How I Finally Passed the PMP Exam (After 12 Years of Waiting)

How I Finally Passed the PMP Exam (After 12 Years of Waiting)

🎯 The Long Road to PMP

Back in 2013, I registered for a PMI membership with every intention of pursuing my PMP certification. I downloaded the handbook, bookmarked the eligibility requirements, and even told a few friends that I was going to do it “soon.”

Then life happened.

For more than a decade, my membership sat dormant. Projects came and went. Teams grew, companies evolved, and yet that little unchecked box — “Get PMP Certified” — stayed on my to-do list.

Fast forward to 2024, and I finally decided it was time to finish what I started.

🧾 The Hardest Part Wasn’t the Exam

Everyone talks about how difficult the PMP exam is (and it is tough), but honestly, the hardest part was just applying.

Gathering all the documentation to prove I met PMI’s experience requirements took weeks. The 35-hour PDU education requirement was another hurdle, and writing up each project experience with the correct terminology was a project in itself.

But once I hit “Submit” and received that long-awaited approval email — it became real.

📚 The Study Year: Motivation Comes in Waves

I gave myself roughly a year to study, and it was far from perfect. There were stretches where I studied daily, and others where I ignored it completely for weeks.

My practice exam scores hovered between 65–70%, no matter what platform I used. Even as test day approached, I never once scored high enough to feel “ready.”

Here’s what I used throughout my prep:

  • PMI Study Hall+ — an official PMI platform that helped me get comfortable with the exam’s tone and structure.
  • PMP Pocket Prep (iOS app) — great for daily bursts of review questions, especially during lunch breaks or while traveling.
  • PMI’s official practice exam — worth every penny for the realism and pacing alone.

🧠 The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

The night before my exam, I stumbled across a YouTube video by Andrew Ramdayal.
It wasn’t another “memorize this formula” lecture — it was about how to think like a project manager during the exam.

That video changed my entire approach.

Instead of memorizing inputs, tools, and outputs, I focused on situational reasoning — asking, “What would a servant leader do here?” or “What’s the best next step for the team?”

The next morning, I walked into the test center feeling uncertain but strangely calm.

💻 Exam Day: Expect to Feel Like You Failed

Right after the exam I was convinced I had failed, the walk from the test computer to the front desk at the Pearson testing center felt like an eternity while I waited for my score printout.

As I unfolded the printout, there it was: “Congratulations! You passed.”

My performance by domain:

  • 👥 People: Target
  • ⚙️ Process: Above Target
  • 🌍 Business Environment: Target

✅ Overall Performance: Pass

After over a decade of thinking about it, I finally did it.

💬 Lessons Learned

If you’re planning your own PMP journey, here’s what I wish someone had told me:

  • The application is your first project — treat it like one.
  • You’ll never feel 100% ready — schedule the exam anyway.
  • Progress is messy; consistency beats intensity.
  • Learn the mindset, not the memorization.

The PMP exam is less about remembering facts and more about thinking like a project manager under pressure.

🏁 Final Thoughts

It took me twelve years to close the loop on something I started in 2013. And while I could beat myself up for taking that long, I’ve realized this:

Professional growth doesn’t have an expiration date.

The moment you start — whether it’s studying for a certification, changing careers, or reviving a long-forgotten goal — you’re already further than you were yesterday.

Keep going. 💪

📘 Resources

Here are the resources I used that made a difference:

Thanks for reading — if you’re currently studying for your PMP, keep pushing. You’ve got this.

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