1.  Does it matter where you complete your Project Management Certification or is all that matters is that you obtain a Certificate and pass the exam?    Certification courses seem to be available form a wide variety of sources , some national, some local (I am in San Diego), some live and some completely online ie  Certificates can be obtained from Univ  Cal San Diego which offers classes or San Diego State which has online courses, or national programs such as Boston Univ or Villanova.   Will a certificate from any of these venues be acceptable as long as you can pass the PMP, or does a certificate from particular programs carry more weight in the marketplace?  

2.  Is online certification class as  acceptable as a live class?

3.  How important is previous Project Management experience in getting a job?  Without any formal “Project Management” experience will I be able to easily find a job once I obtain certification and pass the PMP?

4.  Will my level of scientific experience work against me in finding a Project Mangement job?  Many Project managers seem to have BS degrees.  Will my PhD and job level in research be too advanced and preclude me from easily finding a position, or will it enhance my efforts?

Thanks for any input you may have on any of these topics !!!

Dear PharmManager,

Let me try to help out a little.

Quoting: "I realize in order to do so I need to obtain a Project Management Certificate and to pass the PMP Exam."

1. You do not have to have a Project Management Certification before taking the PMP exam.  What you do need is 36 non-overlapping months of project management experience within the last eight years,  a total of at least 4500 hours of project experience in the last 8 years, and some classroom training (35 hours).

2. There are a number of online classes that will either give you an introduction to project management, or help you prepare for the PMP exam.  I've seen some that are pretty good!

3.A.  As you can tell from PMI's perspective (Project Management Institute - Administrator of the PMP exam), experience is important.  Speaking as a PMP certified project management consultant, I would rather work with a PM that has a lot of experience than a PMP with little experience!

3.B.  Looking at your background, I would be willing to bet that you have a lot more project management experience than you might think.  Once you fully understand the definition of a project, everything becomes a project!!

3.C. PMI's experience requirement does not state that you had to be the project manager while accumulating the experience hours, merely that you were part of the project team.

4. NO!  The pharmaceutical industry is hot right now.  I'm sure with the combination of your background and the PMP certification, you could just about name your salary!

If you need more information on project management, or the PMP certification, try www.pmconnection.com

Good luck on your quest!! 

J Black

Pharm Manager,

From your note, I take it you have your PharmD degree.  My brother was very close to his when he had to leave school. 

I agree with many of Jack's comments.  You will want to go to the PMI website to see their current requirements.  I have taught the PMP Preparation class for years for PMI, and they keep changing requirements.  Go to http://www.pmi.org/info/PDC_PMP.asp to find the current requirements.  The newest requirements call for 35 hours of project management education prior to taking the class.  That does not mean just PMP Prep, it could also be filled by other courses. 

I have posted a lot of good information in the Files area of the eLounge for your PMP Prep.  You need to know the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) down cold as most of the questions are based on the PMBOK.  If you are a PMI member, they send you a CD with the latest PMBOK.  Study it, diagram each chapter for Input--Process--Output and create study tests for yourself in mulitple choice format. 

Here is some advice:

1)  Memorize your formulas:

Performance Calculations

·          Planned Value (PV) = Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (BCWS) = estimated budget

·          Actual Cost (AC) = Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP) = what was used

·          Earned Value (EV) = Budgeted Cost of Work Performed (BCWP) = the value of the work actually performed

·          Schedule Variance (SV) = EV-PV or BCWP-BCWS

·          Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = EV/PV or BCWP/BCWS

·          Cost Variance (CV) = EV-AC or BCWP-ACWP

·          Cost Performance Index (CPI) = EV/AC or BCWP/ACWP

2)  When you sit down for the exam, write all the formulas on the paper they give you

3)  Clear your mind and forget the formulas since you have them in front of you.

4)  Take a deep breath

5)  Take the test

6)  If you can’t get an answer right away, skip it.  Chances are you will “discover” the answer as you answer subsequent questions.

As Jack said, project experience is very important when getting your PMP.  I recently led a discussion on this topic with a number of certified PMO Directors or Managers.  The greatest need is to have the innate ability to manage projects and the skills to lead a team when things are burning.  The PMP is frosting on the cake if the PM has those skills.  Without the skills and experience to lead projects, the PMP just gives you the right terminology and knowlege of the process; not practical knowledge.  It is like getting your Masters or PhD without any experience.  You can quote the verse, but you don't have anything to back it up.

The Biotech field is very hot right now for project managers and since many PMs in the field have their PhD, having the PMP will help you that much more. 

Pharm Manager,

My experience may help: Within two weeks of receving my PMP (2004) I was offered an elevated position and pay increase with a new organization. So YES I think it helps.

Joe.