Online vs. In-Person PMP Certification Training Programs

Key Infor­ma­tion:

• Online PMP train­ing offers flex­i­bil­i­ty, low­er costs, and acces­si­bil­i­ty, but requires self-dis­ci­pline and lim­it­ed interaction. 
• In-per­son PMP train­ing pro­vides a struc­tured envi­ron­ment, real-time feed­back, and bet­ter engage­ment but comes with high­er costs and less flexibility. 
• Online PMP train­ing is ide­al for self-moti­vat­ed, cost-con­scious pro­fes­sion­als with busy sched­ules, while in-per­son train­ing suits those who need direct interaction. 
• Stud­ies show no sig­nif­i­cant dif­fer­ence in pass rates between online and in-per­son PMP train­ing; suc­cess depends more on study habits and prac­tice exams.

Think of the PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion as your gold­en tick­et to boost your career growth. Increased earn­ing poten­tial is also among its ben­e­fits. Project man­agers with the PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion report­ed 33% high­er medi­an salaries. 

Relat­ed:

• PMP Exam Updates and Changes
• Com­pre­hen­sive Guide to PMP Cer­ti­fi­ca­tion Requirements
• Afford­able PMP Cer­ti­fi­ca­tion Train­ing and Study Options
• Effec­tive Study Plans and Time­lines for PMP Certification
• Mock Exams and Prac­tice Tests for PMP Certification

Why PMP Training is Essential for Exam Success

If you’re inter­est­ed in earn­ing the PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion, you can choose from two options:

• Option 1: Bachelor’s degree + 36 months of project man­age­ment experience
• Option 2: High school diplo­ma + 60 months of project man­age­ment experience

In either option, you must com­plete 35 hours of for­mal train­ing in project management.

The for­mal train­ing isn’t only for eli­gi­bil­i­ty pur­pos­es. You’ll want it, too, because it will boost your suc­cess at the PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion exam.

Why? The PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion exam tests your project man­age­ment knowl­edge and skills. The for­mal train­ing address­es the knowl­edge part.

With­out it, you’ll like­ly flunk the exam. Fail­ing the exam means not earn­ing the PMP certification.

The Debate: Online vs. In-Person Training

There’s an ongo­ing dis­cus­sion about online vs. in-per­son PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion train­ing pro­grams. Many can­di­dates strug­gle with their choice.

In this arti­cle, we’ll answer the ques­tion: What’s the best PMP train­ing for­mat: online or in-per­son? We’ll make detailed com­par­isons between them. These include flex­i­bil­i­ty, cost, learn­ing effec­tive­ness, and pass rates.

Understanding PMP Certification Training Programs

Online and in-per­son pro­grams have com­mon goals. First, to enable can­di­dates to meet the eli­gi­bil­i­ty require­ments. Sec­ond, to pre­pare can­di­dates for suc­cess in the PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion exam.

The main dif­fer­ences between online and class­room PMP train­ing are in their:

• Deliv­ery format
• Flex­i­bil­i­ty and accessibility
• Lev­el of in-per­son interactions

What Is PMP Certification Training?

The train­ing cov­ers top­ics in PMI’s Project Man­age­ment Body of Knowl­edge (PMBOK Guide).

• Com­mu­ni­ca­tions management
• Cost man­age­ment
• Inte­gra­tion management
• Pro­cure­ment management
• Qual­i­ty management
• Resource man­age­ment
• Risk man­age­ment
• Sched­ule management
• Scope man­age­ment
• Stake­hold­er management

Think of the for­mal train­ing as an inten­sive study of the “bible” in project management. 

Types of PMP Training Programs

The three main types based on deliv­ery for­mat are:

• Online PMP train­ing pro­grams offer self-paced or live vir­tu­al classes.
• In-per­son PMP train­ing pro­grams fea­ture class­room-based cours­es with an instructor.
• Hybrid PMP train­ing pro­grams are a com­bi­na­tion of online and in-per­son instruction.

In the online PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion cours­es vs. tra­di­tion­al train­ing debate, remem­ber these basics.

Pros and Cons of Online PMP Training Programs

Let’s first take a look at the pros and cons of online PMP train­ing programs.

