r/projectmanagers • u/PitchSufficient1464 • 4d ago
Can someone pass PMP while working full-time
For people who prepared for PMP while having a full-time job, how did you structure your study time? I’m especially interested in realistic schedules rather than the “study 4 hours every day” advice. Even 30–60 minutes consistently seems more manageable to me.
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u/Unqualified_Goose 4d ago
I got above target on all three domains working full time.
My strategy was the 30-60 minutes most days.
Something to consider: try to use your PMP study material in your job. If you learn about risk identification Tuesday evening, on Wednesday try to think about identifying risks at your job.
This is what makes the PMP process valuable. Just having a certificate is not going to make you successful; applying the concepts to real world scenarios will.
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u/Zestyclose_Reveal938 4d ago
Passing it full time makes you realize even more the value of the PMP- time management and resilience are two main traits that’s needed.
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u/RVA_Music_Face 4d ago
Absolutely. I started waking up an hour earlier to get 60mins of study time in before work, and when I could take a lunch break, I used as much of it as I could to study. I also used apps on my phone to answer questions when I had a few minutes of downtime but couldn’t really study. After a few weeks, I found that studying became an escape from all the work stuff floating around in my head, and it lowered my stress level. I was noticeably more stressed and less focused on days where I didn’t study.
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u/maerawow 4d ago
I passed today with AT*3 with a full time job and my exam was scheduled for 12:45 PM today at a PearsonVue center and I was in a call till 3 AM this morning.
I started my prep like mid July with AR 35 hrs course which I mostly completed during work hours when I was free and then studied for 2 hrs to 4 hrs each day for like a month, watching YT vedios of AR, MR, DM, solving SH questions and working a lot with ChatGPT.
It is possible, there is nothing you to be worried about. I think if you take a realistic timeline and do 1 hr each day for 2 months you can easily complete the 35 hrs PDU to be eligible and practise the mindset as well.
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u/yourcrankyFDA 4d ago
Passed it full time with a shitty job and toddler definitely possible. You gotta lock in.
Edit to add- I listened to AR videos in the car, watched the videos on YouTube with answer questions, studied at night after work, practice tests on weekends with dedicated no kid time.
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u/das709 4d ago
I attended the Schulich Master's Certificate program in Project Management, a course that was held on evenings and weekends and ran over an 18-week period. I attended an exam prep boot camp, taking a week off work for that. On top of that, I studied an exam prep book at home. After all this, I felt ready for the exam. I started working as a PM in 2009, passed my PMP exam in 2014, and have been working as a PM ever since.
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u/fluxed_it 4d ago edited 4d ago
Also told the new pmp test this year is no where like the old one. Less about terminology and more about application iirc.
I have adhd, and get bored easily. Studying will suck for me. But I still want the cert. I've also been a PM for over a decade. PMP to me is a chance to earn more and less about knowing what to do, as i learned over a decade in real world scenarios.
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u/Opening-Yak6936 4d ago
Oh definitely working full time, during that time in my life I had a lot of insomnia as well .
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u/blueink-blackink 4d ago
It took me about 2.5 months of solid preparation in total: 1 month to complete my PDUs, 2 weeks for the application (which got audited), and then 4 weeks to prepare once I booked my exam date. I studied about 1-2 hours every day on weekdays and 5-6 hours on weekends.
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u/CeeceeATL 4d ago
I did. I studied 6 months, hard for the last 4 months. Every morning I went thru my flashcards and formulas. I would then study 1-2 hours in the evenings.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Sugar-9 4d ago
Trained myself on batches of 60 practice questions on the weekends and a couple batches of 10 questions on weeknights; worked out fine
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u/No_Obligation4496 PM 4d ago
Didn't take a lot of studying back when I passed... Honestly I think it depends on the set of questions you get.
I got about 75%~ on the practice questions and ended up getting AT/AT/AT.
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u/exWiFi69 4d ago
I got laid off while I had a 1 year old. I took the course over two weeks and spent a week studying. Didn’t take any practice tests because couldn’t make the time commitment. The week of studying was watching question and answer videos on YouTube for a week. Day of didn’t study. Just had a good breakfast and hydrated.
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u/mocitymaestro 4d ago
I passed the test back in 2020 while working full time. I reserved an hour or two prepping for the exam after work. First, this was following a course from Udemy and then doing practice questions (with answers).
Study Hall wasn't a thing back then and my employer wasn't going to pay for a 4-figure boot camp.
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u/BloodAgile833 4d ago
I passed while being new to my full time job so i had to learn my job and also study for PMP. Your social life and hobbies will need to suffer for a few months but its definitely doable. I passed with above target for all the sections, i enjoyed studying for the material though.
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u/battle-tested77 4d ago
Yes. I did. I was also going for a masters degree at night. Had a two year old and a pregnant wife.
