Preparing for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® Exam

What is this course about?

In this course, you gain in-depth knowledge and skills to assist you in preparing for the Project Management Institute's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® exam.

Through course activities, practice exams and workshops, you learn essential Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide) terminology, tools and techniques required to pass the exam. After completing this course you will have created a personalized study plan designed for ultimate exam success.

What is the PMBOK^® Guide - Fourth Edition?

The PMBOK^® Guide - Fourth Edition serves as the official basis for the CAPM Certification Exam and provides a reference for anyone interested in the profession of project management. The PMBOK^® Guide offers a basic structure for understanding project management, the environment in which projects operate and an overall view of how the various project management processes interact. Divided into nine knowledge areas, described in terms of component processes and five process groups, the PMBOK^® Guide has become the framework by which many organizations develop their project management practices.

The PMBOK^® Guide - Fourth Edition is used in this course.

What background knowledge should I have?

Basic project management knowledge is highly recommended. (A copy of the PMBOK^® Guide - Fourth Edition is given to each course participant to keep on the first day of class.) This course is valuable for project team members, new project managers, those who are planning to take the CAPM in the near future, and those interested in acquiring knowledge of project management best practices.

The CAPM certification is aimed at those who are new to, or have limited experience in, the field of project mangement. However, if you have 3-5 years' experience, you should consider taking Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam, to prepare for the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)^® exam. The CAPM exam is applicable for those who do not meet the requirements to take the PMP exam.

How do you approach the PMBOK^® Guide material?

The PMBOK^® Guide material can appear overwhelming on first look. One methodology to study for the exam is to simply go over the knowledge areas and process groups by rote, memorizing facts that may or may not appear on the exam. This course takes a more complete and effective approach by focusing on the five process groups and the nine knowledge areas, creating a complete picture of PMBOK^® Guide.

What are the eligibility criteria for taking the CAPM exam?

The CAPM eligibility criteria, as established by the Project Management Institute, are divided into two catagories:

Category 1 maintains that the canidate hold a minimum of a high school diploma and have at least 1,500 hours of project management experience within the five process groups.

Category 2 maintains canidates possess a high school diploma and have accumulated at least 23 contact hours of project management education (23 PDUs) from a PMI Resgistered Education Provider (R.E.P.), such as Learning Tree International. Course 3601, Preparing for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^®Exam fulfills this PDU requirement.

If you hold a bachelor's degree and/or have 3 - 5 years of project management experience, you should consider taking Course 276,Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^®Exam.

Will this course satisfy the project management education requirement necessary to take the exam?

Yes. To be eligible to take the CAPM exam, candidates must complete 23 hours of formal project management education. This course has extended hours in order to provide the 23 education hours required.

How is this course different from Course 276: Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam

Although the study materials for both courses come from the PMBOK^® Guide, Course 3601, Preparing for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^®Exam gives more of an overview of the knowledge areas and processes. While, Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^®Exam gives a more indepth look at PMBOK^® Guide content as the PMP credential is aimed at more experienced project managers.

I have seen CAPM exam preparation courses advertised elsewhere. Why should I take this course from Learning Tree?

Other CAPM exam preparatory courses range from two days to five days. The shorter courses offer a more rapid-fire review, while the longer courses tend to provide a standardized "by-the-numbers" slant. Learning Tree offers a more complete approach to the PMBOK^® Guide for CAPM exam preparation; more tips, tricks, memory aids and suggestions, more intensive practice exams, an individualized plan and full practice test for home study, and strategies for completing the CAPM exam application. All of this in keeping with Learning Tree's commitment to provide a preeminent level of quality to the education we provide.

Furthermore, this course provides you with 23 contact hours-thereby fulfilling your pre-exam education requirement.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much of this course is spent in workshops?

Approximately 45 percent of this course is spent in a series of individual practice workshops and simulated exams. Workshops include:

• Taking CAPM^®style practice exams and cross-referencing answers to PMBOK^®Guide
• Speaking the PMBOK^®Guide language
• Mapping PMBOK^® Guide knowledge areas and process groups
• Customizing process summaries for future study
• Developing a study guide and personalized exam preparation plan

I'm interested in taking the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. Will this course help me prepare?

No, this course prepares you for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. While the material s similar to what you need to study for the PMP exam, this course does not prepare you for the PMP exam. You should instead consider Course 276: Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam. In Course 276, you prepare specifically for the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam by diving into more detail of the PMBOK^® Guide content. You also learn how to successfully navigate the process groups and knowledge areas of the PMBOK^® Guide and align your project management experience with PMP terminology and definitions. The PMP and CAPM exams are notably different in the degree of PMBOK Guide knowledge required.

I am uncertain about taking the CAPM exam. Is this course right for me?

Probably not. We recommend that you commit to applying for or setting an exam date in the near future prior to taking this course. If you aren't ready to take the exam, Learning Tree offers a series of other project management courses, from introductory to advanced, that allow you to broaden your knowledge base while you decide about the step toward certification.

Will I be prepared to take the exam immediately after this course?

That is entirely up to you. This course is designed to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of CAPM certification candidates, from those on the verge of taking the exam, to those who are in the earlier planning stages of exam preparation. Upon completion of this course, you will have undergone an examination of the PMBOK^® Guide, taken a series of in-depth practice exams, and created a personalized study guide to assist you in discovering your areas of strength and weakness, all of which will help you to determine your level of exam readiness.

How many questions make up the CAPM exam?

The exam consists of 150 total questions, 135 are scorable questions and 15 questions are pretest items, which are not scored. PMI uses pretest questions to determine their performance prior to counting them towards a candidate's score.

What happens if I don't pass the exam?

If for any reason you do not pass your CAPM Exam after completing our course, Preparing for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® Exam, contact us within 60 days of your original course attendance to schedule a free course retake.

What are the PMI requirements for maintaining the CAPM certification?

The CAPM certification is valid for 5 years. At the end of your 5-year period, PMI requires that you retake the exam. Once certified, you are not required to achieve professional development untist (PDU). There are no other requirements for maintaining this certification.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

While the emphasis of this course is on CAPM exam preparation, Learning Tree offers a series of project management skills courses to further your knowledge base, including:

• 296: Project Management: Skills for Success provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to organize, plan, schedule, monitor, and control projects
• 340: Project Management for Software Development provides the tools you need to effectively organize and select process choices, create realistic plans and see them through to successful delivery
• 287: Complex Project Management provides you with the skills to manage complex projects by applying advanced tools and techniques to meet conflicting business and technical demands
• 381: Business Process Reengineering for Competitive Advantage provides you with the critical "how to" knowledge and skills needed to implement BPR successfully within your organization

For those interested in additional PMI certifications, Learning Tree offers these courses:

• 276: Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam 
• 920: Preparing for the Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Exam 
• 286: Preparing for the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® Exam 
• 248: Preparing for the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)® Exam 

Several Learning Tree Management courses offer professional development units (PDUs) for those preparing for, or maintaining, these PMI certifications. Please rever to the Learning Tree Management Curriculum Q&A for detailed information.

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