Advantages of Online PMP Training

• Flex­i­bil­i­ty for work­ing pro­fes­sion­als. You can study any­time, any­where with an Inter­net-con­nect­ed computer.
• Self-paced learn­ing options, mean­ing you can study at your own pace.
• Low­er cost since online cours­es are typ­i­cal­ly more afford­able. You don’t have to spend on trav­el­ling costs either. 
• Easy access to dig­i­tal resources, includ­ing record­ed lec­tures, ebooks, and prac­tice tests.
• Glob­al acces­si­bil­i­ty since online pro­grams tran­scend geo­graph­i­cal restrictions.

Disadvantages of Online PMP Training

• Requires self-dis­ci­pline because there’s no set sched­ule. Time man­age­ment skills are crucial.
• Lim­it­ed live inter­ac­tion and, thus, less direct engage­ment with instruc­tors and peers.
• Tech­ni­cal issues, espe­cial­ly depen­dence on sta­ble inter­net access.
• Poten­tial lack of account­abil­i­ty. There’s no class­room struc­ture to keep you on track.

Pros and Cons of In-Person PMP Training Programs

Then, con­sid­er the pros and cons of in-per­son PMP train­ing programs.

Advantages of In-Person PMP Training

• Struc­tured learn­ing envi­ron­ment with fixed sched­ules and face-to-face interactions.
• Real-time instruc­tor sup­port where can­di­dates get imme­di­ate answers to ques­tions and discussions.
• Bet­ter engage­ment, thanks to live class­room dis­cus­sions and net­work­ing opportunities.
• More account­abil­i­ty for your progress. You’ll find it hard­er to pro­cras­ti­nate com­pared to self-paced study.

Disadvantages of In-Person PMP Training

• High­er costs. The tuition fees, trav­el, and accom­mo­da­tion expens­es add up.
• Less flex­i­bil­i­ty, espe­cial­ly for work­ing pro­fes­sion­als. The fixed class sched­ules may not fit into their busy lifestyle.
• Lim­it­ed avail­abil­i­ty since not all cities have PMP train­ing centers.
• Com­mut­ing time can be an incon­ve­nience, not to men­tion an extra expense.

These pro­vide insights into the in-per­son PMP boot­camps vs. vir­tu­al PMP cours­es debate. You must con­sid­er these pros and cons based on your unique needs. Keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, just what’s best for you.

Cost Comparison – Online vs. In-Person PMP Training

Afford­abil­i­ty is cru­cial in the online vs. in-per­son PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion train­ing pro­grams debate. You want to spend mon­ey on a qual­i­ty pro­gram but don’t want to pay for an arm and a leg.

Average Costs of Online PMP Training

Self-paced online cours­es can cost between $200 and $700 for their entire­ty. Live online instruc­tor-led class­es are more expen­sive at $800-$2,000 for the entire program.

Average Costs of In-Person PMP Training

Class­room boot­camps can charge from $1,500 to $3,500 for the train­ing. Cor­po­rate train­ing pro­grams cost more at $2,500-$5,000 for their entirety.

Additional Expenses for In-Person Training

Add your trav­el and lodg­ing costs. Con­sid­er your lost income, too, from time off work. These extra costs add up when you’re in an in-per­son program.

So, in the cost com­par­i­son of online vs. in-per­son PMP train­ing, online pro­grams win.

Effectiveness of Learning – Which Format Works Best?

Again, there’s no right or wrong answer or one-pro­gram-fits-all answer here. The best for­mat will depend on your unique learn­ing style, needs, and schedule.

Still con­fused? Use the fol­low­ing infor­ma­tion for the best learn­ing styles for PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion training.

Online PMP train­ing is best for:

• Self-moti­vat­ed learners
• Peo­ple with lim­it­ed study time (i.e., self-paced online courses)
• Cost-con­scious individuals
• Work­ing pro­fes­sion­als who want flex­i­ble schedules
• Learn­ers who pre­fer con­ve­nient access to dig­i­tal resources

In-per­son PMP train­ing is best for peo­ple who:

• Thrive in a struc­tured learn­ing environment
• Learn best through dis­cus­sions and face-face-to-interactions
• Pre­fer imme­di­ate feed­back and clar­i­fi­ca­tions from their instructors

If you want the best of both for­mats, you may want to con­sid­er hybrid pro­grams. You’ll love the flex­i­bil­i­ty of online cours­es with the dynamism of in-per­son classes.

