Requirements, Preparation, Experience, Examination & Multi-Rater Assessment
Karen Yvonne Lucas, PgMP | PMP, has more than 20 years of experience of progressive responsibility in Information
Technology Services to executives and senior management providing senior level guidance, evaluation, analysis and
management. She services mid to large-scale commercial enterprises, local governments and federal defense initiatives
having mission critical programs and projects with enterprise reaching operational, marketing and systems components.
She has served in a senior role in the Program Management Offices of AMTRAK, CITI, UUNET, Cable & Wireless, and
SPRINT as well as at the IRS, DHS, VHA, DOD, DLA , NIH and HHS. Ms. Lucas is the former Practice Director of Enterprise
Program Management Services for a verified SDVOB and is now an at-hire consultant and lecturer.
The PMI Family of Credentials include the CAPM,
PMI-SP, PMI-RMP, PMP and PgMP.
PMI Credentials establish not only your dedication to
the project & program management profession, but
also your educational and professional experience
related to the same.
In order for any person to obtain a PMI Credential
s/he must satisfy the educational and experience
requirements – and also – demonstrate your ability
to apply project and program management best
practices, methodologies and common knowledges
toward solving today’s business needs.
For the PgMP Credential you must also satisfy two
additional evaluations: situational knowledge and
the multi-rater (peer, subordinate, supervisory)
assessment.
In order to maintain the PMI Credentials you must
continue to show ongoing professional commitment
to the field of project &/or program management
through yearly completion of Continuing
Certification Requirements (CCRs) – courses which
reinforce, update, and expand your knowledge of
methodologies and common knowledges within the
field.
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Determine If You Are Ready
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Submit Your Application & Pay Fees
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The Window is Open 90 days.
PMI will conduct an application completeness review (5
business days) if you applied on-line.
Pay Credential Fees
PMI’s Process Begins
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Do You Have the Required Education, Knowledge, Skill & Experience?
Have You Connected to the PgMP on the LinkedIn Community Forum?
Have You Obtained a PgMP Mentor?
Have You Reviewed the PgMP Handbook on PMI.ORG?
Have You Prepared Your PgMP Application?
Have You Located at least 10 EACH of Your References (Subordinates, Peers &
Superiors) for the Multi-Rater Assessment (MRA)?
PMI requires only 12 – however, if they do not respond you are OUT OF LUCK.
The Audit Process begins (5 days)
The Panel Review Process begins (up to 10 business days)
PMI Informs the Candidate of Eligibility for the Multiple Choice Exam.
The Candidate Has Up to 1 Year to take the Exam.
Candidate’s Process Begins
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Take the Exam. Upon PASS move onto the Multi-Rater Assessment (MRA).
Contact your MRA References Telling them to Look for & Respond to the MRA
request quickly. The MRA Process will take the entire 3 week period.
PMI Informs the Candidate of Successful PASS for the MRA.
The Candidate Has Up to 1 Year to take the Exam.
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CONGRATULATIONS !!!
You are now a PgMP !
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Request materials and Certification
from PMI as soon as possible.
Join the PgMP ONLY LinkedIn Group.
Mentor Another PgMP Candidate.
In order to be a PgMP what Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skill & Abilities should I have?
Fundamental Expectations from Business for Program Managers & Directors
Effective Program Management
requires the Program Manager’s
support of Corporate Financing
through incorporation of the
Corporate Strategy (Mission, Vision,
Goals, Objectives & Success
Statement). Without clear integration
of the Corporate Finance Expectations
& Corporate Strategy the relationship
of programs to that strategy is
tenuous and program success is
unlikely.
Effective Program Management
requires the Program & Program
Manager’s subject matter expertise
to exert Enterprise-Wide Influence in
the program’s key field from which
the Corporate Strategy expects results.
Also, the Program Manager must have
a strong foundational knowledge, skill
and ability in business (accounting,
finance, productization, marketing,
risk, etc.).
