PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
The PMI-SP – PMI Scheduling Professional certification acknowledges the individual’s unique expertise on the project team while demonstrating the recognition and value the role provides to the project management profession. To stand out in the crowd you need to have somewhat different skills than others. If you have advanced knowledge and experience developing, managing and maintaining project schedules and you’d like to showcase your skills, then the PMI-SP is an excellent choice for you. Getting certifications make you a preferable candidate for the job as well as increases your importance. They help in showing your commitment towards your aim and dedication towards your work and organization. Let us get into details of this valuable credential.
What is PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) Exam?
The PMI-SP certification acknowledges the individual’s unique expertise on the project team while demonstrating the recognition and value the role provides to the project management profession. In this role, an individual has more competence in the specialized area of developing and maintaining the project schedule than a general practitioner and yet, also maintains a basic level of competence in all areas of project management.
Employers can trust certification holders to possess the skills, knowledge and experience to contribute directly to their crucial projects. This global certification also supports individuals in meeting organizational needs; organizations can be confident in hiring capable, experienced practitioners as well as having a means for a career development path.
Exam Prerequisites
The PMI-SP Certification Requirements are as follows:
- Secondary degree
- 40 months of project scheduling experience within the last 5 years
- 40 hours of project scheduling education
OR
- Four-year degree
- 28 months of project scheduling experience within the last 5 years
- 30 hours of project scheduling education
Exam overview
- Exam Name – PMI Scheduling Professional
- Exam Code – PMI-SP
- No. of questions – 170 multiple choice questions
- Duration – 3.5 hours
- Price – Member: US $520.00 / Non-member: US $670.00
- Exam Type – Azure
- Exam Language – English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean
Steps to Maintain the certification
Project Management Scheduling Professional Exam is valid for 3 years after you pass the certification. For recertification the candidate must collect a certain number of PDUs – Professional Development Units. To maintain your PMI-SP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) every three years in the specialized topic of project scheduling.
There are two ways through which you can earn PDUs- through Education or through giving back to professionals. The certification renewal fees for members is $60 and for non-members is $150.
PMI does not disclose its passing score so it is better to focus on your exam preparation to score well.
Certification status
- When you first earn a certification, you are considered to be in active status. When you fulfill all CCR requirements for your certification, including earning and reporting PDUs as well as submitting the renewal payment before the cycle end date, you are in good standing with an active status.
- If you do not satisfy the CCR program requirements within your current cycle dates, you will be placed in suspended status. The suspension period lasts one year (12 months). If you are in suspended status, you may not refer to yourself as a certification holder or use the certification designation until you earn the necessary PDUs or complete the renewal process within the one-year suspension period.
- If you do not earn the necessary PDUs or do not complete the renewal process within the suspension period, you will lose your certification and go into an expired status.
- If you are a certification holder in good standing and wish to voluntarily relinquish your active status due to retirement, you are eligible to apply for retired status.
Check out the top PMI-SP Interview Questions to prepare for your interview.
Exam Retake Policy
You are granted a one-year eligibility period in which to pass the PMI SP Scheduling Professional examination. During the eligibility period, you may take the examination up to three times because candidates do not always pass the examination on their first attempt.
If you fail the examination three times within your one-year eligibility period, you must wait one year from the date of your last examination to reapply for the certification. However, after failing a certification examination three times, candidates may opt to apply for any other PMI certification.
You can visit the page which has more information about the credential.
To know more, Visit – PMI-SP Exam FAQs
PMI-SP Course Outline
The PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) Course covers the following domains:
Domain 1: Schedule Strategy (14% of examination)
Activities related to establishing and documenting schedule approach, policies and procedures, roles and responsibilities, and scheduling objectives and goals.
Task 1 Establish project schedule configuration management policies and procedures incorporating best practices, regulations, governing standards and organization policies, and procedures to ensure accessibility, storage, retrieval, maintenance, change control, and baseline schedule control.
Task 2 Develop schedule approach, based on the unique characteristics of the project, including enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets, in order to define schedule requirements.
Task 3 Establish scheduling policies and procedures regarding methodology, selection of a scheduling tool, scheduling parameters, performance thresholds, activity granularity, presentation format, earned value management (EVM) implementation, analysis techniques, and approval requirements by using resources such as organizational process assets and project documents in order to develop the schedule management plan and standardize operational procedures.
Task 4 Develop the scheduling-related components for project management plans (for example, integration, scope, cost, quality, resources, communication, risk, and procurement management), through review of contract requirements, in order to integrate scheduling activities into the overall project management process.
