Verifying PMP Prep Providers
At PPM, we have a simple mission: Treat people right, do the right thing, and do it with passion. Unfortunately, we frequently hear PMP Prep Course nightmares of companies that are not as focused on doing the right thing.
If you are researching PMP prep courses or materials, here are some immediate give-aways that you are not dealing with an honest company:
- They quote student scores on the PMP exam. Although percentages were provided in the past across the multiple domains and subdomains evaluated on the exam, there was not a "175 out of 200" score provided. Because of pre-test questions, this would be impossible to calculate based on the percentages. In addition, as of last year, the PMP score report only reports your proficiency level: Below Proficient, Moderately Proficient, Proficient. If the provider has "scores", you might want to validate the testimonials.
- Google or product ads. If the website has ads on it, the focus is not on providing accurate information, but on getting people to click into their site and the ads so that they can make money off of you.
- Testimonials from ficticious students. PMP credentials can be verified using PMI's credential registry. It is amazing how many companies have these great testimonials, yet none of their references are listed in the PMI registry as having their credential. Keep in mind, however, that credential holders can request to not be listed or their credential may have expired.
- Guarantees with fine print. They may have bold print that says "GUARANTEE" but be sure to verify the criteria for the guarantee. We often find that the student has to complete some additional training modules or they have to score a certain percentage on a practice test to be eligible for the guarantee.
- Bogus REP certification. Anyone with a computer can put the PMI Registered Education Provider (REP) logo on their site. However, if you're not sure, check the PMI REP database. One of our students learned the hard way that the logo on the site doesn't mean it's true. She ordered test questions from a company recommended on LinkedIn... only to find out it was a scam.
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Comments
Difference in Providers
I took your course more than a year ago. I was audited and it took almost 3 months to get all the materials together, trying to track down people from my previous company… with lots of lay-offs. After a month I was lax in studying and when I was finally approved for the test, I was afraid I had lost to much information.
I took a Pinnacle3 course last week. Wow. There is no comparison to your curriculum. I was in the course for two days and… then sat in class for the next two days reading your material and reviewing, retaking the practice tests from your course.
AND - - - the other students were very envious when they saw the materials I had from your course - course book and the small quick reference/study booklet
Zero study before attending the Pinnacle
So it was…
Monday, Tuesday, Pinnacle…
Wednesday, sitting in Pinnacle course but reviewing your material
Thursday – Pinnacle practice test
Friday – no study
Saturday – your material 7 hours
Sunday – your material 4 hours
Monday – your material 2 hours
Tuesday – your material 2 hours
Wednesday (today) – test!!
After taking the test today, I think I could have passed it simply by studying the materials/tests from the course I took from you more than a year ago!
And you are so right about memorizing the inputs/Tools&Tech/outputs… Everyone I know kept saying you need to memorize all of that. I did NOT have them anywhere near memorized. However, following what you always said… I tried hard to focus on understanding exactly what the specific process is doing/accomplishing in an area… which then gives a much better understanding of what would logically be inputs and outputs and tools and…
AND, I thought this was interesting… As you can see I did not spend all that much time studying… nothing like I would have liked. When I was studying, I spent the majority of my time studying the 20 processes in Planning. I kept getting called into work and I had to quickly skim through the other areas. So I thought I’d bomb the Exec and M&C areas. But then while taking the test, I realized, there were a number of questions in the Exec and M&C areas that were asking about items in the planning areas.
Ohh… and I passed after getting only 4 hours sleep Monday and only 3 hours Tuesday (due to work issues)! Considering everything, I was very surprised on how well I did.
1 area - below proficient ( Executing – I was expecting that – but…)
2 areas - moderately proficient
3 areas - Proficient
Recommend a BBB Check
After reading this, I did a check of my selected training company on the BBB website and I was really surprised to see that my original selection and my back-up selection both had scores of "F". I would recommend people searching for a training company do a search on BBB.org. Really glad I did.
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