PMP Requirements - The audit process and supporting documents

Before you can take the PMP exam you may need to satisfy the PMP requirements and complete the PMP audit process. In this article we take a look at the minimum requirements and also the documents you'll need to submit as part of the audit process.

PMP Requirements

Put simply, to be eligible for the PMP credential you must meet certain educational and professional experience levels. You'll need to have a degree and have a certain number of months of project management experience.

Note: Not every application goes through the audit process - it's used as a spot check.

PMP eligibility paths

Path 1

1. Secondary degree (high school diploma, associates degree or global equivalent)
2. Minimum 5 years professional project management experience (of which 7,500 hours were spent leading and directing project tasks)
3. 35 contact hours of formal education

Path 2

1. Four-year degree (bachelors degree or global equivalent)
2. Minimum 3 years professional project management experience (of which 4,500 hours were spent leading and directing project tasks)
3. 35 contact hours of formal education (training)

The audit Process

If your application is selected for an audit review then the audit process must be satisfied before you can take the PMP exam. The audit process occurs after you have submitted you application and have paid the necessary fees.

If your application is selected for an audit, you'll be notified by email. During the audit you need to submit supporting documentation.

Supporting documentation includes

Copies of your diploma or global equivalent
Signature from your supervisors or managers from the projects in the work experience section of the application
Copies of certificates from training institutes for each course recorded on your project management contact hours (training section).

You have 90 days to submit the requested documentation and the audit process usually takes 7-9 days to complete.

Failing the audit - Refunds

If you fail the audit process you'll be offered a full refund. You'll also fail the audit process if you do not respond with the requested documentation within 90 days.