Lack of training among “experienced” project managers
From my participation on various PMP discussion boards, particularly those used by folks who wish to earn the PMP credential, I’ve noticed an interesting (and somewhat disturbing) trend.
A significant number of PMP aspirants have no previous project management training prior to starting the PMP qualification and application process. As a result, many of them use their 35-hour PMP “prep” class to satisfy PMI’s requirement that all applicants have completed a minimum of 35 hours of project management training prior to applying for their exam qualification letter.
I have no problem with professional certification preparation courses. Candidates for certification in many professions, such as accounting (CPA) and law (BAR Exam), often make use of exam preparation courses and services. PMP candidates are no different. I, myself, took advantage of a PMP preparation course and found it very useful. However, as an experienced project manager, the “prep” class was not my first class or training experience in my profession. I took the “prep” course to help me prepare for the examination component of the PMP certification — not because I needed to meet PMI’s prerequisites for 35 hours of prior PM training.
In order to earn the PMP credential, a candidate must have a minimum of three years experience either in a PM role or performing PM tasks. That is to say, the credential is not meant to help an individual move into project management but, rather, certifies that the individual is already in project management and has been for at least 3 years. In fact, many candidates have been in the profession for much more than 3 years.
Therefore, anyone who is going through the process of earning the PMP credential must have been practicing project management for at least 3 years, if not more.
So my big question is this: How can a person have been practicing a highly skilled and complex profession such as project management (for at least 3 years, if not more) without ever receiving any training in his/her chosen profession?
This is a question I’d like to think about and discuss more on this board. What is your take on this? Your comments are welcomed.
Click here to see the follow-up to this post.
Tags: careers, certification, PMI, PMP, PMP application, PMP preparation, training
September 20th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Jerry,
Interesting observation, but I think it is even more disturbing then you think. Many big companies are now offering / requiring / strongly suggesting that their employees take the PMP certification. I have personally seen individuals who have taken PMI prep or few other courses and have taken and passed the exam, and it was clear that they had no prior experience of leading the project.
I wish PMI spent more time validating credentials and experience of the applicants.
Alex
September 28th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Jerry,
There are a lot of smaller firms that do not pay for any professional training. I would imagine a lot of folks out there have significant “OJT” in PM – On the Job Training. While not formal nor thorough, in the Audiovisual industry this is pretty much the rule rather than the exception. If a company neither sponsors the coursework nor the exam, the incentive for an ‘experienced’ PM (who may be earning good pay) to get the PMP may be mitigated by time and money it takes to achieve, if it doesn’t monetarily or otherwise benefit them in their current job.
In my personal case, I have enrolled in a PM certificate program at NYU at my own expense because 1) my Master’s degree is more than 8 years old and won’t count towards the PMP and 2) I want a more rounded exposure to PM than just what I’ve been practicing at the companies I’ve worked for, none of whom would agree to pay for the classes or exam and 3) I want the added competitve advantage of the PMP certification for my own career development, regardless of employer.
Not sure this is where you were going with your question, but just wanted to expose you to another view.
Cheers,
Marcia
October 29th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
[...] As promised, I’m following up on my post from Sept. 14, 2009: Lack of training among project managers. [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
See my follow-up comments at:
http://blogs.pmbestpractices.com/2009/10/lack-of-training-among-pms-pmp-candidates-follow-up/