Effective Program Management
requires the Program to have
Enterprise-Wide Reporting, Analysis,
Measurement, Evaluation &
Communication Authority and
Expertise. This establishes the
Program as the source for the
corporation’s understanding of
metrics, status, success, obstacles,
issues, mitigation and change strategy.
Effective Program Management relies
upon the Program and Program
Manager for Responsible and
Reliable Enterprise-Wide Oversight,
Review, Assessment, Corrective
Action & Performance Measurement
/ Monitoring Authority related to
strategic programs, project s &/or
initiatives.
Fundamental Expectations of PMI for PgMP Candidates:
Minimum Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skill & Abilities for PgMP by Role Delineation Study
Education & Experience
o Requires High School Diploma, Associates Degree or Global
Equivalent
(6,000 Hours of Unique Non-Overlapping, Professional, Project
Management Experience)
o AND – Requires 4 Years of Project Management Experience
(6,000 Hours of Project Management Experience as identified under the 5
process groups from the PMI PMBOK)
o AND – Requires 7 Years of Program Management Experience
(10,500 Hours of Unique Non-Overlapping, Professional, Program
Management Experience. For EACH program there must be at least 2
corresponding projects that share the common strategic goal and budget
of the program) – as identified by the PgMBOK.
Or substitute as Follows
o Bachelor’s Degree or Global Equivalent
o AND – Requires 4 Years of Project Management Experience
(See above Project Management Experience – Requires 6,000 Hours)
o AND – Requires 4 Years Program Management Experience
(See Program Management Experience – Requires 6,000 Hours)
SEE THE PGMP HANDBOOK (PMI ONLINE) P. 7 FOR HOW TO
CALCULATE YOUR EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION FOR THE PGMP
APPLICATION
Knowledge, Skill & Abilities
o Who should apply?
Those who manage programs that contain complex activities that span
functions, organizations, geographic regions and cultures; build credibility,
establish rapport and maintain communication with stakeholders; possess
advanced skills in finance, cross-cultural awareness, leadership, influence,
communication, negotiation and conflict resolution.
o What do PgMP candidates do?
Candidates ensure the ultimate success of the program; modify programs
and make decisions that advance strategic and business objectives; define
and initiate projects and assign project managers; and oversee multiple
projects.
o What Types of Abilities does a PgMP Exhibit?
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Currently responsible for defining projects
Currently responsible for the Program’s Financial Health (for example: Profit & Loss,
Return on Investment, Fiscal Year Planning, Multi-Year Budget/Spend Planning,
Earned Value, Break Even, Cost Benefit Analysis, Alternatives Analysis, and more…)
Currently responsible for assigning project managers and overseeing programs
Currently responsible for balancing resources over multiple projects of a program
(business strategic initiative and/or operations project with resources in common).
Held to the expectation that they demonstrate an advanced ability to coordinate
multiple, related projects to achieve strategic business and organizational goals
Currently demonstrate knowledge, skill and abilities honed from many industries
and countries regarding fundamental knowledge of program management.
Peer recognition as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in multiple business areas.
The PgMP Process includes an Application, Exam and Multi-Rater Assessment
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Do You Have the Required Education,
Knowledge, Skill & Experience?
Ideas for Your Reading before taking a PgMP
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Have You Connected to the PgMP on the
LinkedIn Community Forum?
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A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBOK) – Fourth Edition
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Global Project Management Handbook: Planning, Organizing
and Controlling International Projects – Second Edition
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Practice Standard for Earned Value Management
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Earned Value Project Management – Third Edition
Have You Reviewed the PgMP
Handbook? The PgMBOK?
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Program Management Professional Exam Specification
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Information Technology Project Management
Have You Prepared Your PgMP
Application?
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Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
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Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC)
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Program Governance
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Fundamentals of Business Management
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PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) Exam
Specification
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Practice Standard for Risk Management
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Have You Obtained a PgMP Mentor?
PgMPs on LinkedIn – especially those in your
professional area – will be available to mentor you
through the process. But, you will have to ask.
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Have You Located at least 10 EACH of
Your References (Subordinates, Peers &
Superiors) for the Multi-Rater
Assessment (MRA)?
