The new PMBOK 5 and PMP/CAPM Exam Updates – when and what?

The Project Management Institute (PMI)® recently released the official dates for when the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and some other of its exams will be updated to the latest standards. Here is what we have learned and our recommendations for studying:

Credential	Exam Updated	If you take your Exam               BEFORE this date	If you take your Exam                 ON or AFTER this date
PMP®	31 July 2013	Use PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition	Use PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition
CAPM®	31 July 2013	Use PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition	Use PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition
PMI-SP®	31 August 2013	Use PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition	Use PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition
PMI-RMP®	31 August 2013	Use PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition	Use PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition
PgMP®	31 July 2013	Use PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition	Use PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) is a book published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), outlining a set of standard terminology and guidelines for Project Management. The PMBOK Guide was first published by the PMI as a white paper in 1983 in an attempt to document and standardize generally accepted project management information and practices. The first edition was published in 1996 followed by the second edition in 2000. In 2004, the third Edition was published with major changes from the previous editions. The fourth Edition was released on December 31, 2008.

Work on the fifth edition was completed in 2012 and you can now “back order” the PMBOK® Guide 5th Edition on the PMI Marketplace website. 

What Study Material should I use for my PMP Exam?
At the moment all our study material at PM Champion are based on PMBOK 4th Edition. If you are planning to take the exam before July 31st, go ahead and use the present material. The new training material based on PMBOK 5th edition are in development right now and should become available a few months before the “cut-off” date. Stay tuned for the exact dates ! 
Does this mean that I will have and “old” PMP certificate after the “cut-off” date?
No. The current version of the PMBOK Guide has no influence over your PMP status. You can compare this to your high-school diploma. Even if you received your high-school diploma years back and the school curriculum has changed many times since then, your diploma and your status are just as valid today as they were when you finished high school.
What changes have been made on the PMBOK 5th Edition?
Without going into details, here’s a list of the major changes:

• Addition of a new knowledge area called ‘Stakeholder Management’ (going from 9 to 10 Knowledge areas)
• PMBOK 5th Edition has now 248 pages minus the glossary.
• 5 new processes have been added (going from 42 to 47 Processes)
• Definition of a Project Management Office (PMO) expanded.
• Project life cycles expanded.
• Direct and Manage Project Execution’ changed to ‘Direct and Manage Project Work’
• Addition of ‘Plan Scope Management process’
• ‘Verify Scope’ changed to ‘Validate Scope’
• Addition of ‘Plan Schedule Management’
• Addition of ‘Plan Cost Management’
• ‘Plan Quality’ changed to ‘Plan Quality Management’
• ‘Perform Quality Control’ changed to ‘Control Quality’
• ‘Develop Human Resource Plan’ changed to ‘Plan Human Resource Management’
• ‘Monitor and Control Risks’ changed to ‘Control Risks’
• ‘Plan Procurements’ changed to ‘Plan Procurement Management’
• ‘Administer Procurements’ changed to ‘Control Procurements’
• Addition of ‘Plan Stakeholder Management’
• ‘Manage Stakeholder Expectations’ changed to ‘Manage Stakeholder Engagement’
• Addition of ‘Control Stakeholders Engagement’
• ‘Work performance measurement’ changed to ‘Work performance data’
• ‘Positive Risks’ changed to ‘opportunity’
• For the detailed list of changes go to PMI Media website.