Task 5 Provide information about project scheduling objectives and goals, the role of the scheduler, and scheduling procedures to project team members to facilitate effective participation in the project.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Applicable contract requirements, regulations, and governing standards
- Schedule control processes (for example, baseline control, status update procedure, variance thresholds)
- Scheduling development concepts (for examples, coding, work breakdown structures, organizational breakdown structure, resource breakdown structures)
- Project charter
Domain 2: Schedule Planning and Development (31% of examination)
Activities related to defining and sequencing activities and milestones, developing the work and resource breakdown structures, and establishing the performance measurement baseline (PMB).
Task 1 Develop the work breakdown structure (WBS), organizational breakdown structure (OBS), control accounts (CA), and work packages through communication with subject matter experts and stakeholders and analysis of the contractual commitments in order to ensure completion of the project scope.
Task 2 Define activities and milestones through communication with subject matter experts, decomposition, and application of scheduling policies and procedures to identify and document the work to be performed.
Task 3 Estimate activity durations, utilizing subject matter experts and scheduling techniques such as three-point estimate, parametric, analogous and/or Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) in order to develop an overall schedule model.
Task 4 Sequence activities, incorporating defined dependencies (internal, external, and cross programs) milestones, and constraints (for example, calendars, geography, contracts), in order to develop a logical, dynamic schedule model.
Task 5 Identify critical and near-critical path(s) using techniques such as Critical Path Method, Critical Chain, Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), and Monte Carlo simulation in order to meet project delivery date requirements.
Task 6 Develop the project resource breakdown structure (RBS), determine resource availability, and assign resources to activities by working with functional managers, project managers, and project team members in order to define the resource constrained schedule.
Task 7 Adjust schedule model based upon resource availability, available budget, and other known constraints in order to calculate the resource constrained schedule.
Task 8 Align schedule with the overall program plan or integrated master plan (IMP), through review of enterprise objectives and contract documentation, in order to ensure accomplishment of overall program objectives.
Task 9 Analyze major milestones against statement of work (SOW), the contract, and/or memorandum of understanding, to assess whether schedule model delivery estimates meet required deadlines.
Task 10 Perform schedule risk analysis using quantitative tools or techniques (for example, what-if scenarios, Monte Carlo simulation) in order to determine if project milestone dates are achievable within acceptable risk tolerances.
Task 11 Obtain a consensus of the project customer, sponsor, project manager, and project team members, in order to establish an approved baseline schedule.
Task 12 Establish the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), using organizational processes and standard techniques, in order to enable performance measurement and management.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Scope statements, including deliverables and deadlines
- Work breakdown structure (WBS)
- Organizational breakdown structure (OBS)
- Resource breakdown structure (RBS)
- Cost structure as related to schedule development
- Activity definition
- Activity execution techniques (duration/time, effort/work)
- Dependency relationship types (Finish to Start, Start to Finish, Finish to Finish, Start to Start)
- Leads and lags
- Prioritization within the schedule model
- Resource groups
- Resource calendars
- Resource allocation techniques
- Activity Network Diagram (AND)
- Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)
- Capacity requirements/resource requirements
- Contingency reserve or buffer (funds, budget, or time)
- Cost and schedule integration
- Schedule baselining
- Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
- Inter-project Dependencies
- Milestone definition
- Schedule model components
- Schedule risk-assessment techniques (for example, Monte Carlo simulation, PERT)
Domain 3: Schedule Monitoring and Controlling (35% of examination)
Activities related to monitoring the project schedule progress, performing schedule analyses, and managing change appropriately.
Task 1 Collect activity status at defined intervals from activity owners via reports, meetings, inspections, or other standard procedures in order to update and review the project progress.
Task 2 Collect resource information and updates via reports, timesheets, meetings, inspections, or other standard procedures in order to report on resource utilization and availability.
Task 3 Perform schedule analysis and audit, on in-house and subcontractor schedules, using industry standards, guidelines and best practices in order to identify and report project schedule, status, changes, impacts or issues.
Task 4 Identify alternative project execution options, using tools and techniques such as what-if scenario analyses, in order to optimize the schedule.
Task 5 Incorporate approved risk mitigation activities into the schedule, by utilizing defined change control processes, in order to establish a new performance measurement baseline (PMB).