Pass Rates and Exam Readiness – Online vs. In-Person

These are indi­ca­tors of the train­ing pro­grams’ effec­tive­ness in prepar­ing can­di­dates for suc­cess. Bet­ter exam readi­ness means less like­li­hood for retakes (i.e., time and cost sav­ings). High­er pass rates mean bet­ter qual­i­ty of instruc­tion and content.

Do online PMP students have lower pass rates?

No. Stud­ies have shown no major dif­fer­ence in pass rates between online and in-per­son stu­dents. Suc­cess depends more on prac­tice tests, study dis­ci­pline, and prepa­ra­tion strategies.

How to improve PMP Exam readiness regardless of format

If you want to improve your exam readi­ness, fol­low these tips.

• Take mul­ti­ple full-length PMP prac­tice tests.
• Use flash­cards, mock exams, and PMBOK Guide summaries.
• Join PMP study groups (online or in-person).

Best PMP Training Providers – Online and In-Person

Top Online PMP Training Providers

Enjoy online PMP train­ing ben­e­fits for work­ing pro­fes­sion­als with these online programs.

• PMI Autho­rized PMP Exam Prep Course is the offi­cial PMI train­ing program.
• Sim­plilearn PMP Cer­ti­fi­ca­tion Train­ing offers live vir­tu­al classes.
• Ude­my PMP Exam Prep Course is a bud­get-friend­ly, self-paced learn­ing program.
• Mas­ter of Project Acad­e­my offers flex­i­ble study plans.

Top In-Person PMP Training Providers

Con­sid­er these excel­lent in-per­son train­ing pro­grams, too.

• PMI local chap­ters offer class­room-based PMP train­ing events.
• Velociteach PMP boot camps pro­vide inten­sive 4‑day in-per­son cours­es for moti­vat­ed individuals.
• Project Man­age­ment Acad­e­my offers Instruc­tor-led class­room courses.
• Cor­po­rate PMP train­ing pro­grams are employ­er-spon­sored train­ing programs.

How to Choose the Right PMP Training Format for You

Here’s how to choose between online and in-per­son PMP prep based on your unique needs.

Choose online PMP train­ing pro­grams if you:

• Pre­fer flex­i­ble sched­ules made pos­si­ble through asyn­chro­nous courses
• Want to save on time and mon­ey costs
• Have a tight sched­ule that makes self-paced online cours­es your best option

Choose in-per­son PMP train­ing pro­grams if you:

• Need a struc­tured learn­ing environment
• Pre­fer direct engage­ment and inter­ac­tions with your peers and instructors
• Need account­abil­i­ty for your progress or lack thereof

Success Tips for Any PMP Training Format

Your suc­cess in any train­ing pro­gram is your ulti­mate respon­si­bil­i­ty. Here are tips that will boost your suc­cess dur­ing the train­ing pro­gram. Then, you can trans­late it to suc­cess in the PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion exam.

• Set a con­sis­tent study sched­ule. Aim for 10–15 hours per week.
• Use PMP exam sim­u­la­tors. Get used to timed prac­tice tests.
• Review Agile and hybrid ques­tions. Note that 50% of the PMP exam cov­ers Agile concepts.
• Join PMP study groups. Engage with oth­er learn­ers for motivation.
• Take notes and sum­ma­rize key con­cepts. These help with mem­o­riza­tion and quick revision.

Conclusion

To recap the main points in the online vs. in-per­son PMP cer­ti­fi­ca­tion train­ing pro­grams debate:

On one hand, online train­ing pro­grams are more afford­able, flex­i­ble, and con­ve­nient. On the oth­er hand, in-per­son train­ing pro­grams are more inter­ac­tive, struc­tured, and engaging.

So, which is the right for­mat for you? Choose based on your sched­ule, bud­get, and learn­ing style. Give it some thought, too, because of the time and mon­ey involved.

Regard­less of your choice, your suc­cess is your ulti­mate respon­si­bil­i­ty and pride. Con­sis­tent study, prac­tice exams, and time man­age­ment are key to PMP exam success.