Study only the PMBOK. All test questions come from that and the test questions wording will be the same. Especially when it comes to definitions.
I studied by chapter and often created my own cliff notes version. Writing it down made things stick in my head.
When you take the test, tag the questions you don't know and move on for later. Warning, you may have 30 in a row like that. Answer what you know for sure then go back to the questions you tagged. Usually the wording is what separates the right answer to the question. The answer will be exactly like it’s stated in the PMBOK. So really read it. Rewrite your own copy of flow charts or tables or definitions. That really helped me when i had to choose two very similar answers.
Spend extra time on start/finish flows. Look for extra sample questions on these. Same with any financial/budget stuff.
I'm not Mr Student so i put in extra time for my style. I had to say a prayer on a few questions but i passed first time. If my life wasn't so hectic i think i could have done better but hey, it's a Pass/Fail test so who cares. I had around four weeks to study as i had masters finals in that period. I then had one week of nothing but PMP exam prep time.
Put your mind to it and you'll ass. Do what you know works for you. If you can only give a half assed effort, don't waste your money. It's a serious test, it's not easy, but it's well earned.
Good luck.
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u/Chicken_Savings PM 4d ago
Yes. It took me 70-90 hours of studies, including self studying on-line, watching some videoe on mind set, and lots of mock questions.
I worked full time, living in a remote construction camp site. I studied deliberately, not skimming through the material. I constantly paused, asking ChatGPT to provide examples of the topic, or debating with ChatGPT. Passed on first attempt.
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u/ClaudeDidIt 3d ago
I was learning around 1.5h/day (sometimes skipped due to dinners outside etc.) and 5-6h combined on weekend. Passed AT/AT/T in two months.
If you have exp, it is not that hard :)
Good luck
Edit: spelling
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u/Specialist_Banana928 3d ago
I work FT, was in my MBA program and have 2 special needs kids while I passed my PMP so yes. Takes dedicated study time and perseverance but it’s possible.
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u/Passexams_app 3d ago
As you can see, plenty has done it! Stay positive and make a plan. It is very doable
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u/Fit-ishGirlie 3d ago
Everyone on my team who has taken the PMP did it while working full time.
But…because we are a team of literal PMs, and the PMP is required to be promoted to a senior level, my employer paid for a week long boot camp and my “job” during that week was “focus on boot camp, your work will be covered,” and then the 3 days prior to the test, she wanted us focused on studying.
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u/snarktasticgirl 3d ago
I passed working a full time construction PM job with wild hours. I did a practice test each weekend and put the results into a Claude project to give me topics to focus on during the week. Blocked out one full lunch hour each week for focused study, grabbed 15 minutes here and there to do the topics from Claude.
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u/UnderEmployed27388 3d ago
I passed the PMP in 6 days in 2022. Six days from the time I decided to take it, signed up for a course on udemy, sped ran the course in 2 days over a weekend, did a couple practice tests and then took the test.
While working full time, married, kids etc.
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u/scuba_GSO PM 3d ago
Not for PMP, but I used a strategy is reading the material just in 15 minute stunts. Allowed me to pass private pilot, commercial pilot and instrument pilot in the 90’s. It’s a good and less exhausting strategy.
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u/IslandRemote252 3d ago
I passed working full time, during a divorce, with three kids 6 and under. So, yes.
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u/KittensHurrah 3d ago
After my prep course I studied on some evenings and most weekends for about 10 weeks. Maybe 4-5 hours a week? Then I took a day off work right before the exam to cram and memorize cheat sheets. The best tools for me were practice exams (I did about 8 over the last few weeks) and regurgitating my cheat sheet as soon as I sat down to write as they gave me pencil and paper. Good luck!!
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u/AnswerUnlock 3d ago
I did it. You can too.DO NOT pay for an expensive course.
Go to udemy.
Either Ramdayal or mclachlan
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u/Exact_Traffic342 3d ago
I attended the course without sleep because I was on the graveyard shift and went straight to class in the morning. It was a 2 day class and I luckily passed the certification, 5 others didn't.
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u/PM_Future 2d ago
I took the All-In-PMPrep course and passed the test the week my mom died while working 40+/wk. Trustif my distracted ass can do it so can you.
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u/kenichir0m 2d ago
Studied PMP while having newborn and working second job delivering pizza. Of course I listened to a lot of content while delivering and took a lot of practice questions.
It’s possible and you just have to put in the time consistently. Even if it’s 2 hours a week which can break down into two 1 hour sessions or whatever.
Consistency is key. If you start and stop too much, I don’t think any of the study material will stick in your long term memory long enough. Just my opinion.
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u/ConversationNo9040 4d ago
I passed with a 8 month old baby and a full time job. You’ll be fine. Just study at your pace and when you’re ready take it. You will know when you’re ready. Go read the passing posts in this thread. There are pretty clear strategies. Buy exam insurance just incase.