU Contact Hours/PDU
This top-rated course on Udemy is another promising alternative if you want to grab 35 hours of contact hours and learn the concepts, valuable tips, and techniques to tackle the most challenging PMP exam questions.
You will learn from Andrew Ramdayal, a PMP-certified project manager who has 18 years of experience teaching PMP and IT courses to students all over the world.
Course Content
The video content is 35.5 hours long. Following is a summary of topics that you will learn in the course.
- PMP Exam Details
- Project Management Terminologies
- Tools & Techniques + Process Groups + Role of a Project Manager
- Integration/Scope/Schedule Management
- Cost/Quality/Resource Management
- Risk/Procurement/Stakeholders Management
- Deep dive into Agile Project Management Methods and Delivery
- Stakeholder Management
- Agile Planning, Problem Resolution, and Continuous Improvement
- Hybrid Project Management
- Ethics, Professional Code of Conduct, and Mindset
- Exam Tips + 3-hour Concept Reviews (Best for last-day review)
- and many more
Andrew also provides you with excellent learning resources. These include 400+ practice questions, a full-length mock exam, PDFs containing processes and formulas, and expert guidance on filling out the PMP application.
Hence, you will have all you need to pass the PMP exam.
Reviews: 4.7/5.0, Students: 40,000+
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Learn from a leading project manager with decades of teaching experience
- Well-structured curriculum
- Bite-sized lessons with straightforward explanations
- Include various test-taking tips & techniques for the PMP exam
- Offer abundant practice questions
- Self-paced learning (learn anytime, anywhere through Udemy’s mobile app)
- Lifetime Access + 30-day money-back guarantee
- Affordable ($20 or lower when on sale)
- Many students use this course as their sole study material and pass the exam on the first attempt.
Cons
- Practice questions have some grammatical mistakes that may distract some students.
- Several reviewers noted that Andrew has a strong accent, which can sometimes be challenging to understand.
Other Alternatives
Below are alternatives that you may want to consider. However, I do not include them in the list for several reasons (explicitly explained below.)
PMP Certification:35+ PDU Formal PMP Exam Prep _New PMP 2023 – This affordable course from Sabri C. provides solid PMP prep training with more than sufficient practice questions (1300+).
However, I decided not to include it in the list because I struggled to understand the instructor (he has a strong accent).
PMP Exam Prep Project Management Professional Certification – This is another top-rated PMP course on Udemy. However, the course length is too short (only 20 hours) for students to grasp essential concepts thoroughly.
Related Courses
Following is the list of “best” articles on my site that will help you find the right course to enhance your skills in project management and beyond.
- Agile Project Management
- Scrum Master – Once you obtain your PMP certification, you can upskill even further by pursuing Scrum certifications to strengthen your knowledge of Agile and widen your career opportunities.
- Six Sigma – Coming Soon
- Prince2 – Coming Soon
