I've taken two ASQ certifications CQE and SSGB recently and passed so I am in a self study mode and am now starting to study for PMP. While everyone's experience varies I would like to hear any estimates on how much time to budget for self study.

For CQE and Six Sigma Green Belt I took chapter refresher courses that were 30 hours each yet were very affordable (300 each). Our local PMI chapter has a refresher course but not starting until Sept and about $800. Essentially now that I know I am a good test taker, can discipline myself to do at least 10hrs/ week , and just got through over 120 hours of self study for Cert Quality Eng and at least 80 more for Six Sigma Green Belt, I can do this myself if I just put the time in and do 4-5 practice tests. The two certs I have through ASQ include PM as part of their BOK so this isn't totally new, but I am not a MBA or BA in Business grad. I have a BA in Biochemistry and masters degree in Molecular Pathology and have worked in Pharma for eight years post graduate, so I am a fairly good student, when I stick to a study plan.

So, without any courses what have self study success ranges on hours been?

Please don't' take this as an offense to the many good to great training companies out there, I am sure they are great for motivating, building a study group and so on. I don't have a corporate sponsor paying for it and as you can see am already starting out in "certification mode"

I am planning to use:

Andy Crowe's The PMP Exam , How to Pass on your First try, 3rd Ed

And the PMI PMBOK Guide ver 3

Maybe Exam Cram 2, 2nd Ed since it is free at our library, it has a good test CD anyway.

Is this likely to be a good combo for books 1& 2 only and estimating 120 hours over 3 months?

While it's difficult for me to say whether 120 hours over 3 months using the books you mentioned will work for you, I will offer up how I did this without any formal training courses.

Regarding the study materials I used...

• PMBOK - I had the PMBOK at arms length but only picked it up when I had studied the info in a more 'friendly' manner first. In my opinion the PMBOK is a reference guide that is great for formulas, jargon, inputs/outputs etc.. It's not bedtime material...but is essential


• PMP for Dummies - Some folks like this series and others loathe them. I found that it explained the majority of information in a simple manner and provided the information which can then be enhanced upon by referencing the PMBOK and/or reading the same section in the other book I used


• Preparing for the PMP (Michael W. Newell) - I found this a very simple and easy to read book. It's small size and convenience fitted in with exactly what I wanted. As mentioned above, I would read some of this and then cross reference with the Dummies guide and (sometimes), the PMBOK


• Rita Mulcahey's flash cards on audio CD (no Rita Books). I just popped this into the car for about 10 days before taking the exam to help drill home some key principles, formulas, terminology etc...


• Also in the last couple of weeks I took some online sample exams. I actually failed 2 out of the 3 I took and then passed first time with an 87% score. So what I think they did more than anything was to force me to read the questions in detail and think before answering

I did not set a time limit for myself but instead just tried to read a little bit each week - and actually it turned out to be about 4 months. I might have also had a little jump start as I was already a practicing PM and held the CompTIA Project+ certification

One thing I did do after certification was to work with the HR department within my employer at the time, to establish a PMP study group which proved to be very succesful. If there are any study groups near where you work or live you might want to look into that also as it helps keep you on track and you can collaborate with other members on the hows and whys of different topics.