Which is a better mode to Prepare for PMP and CAPM certifications?

At some point of time, we all think about out career. When we join as a team member in a team, we aim for the next role. It can be a senior team member or a team lead position depends on the organization structure. When we reach the next level, we aim for the next higher role. In order to reach the next level, we put efforts to improve ourselves to know more about the next role. For example, a JAVA developer may go for a certified JAVA programmer certification to improve his programming skills which he might think could help him to reach his next target. Likewise, a Network engineer may go for a CISCO certification to before a senior Network engineer. Similarly, a professional wanted to get into managerial role, he might go a PMP or CAPM certification. There are several ways to prepare for a certification. We can join a course in a reputed institution related to that exam or we can take an online course for the same. Besides, we can go for a blended education model where the combination of both class room and online to gain knowledge to prepare for certifications. Before suggesting a suitable preparation mode for PMP/CAPM exam takers, let us discuss the existing education modes in details.

In class room training, we register for a full time or weekend course in an institution where they teach project management. The institution might have experienced instructors to teach the concepts, and conduct exams to evaluate course takers knowledge and provide appropriate guidance to them. In online training mode, course materials and audio & video presentations will be available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The students have the ability to read & re-read the materials, access the audio& video & re-read the same to gather knowledge about project management. The blended education mode, sometimes called as “hybrid learning” where both class room training and online training is combined. In other words, the institutions may conduct a one or two weeks programs to teach project management, and provide online medium where students can discuss their questions and access the course materials to help them to prepare for the exam.

In all the three modes, we can see pros and cons. For example, in the class room training mode, you need to go to an institution (it is fine if it is near to your living place) where you need to spend few hours to learn. In online mode, you can sit at your home and prepare for the exam. But you won’t have face to face interactions with the professors and your fellow learners which is a drawback most of us agree. But some says in online mode, you have few distractions, no need to rush to the institutions or else we miss the classes.  The blended mode can resolve the problem. But still you need to take few weeks day off which your company may not permit or you need to signup a weekend course where you have to scarify your personal time. Apart from that, I do not see much difference when looking at the modes.

Let us say most of us have a full time job or business which would consume mostly 8 to 10 hours of our time. Apart from that, most of us wanted to spend time with our family and friends which is only possibly during weekends.  Hence my view is that the better mode you select depends on your availability of time to spend on the preparation for the exam. If you think you have enough time to go to an Institution, I would recommend you go for class room mode. If you do not have enough time, you can go for online mode. If you have limited time available you can go for the blended mode. Doesn’t matter whatever mode you select, the right approach would be learn something, then apply whatever you learned in your day to day work to improve your project management skills. Finally read PMBOK at least thrice including Appendix sections. I’m sure you will pass the exam. To summarize, whatever is convenient for you is the best mode for you to prepare for the exam.