12/17/2020
Is Learning Tree an Official Accredited Training Partner (ATP)?
Yes.
This means that Learning Tree is able to deliver the Official PMI Courseware developed and accredited by PMI.
What does it mean to be an ATP?
It means that:
- Learning Tree offers the "Project Management Professional® (PMP) Certification Training", the PMI- developed and licensed content
- Learning Tree's instructors are going to be trained by PMI, and "Badged" by PMI to teach the course
- The course content comes directly from PMI, and cannot be modified. The courseware can be augmented by other material, and Learning Tree is in the process of creating additional material to help our attendees prepare for the PMP Exam.
When will the first run of the new courseware occur?
The first event on the new courseware is on December 14, 2020 in North America.
All events thereafter will run on the new content, Learning Tree's proprietary courseware will be retired, and all custom courses based on our previous version of Course 276 - PMI(r) Authorized PMP(r) Exam Prep will be reviewed or retired.
What has changed in terms of the focus of the new PMP exam?
The Exam: The new exam, starting January 2, 2021 will be based on the new PMI, Examination Content Outline, January 2021. The new exam is reflective of the findings of the PMI- conducted research that validated "today's project management practitioners work in a variety of project environments and utilize different project approaches."
The main changes are:
- The exam domains are now: People, Process and Business Environment
- About half of the exam questions are on predictive project management approaches and
- The other half are on Agile and Hybrid approaches.
Can you explain the PMP exam, the PMBOK and the PMBOK-Guide?
The PMP exam is, as always, based on the PMBOK (the knowledge within the profession), not the PMBOK-Guide (the book). PMI is coming up with a new edition of the PMBOK-Guide Seventh Edition, projected to be out sometime during the first quarter of 2021. Although the PMBOK-Guide is a good reference to prepare for the exam, the exam is NOT BASED on the PMBOK-Guide, it is based on the PMBOK, which means ALL the knowledge within the profession.
What supplemental material will we add to differentiate Learning Tree from other ATPs?
We are working on a range of items, the most important of which is our ability to offer an entire program to our attendees, not just a course. A program that stretches from the first day of class to the date of the attendees PMP exam (up to 3 months after the class).
The program will start with an individual study plan and will include items such as:
- Additional activities
- A bank of PMP Style questions and PMP Exam simulations
- Social Learning
- Individual coaching
- Micro learning (short videos on selected subject)
Can anyone teach the new courseware if they have their PMP?
No, instructors who want to teach the course must be "badged" by PMI. This process includes PMI review and acceptance of their experience and attendance on a PMI train the trainer course. Learning Tree may introduce additional requirements.
Will the course still qualify for 35 PDUs?
Yes.
Has the CAPM exam changed as well?
The CAPM (Course 3601) remains unchanged as of now.
Does the course come with an exam voucher?
No. The customer has to go through an application process in order to be approved to register for the exam. So, this process has gone unchanged.
Has the PMP Application process changed as well?
Yes, the PMP application has changed and is much simpler now. The requirement of 4500 hours (7500 if no Bachelor's Degree) was lifted, this was the hardest requirement, documenting all the hours and in the different knowledge group. Now to apply all someone needs is:
- A four-year degree
- 36 months leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM(r) Certification
- A high school diploma or an associate's degree (or global equivalent)
- 60 months leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM(r) Certification
If I took the PMP Prep course and haven't taken the exam yet, or I've taken it and did not pass, can I still take the old exam?
Unfortunately, the current exam retires on December 31, 2020 and will no longer be in market.
What other benefits do we receive as an ATP?
- We get badged as an organization to show our ATP official status
- PMI will promote ATPs through their website and corporate marketing
- We get access to RFPs. Many businesses and organizations contact PMI for training. PMI gathers the requirements for training and passes it to ATPs. We have already received 2 RFPs for consideration.
- Pre-approved PDUs, our claimed PDUs will automatically be accepted by PMI without audit.
- Upload our public "Guaranteed-to-run" classes to the PMI's official course listing page, at PMI.org (In-person, instructor-led, guaranteed-to-run courses can be cancelled but this has to be done 30 days prior to first day of class. Virtual, instructor-led, guaranteed-to-run courses CANNOT be cancelled)