PMI requires only 12 – however, if they do
not respond you are OUT OF LUCK.
Preparation Course and/or the PgMP Exam:
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Domain
Percentage of Questions
Approximation
Examination Blueprint
Defining the Program
14%
ca. 24 questions
The adjacent table represents the % of questions of
the PgMP Exam from each domain.
Initiating the Program
12 %
ca. 20 questions
Planning the Program
20 %
ca. 34 questions
COST
$ 1500.oo USD PMI Member
$1800.00 USD Non-PMI Member
Executing the Program
25 %
ca. 43 questions
Controlling the Program
21 %
ca. 36 questions
Closing the Program
8%
ca.13 questions
3
4
Choose your MRA Respondents by
“role” and not by title. You will
need:
Minimum of 12 Reference Contacts
Altogether
Please … KNOW YOUR MRA respondents well. They should be chosen for their ability to communication their
personal witness to your work as completely as is required such that an independent assessor knows they
witnessed it and that they can communicate what you have done in the language of Project and Program
Management.
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Supervisors must have approval
authority over the program you
manage (ex. The executive sponsor
or the client)
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Peers must be other managers
having similar responsibilities and
performing similar tasks as you in
the Program Management role.
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Direct Reports must be those who
worked on a project or program
team under your direction (or that
of a Project Manager reporting to
you)
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Professional References must be
those belonging to any three of the
above categories.
Ask PMI and PgMPs
Connect to PgMPs via LinkedIn. Obtain a Mentor to help you through the process.
CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS:
PMI QUESTIONS:
PMI STANDARDS ONLINE DELIVERY:
CERTQUESTIONS@PMI.ORG
CUSTOMERCARE@PMI.ORG
STANDARDSDELIVERYSUP@PMI.ORG
PHONE:
1-610-356-4600
MAIL:
14 CAMPUS BOULEVARD
NEWTON SQUARE, PA 19073-3299
ONLINE:
www.linkedin.com
Communities: PgMP Credentialed Networking Group
PMI PMP Professional
EXAM PREPARATION SERIES:
PMI REGION 5 CONFERENCE (2 day workshop)
MILT JONES – www.pmccinc.com - mjones@pmccinc.com
o How long is the exam?
o How much does the exam cost?
o What is the benefit to me of passing the exam?
o Is the PgMP Credential “necessary” for anything?
o What career growth or benefit will I see by taking & passing the PgMP
Exam?
Program and Program Management serve to provide program and project
management governance, policy, procedure, process, guidance, standards,
tools, techniques, templates, methodologies, evaluation, risk, performance
measurement and reporting expertise in the roles of Subject Matter Expert
(SME) and Center of Excellence. By hiring PgMPs clients seek to ensure
not only successful delivery of programs, projects and operations – but
also to specifically achieve the company’s strategic goals through
obtaining benefits from a coordinated framework and methodology for
continual improvement of program/project management, vendor
management, ongoing operations management, resource management
and strategic mission.
Ideally, the proper setup, management,
measurement & services offered through the PgMP and Program
Management will increase the likelihood of benefits realization within the
client’s
organization and partner agencies and – ultimately –
achievement of corporate strategy.
CONTACT :
BB: 202-352-4397
E: KYLUCAS@GMAIL.COM
Karen Yvonne Lucas, PgMP | PMP, has more than 20 years of experience of progressive responsibility in
Information Technology Services to executives and senior management providing senior level guidance,
evaluation, analysis and management. She services mid to large-scale commercial enterprises, local
governments and federal defense initiatives having mission critical programs and projects with enterprise
reaching operational, marketing and systems components. She has served in a senior role in the Program
Management Offices of AMTRAK, CITI, UUNET, Cable & Wireless, and SPRINT as well as at the IRS, DHS, VHA,
DOD, DLA , NIH and HHS. Ms. Lucas is the former Practice Director of Enterprise Program Management Services
for a verified SDVOB and is now an at-hire consultant and lecturer.