Task 6 Update the schedule model and document schedule baseline changes, received through formal change-control processes, in order to maintain an accurate schedule and facilitate forensic schedule analysis, if required.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Progress measurement techniques (for example, percent complete, actual/remaining duration, estimate to complete)
- Industry standards, guidelines, and best practices with respect to activity status update frequency, format, and content
- Metrics to monitor, analyze, and control the schedule
- Cost and schedule reserve analysis
- Activity prioritization
- Available data, logical data organization/relationships within data elements
- Electronic file storage and retrieval standards
- Resource breakdown structure (RBS)
- Resource calendars
- Resource groups
- Resource allocation techniques
- Schedule risk analysis
- Project schedule change control
- Reserve analysis
- Knowledge of ongoing audit analysis
- Activity Network Diagram (AND)
- Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)
- Schedule risk assessment techniques (for example, Monte Carlo simulation, Program and Evaluation Review Technique [PERT]) Schedule and cost variance management
Domain 4: Schedule Closeout (6% of examination)
Activities related to finalizing all schedule activities, evaluating schedule performance against the original baseline, documenting lessons learned, and distributing final schedule information.
Task 1 Obtain final acceptance of the contractual schedule components, by working with sponsor and/or customer, in order to facilitate project closeout.
Task 2 Evaluate final schedule performance against baseline schedule, scheduling approach and the implementation, using standard scheduling tools and techniques, including solicitation of feedback from stakeholders, in order to identify lessons learned and develop best practices.
Task 3 Update the organizational process assets, through documentation of identified lessons learned and best practices, in order to improve business processes.
Task 4 Distribute final schedule reports, including earned value management (EVM) calculations and variance analysis, to stakeholders in order to facilitate project closeout.
Task 5 Archive schedule files (for example, final schedule model, schedule management plan, periodic status reports, schedule change log), as per defined procedures in order to satisfy contractual requirements and prepare for potential forensic schedule analysis.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Contractual schedule components
- Schedule close-out procedures
- Feedback techniques
- Schedule review techniques
- Schedule issue management
- Transition planning
Domain 5: Stakeholder Communications Management (14% of examination)
Activities related to developing and fostering relationships with stakeholders, and supporting project schedule-related communication over the course of the project.
Task 1 Develop and foster relationships with project stakeholders, consistent with the communication management plan, in order to enhance support for the project schedule.
Task 2 Generate and maintain visibility of project schedule, by working with the project manager and/or stakeholders, in order to maintain stakeholder support.
Task 3 Provide senior management and other stakeholders with verbal and written schedule status updates and impact on schedule of corrective actions, as defined by the communication management plan, in order to maintain stakeholder awareness.
Task 4 Communicate schedule issues that could impact delivery of project scope or adherence to the schedule management plan, in order to elevate awareness to relevant stakeholders.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Targeting communications to senior management
- Methods and techniques used to maintain visibility of project schedule Elements of the communication management plan
Preparation Guide for PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
There are numerous resources that can be used for PMI SP Preparation. But cracking the certification becomes difficult when the set of resources chosen is not apt. You should be very careful while choosing the resources as they will determine actually how well you will pass the exam. let us have a look at handful of PMI SP Study Material.
Books are your Best Friends
You can refer to as many books as you want and can get them from bookstores or libraries. PMI-SP Book are the most valuable and reliable source for collecting the information relating to the theoretical concepts of the syllabus. Make sure that the books you select has all the necessary concepts that will be asked in the exam. also, the book should offer maximum practice exercises that will help to understand better and learn the things for a long time. Review the latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).
Online classes and Instructor-led training
You can also refer to PMI SP Training Online and online classes in order to clear the concepts and develop strong understanding. Since, the person taking the exam is already experienced in the field of project management. He is completely trained in the practical aspects of the exam. the more focus should now be paid to the theoretical aspect which can be made strong by getting trained from experts or by getting classes by a reliable organization. Enroll in a formal study course offered by PMI chapters or accredited Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s).
Referring to online community
Online communities consist of professions in the specific field or the people who are interested in the similar arena. So, don’t be hesitant in asking the questions over this platform. You can also ask for the study strategy or about the resources that were referred by them in order to clear the exam.
Evaluating with practice papers and test series
By them, You get to know about your loopholes and this reduces the chances of silly mistakes which can affect your result in a bad manner. The practice papers and test series are one way to evaluate your progress. They help you in identifying week portions of your preparation. There are many reliable sites which helps you by providing sample papers and test series. Some provide free practice tests too. Try a free practice test now! Make sure to practice as much as you can in order to reach the best level.
