I'm PMP Certified. What's Next?

So, you are PMP certified. What’s the next step? Aside from applying to a PMP certified position, you will need to periodically renew your credentials and attend professional development units. As it turns out, there are some recurring costs and tests even after you get certified. If you are still seeking certification, it’s important to know the process ahead of time. This section will discuss professional routes you can take with PMP certification, the steps you must take to maintain your certification, and necessity of PDUs in this process.The most convenient way to find work as a project manager is through online channels. Online networking services like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, and Monster can be scanned for PMP positions, but a basic web search (“Hiring PMP”, “PMP Jobs”) aggregates results from all of these sites. On top of this, The Project Management Institute hosts online forums for advice and networking among project management professionals. Staffing agencies, cold calling, and researching local businesses may be preferred methods if you’d rather not apply online. Either way, there is a great demand for PMP certified project managers, and these opportunities can be lucrative if pursued.Maintaining your certification requires regular testing from the Project Management Institute. This test is taken every three years after certification, and it requires a $150.00 renewal fee. However, membership in the Project Management Institute reduces the fee to $60.00. Whether or not you register as a PMI member, this test is mandatory every three years to maintain the validity of the certification. If you fail to take the renewal test, your certification is no longer worth the backing of the PMI and associated costs. This is important to consider before you even pursue certification, as accounting for each cost will prevent issues with attaining and maintaining certification. One way to avoid this is by taking practice exams. Consistently scoring 80% or higher on the Kaplan PMP practice tests will help you gauge how prepared you are for the official exam.The second requirement to maintain certification is the attendance of professional development units (PDUs). The PMI requires you to go at least 60 PDUs within a three year period. Each PDU lasts for roughly one hour, and it is possible to attend them via an online training program. However, this can also be fulfilled at PMI conferences and in a classroom setting. These can cost anywhere from $25.00 to $100.00 each, and 60 of these each year can add up to $1,500 or $6,000 dollars every three years.Training, certification, and maintenance each carry costs and formal requirements, so it’s crucial to account for these costs before you encounter them. There are many professional opportunities for those with PMP certification, and there are channels online and offline to find them. Maintenance of your PMP certification requires paid testing every three years as well as 60 paid professional development units. Recuperating these costs necessitates the application of the certification towards good opportunities. All in all, PMP certification requires recurring costs even after paying for the initial exam. However, the certification provides many opportunities that can more than cover these costs.TL;DR - The PMP certification is not over after taking the exam. That sounds counterintuitive, but regular testing and professional development units are required to maintain certification. However, there are professional opportunities through several channels that can make your certification a worthwhile investment. Continue training on Cybrary for free with the on-demand PMP course, and rack up those CEUs.